BitcoinKE

The Chief Investment Officer of Faida Unit Trust Funds, Ian Kahangara, has shared why investment schemes in the country have, for the longest time, refrained from offering crypto investment opportunities.
Faida Unit Trust Funds is an umbrella with 4 regulated collective investment schemes that includes:
Oak Money Market Fund
Oak Fixed Income Fund
Oak Multi-Asset Special Fund KES
Oak Multi-Asset Special Fund USD
The Oak Fund, managed by Faida Investment Bank, is a smaller player than the top 10 schemes overall. Faida Unit Trust Funds reported approximately KES 19.42 billion in assets in June 2026, placing it around 15th among schemes in Kenya.

When asked why the fund is not investing in cryptocurrencies on behalf of its over 9,500 clients, Kahangara, who is tasked with where funds are are deployed to make a return for clients, said:
“We are at the tail end of regulations by the Capital Markets Authority of Kenya in terms of adopting virtual assets. Remember, we are a regulated entity. You cannot have a regulated entity trading in unregulated products.
That is black and white in terms of the directives we have been given by the Capital Markets Authority.”

REGULATION | Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Kenya, Receives VASP Regulations Briefing Ahead of November 2026 Compliance Deadline

According to Kahangara. the space is exciting but the fund has to look at other aspects including consistency and volatility.
“When people leave us with their money – hard-earned money, their livelihoods, their pensions – they can sleep easily and wake up knowing that we will still be there and advocating for their money.”

INSTITUTIONAL | ‘Our Crypto Custody Asset Service is Going to Evolve into Other Services,’ Reveals ABSA Bank Kenya Director

Oak Fund is a Kenyan investment fund managed by Faida Investment Bank Limited. It gives investors access to local and international financial markets, with the aim of generating returns through a diversified portfolio. It is approved by Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA).
The Oak Fund is an umbrella brand for different investment products, including
a money market fund,
a fixed-income fund, and
a higher-risk multi-asset special fund.
The risks, minimum investment, and potential returns depend on which product you choose.


REGULATION | ‘We Have Not Licensed Any VASPs Under the [VASP] Act to Operate In or From Kenya,’ Says Central Bank and Capital Markets Regulator




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South Africa will revise proposed regulations governing cross-border cryptocurrency transactions after receiving thousands of public comments, Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, said.
In mid-2026, the National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) invited interested parties to submit written comments on the draft Crypto Assets Manual for cross-border activities (draft Manual).

PRESS RELEASE | National Treasury, South African Reserve Bank Invite Comments on the Crypto Assets Manual for Cross-Border Activities Draft

The draft rules, developed by the National Treasury and South African Reserve Bank, sought to bring crypto transfers under the country’s exchange-control framework to improve oversight of capital flows and combat illicit financial activity.
However, the proposals drew criticism from crypto businesses over restrictions on cross-border payments, stablecoin transactions, and transfers to self-custody wallets, raising concerns that the rules could limit legitimate activity and push transactions into unregulated channels.
CATASTROPHE (Crypto Asset Taskforce for Advancing Sound, Technology-Neutral Regulation for Opportunity, Prosperity and a Healthy Economy) launched a national campaign to highlight the unintended adverse consequences for South Africa if newly proposed cross-border regulations become law.
In a press release published by BitKE, the coalition said it brings together many leading regulated Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs) and other organisations, including VALR, Luno, AltCoinTrader, and EasyEquities, as well as professors, lawyers, economists, entrepreneurs, and many other members of the public.
CATASTROPHE claims that restrictive draft rules will harm domestic enterprises and jobs, slow economic participation, and isolate South Africa from the global digital economy.

PRESS RELEASE | The CATASTROPHE Coalition of South Africa Demands No Restrictions on Cross-Border Crypto Payments by Businesses

“We must aim to shift away from pre-approvals. Instead, we must assess transactions for legitimacy and tax compliance,” Godongwana said in his October 2026 budget statement.
“The treatment of crypto assets should also be guided by the recommendations from the Financial Stability Board.”

The stated goal of the new rules was to provent financial crime and capital flight via blockchain. However, according to critics, the overly restrictive nature of the regulations would have had the opposite effect of what was intended and would have harmed legitimate users.

EXPERT OPINION | Oversight Should Focus Where it Matters Most, Says MoneyBadger on the South Africa Capital Flow Management Draft Regulations

The government will begin consultations on a revised second draft of the regulations with the treatment of crypto assets also guided by recommendations from the Financial Stability Board.


INSIGHTS | Why South Africa is Re-Writing Decades-Old Money Rules



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South Africa will revise proposed regulations governing cross-border cryptocurrency transactions after receiving thousands of public comments, Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, said.
In mid-2026, the National Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) invited interested parties to submit written comments on the draft Crypto Assets Manual for cross-border activities (draft Manual).

PRESS RELEASE | National Treasury, South African Reserve Bank Invite Comments on the Crypto Assets Manual for Cross-Border Activities Draft

The draft rules, developed by the National Treasury and South African Reserve Bank, sought to bring crypto transfers under the country’s exchange-control framework to improve oversight of capital flows and combat illicit financial activity.
However, the proposals drew criticism from crypto businesses over restrictions on cross-border payments, stablecoin transactions, and transfers to self-custody wallets, raising concerns that the rules could limit legitimate activity and push transactions into unregulated channels.
CATASTROPHE (Crypto Asset Taskforce for Advancing Sound, Technology-Neutral Regulation for Opportunity, Prosperity and a Healthy Economy) launched a national campaign to highlight the unintended adverse consequences for South Africa if newly proposed cross-border regulations become law.
In a press release published by BitKE, the coalition said it brings together many leading regulated Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs) and other organisations, including VALR, Luno, AltCoinTrader, and EasyEquities, as well as professors, lawyers, economists, entrepreneurs, and many other members of the public. CATASTROPHE claims that restrictive draft rules will harm domestic enterprises and jobs, slow economic participation, and isolate South Africa from the global digital economy.
PRESS RELEASE | The CATASTROPHE Coalition of South Africa Demands No Restrictions on Cross-Border Crypto Payments by Businesses

“We must aim to shift away from pre-approvals. Instead, we must assess transactions for legitimacy and tax compliance,” Godongwana said in his October 2026 budget statement.
“The treatment of crypto assets should also be guided by the recommendations from the Financial Stability Board.”

The stated goal of the new rules was to provent financial crime and capital flight via blockchain. However, according to critics, the overly restrictive nature of the regulations would have had the opposite effect of what was intended and would have harmed legitimate users.

EXPERT OPINION | Oversight Should Focus Where it Matters Most, Says MoneyBadger on the South Africa Capital Flow Management Draft Regulations

The government will begin consultations on a revised second draft of the regulations with the treatment of crypto assets also guided by recommendations from the Financial Stability Board.


INSIGHTS | Why South Africa is Re-Writing Decades-Old Money Rules



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Switzerland’s financial regulator has approved the country’s first exchange-traded fund (ETF) that invests directly in Bitcoin and is available to retail investors opening a new route for individuals to gain exposure to the cryptocurrency through a regulated investment vehicle.
However, Switzerland has classified the first retail Bitcoin ETF as high-risk alternative investment fund.
Switzerland’s financial regulator FINMA has classified the country’s first retail spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) under its ‘other funds for alternative investments with specific risks’ category, reflecting the cryptocurrency’s volatility and the fund’s concentrated exposure to a single asset.
The classification allows the fund to operate under Switzerland’s collective investment scheme framework which differs from the debt-based exchange-traded products commonly used for Bitcoin exposure in Europe.

STABLECOINS | Financial Institutions and Corporate Treasury Teams Driving Stablecoin Adoption in Europe

FINMA granted an exemption from standard diversification requirements, citing Bitcoin’s long trading history and relatively high trading volumes.
The fund remains subject to custody safeguards, operational risk controls and investor disclosure requirements, while investors remain exposed to potential losses from Bitcoin’s price swings.


REGULATION | Switzerland Approves First Retail Bitcoin ETF Under Domestic Fund Rules




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The National Basketball Association (NBA) has named Kalshi and Polymarket its preferred prediction market exchanges and agreed to cooperate with U.S. regulators on oversight as the industry faces growing scrutiny over insider trading and the integrity of sports-related contracts.
The NBA said the partnerships would
restrict the types of markets operators can offer,
prohibit league and team personnel from trading contracts tied to NBA events, and
require information sharing related to suspicious trading and investigations.

INSIGHTS | Prediction Markets Have an Insider Trading Problem That Needs Fixing

The league also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to improve cooperation and information sharing on prediction-market integrity. The agreement follows similar arrangements between the regulator and Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League.

REGULATION | Gambling Rules Apply to Prediction Markets, Warns Major League Baseball of America

Under the commercial agreements, Kalshi and Polymarket will receive rights to
use NBA intellectual property,
promotional opportunities across U.S. media channels, and
official league data supplied through Sportradar
to operate and settle authorized markets.
The NBA has also expanded its agreement with sports betting operator, DraftKings, to cover prediction markets and nationwide promotion. It plans to extend similar arrangements to other partners.
The move comes as U.S. authorities investigate alleged gambling-related misconduct involving professional basketball and debate whether prediction markets should fall primarily under federal derivatives regulation or state gambling laws.
The CFTC maintains that it oversees these markets while several states have challenged the agency’s position.

REGULATION | ‘Gambling by Another Name is Still Gambling,’ Says New York as It Sues Coinbase, Gemini Over Prediction Markets Offerings

The partnerships give the NBA greater oversight of how participating platforms offer contracts tied to its games while providing exchanges with official data and commercial access to the league.
However, the agreements do not resolve the broader legal dispute over prediction-market jurisdiction.

MILESTONE | FIFA World Cup Generated $20 Billion in Prediction Markets Volume, Says Chainalysis




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Canada has opened a 60-day public consultation on proposed stablecoin regulations that would require non-bank issuers to
register with the Bank of Canada,
maintain fully backed reserves, and
redeem tokens at face value,
as the country prepares to establish a comprehensive framework for digital payments.
The proposed rules, published in the Canada Gazette on October 24 2026, would require issuers to
hold reserve assets denominated in the currency backing their stablecoins,
offer redemption at a one-to-one rate, and
return funds within three business days of a redemption request.
Redemption fees would be capped at 1% of the amount redeemed with issuers required to disclose fees and give holders at least seven days’ notice before fee increases.
The consultation closes on December 23 2026 with the government targeting implementation in fall 2027. The framework follows the passage of Canada’s Stablecoin Act in March 2026 and comes as jurisdictions, including the United States under its GENIUS Act, develop rules for fiat-backed digital currencies.

EDITORIAL | America’s Dollar Dominance Depends on Stablecoin Clarity – GENIUS Act Poised to Lead the Way

Ottawa says the proposed regulations address risks arising from inadequate reserves, issuer insolvency, weak risk management, and the exposure of sensitive financial information. They would also prohibit issuers from paying interest or yield simply for holding stablecoins although transaction-based rewards would be permitted.
Issuers would be barred from marketing tokens as legal tender, bank deposits, or products covered by government deposit insurance.

REGULATION | The European System of Central Banks Seeks Minimum Liquidity Thresholds for Stablecoin Reserves

Balancing Consumer Protection with Competition
The proposed framework seeks to make stablecoins more reliable for payments and cross-border transfers without allowing consumers to mistake them for government-guaranteed money. The government is also seeking to limit the risk of runs and de-pegging events that could undermine confidence in digital payments.
However, the rules raise questions about how smaller Canadian issuers can compete with established international stablecoin providers. Ottawa acknowledges that smaller operators may face higher per-unit redemption costs which is one reason the proposed fee ceiling is set at 1% despite redemption fees in the existing market generally reaching around 0.1%.
The consultation also highlights concerns about overlapping federal and provincial oversight, the treatment of financial institutions, and the ability of foreign issuers to qualify under Canada’s framework. The government says it wants consistent rules that reduce regulatory duplication and regulatory arbitrage while allowing exemptions where other jurisdictions have substantially similar regimes.

REGULATION | Community Banks Sue U.S. Regulator Over Crypto Trust Bank Charters

How the Framework Could be Refined
Stakeholders have an opportunity to seek clearer rules on
how comparable foreign frameworks will be assessed,
how reserve assets will be protected if an issuer fails, and
how redemption obligations will work during periods of market stress.
The Bank of Canada plans to consult on supervisory guidelines before the regulations take effect.
Consumer protection groups have also called for stronger ways to help users compare stablecoins, including a possible rating system. Ottawa has not proposed mandatory ratings, citing limited international experience and uncertainty about their additional benefits, but the draft would require issuers to establish complaint-handling procedures and publish information about their tokens, policies and redemption terms.

INTRODUCING | Big 3 Global Credit Rating Agency, S&P Global Ratings, Launches Stablecoin Stability Assessment

The proposals would also bring certain payment service providers using stablecoins within the scope of Canada’s Retail Payment Activities Act. The government estimates that about 30 providers not previously covered would face additional requirements involving operational risk management, safeguarding customer funds, and reporting to the Bank of Canada.
The challenge for Ottawa will be to ensure that reserve, redemption, and disclosure requirements are enforceable without creating unnecessary barriers to entry or fragmenting the market across jurisdictions. Clear guidance on foreign-regime recognition, proportionate compliance costs, and effective consumer disclosures could help reconcile those objectives.


REPORT | India, China, Philippines Account for ~20% of Stablecoin Transfers from Canada, Reveals Chainalysis




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The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) has encouraged community banks to apply to issue payment stablecoins as the regulator faces a lawsuit from the banking sector over its approval of crypto-focused trust banks.

REGULATION | Community Banks Sue U.S. Regulator Over Crypto Trust Bank Charters

The OCC has said it was encouraging the development of stablecoin capabilities among community banks following the finalization of rules implementing the GENIUS Act which establishes a federal framework for payment stablecoins. The rules take effect in January 2027.


The move comes as the Independent Community Bankers of America challenges the OCC’s authority to grant national trust bank charters to crypto firms arguing that they can offer overlapping services without facing the same regulatory requirements as traditional banks.

REGULATION | Community Banks Sue U.S. Regulator Over Crypto Trust Bank Charters

The trade group, which represents banks typically holding less than $10 billion in assets, filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. It is seeking to overturn an OCC rule and related guidance that facilitate applications for national trust charters by crypto firms.
The ICBA said the charters give crypto companies the credibility associated with a federal bank charter without subjecting them to the same regulatory requirements as traditional banks including
capital and liquidity standards,
consolidated supervision,
Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. insurance, and
Community Reinvestment Act obligations.
The lawsuite comes 7 months after the Bank Policy Institute (BOI), a lobbying group representing some of the largest U.S. banks, said it was also considering legal action against the regulator’s move to grant national trust bank charters to crypto and fintech firms.


REGULATION | U.S. Banking Lobby Weighs Lawsuit Against OCC Over Crypto Trust Charters
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StakerX, a Switzerland-based crypto trading platform, said its AI agent StakerGPT has attracted more than $40 million in staked assets on Solana within three months of its public launch, highlighting growing interest in automated cryptocurrency trading.

StakerX in the press- $40M staked on Solana within three months of launch, now covered by Business Insider, CoinMarketCap, Binance Square, Investing .com, TradingView, Benzinga, Decrypt, The Block and more.
Read the coverage https://t.co/8IjgXVXjqn https://t.co/SFRB9t30uJ
— StakerX (@StakerXAI) October 19, 2026
The platform reported more than 8,200 registered users, including over 3,000 who have funded accounts, as of October 18 2026. StakerGPT monitors markets around the clock and executes approved trades in perpetual futures markets using automated risk controls.
Every trade is public.
StakerX publishes the full record daily at stakerx.ai/trades, with the market, direction, entry and exit prices and return of each position, including both live-executed and signal-derived trades.


StakerX said it had published a record of 804 trades across 139 trading days and credited users with nearly $12 million in yield since launch.
Users can deposit
USDC,
USDT,
BTC,
ETH,
SOL,
BNB,
TRX
and more than 30 other cryptocurrencies from
Solana,
Ethereum,
Bitcoin,
BNB Chain,
Base,
Arbitrum,
Polygon,
TRON
and other networks.
Each deposit is converted and credited as USDC, a dollar-backed stablecoin, on Solana, so users do not need to bridge or swap anything themselves. Stakes start at $10 and run for 30 days.
The platform’s agentic trading agent puts that capital to work in crypto perpetual futures markets every day.
The platform accepts deposits in more than 40 cryptocurrencies which are converted into USDC on Solana. Users’ funds are exposed to trading and platform risks and reported yields do not guarantee future returns.

REALITY CHECK | The World’s Largest Asset Manager Says AI Agents Will Drive Demand for Stablecoins




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The Director of Global Markets at ABSA Bank Kenya, Wambere Mambo, has revealed that the bank is looking offering subsidiary services that come with digital assets custody.

Speaking about the banks latest digital asset custody, Mambo said the bank envisions many other services that can emerge from custody of digital assets.
“When you have a custody asset that has a digital format, it is going to evolve into other services be it trading, be it lending. We utilize some of those securities to be able to give funding and it will also bring up treasury solutions.
So the magnitude of just having that digital asset class is not just being able to store the value of that asset class, but it is the other services that can come from that solution.”

"When you have a custody asset that has a digital format, it’s going to evolve into other services be it trading, be it lending." – Director, Global Markets, @AbsaKenya
#CryptoCustody #CryptoCustodyKE #ABSAKenya #ABSAAfrica #InstitutionalCrypto #CryptoKenya #CryptoKE
— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) October 26, 2026

ABSA Group has become the first African bank to offer institutional digital-asset custody moving into a market that is gaining traction as traditional financial institutions expand into cryptocurrencies and tokenised assets.
The Johannesburg-based lender said its ABSA Digital Asset Custody service is initially available to institutional clients in South Africa, including
asset managers,
non-bank financial institutions, and
corporates.
The service provides the
safekeeping,
administration, and
transfer
of digital assets within a regulated banking environment.

MILESTONE | ABSA Becomes First African Bank to Offer Crypto Asset Custody

The new service comes exactly one year after Ripple announced a strategic partnership with ABSA bank to provide digital asset custody to the bank’s customers in South Africa.

PRESS RELEASE | Ripple Brings Institutional Digital Asset Custody to South Africa in Partnership with One of Africa’s Leading Financial Institutions

The latest comments from ABSA Bank Kenya point to a potential expansion of the services into Kenya, likely following authorization for virtual assets service providers which is expected to take place from November 2026.


REGULATION | Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Kenya, Receives VASP Regulations Briefing Ahead of November 2026 Compliance Deadline




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Hong Kong has designated Nasdaq-listed Solana Company (HSDT) as a strategic enterprise under a government programme aimed at attracting businesses that support economic growth, as the city seeks to expand its digital asset and blockchain infrastructure sector.
The company, the only blockchain infrastructure firm selected in the programme in 2026, plans to establish Solana validator operations in Hong Kong under its Pacific Backbone initiative, which aims to build a low-latency blockchain network across the Asia-Pacific region.
The designation provides support for engagement with government agencies and regulators, overseas recruitment and partnerships with local institutions.
Solana Company
operates staking and validator infrastructure,
advises financial institutions on blockchain adoption, and
holds Solana (SOL) as part of its digital asset treasury strategy.
Hong Kong added 18 enterprises in the latest selection round bringing the total number of companies under the programme to 142. The move comes as the city advances efforts to strengthen its position as a regional digital asset hub through regulatory initiatives and on-chain financial infrastructure.


PRESS RELEASE | The Hong Kong Monetary Authority Grants First Stablecoin Licenses to HSBC and AnchorPoint




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India’s CoinDCX said it had absorbed a $15.99 million loss after a failed internal process allowed customer deposits to accumulate in a retired cryptocurrency wallet linked to a $44 million security breach in July 2025.
The exchange said some users continued depositing funds into the old addresses despite instructions to use updated wallets. An automated service designed to transfer those deposits to its primary wallets failed for an unspecified period, resulting in the loss.
CoinDCX said its active wallets, trading systems, and customer balances were unaffected, adding that user funds remained protected in segregated cold wallets.
The disclosure followed initial denials of suspicious outflows flagged by blockchain investigators, including the popular on-chain investigator, ZachXBT, who questioned the exchange’s account of activity involving the retired addresses.

DeFi | Humanity Protocol Looses Over $30 Million Due to a Compromised Laptop

The CEO, Sumit Gupta, had initially described the reports as a false alarm.
The incident highlights operational and security risks associated with managing legacy wallet infrastructure even after addresses have been retired following a breach. CoinDCX said it would strengthen monitoring and controls around its deprecated systems.

CASE STUDY | Why This Decentralized Protocol is Giving Top Priority to Operational Security




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Crypto theft rose 55% quarter-on-quarter to $1.18 billion in the third quarter of 2026, according to blockchain security firm Hacken, as BitKE reported. Most of those losses came from exploited smart contracts and access-control failures at platforms.
But not every loss starts with a hack.
When you buy a newly launched token, some of the biggest risks are written into the token itself. On Solana, you can check them in a few minutes with a block explorer such as Solscan or Solana Explorer.

Here are five checks worth running before you buy.

1.) Can the supply still grow?
Look up the token’s mint address and find the mint authority field. If it shows an address, that account can create new tokens at any time and dilute everyone who already holds them. If it is empty, the supply is fixed.

2.) Can your tokens be frozen?
The freeze authority field works the same way. If it is set, the issuer can freeze the token in any holder’s account, including yours. Regulated issuers may keep it for compliance reasons, but for a new community or meme token it is a red flag.

3.) Who holds the supply?
Open the holders list. If a handful of wallets control most of the supply, a few sales can crash the price. The largest holder is often the liquidity pool itself, so check which addresses belong to the pool before drawing conclusions.

4.) Can the liquidity disappear?
A token is only as tradable as its liquidity. Check where it trades and whether the liquidity provider (LP) tokens have been burned or locked. If the creator can withdraw the pool, buyers can be left holding a token nobody can sell.

5.) Is it the real token?
Copycat tokens reuse popular names, symbols and logos. Always confirm the mint address through the project’s official website or social channels, never through a link in a direct message. Also check the update authority: if it is still active, the name and logo can be changed later.

What trustworthy teams do differently
Teams that want to be trusted usually switch these powers off at launch, and tools such as JTools have made that a simple choice. With its Token Creator, teams can revoke the mint, freeze and update authorities while creating the token, so buyers can verify the decision on-chain from day one. Solana’s official token documentation explains each of these settings in more detail.
Passing all five checks does not make a token a good investment. It only removes some of the easiest ways to lose money. Do your own research, and never share your seed phrase with anyone.


This article is for educational purposes only and is not investment advice.



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This is a sponsored post.

The European Central Bank (ECB) sees a digital euro as a way to reduce the European Union’s reliance on foreign payment providers and strengthen control over its financial infrastructure as the bloc seeks greater technological and economic autonomy.

ECB Executive Board member, Piero Cipollone, said Europe’s dependence on non-European companies creates vulnerabilities in essential payment services. He said the digital euro would give the bloc a publicly-backed alternative without excluding foreign providers from the market.

In an interview, Cipollone said:
“Payments constitute a strategic infrastructure for Europe and, as a central bank, ensuring the smooth functioning of payment systems falls within our mandate. Whenever we buy something online or pay for a coffee, we think about the price of what we’re buying. But we hardly ever think about how the payment is made. Yet if the payment system stops working, the economy stops working.”

Cipollone revealed that purchases are increasingly being made online.
“In Italy, for example, according to the latest available data, online payments grew from 6% of the total in 2019 to 24% in 2024. And I expect they’ve grown even more since then.

REALITY CHECK | The European Central Bank (ECB) Says a Digital Euro is Needed to Protect Europe’s Monetary Sovereignty

Highlighting the risks of over-dependency on non-Euro operators, Cipollone said:
“These online purchases are normally made via card payments and two thirds of these payments are made using non-European card schemes. For most euro area countries, this dependence on non-European operators is not limited to online payments but also extends to physical shops, because they don’t even have anything like Italy’s Bancomat that would enable payments to be made in local shops.
In short, for an essential service like payments, we are heavily dependent on an infrastructure over which we have no direct control.”

STABLECOINS | European Central Bank (ECB) Opens Digital Euro Pilot to Online and Mobile Merchants

There will be two options.
Banks will be able to integrate the digital euro into the apps their clients already use, while
the Eurosystem will offer an easy-to-use, standardised, reliable app with the basic functions.

“Even if you use the latter option, your relationship will nevertheless still be with your own bank; the ECB will not open accounts for people,” says Cipollone.

The digital euro payments will also work offline during a power cut or in remote and isolated areas where there’s no internet connection or where the connection is weak and sporadic.
“It will suffice to bring two devices together, as when using a contactless card today.
The payment will be made directly between the payor and payee, without going via the internet. It means merchants can keep receiving payments even when other digital payment methods are not available.”


The ECB plans to pilot test real transactions in 2027 with ECB and other national central banks with a potential launch in 2029 subject to EU legislation expected to advance by the end of 2026.

STABLECOINS | European Central Bank (ECB) Opens Digital Euro Pilot to Online and Mobile Merchants

The project aims to provide a digital form of central bank money for everyday payments, complementing cash and existing payment systems.

CBDC | European Central Bank Selects 36 Payment Providers for Digital Euro Pilot Ahead of 2027 Trial




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Six more companies, including
Wells Fargo,
Arm Holdings, and
Intuit
have objected to plans by crypto exchange, OKX, and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) to offer on-chain tokenized versions of their shares bringing the total number of objecting companies to 22, according to a regulatory document reviewed by Reuters.
The new additions come less than a week after 7 more companies, most notably:
Microsoft,
Alphabet,
Goldman Sachs,
Qualcomm,
Caterpillar,
McDonald’s, and
Western Digital
were named in an updated notice dated October 19, joining earlier objectors including
Broadcom,
Verizon, and
United Health Group.

INSTITUTIONAL | Microsoft, Alphabet, Qualcomm, Goldman Sachs Join Opposition to OKX-ICE Tokenized Stock Trading

OKX and ICE had planned to tokenize 63 stocks through their joint venture, OKXICE. Tokenization involves representing traditional financial assets as digital tokens on a blockchain, potentially enabling round-the-clock trading and faster settlement.

INSTITUTIONAL | NYSE and OKX File for 24/7 Tokenised U.S Stock Trading

The companies’ objections pose a challenge to the initiative despite the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s recent introduction of a regulatory exemption for tokenized securities. Under the framework, platforms must notify companies before listing tokenized versions of their shares and cannot proceed if an issuer objects.
The document does not specify why the companies objected. Nasdaq has also raised concerns that inadequately regulated tokenized stocks could fragment market liquidity and undermine price discovery.


INSTITUTIONAL | Why Major U.S-Listed Companies are Opposing New York Stock Exchange Tokenization Plans




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Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has called for a plan exploring alternative economic infrastructure, including blockchain technology and digital currencies, to help Israel withstand potential international sanctions, according to reports.
On-chain payment systems could offer alternative channels for transferring money, settling transactions, and tokenizing assets potentially reducing reliance on individual financial intermediaries. However, they cannot guarantee access to foreign exchange, overseas suppliers, or international markets if sanctions restrict financial relationships.

STABLECOINS | ‘USDT has Become a Significant Financial Lifeline Within Iran’s Shadow Banking Network,’ Says a Senate Democrats Report

Israel has already taken steps toward integrating blockchain into its financial system.

In April 2026, the country approved BILS, a shekel-pegged stablecoin developed by Bits of Gold following a pilot on the Solana blockchain. Bank Leumi has also partnered with Galaxy Digital to develop cryptocurrency trading services for customers while the Bank of Israel continues to assess a potential digital shekel.

REGULATION | Israel Approves Shekel-Pegged Stablecoin After Solana Pilot

These initiatives demonstrate how blockchain could support digital payments and settlement within regulated financial markets. They do not, however, establish that Israel could bypass international sanctions or operate independently of the global financial system.

GEOPOLITICS | Sanctions Imposed by the West Are Blocking African Development Financing, Says Russia

The effectiveness of any proposed alternative would depend on regulatory approval, liquidity, participating institutions, and whether overseas businesses were willing and legally permitted to accept payments through the system.


REGULATION | U.S. Targets Iran’s Largest Crypto Exchange in Escalation of Financial Pressure Campaign




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South Korea’s government and central bank plan to amend the country’s Foreign Exchange Transactions Act in 2026 to regulate stablecoins as payment instruments as authorities seek tighter oversight of cross-border digital asset transactions.
The Bank of Korea said it intends to work with the government on legislation and develop a monitoring framework for virtual asset transactions, including reporting through the country’s foreign exchange information network.

REGULATION | South Korea Draft Bill to Classify Stablecoins as Foreign Exchange Payment Instruments

The measures aim to address potential gaps in oversight as digital assets enable transfers that bypass traditional financial institutions.
The central bank has also raised concerns about the use of cryptocurrency mixers and unhosted wallets which can make transactions harder to trace and increase the risk of illicit financial activity.
Separately, South Korea is developing the Digital Asset Basic Act which would establish a broader regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry, including licensing requirements for exchanges and rules governing stablecoin issuance. Financial Services Commission Chairman, Lee Eog-weon, said discussions on the legislation were nearing completion.
The proposed foreign exchange law changes remain under development with details on their scope and implementation yet to be finalised.


REGULATION | A South Korean Policy Report Proposes Stablecoin Oversight Ahead of the Digital Asset Basic Act




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Robinhood Markets is seeing rising demand for prediction-market contracts tied to Bitcoin, gold and crude oil as traders increasingly use the products to speculate on financial markets rather than sports and elections.
JB Mackenzie, Robinhood’s Vice President and General Manager for Futures and Prediction Markets, said the contracts were among the platform’s fastest-growing products, although sports remained its largest category.

“Price volatility contracts, such as bitcoin, crude oil, gold, start to dominate the marketplace,” Mackenzie said at the NEXTPredict conference in New York.

The shift is expanding Robinhood’s event-contract business beyond traditional betting markets. The platform’s largest event contract in September 2026 was tied to the Federal Reserve’s interest-rate decision highlighting demand for contracts linked to economic policy.
Crypto-related contracts are also moving toward shorter trading windows with some settling in as little as 15 minutes. Mackenzie compared the risks of such contracts to zero-day options which expire on the same trading day and can expose traders to rapid losses.

REALITY CHECK | Traditional Bitcoin Futures Market Down 97% in 5 Years as Perpetuals, Options Gain Ground

Robinhood, which entered prediction markets through a partnership with federally regulated exchange, Kalshi, is also using the products to attract customers to its broader platform, including stocks, cryptocurrencies, futures, and options.
The expansion comes as sports-related prediction contracts face legal challenges from state gambling regulators potentially increasing the importance of financial-market contracts as a source of growth for the company.
Mackenzie said prediction markets could become Robinhood’s fastest-growing business segment among 11 business lines that each generate more than $100 million in annual revenue.


AI | Over 150, 000 Agentic Accounts Have Been Created on Our Platform, Says Robinhood




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Crypto wallet provider, Phantom, has began rolling out access to Kalshi’s prediction markets to U.S. users allowing them to trade contracts tied to real-world events directly through its app.
Users will fund trades through Phantom Cash using its dollar-pegged CASH stablecoin, with identity verification required. Phantom will restrict certain markets in Michigan, Nevada, and Washington as legal disputes continue over whether federally regulated prediction markets are subject to state gambling laws.

REGULATION | Kalshi Looses Appeal as U.S Court Backs State Regulation of Sports Gambling Contracts

Phantom General Counsel, Kevin Jacobs, said the company was comfortable proceeding citing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s jurisdiction over the products. The regulator granted Phantom conditional ‘No Action’ relief from broker registration requirements in March 2026.

REGULATION | The Phantom Crypto Wallet Receives First-of-its-Kind No Action Relief from CFTC

The regulator said the position applies under specific conditions, including that Phantom does not hold customer funds or intermediate trades, with orders routed directly to registered market participants.
The integration gives Kalshi access to Phantom’s crypto-native user base as competition intensifies across prediction markets. Kalshi has recorded more than $291 billion in trading volume in 2026 so far with October 2026 activity approaching a new monthly record.
The rollout highlights a broader push by crypto platforms to embed prediction markets into wallets and trading apps while regulatory uncertainty over sports and other event contracts remains unresolved.


MILESTONE | Prediction Markets, Kalshi, Sees Over 1,500% YoY Growth in Website Visits in July 2026




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HSBC has launched its first Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin, RedCoin, through its PayMe payments platform, targeting more than 3.3 million users as the bank expands its digital asset business.
The stablecoin, which is licensed and regulated by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), will initially support peer-to-peer transfers and payments at more than 100,000 merchants through PayMe. Users will be able to activate wallets in the app in the coming days, HSBC said.

REGULATION | China Formalizes a Broad Ban on RMB-Linked Stablecoins and RWA Tokenization

The bank plans to add RedCoin functionality to its Hong Kong mobile banking app later this year and enable customers to use the stablecoin to subscribe to tokenised investment products, including a share class of an existing Hong Kong dollar money market fund.

“Money, assets and information are moving from traditional infrastructure to always-on, data-rich and increasingly programmable digital networks,” said Maggie Ng, HSBC’s chief executive for Hong Kong and head of retail banking and wealth.

HSBC also plans to expand RedCoin into wholesale corporate and institutional applications, according to John O’Neill, the bank’s managing director for digital assets and currencies.
The launch follows the HKMA’s decision in April 2026 to grant its first stablecoin issuer licences to HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial, a venture involving
Standard Chartered,
Hong Kong Telecommunications, and
Animoca Brands.

PRESS RELEASE | The Hong Kong Monetary Authority Grants First Stablecoin Licenses to HSBC and AnchorPoint

Hong Kong’s stablecoin licensing regime took effect in August 2025.
RedCoin extends HSBC’s existing digital asset offerings, which include tokenised deposits for wholesale payments, digital bonds for institutional investors and a gold-backed token for retail customers.


STABLECOINS | Standard Chartered Becomes First Bank to Distribute a Regulated Hong Kong Stablecoin




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The Central Bank of Ireland has fined Coinbase Ireland €3.25 million ($3.6 million) for breaching customer fund safeguarding and outsourcing rules between November 2020 and August 2025.
The regulator said the crypto exchange’s Irish unit
relied excessively on its US-based parent for safeguarding controls,
lacked sufficient local expertise to oversee customer funds, and
allowed its designated safeguarding account to remain underfunded for extended periods.
The breaches included arrangements that resulted in some customer funds being held alongside funds belonging to customers of other Coinbase entities as well as technical errors that affected daily safeguarding calculations.

“Payment and e-money firms have a fundamental obligation to fully safeguard customers’ funds,” said Karen O’Leary, the Central Bank of Ireland’s Director of Enforcement, adding that the regulator had “no tolerance for weaknesses in safeguarding arrangements.”

REGULATION | BitPanda Fined €70,000 in Austria’s First Published MiCA Penalty

Coinbase said it had self-reported several issues and strengthened its controls. The company said no customers suffered financial losses or were unable to access their funds.
The fine reflects a 30% settlement discount and remains subject to confirmation by Ireland’s High Court. It follows a separate €21.5 million fine imposed on Coinbase Europe in 2025 over anti-money laundering compliance failures.
The case underscores the regulatory risks facing crypto firms that rely on group-wide infrastructure while operating under local financial rules particularly where customer money must be segregated and protected.
According to the Central Bank of Ireland, firms operating as part of larger international groups must demonstrate:
The ability to make independent strategic decisions and maintain responsibility for core activities, with appropriate oversight of material risks including outsourced services.
Sufficient financial and operational capacity to deliver strategy sustainably and in a customer-centric manner, whilst complying with Irish regulatory and legislative obligations.
Effective internal governance arrangements, control mechanisms, and administrative policies designed to enable effective operation, manage risks, and protect customer interests.
Effective board oversight to identify, challenge, and constrain excessive risktaking, with implementation of appropriate risk mitigation measures.
Sufficiently integrated governance arrangements and internal control functions with appropriate resources, stature, and expertise to respond to the range of risks facing the firm and safeguard customer interests.

According to the regulator:
The safeguarding of Users’ Funds is a key supervisory priority for the Central Bank and a fundamental requirement for all EMIs under the EMR 2011. Customers entrust their funds to EMIs with the expectation that those funds will be protected and readily available for redemption. If Users’ Funds are not adequately safeguarded there is potential for loss or detriment.


REGULATION | South Korean Exchange, CoinOne, Fined ~$3.5 Million and 3-Month Suspension Over AML, KYC Failures





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