Crypto Regulation

The Financial Conduct Authority has opened its authorization gateway for crypto companies seeking to operate in the United Kingdom. Firms have a five-month window to apply before the new regulatory framework is planned to take effect in October 2027.

The Senate failed to advance the Clarity Act after no Senate Democrat voted to move the digital asset legislation forward. The setback has sharpened partisan conflict over crypto market structure, consumer protections, and the role of the SEC and CFTC.

Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority has moved against three London locations tied to illegal peer to peer cryptocurrency activity, working alongside tax authorities and the Metropolitan Police. The action comes as firms prepare for the U.K. crypto framework to take full effect on Oct. 25, 2027.

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review lower-court rulings that upheld his fraud conviction. His lawyers are challenging trial evidence tied to customer losses and a court-ordered forfeiture order of $11 billion.

Russian retailers reported a sharp increase in hardware crypto wallet sales as new rules for digital assets move closer. The surge highlights growing interest in self-custody, even as legal limits and device-security risks remain firmly in place.

Senate leadership has opened the first stage of floor action on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, keeping the crypto market structure bill alive for a possible September vote. The measure still faces unresolved disputes over ethics rules, illicit-finance provisions and stablecoin rewards before it can clear the Senate’s 60-vote hurdle.

Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal is departing the exchange after steering its legal team through a major fight with U.S. regulators. He will remain an adviser as Molly Abraham becomes general counsel and Ryan Van Grack moves into a vice chairman role.

President Donald Trump said there was “nothing wrong” with the more than $1.4 billion he earned from crypto-related ventures, rejecting claims of wrongdoing. New disclosures tie much of the haul to a memecoin, World Liberty Financial and a stablecoin venture linked to Abu Dhabi interests.

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.

Europe’s crypto rulebook is under fresh scrutiny as policymakers weigh whether MiCA still fits a market increasingly shaped by stablecoins and tokenization. The review reflects a broader shift in tone as institutional adoption grows and regulators revisit reserve and accounting risks.

Poland has become the only EU member state without a functioning domestic crypto licensing regime as MiCA takes full effect. With President Karol Nawrocki repeatedly vetoing the implementing law, companies now face a choice between seeking licenses abroad or scaling down operations.

Taiwan has approved a major new law that tightens oversight of its crypto sector and raises compliance expectations for virtual asset firms. The framework introduces licensing, stronger custody standards, reserve requirements, and harsher penalties for violations.

Jefferies says the Clarity Act remains on a difficult path in the Senate despite recent progress. The bank warns that delays could extend regulatory uncertainty even as passage may support institutional crypto adoption.

Crypto founders are increasingly turning to Dubai as the European Union’s MiCA framework tightens ahead of a July 1 deadline. Supporters of the move say the UAE offers faster, crypto-specific licensing and easier access to emerging markets.

JPMorgan says it supports a U.S. framework for digital assets, but only if lawmakers close regulatory gaps instead of creating new ones. The bank is pressing for tougher safeguards on stablecoins, tokenized deposits and market integrity rules as the Clarity Act debate continues.

The White House is expected to meet with law enforcement representatives as it works to advance the Senate’s crypto market structure bill. The talks come amid disputes over the Clarity Act’s protections for developers and its anti-crime provisions.

Europe’s crypto market is heading into a major regulatory reset as the MiCA transition period closes. Industry estimates suggest most previously registered firms may fail to secure full authorization.

The Bank for International Settlements says stablecoins do not function like true money, warning that they can trade away from par and face uncertain redemptions. The report also flags dollar-pegged tokens as a growing force behind dollarization in fragile economies.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao is back in the public eye, outlining his views on crypto’s future in the United States. Despite stepping away from day-to-day exchange leadership, he remains a major force in the industry.

House Financial Services Democrat Maxine Waters is urging the U.S. Department of Labor to withdraw its proposal to expand 401(k) plans into alternative assets, including crypto. The move adds fresh political pressure to a Trump-backed retirement investment overhaul.

The Alliance to End Human Trafficking is urging Congress to revisit Section 604 of the CLARITY Act, saying the language could make it harder to hold some crypto platform developers accountable when their tools are used in trafficking-related payments. Supporters of the provision counter that it simply reflects existing U.S. anti-money laundering guidance and does not block criminal prosecutions.

Binance has told customers in several European Union countries that it will restrict services because it will not hold the required MiCA license by July 1. The exchange says user assets remain safe and accessible as it winds down unlicensed activities in the bloc.

Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao said prison time has not been a business setback, arguing that people understand he was not involved in fraud. He said the experience sharpened his compliance awareness and that he is focused on advising companies, not returning as CEO.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency has approved Ripple’s RLUSD as an electronic payment instrument, clearing the way for SBI VC Trade to offer it to retail and institutional users. The move gives Ripple a regulated entry point in one of the world’s most closely watched crypto markets.