Crypto Exchange

U.S. federal prosecutors are reportedly investigating whether Binance knowingly allowed trading activity that may have violated sanctions on Iran. The inquiry adds pressure on the exchange after its 2023 guilty plea and $4.3 billion settlement over banking compliance failures.

Binance bought $100 million worth of Circle shares through a private placement that closed Sept. 17. The investment sits alongside a five-year commercial agreement under which Circle will pay monthly incentives tied to USDC held through Binance-linked wallet infrastructure.

Gemini’s market value has fallen sharply since its public debut, renewing attention on whether its regulatory footprint could become more valuable than its shrinking exchange business. While no active bid has been indicated, market participants are watching the platform’s licenses, custody infrastructure and concentrated voting control closely.

Binance has pulled its MiCA license application in Greece after delays and regulatory uncertainty forced it to pause some services for EU users. The exchange says it remains committed to Europe and is still pursuing a path back into the bloc’s regulated framework.

BitMEX has removed its chief executive, chief financial officer and chief growth officer in a sweeping leadership reset. The exchange is also reportedly seeking a buyer, adding fresh uncertainty around its next phase.

Architect Partners says SBI’s Bitbank acquisition is a bet on regulated scale rather than near-term earnings. The deal expands SBI’s custody footprint, customer base and broader digital asset push in Japan.

CoinEx has pushed back against allegations that it served as a major conduit for sanctioned Iranian crypto activity. TRM Labs says the exchange handled billions in blockchain-traced transfers, while CoinEx denies any commercial relationship with Iranian entities.

Binance has pulled its Markets in Crypto-Assets license application in Greece and plans to pursue authorization in another EU country. The move comes as the July 1 MiCA deadline nears, forcing crypto firms to secure EU approval or scale back operations across the bloc.

Coinbase is repositioning itself from a trading-heavy business to a broader financial platform that includes derivatives, stablecoin payments and AI tools. Analysts say the move could make revenue more durable as crypto markets remain volatile.

Coinbase is widening its platform beyond crypto with stock and ETF trading, options, tokenized equities and pre-IPO futures. The exchange is also rolling out AI-powered advisory and consumer finance features as it pursues an everything exchange model.

Coinbase is preparing to launch tokenized stocks backed one-for-one by U.S. equities, giving investors blockchain-based ownership with dividend payments. The move adds fresh momentum to the push to bring traditional securities onchain.