Germany Proposes a 25% Tax on Cryptocurrency Profits Starting in 2028
Germany's Ministry of Finance, according to a local report, is studying a tax amendment that could change how the country deals with cryptocurrency trading profits by subjecting them to a flat 25% tax rate starting in 2028. And according to a draft seen by the Die Welt website, the proposal will be applied to all crypto assets that are purchased after January 1, 2027, meaning that any trading or holding of these assets thereafter could fall under the new tax system when implementation begins.
Bank of Italy imposes sanctions screening on crypto currency transfers
The Bank of Italy issued guidance requiring providers of crypto-asset services to apply mandatory sanctions screening when processing transfers of crypto currencies, a step aimed at curbing illicit flows across the European Union. According to a statement released on Monday, crypto-asset service providers—known as CASPs—must put in place internal policies and controls to ensure the implementation of European financial sanctions when handling crypto transfers. This includes efforts to build sufficient mechanisms to identify clients and transactions linked to sanctioned entities.
Malong Lam Pleads Guilty in a $245 Million Cryptocurrency Theft Plot
Singaporean Malong Lam admits guilt for participation in an extortion plot and organized crimes that relied on social engineering and home break-ins to steal and launder more than $245 million in cryptocurrency. The U.S. Department of Justice said Lam was the organizer of the international operation, taking charge of identifying potential victims and coordinating the other suspects. Court documents indicate that the network was formed through relationships on online gaming platforms and operated from a date no later than October 2023 through at least May 2025.
Gemini obtains a major payments license in Singapore
Gemini’s platform has obtained a Major Payment Institution license from the Monetary Authority in Singapore, completing its transition from the in-principle approval it received about two years ago to a full license through its local entity, Gemini Digital Payments Singapore. On Wednesday, Gemini announced that the regulator granted the license to the local entity, while a list of financial institutions at the Monetary Authority in Singapore shows that the company is authorized to provide digital token payment services and cross-border financial transfers.
Block applies for a U.S. trust bank license to custody Bitcoin and stablecoin
Jack Dorsey’s payments company, Block, is seeking to create a federally regulated trust bank to provide custody services for Bitcoin and stablecoins, a move that could strengthen the regulatory infrastructure for digital asset services within the United States. The company said it filed an application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on Tuesday to establish a new entity called Builders Bank & Trust, an uninsured national trust bank. If approved, the bank would operate under the OCC’s supervision and offer custody services and related lending services.
Uzbekistan launches a payments trial with a stablecoin backed by government bonds through more than 20 merchants
Uzbekistan has begun a new trial to test payments using a stablecoin linked to the Uzbek som and backed by government bonds, in a step that reflects a clearer shift toward using digital tools in domestic payments under direct official supervision. The National Agency for Future Projects (NAPP) announced that it has registered Humo Digital as a participant in a dedicated system managed in coordination with the central bank. The trial aims to test the issuance, trading, and redemption of the HUMO coin, with each unit tied to one Uzbek som.
Visa links settlement to on-chain lending to expand stablecoin cards
Visa is moving to expand its presence in stablecoin-based payments by linking its settlement network with on-chain lending mechanisms, in a step aimed at providing working capital for stablecoin-linked card programs and reshaping how settlement obligations are financed. The company also announced that it will integrate VisaNet settlement data with an existing blockchain-based lending infrastructure, so that lenders can finance payment obligations based on settlement records within the Visa network as well as transaction data on-chain. This integration gives lending entities additional tools to assess borrowers and finance their obligations in a way more closely tied to the actual movement of funds.
Refund of 3,400 BTC restores 85% of Liquid funds after the security incident
Returned what is described as “white-hat hackers” with 3,400 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $270 million, to the Liquid Federation wallet after withdrawing about $320 million from Liquid’s sidechain reserves. According to what Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3 and former CEO at Blockstream, stated, the refund came after Blockstream confirmed that the affected bridge contracts were patched. He added that around 598 BTC remain out of control, and that Blockstream is continuing to communicate with the relevant parties.
Circle to Acquire Tazapay to Expand Cross-Border USDC Payments
Circle announced that it has agreed to acquire the cross-border payments platform Tazapay, in a deal expected to close in 2027, subject to the usual closing conditions and approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The move comes as part of Circle’s efforts to expand the use of USDC in international payments, especially through Asian and emerging markets. Tazapay is a Singapore-based platform that processes more than $25 billion in annual payment volume and serves more than 60 partners from banks and fintech companies through local payment rails covering more than 100 markets.
Cronos confirms $9.19 million left before Tectonic exploitation was halted
Cronos said that about $9.19 million left its network before auditors were able to stop the network exploitation of Tectonic, in an official update explaining what the rollback to the network’s previous state did not cover. According to a Tuesday-issued post-incident report, the tampered collateral values led to borrowing activity totaling about $120.4 million. After the network was returned to its pre-exploitation state, around $111.2 million was reversed, meaning 7.6% of the affected funds remained outside the network.
AUSTRAC cancels 45 registrations for crypto operations and transfers over a year
AUSTRAC, Australia’s financial intelligence agency, said it has stepped up its scrutiny of high-risk payment companies and has canceled, suspended, or refused to renew 45 registrations for firms operating in the fields of crypto assets and money transfers over the past year. The agency said the measures targeted providers that were inactive or financially troubled or lacked the necessary operational capacity, along with cases where material changes were not reported, or inaccurate registrations were submitted, or where they appeared linked to high risks related to money laundering or terrorist financing.
Polish Prosecution Files Charges in Zondacrypto Investigation and Requests Pretrial Detention
Prosecutors in Poland announced that they have brought formal charges against a person named Romana Ż in connection with an ongoing investigation into the Zondacrypto platform, following suspicions that she participated in an organized criminal group and was involved in embezzling users’ funds amounting to 7.8 million zloty—about $2.1 million. According to an official statement issued on Monday, the prosecution asked the Katowice-Południe District Court to place the suspect in pretrial detention. This is a legal measure that means keeping the accused in custody before trial when authorities believe there is a risk of flight or of influencing the course of the investigation or the evidence and witnesses.
Citi and DBS complete the first cross-border coded deposit transfer over the weekend
Singapore’s financial services group DBS announced that Citi and DBS of the United States completed the first cross-border coded deposit transfer between Singapore and the United States over the weekend, a step that reflects the accelerating testing of digital infrastructure within the traditional financial system. The process was carried out using coded deposits via the Swift Digital Ledger, a blockchain-based ledger developed by Swift, with the aim of bypassing limitations associated with traditional banking hours. According to what DBS announced on Monday, the settlement was completed in just minutes.
Zcash Hits Its Highest Level Since 2016 After the Grayscale ETF Launch
Registered Zcash (ZEC) at its highest price level since 2016, in a bullish wave that lifted its market value above $20 billion, before it dipped slightly from its recent peak. According to market data, the price reached $1,249.28 and then returned to around $1,195 on Monday. Over the past week, the token rose by roughly 45%, while its gains over the past 30 days reached 138%.
The Philippines is considering freezing the registration of payment operators and tightening oversight of VASP arrangements
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has submitted a new regulatory proposal aimed at freezing the registration of new payment system operators for 12 months, alongside tightening controls over arrangements involving Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). According to a draft circular, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said it will suspend the acceptance and processing of applications from OPS payment system operators during the freeze period, in order to conduct a comprehensive review of the classification of these activities and the licensing framework associated with them.
Third-Wave Attacker in Coldcard Breach Moves 45% of Stolen Bitcoin
Galaxy Research reported that the attacker associated with the third wave of the Coldcard wallet breach began moving a significant portion of the stolen Bitcoin, transferring roughly 45% of the proceeds so far. According to the update, the funds were routed through THORChain or inserted into CoinJoin transactions—mechanisms that make it harder to trace financial pathways. Based on the timeline presented by the company, the attacker started moving funds to the Ethereum network via THORChain on September 2, before the most recent movements shifted to CoinJoin rounds that bundle payments from multiple users into a single transaction with the goal of obscuring the trail on the blockchain.
Liquid halts operations after 4,000 BTC withdrawn from its federated wallet
Liquid Network, a sidechain in the Bitcoin ecosystem, halted its operations after about 4,000 Bitcoin were withdrawn from its federated wallet, worth nearly $320 million. The development came at a time when the actors behind it said they were operating as “white-hat hackers.” According to what the network announced on Sunday, the bridge node was disabled, preventing new transactions from being executed. Trading platforms also began either stopping or preparing to stop L-BTC deposit and withdrawal operations. In contrast, the network clarified that other assets issued on Liquid, including USDT, DePix, and some assets linked to real-world assets, were not affected.
600 BTC Move After 16 Years Rekindles Debate Over “Satoshi Coins”
The movement of 600 Bitcoin after more than 16 years of inactivity sparked a new wave of speculation in the digital asset market, especially since these coins are linked to a very early period in the network’s history. However, available on-chain data indicates that this does not prove any connection to Satoshi Nakamoto. According to on-chain data, the coins moved from 12 addresses that held a total of 600 BTC, valued at about $48 million, after remaining dormant for more than 16 years. These coins came from mining rewards dating back to March 2010, a time when Bitcoin was still in its early years.
Orionx shuts down permanently after audit reveals more than $7 million gap in customer assets
Chilean crypto trading platform Orionx, backed by stablecoin issuer Tether, announced that it has begun permanent shutdown procedures after discovering a major issue related to the custody of customer assets. The decision came after a forensic audit revealed that more than $7 million in custodial assets had moved to wallets not controlled by the company. Orionx said in a statement posted on X on Thursday that its current priority is to return as much of customers' assets as possible, while temporarily suspending withdrawals.
American sheriffs’ association shifts to neutral stance on the CLARITY Act
The National Sheriffs’ Association has withdrawn its previous opposition to the CLARITY Act bill concerning the structure of the cryptocurrency market, and announced that it has adopted a neutral stance as the vote on it in the U.S. Senate approaches later this month. This shift came in a letter sent on Thursday to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. The association said it changed its position to neutrality after what it described as the significant work done by Congress, the administration, and other stakeholders to address the legal, regulatory, and enforcement considerations related to the bill.
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