Major Banks’ Bitcoin Adoption Reaches 32% — Fidelity Leads as Wall Street Slowly Embraces Digital...
The banking world’s engagement with Bitcoin and digital assets is accelerating but remains unevenly distributed across global financial institutions. A new Bitcoin Banking Adoption Index released by Strategy Inc. on July 13, 2026, reveals that major banks are integrating cryptocurrency services at a 32% average adoption rate — a metric that underscores both emerging institutional momentum and substantial untapped opportunity in the sector. Strategy CEO Phong Le stated: “Adoption of Bitcoin and the related digital asset ecosystem across major banks and financial institutions is accelerating, but still early at 32%.” The index evaluated approximately 25 to 30 of the world’s largest banks across five key categories: Bitcoin and spot ETF trading, institutional custody, blockchain-related products including stablecoins and tokenization, lending and margin services, and executive-level commitment to digital assets. The Leaders: Who’s Winning the Bitcoin Race Fidelity Investments dominates the rankings with a 71% adoption score, significantly outpacing competitors. Fidelity’s lead reflects years of investment in institutional crypto custody, beginning with the establishment of Fidelity Digital Assets in 2018, paired with its Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (NYSE: FBTC). The Currency analytics The gap between Fidelity and other major institutions is substantial. BNY Mellon ranks second globally with a 46% adoption score, focused primarily on institutional digital asset custody, while Goldman Sachs scores 45%. JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup cluster together at 43% each, benefiting from broader involvement in Bitcoin ETF products and client investment exposure. The Currency analytics The second tier of American banks shows moderate engagement. Wells Fargo leads this group at 38%, followed by Charles Schwab and TD Bank at 32%. These institutions offer Bitcoin trading and exposure but typically maintain narrower product portfolios than top-tier leaders. Geographic Disparities: US Dominance, Asian Lag The index reveals stark geographic divisions in Bitcoin adoption. North American institutions dominate the upper rankings, while most European and Japanese lenders score below 30%. European banks including Banco Santander and Société Générale score 35%, while BNP Paribas, HSBC, Crédit Agricole, and UBS each score 30%. Asian banking institutions show the slowest adoption. Japan’s SMBC and the Royal Bank of Canada score just 13%, constrained by more restrictive local regulatory frameworks. The single notable exception is DBS (Singapore), which operates a progressive digital exchange offering crypto trading and custody services. What the Index Actually Measures The Strategy index assesses bank adoption across dimensions that matter to institutional clients and retail users alike. Scoring categories include Bitcoin and spot ETF trading, custody for Bitcoin and ether, stablecoin and tokenization work, yield and lending products, underwriting for exchange-traded products, and whether corporate treasuries have allocated to Bitcoin. However, a critical distinction exists between capability and availability. The rankings indicate whether capabilities are publicly visible, but they do not measure customer numbers, transaction volumes, assets, revenue or profitability. A service may be limited to institutional or wealth-management clients, or restricted to particular geographic markets. A high adoption score therefore reflects the breadth of Bitcoin services a bank offers, not necessarily how many customers use them or how accessible those services are to retail depositors. What 32% Means for Institutional Bitcoin Adoption The 32% overall score reflects a paradox: major banks are integrating Bitcoin services, yet most have not deeply committed to the asset class. The gap widens by geography, with U.S. institutions significantly ahead of European and Asian counterparts. Strategy’s index comes from a company with substantial stakes in Bitcoin adoption outcomes. Strategy holds 843,775 Bitcoin alongside a $3 billion USD reserve as of July 12, 2026, making it the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin treasury holder. The company’s interest in demonstrating institutional momentum is therefore not neutral. However, the underlying data points align with market reality: major banks have deployed Bitcoin infrastructure, but adoption remains fragmented across services and customer segments. The Institutional Opportunity Ahead The 32% adoption figure signals both achievement and runway. Banks have moved beyond discussing Bitcoin to deploying custody infrastructure, launching ETF products, and enabling client exposure. Yet the global financial system remains in early stages of digital asset integration — two-thirds of major banks score below 32%, suggesting substantial opportunity for institutions that increase their Bitcoin capabilities. Michael Saylor, Strategy co-founder, has repeatedly emphasized that “limited banking acceptance” represents one of the primary obstacles to Bitcoin’s growth as a treasury asset. The index therefore serves as a report card not just for banks, but for the Bitcoin ecosystem’s path toward mainstream financial integration.
The European Parliament Approved Mass Message Scanning Through a Procedural Loophole — Here’s Wha...
In one of the most controversial parliamentary maneuvers in recent European legislative history, the European Parliament approved the reinstatement of Chat Control 1.0 on July 9, 2026 — a regulation that allows technology companies to scan private messages for illegal content. The vote outcome was stunning: 314 lawmakers voted against it, yet the measure passed anyway. Understanding how this happened requires knowing how European parliamentary procedures work — and why tech companies, cryptography experts, and privacy advocates are alarmed. What Exactly Is Chat Control 1.0? Chat Control 1.0 is a temporary exemption to European privacy laws that permits messaging platforms like Gmail, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, and Skype to voluntarily scan users’ private communications. The platforms search for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — images and videos of child exploitation — and report findings to law enforcement authorities. The system works using hash matching, a technique that compares files against a database of known illegal content. When a match is found, the platform flags the conversation and reports it to authorities. In theory, the system focuses on already-identified abuse material, not new material. Here’s the important distinction: platforms are allowed to scan, but they are not required to do so. It is voluntary. Additionally, services using end-to-end encryption — including WhatsApp and Signal, where the platform itself cannot see message contents — remain exempt from this rule. The company cannot scan what it cannot access. How Did This Pass If Most Lawmakers Voted Against It? This is where the procedural complexity becomes crucial. Chat Control 1.0 expired on April 3, 2026, after the European Parliament rejected its extension in March. The vote was decisive: 311 MEPs (Members of European Parliament) opposed renewal, 228 supported it, and 92 abstained. The matter appeared settled. But on July 2, 2026, the European Council — representing the 27 member-state governments — unilaterally adopted Chat Control 1.0 as its official position for what is called a “second reading.” That procedural designation is the loophole. Under second-reading rules, Parliament cannot simply pass or reject a measure by a simple majority vote. Instead, lawmakers can only block or amend the Council’s proposal if they achieve an absolute majority of all 720 MEPs — meaning 361 votes are needed, not just a majority of those present. On July 9, when the vote occurred, 607 MEPs were present and voting. Of those, 314 voted to reject the extension — a clear majority of attendees. But because 361 votes were required to block it, and only 314 were cast in opposition, the measure passed by default. The extension survived not because it won an argument, but because it cleared a procedural threshold. The timing compounded the controversy. The vote was scheduled during the last parliamentary session before the summer recess, when attendance drops significantly. Around 112 MEPs were absent. Critics argue this wasn’t an accident — it was deliberately scheduled to minimize opposition votes. The Democratic Problem Privacy advocates and cybersecurity experts immediately flagged a fundamental issue: how can lawmakers who reject something democratically find it imposed through procedural maneuvering? Former MEP Patrick Breyer, a long-time privacy advocate, stated bluntly: “The fact that Chat Control is moving forward against the will of the majority of voting MEPs is a farce and damages democracy.” MEP Markéta Gregorová added that the move violated “our own rules of procedure” and accused the largest parliamentary bloc, the European People’s Party, of abusing its position to resurrect a proposal the Parliament had already rejected. The paradox is stark: more lawmakers voted against Chat Control than for it. Yet it passed. What This Means for Regular Users If you use Gmail, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Direct Messages, Snapchat, Skype, or similar platforms in Europe, those services now have legal permission to scan your messages. The company will look for images and videos of child abuse and report them to authorities if found. Importantly, text messages are not scanned — only images and videos. If you use WhatsApp, Signal, or other end-to-end encrypted services, your messages remain unscanned. These platforms encrypt data so thoroughly that even the company operating the service cannot see what users send to each other. Chat Control 1.0 explicitly exempts these services. The regulation will remain in effect until April 3, 2028, while European lawmakers negotiate Chat Control 2.0 — a more permanent, more invasive framework that could potentially require scanning of encrypted messages using artificial intelligence. The Crypto and Tech Industry Impact The crypto community and Web3 developers view Chat Control 1.0 as a warning signal. Here’s why: the technology used to encrypt private messages is the same cryptographic foundation that secures blockchain networks and cryptocurrency wallets. If European regulators successfully mandate breaking or weakening encryption for messaging, they will create pressure to apply similar rules to cryptocurrency platforms. Companies like Signal have already threatened to withdraw from the EU entirely if Chat Control 2.0 passes. Exodus to non-regulated jurisdictions would mean European users losing access to secure communications tools. For artificial intelligence developers, the concern is different but related. Chat Control relies increasingly on AI systems to detect abuse material, including new or modified images the system hasn’t encountered before. The European Commission’s own testing found these AI systems produced false positives “as high as 20 percent” — meaning one in five flagged conversations were not actually illegal content. Expanding AI-based scanning creates risks of innocent users being flagged to authorities based on algorithmic error. What’s Coming Next: Chat Control 2.0 This vote does not finalize European privacy policy. Chat Control 1.0 is a temporary exemption. The real battle is over Chat Control 2.0 — formally called the Child Sexual Abuse Regulation (CSAR) — which has been under negotiation since 2022 and remains deeply contested. Chat Control 2.0 could require platforms to scan encrypted messages by implementing “client-side scanning” — technology that analyzes content on a user’s device before it gets encrypted. Such technology would effectively weaken end-to-end encryption, creating vulnerabilities that governments, criminals, and hackers could potentially exploit. Negotiations on Chat Control 2.0 resume in September 2026. The vote count on Chat Control 1.0 suggests support is fragile: if lawmakers achieve even a simple majority against a permanent framework, it could be blocked. The Bigger Picture Chat Control 1.0’s passage through procedural maneuvering raises questions about EU decision-making. Parliamentary rules designed to protect minority interests became, in this case, a tool for passing legislation against the majority’s explicit vote. European lawmakers and analysts are asking whether procedural safeguards work as intended or whether they can be weaponized to resurrect rejected proposals. For cryptocurrency, Web3, and privacy-focused tech companies, the message is clear: Europe’s regulatory environment continues tightening around encryption, data access, and communications privacy. Whether Chat Control 2.0 advances will depend on whether lawmakers value privacy rights or regulatory access in 2026-2027.
The European Parliament Approved Mass Message Scanning Through a Procedural Loophole — Here’s Wha...
In one of the most controversial parliamentary maneuvers in recent European legislative history, the European Parliament approved the reinstatement of Chat Control 1.0 on July 9, 2026 — a regulation that allows technology companies to scan private messages for illegal content. The vote outcome was stunning: 314 lawmakers voted against it, yet the measure passed anyway. Understanding how this happened requires knowing how European parliamentary procedures work — and why tech companies, cryptography experts, and privacy advocates are alarmed. What Exactly Is Chat Control 1.0? Chat Control 1.0 is a temporary exemption to European privacy laws that permits messaging platforms like Gmail, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, and Skype to voluntarily scan users’ private communications. The platforms search for child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — images and videos of child exploitation — and report findings to law enforcement authorities. The system works using hash matching, a technique that compares files against a database of known illegal content. When a match is found, the platform flags the conversation and reports it to authorities. In theory, the system focuses on already-identified abuse material, not new material. Here’s the important distinction: platforms are allowed to scan, but they are not required to do so. It is voluntary. Additionally, services using end-to-end encryption — including WhatsApp and Signal, where the platform itself cannot see message contents — remain exempt from this rule. The company cannot scan what it cannot access. How Did This Pass If Most Lawmakers Voted Against It? This is where the procedural complexity becomes crucial. Chat Control 1.0 expired on April 3, 2026, after the European Parliament rejected its extension in March. The vote was decisive: 311 MEPs (Members of European Parliament) opposed renewal, 228 supported it, and 92 abstained. The matter appeared settled. But on July 2, 2026, the European Council — representing the 27 member-state governments — unilaterally adopted Chat Control 1.0 as its official position for what is called a “second reading.” That procedural designation is the loophole. Under second-reading rules, Parliament cannot simply pass or reject a measure by a simple majority vote. Instead, lawmakers can only block or amend the Council’s proposal if they achieve an absolute majority of all 720 MEPs — meaning 361 votes are needed, not just a majority of those present. On July 9, when the vote occurred, 607 MEPs were present and voting. Of those, 314 voted to reject the extension — a clear majority of attendees. But because 361 votes were required to block it, and only 314 were cast in opposition, the measure passed by default. The extension survived not because it won an argument, but because it cleared a procedural threshold. The timing compounded the controversy. The vote was scheduled during the last parliamentary session before the summer recess, when attendance drops significantly. Around 112 MEPs were absent. Critics argue this wasn’t an accident — it was deliberately scheduled to minimize opposition votes. The Democratic Problem Privacy advocates and cybersecurity experts immediately flagged a fundamental issue: how can lawmakers who reject something democratically find it imposed through procedural maneuvering? Former MEP Patrick Breyer, a long-time privacy advocate, stated bluntly: “The fact that Chat Control is moving forward against the will of the majority of voting MEPs is a farce and damages democracy.” MEP Markéta Gregorová added that the move violated “our own rules of procedure” and accused the largest parliamentary bloc, the European People’s Party, of abusing its position to resurrect a proposal the Parliament had already rejected. The paradox is stark: more lawmakers voted against Chat Control than for it. Yet it passed. What This Means for Regular Users If you use Gmail, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Direct Messages, Snapchat, Skype, or similar platforms in Europe, those services now have legal permission to scan your messages. The company will look for images and videos of child abuse and report them to authorities if found. Importantly, text messages are not scanned — only images and videos. If you use WhatsApp, Signal, or other end-to-end encrypted services, your messages remain unscanned. These platforms encrypt data so thoroughly that even the company operating the service cannot see what users send to each other. Chat Control 1.0 explicitly exempts these services. The regulation will remain in effect until April 3, 2028, while European lawmakers negotiate Chat Control 2.0 — a more permanent, more invasive framework that could potentially require scanning of encrypted messages using artificial intelligence. The Crypto and Tech Industry Impact The crypto community and Web3 developers view Chat Control 1.0 as a warning signal. Here’s why: the technology used to encrypt private messages is the same cryptographic foundation that secures blockchain networks and cryptocurrency wallets. If European regulators successfully mandate breaking or weakening encryption for messaging, they will create pressure to apply similar rules to cryptocurrency platforms. Companies like Signal have already threatened to withdraw from the EU entirely if Chat Control 2.0 passes. Exodus to non-regulated jurisdictions would mean European users losing access to secure communications tools. For artificial intelligence developers, the concern is different but related. Chat Control relies increasingly on AI systems to detect abuse material, including new or modified images the system hasn’t encountered before. The European Commission’s own testing found these AI systems produced false positives “as high as 20 percent” — meaning one in five flagged conversations were not actually illegal content. Expanding AI-based scanning creates risks of innocent users being flagged to authorities based on algorithmic error. What’s Coming Next: Chat Control 2.0 This vote does not finalize European privacy policy. Chat Control 1.0 is a temporary exemption. The real battle is over Chat Control 2.0 — formally called the Child Sexual Abuse Regulation (CSAR) — which has been under negotiation since 2022 and remains deeply contested. Chat Control 2.0 could require platforms to scan encrypted messages by implementing “client-side scanning” — technology that analyzes content on a user’s device before it gets encrypted. Such technology would effectively weaken end-to-end encryption, creating vulnerabilities that governments, criminals, and hackers could potentially exploit. Negotiations on Chat Control 2.0 resume in September 2026. The vote count on Chat Control 1.0 suggests support is fragile: if lawmakers achieve even a simple majority against a permanent framework, it could be blocked. The Bigger Picture Chat Control 1.0’s passage through procedural maneuvering raises questions about EU decision-making. Parliamentary rules designed to protect minority interests became, in this case, a tool for passing legislation against the majority’s explicit vote. European lawmakers and analysts are asking whether procedural safeguards work as intended or whether they can be weaponized to resurrect rejected proposals. For cryptocurrency, Web3, and privacy-focused tech companies, the message is clear: Europe’s regulatory environment continues tightening around encryption, data access, and communications privacy. Whether Chat Control 2.0 advances will depend on whether lawmakers value privacy rights or regulatory access in 2026-2027.
Hernando De Soto Plantea Uso De Blockchain Para Impulsar La Economía Peruana: “Activos Deben Conv...
Hernando de Soto plantea uso de blockchain para impulsar la economía peruana: “Activos deben convertirse en capital productivo” Excandidato presidencial propone que títulos de las propiedades, concesiones y contratos sean cotizados como capital de inversión y de esa manera combatir la economía informal. De Soto expondrá sus planteamientos en el Perú Blockchain Conference 2026, este 11 de julio en el JW Marriott Larcomar, junto a destacados representantes de empresas líderes del ecosistema blockchain y crypto global. Lima, Perú — El economista y excandidato presidencial, Hernando de Soto, planteó una innovadora propuesta económica orientada a la inclusión financiera de los sectores más vulnerables del país, sugiriendo el uso de la tecnología blockchain y sistemas de criptoactivos para dinamizar la economía nacional. Según explicó De Soto, gran parte de los peruanos en situación de pobreza habitan sobre algunos de los territorios más ricos del país; sin embargo, la falta de títulos formales impide a millones de peruanos convertir sus activos -como tierras, negocios o recursos- en capital productivo, dejándolos excluidos del sistema financiero. “Por qué, los más pobres, la mayor parte de ellos propietarios y emprendedores, se encuentran en los territorios más ricos del Perú y no pueden capitalizarse para entrar en la revolución industrial. La respuesta es que los títulos de las propiedades, las concesiones y los contratos que los vinculan al mundo, y que deberían permitirles generar capital, tienen serias limitaciones”, sostuvo De Soto, quien brindará una charla sobre este tema en el Perú Blockchain Conference 2026 que se desarrollará este sábado en Lima. Para resolver esta problemática, el economista propone que estos recursos de poco valor sean transformados en activos altamente rentables. La estrategia consiste en que, además de ser valorizados localmente, puedan ser cotizados como capital de inversión, lo que ayudará a incluir en el sistema financiero del país a millones de personas. Perú recibirá a expertos de tecnología blockchain y ecosistema crypto De Soto expondrá estos planteamientos durante la charla que dará en la quinta edición del Perú Blockchain Conference, evento que se realizará el 11 de Julio en el JW Marriott Larcomar en Miraflores, que contará también con entradas gratuitas por tiempo limitado. Organizado por LATAM Blockchain Events LLC, el encuentro se consolida como el evento más importante del país en crypto, blockchain, trading, activos digitales e innovación financiera, reuniendo a líderes globales de la industria, empresas tecnológicas, instituciones, inversionistas, traders, comunidades Web3 y público interesado en las nuevas tecnologías financieras. Durante los últimos dos años, el mercado peruano ha mostrado un crecimiento sostenido en la adopción de activos digitales y tecnología blockchain, pasando de ser un simple espectador a convertirse en protagonista, posicionándose como uno de los mercados con mayor proyección en América Latina. Según el Informe Blockchain LATAM 2025 de Sherlock Communications, el 3.7% de peruanos ya es usuario de criptomonedas, lo que equivale a más de un millón de personas, duplicando la cantidad registrada hace menos de dos años. Asimismo, el Global Crypto Adoption Index de Chainalysis coloca al país en el puesto 7 de adopción de criptomonedas a nivel regional y en el puesto 42 a nivel mundial. A esto se suma el crecimiento del uso de stablecoins como mecanismo de resguardo, pagos internacionales y remesas digitales, especialmente en un entorno donde la eficiencia transfronteriza y la dolarización digital ganan relevancia entre usuarios y empresas. Reportes de mercado señalan que las stablecoins representan ya una parte significativa de la actividad cripto en Perú, impulsadas por la interoperabilidad entre fintechs, wallets y el sistema financiero tradicional, logrando, incluso, que el Banco Central de Reserva de Perú destaque sus ventajas tangibles frente a los sistemas tradicionales. “Perú vive hoy uno de los momentos más importantes para la evolución del ecosistema blockchain y de activos digitales en la región. Ya no solo somos eventos; somos un puente para acelerar la adopción cripto responsable, la educación financiera y la conexión entre empresas, instituciones y comunidad. Esta quinta edición de Perú Blockchain Conference representa la consolidación de un espacio estratégico para impulsar con profesionalismo, visión regional y compromiso el crecimiento sostenible del ecosistema Web3 en el país y en Latinoamérica”, aseguró Kristopher Panana, Fundador de Perú Blockchain Conference. Más información y entradas:Perú Blockchain Conference 2026
Hernando de Soto plantea uso de blockchain para impulsar la economía peruana: “Activos deben conv...
Hernando de Soto plantea uso de blockchain para impulsar la economía peruana: “Activos deben convertirse en capital productivo” Excandidato presidencial propone que títulos de las propiedades, concesiones y contratos sean cotizados como capital de inversión y de esa manera combatir la economía informal. De Soto expondrá sus planteamientos en el Perú Blockchain Conference 2026, este 11 de julio en el JW Marriott Larcomar, junto a destacados representantes de empresas líderes del ecosistema blockchain y crypto global. Lima, Perú — El economista y excandidato presidencial, Hernando de Soto, planteó una innovadora propuesta económica orientada a la inclusión financiera de los sectores más vulnerables del país, sugiriendo el uso de la tecnología blockchain y sistemas de criptoactivos para dinamizar la economía nacional. Según explicó De Soto, gran parte de los peruanos en situación de pobreza habitan sobre algunos de los territorios más ricos del país; sin embargo, la falta de títulos formales impide a millones de peruanos convertir sus activos -como tierras, negocios o recursos- en capital productivo, dejándolos excluidos del sistema financiero. “Por qué, los más pobres, la mayor parte de ellos propietarios y emprendedores, se encuentran en los territorios más ricos del Perú y no pueden capitalizarse para entrar en la revolución industrial. La respuesta es que los títulos de las propiedades, las concesiones y los contratos que los vinculan al mundo, y que deberían permitirles generar capital, tienen serias limitaciones”, sostuvo De Soto, quien brindará una charla sobre este tema en el Perú Blockchain Conference 2026 que se desarrollará este sábado en Lima. Para resolver esta problemática, el economista propone que estos recursos de poco valor sean transformados en activos altamente rentables. La estrategia consiste en que, además de ser valorizados localmente, puedan ser cotizados como capital de inversión, lo que ayudará a incluir en el sistema financiero del país a millones de personas. Perú recibirá a expertos de tecnología blockchain y ecosistema crypto De Soto expondrá estos planteamientos durante la charla que dará en la quinta edición del Perú Blockchain Conference, evento que se realizará el 11 de Julio en el JW Marriott Larcomar en Miraflores, que contará también con entradas gratuitas por tiempo limitado. Organizado por LATAM Blockchain Events LLC, el encuentro se consolida como el evento más importante del país en crypto, blockchain, trading, activos digitales e innovación financiera, reuniendo a líderes globales de la industria, empresas tecnológicas, instituciones, inversionistas, traders, comunidades Web3 y público interesado en las nuevas tecnologías financieras. Durante los últimos dos años, el mercado peruano ha mostrado un crecimiento sostenido en la adopción de activos digitales y tecnología blockchain, pasando de ser un simple espectador a convertirse en protagonista, posicionándose como uno de los mercados con mayor proyección en América Latina. Según el Informe Blockchain LATAM 2025 de Sherlock Communications, el 3.7% de peruanos ya es usuario de criptomonedas, lo que equivale a más de un millón de personas, duplicando la cantidad registrada hace menos de dos años. Asimismo, el Global Crypto Adoption Index de Chainalysis coloca al país en el puesto 7 de adopción de criptomonedas a nivel regional y en el puesto 42 a nivel mundial. A esto se suma el crecimiento del uso de stablecoins como mecanismo de resguardo, pagos internacionales y remesas digitales, especialmente en un entorno donde la eficiencia transfronteriza y la dolarización digital ganan relevancia entre usuarios y empresas. Reportes de mercado señalan que las stablecoins representan ya una parte significativa de la actividad cripto en Perú, impulsadas por la interoperabilidad entre fintechs, wallets y el sistema financiero tradicional, logrando, incluso, que el Banco Central de Reserva de Perú destaque sus ventajas tangibles frente a los sistemas tradicionales. “Perú vive hoy uno de los momentos más importantes para la evolución del ecosistema blockchain y de activos digitales en la región. Ya no solo somos eventos; somos un puente para acelerar la adopción cripto responsable, la educación financiera y la conexión entre empresas, instituciones y comunidad. Esta quinta edición de Perú Blockchain Conference representa la consolidación de un espacio estratégico para impulsar con profesionalismo, visión regional y compromiso el crecimiento sostenible del ecosistema Web3 en el país y en Latinoamérica”, aseguró Kristopher Panana, Fundador de Perú Blockchain Conference. Más información y entradas: Perú Blockchain Conference 2026
European Blockchain Convention Returns to Barcelona for Europe’s First Post-MiCA Gathering
European Blockchain Convention Returns to Barcelona for Europe’s First Post-MiCA Gathering EBC12 brings together speakers from J.P. Morgan, the Financial Conduct Authority, Invesco, Coinbase, Fidelity International, and more than 300 leaders from the banks, regulators, and asset managers shaping Europe’s digital asset market. Barcelona, Spain, July, 2026 — Eleven weeks after the European Union’s MiCA deadline, the 12th edition of the European Blockchain Convention (EBC12) returns to Barcelona at a pivotal moment for the industry. It is the region’s first major institutional gathering since the world’s first comprehensive cross-border digital asset regulation became fully law, and the event where European deal flow happens. MiCA is now fully in force. For European markets, the focus shifts to what comes next: CASP licensing, stablecoin issuance, and the role of CBDCs in cross-border settlement. EBC12 is where that conversation takes place. Rather than chasing mandates city by city across London, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, and Barcelona, EBC12 compresses the European digital asset market into a single two-day commercial arena. It takes place on 16–17 September 2026 at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya. Europe has set the pace for compliant digital asset markets, giving the industry a clearer framework for how crypto can scale within regulation rather than around it. The institutional signal is unmistakable: Deutsche Börse has invested $200 million in Kraken; Santander’s digital bank, Openbank, has expanded its crypto trading for customers across Germany and Spain. Both will be among the institutions discussing what comes next in Barcelona this September. EBC expects 80 of Europe’s top 100 banks in Barcelona this September, up from 50 last year. The debate about whether institutions will enter digital assets is over. EBC12 is where they come to work out what comes next. “Eight years ago, we built EBC because we believed Europe would be where this industry matured. A lot of people thought we were early. In 2026, European banks are deploying capital, institutional products are live across major markets, and the regulatory framework is in place. EBC is where the people driving that change meet once a year to do real business,” said Victoria Gago, Co-CEO of European Blockchain Convention and Digital Assets Forum. Sessions cover institutional capital allocation, real-world asset tokenisation, regulatory market structure, and the future of stablecoins and CBDCs as global settlement infrastructure. Confirmed speakers include Emma Landriault, Head of Kinexys Labs at J.P. Morgan; Mohamad Zaraket, Head of Digital Assets Strategy EMEA at BNY; Kathleen Wrynn, Global Head of DA, Invesco; Victor Jung, Vice President, Digital Assets & Currencies, Hamilton Lane; Previn Singh from Fidelity and Colin Payne, Head of Innovation at the Financial Conduct Authority, among more than 300 speakers from across banking, asset management, infrastructure, and policy. Alongside the main programme, EBC12 features 10,000 pre-arranged one-to-one meetings, a Buy Side Breakfast for allocators and institutional investors, and a dedicated press room with direct access to speakers. EBC12 expects over 5,000 attendees from 90+ countries for two days of market intelligence, strategic networking, and commercial momentum at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, a new premium venue reflecting the event’s institutional evolution. — ENDS — Notes to Editors Event: European Blockchain Convention 12 (EBC12) Dates: 16–17 September 2026 Venue: Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain Website: eblockchainconvention.com Press enquiries: ebc@yapglobal.com or samvidha@yapglobal.com Social: LinkedIn About European Blockchain Convention: Founded in 2018, the European Blockchain Convention has grown into a key driver of European deal flow in digital assets, bringing together banks, asset managers, regulators, infrastructure providers, and builders annually. Alongside EBC, the Digital Assets Forum series extends this reach across London, Abu Dhabi, and New York throughout the year.
European Blockchain Convention Returns to Barcelona for Europe’s First Post-MiCA Gathering
European Blockchain Convention Returns to Barcelona for Europe’s First Post-MiCA Gathering EBC12 brings together speakers from J.P. Morgan, the Financial Conduct Authority, Invesco, Coinbase, Fidelity International, and more than 300 leaders from the banks, regulators, and asset managers shaping Europe’s digital asset market. Barcelona, Spain, July, 2026 — Eleven weeks after the European Union’s MiCA deadline, the 12th edition of the European Blockchain Convention (EBC12) returns to Barcelona at a pivotal moment for the industry. It is the region’s first major institutional gathering since the world’s first comprehensive cross-border digital asset regulation became fully law, and the event where European deal flow happens. MiCA is now fully in force. For European markets, the focus shifts to what comes next: CASP licensing, stablecoin issuance, and the role of CBDCs in cross-border settlement. EBC12 is where that conversation takes place. Rather than chasing mandates city by city across London, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, and Barcelona, EBC12 compresses the European digital asset market into a single two-day commercial arena. It takes place on 16–17 September 2026 at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya. Europe has set the pace for compliant digital asset markets, giving the industry a clearer framework for how crypto can scale within regulation rather than around it. The institutional signal is unmistakable: Deutsche Börse has invested $200 million in Kraken; Santander’s digital bank, Openbank, has expanded its crypto trading for customers across Germany and Spain. Both will be among the institutions discussing what comes next in Barcelona this September. EBC expects 80 of Europe’s top 100 banks in Barcelona this September, up from 50 last year. The debate about whether institutions will enter digital assets is over. EBC12 is where they come to work out what comes next. “Eight years ago, we built EBC because we believed Europe would be where this industry matured. A lot of people thought we were early. In 2026, European banks are deploying capital, institutional products are live across major markets, and the regulatory framework is in place. EBC is where the people driving that change meet once a year to do real business,” said Victoria Gago, Co-CEO of European Blockchain Convention and Digital Assets Forum. Sessions cover institutional capital allocation, real-world asset tokenisation, regulatory market structure, and the future of stablecoins and CBDCs as global settlement infrastructure. Confirmed speakers include Emma Landriault, Head of Kinexys Labs at J.P. Morgan; Mohamad Zaraket, Head of Digital Assets Strategy EMEA at BNY; Kathleen Wrynn, Global Head of DA, Invesco; Victor Jung, Vice President, Digital Assets & Currencies, Hamilton Lane; Previn Singh from Fidelity and Colin Payne, Head of Innovation at the Financial Conduct Authority, among more than 300 speakers from across banking, asset management, infrastructure, and policy. Alongside the main programme, EBC12 features 10,000 pre-arranged one-to-one meetings, a Buy Side Breakfast for allocators and institutional investors, and a dedicated press room with direct access to speakers. EBC12 expects over 5,000 attendees from 90+ countries for two days of market intelligence, strategic networking, and commercial momentum at the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, a new premium venue reflecting the event’s institutional evolution. — ENDS — Notes to Editors Event: European Blockchain Convention 12 (EBC12) Dates: 16–17 September 2026 Venue: Palau de Congressos de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain Website: eblockchainconvention.com Press enquiries: ebc@yapglobal.com or samvidha@yapglobal.com Social: LinkedIn About European Blockchain Convention: Founded in 2018, the European Blockchain Convention has grown into a key driver of European deal flow in digital assets, bringing together banks, asset managers, regulators, infrastructure providers, and builders annually. Alongside EBC, the Digital Assets Forum series extends this reach across London, Abu Dhabi, and New York throughout the year.
Binance CEO Richard Teng: 70% of EU Users Chose Self-Custody Over MiCA-Licensed Platforms
The European Union’s much-anticipated Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, designed to protect consumers through mandatory licensing and oversight, appears to be producing the opposite effect. According to disclosures by Binance co-CEO Richard Teng at the Reuters NEXT Asia summit in Singapore, the strict enforcement regime has inadvertently funneled cryptocurrency users away from regulated exchanges and toward decentralized self-custody solutions operating entirely beyond regulatory reach. Teng revealed that among EU-based users forced to withdraw assets from Binance following the company’s June 24 withdrawal of its MiCA application, seven in ten chose to move their holdings to self-hosted wallets rather than migrate to competitors operating under MiCA authorization. Only three in ten transferred funds to licensed platforms. The finding challenges the foundational assumption underlying MiCA’s design: that regulatory pressure would consolidate activity into supervised, compliant venues. The Data Behind the Retreat Between June 24 and July 1, 2026, Binance processed extraordinary outflow volumes as affected European customers liquidated positions or relocated holdings elsewhere. During the week beginning June 29, the exchange recorded net outflows of approximately $1.23 billion — a 207% spike compared to the prior week’s $400 million. That volume represents not merely a reaction to a single platform’s exit, but a visible marker of where the broader user migration has gone. Teng’s disclosure about the 70-30 split emerged as regulatory authorities including ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) initiated formal reviews of how MiCA’s custody provisions are functioning in practice. The timing of the governance review suggests regulators themselves are questioning whether the rules have achieved their intended effect of concentrating activity within supervised frameworks. Why Self-Custody Undermines MiCA’s Goals Teng, a former regulator, articulated a pointed critique during his Singapore address: users holding cryptocurrency in self-hosted wallets operate beyond the anti-money-laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) verification systems that MiCA mandates for licensed platforms. “Once funds move into a self-hosted wallet, the risks actually amplify,” Teng stated. “There are no proper AML and KYC controls over those holdings.” The irony is structural. MiCA was constructed as Europe’s first unified effort to harmonize crypto regulation across 27 member states, establishing baseline protections intended to move illicit activity into the light. Instead, the enforcement deadline appears to have accelerated migration toward the precise regulatory gray zones MiCA was designed to eliminate. Users who might have remained on licensed platforms had less friction or perceived uncertainty now actively chose unregulated self-custody. Expert analysis from blockchain compliance firms confirms this dynamic. According to reports cited by Yahoo Finance sources, the compliance infrastructure that MiCA requires — including custody reporting, transaction monitoring, and regulatory interface — has created operational friction that makes licensed platforms less attractive than alternatives, particularly for users already skeptical of institutional intermediaries. The Timing and Process Issues Binance’s withdrawal from Greece was framed by Teng as forced by regulator inaction rather than a choice driven purely by business considerations. The company submitted what it claims was a fully compliant MiCA application through the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) in January 2026. According to Teng’s account, Greek authorities conducted their review, indicated the filing met requirements, and escalated the decision to ESMA for final approval. No formal authorization was issued, but also no explanation for delay was provided. As the July 1 deadline approached with no resolution, Binance faced a choice between operating with an incomplete license or preparing for a rushed client exit. The company chose the latter, withdrawing the application on June 24 and informing customers they had one week to move assets. Teng contended that the short transition window — itself a result of regulatory delays — created practical pressure that benefited neither users nor MiCA’s stated protective goals. This sequence has prompted regulators to examine whether MiCA’s single-market approach is actually functioning as designed. The regulation was constructed to avoid the fragmentation that plagued pre-MiCA crypto regulation, where different member states imposed conflicting rules. Instead, early implementation suggests member-state discretion is creating the fragmentation MiCA was meant to eliminate. Market Responses and Competitive Gains While Binance users migrated to self-custody or licensed competitors, rival exchanges reported surging activity. OKX disclosed that app downloads spiked 158% between June 24 and July 5 in Europe — a ten-day window that captured both Binance’s exit announcement and the regulatory transition. Coinbase, Kraken, Bitpanda and other licensed platforms similarly reported elevated sign-up volumes, capturing the 30% of Binance’s departing capital that remained within regulated venues. Yet that distribution — 70% to unregulated self-custody versus 30% to licensed competitors — means the net regulatory outcome of MiCA’s enforcement has been negative. Compliance infrastructure designed to consolidate activity into supervised markets instead fragmented it, with the majority fraction moving beyond supervision. What Comes Next Teng indicated that multiple EU member states have subsequently invited Binance to apply for MiCA authorization, suggesting the company’s exit is being viewed by regulators as a process failure rather than an industry problem. Binance says it remains committed to European operations and expects to secure licensing within coming months, though the company has not named candidate jurisdictions. For ESMA and national regulators, the challenge now is determining whether the self-custody migration is temporary — a reaction to Binance’s specific exit and MiCA’s disruptive transition — or signals deeper structural problems with the regulatory approach itself. The custody review ESMA initiated this week will likely provide critical evidence about whether MiCA’s enforcement is protecting European consumers or pushing them beyond regulatory sight.
Binance CEO Richard Teng: 70% of EU Users Chose Self-Custody Over MiCA-Licensed Platforms
The European Union’s much-anticipated Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, designed to protect consumers through mandatory licensing and oversight, appears to be producing the opposite effect. According to disclosures by Binance co-CEO Richard Teng at the Reuters NEXT Asia summit in Singapore, the strict enforcement regime has inadvertently funneled cryptocurrency users away from regulated exchanges and toward decentralized self-custody solutions operating entirely beyond regulatory reach. Teng revealed that among EU-based users forced to withdraw assets from Binance following the company’s June 24 withdrawal of its MiCA application, seven in ten chose to move their holdings to self-hosted wallets rather than migrate to competitors operating under MiCA authorization. Only three in ten transferred funds to licensed platforms. The finding challenges the foundational assumption underlying MiCA’s design: that regulatory pressure would consolidate activity into supervised, compliant venues. The Data Behind the Retreat Between June 24 and July 1, 2026, Binance processed extraordinary outflow volumes as affected European customers liquidated positions or relocated holdings elsewhere. During the week beginning June 29, the exchange recorded net outflows of approximately $1.23 billion — a 207% spike compared to the prior week’s $400 million. That volume represents not merely a reaction to a single platform’s exit, but a visible marker of where the broader user migration has gone. Teng’s disclosure about the 70-30 split emerged as regulatory authorities including ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) initiated formal reviews of how MiCA’s custody provisions are functioning in practice. The timing of the governance review suggests regulators themselves are questioning whether the rules have achieved their intended effect of concentrating activity within supervised frameworks. Why Self-Custody Undermines MiCA’s Goals Teng, a former regulator, articulated a pointed critique during his Singapore address: users holding cryptocurrency in self-hosted wallets operate beyond the anti-money-laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) verification systems that MiCA mandates for licensed platforms. “Once funds move into a self-hosted wallet, the risks actually amplify,” Teng stated. “There are no proper AML and KYC controls over those holdings.” The irony is structural. MiCA was constructed as Europe’s first unified effort to harmonize crypto regulation across 27 member states, establishing baseline protections intended to move illicit activity into the light. Instead, the enforcement deadline appears to have accelerated migration toward the precise regulatory gray zones MiCA was designed to eliminate. Users who might have remained on licensed platforms had less friction or perceived uncertainty now actively chose unregulated self-custody. Expert analysis from blockchain compliance firms confirms this dynamic. According to reports cited by Yahoo Finance sources, the compliance infrastructure that MiCA requires — including custody reporting, transaction monitoring, and regulatory interface — has created operational friction that makes licensed platforms less attractive than alternatives, particularly for users already skeptical of institutional intermediaries. The Timing and Process Issues Binance’s withdrawal from Greece was framed by Teng as forced by regulator inaction rather than a choice driven purely by business considerations. The company submitted what it claims was a fully compliant MiCA application through the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) in January 2026. According to Teng’s account, Greek authorities conducted their review, indicated the filing met requirements, and escalated the decision to ESMA for final approval. No formal authorization was issued, but also no explanation for delay was provided. As the July 1 deadline approached with no resolution, Binance faced a choice between operating with an incomplete license or preparing for a rushed client exit. The company chose the latter, withdrawing the application on June 24 and informing customers they had one week to move assets. Teng contended that the short transition window — itself a result of regulatory delays — created practical pressure that benefited neither users nor MiCA’s stated protective goals. This sequence has prompted regulators to examine whether MiCA’s single-market approach is actually functioning as designed. The regulation was constructed to avoid the fragmentation that plagued pre-MiCA crypto regulation, where different member states imposed conflicting rules. Instead, early implementation suggests member-state discretion is creating the fragmentation MiCA was meant to eliminate. Market Responses and Competitive Gains While Binance users migrated to self-custody or licensed competitors, rival exchanges reported surging activity. OKX disclosed that app downloads spiked 158% between June 24 and July 5 in Europe — a ten-day window that captured both Binance’s exit announcement and the regulatory transition. Coinbase, Kraken, Bitpanda and other licensed platforms similarly reported elevated sign-up volumes, capturing the 30% of Binance’s departing capital that remained within regulated venues. Yet that distribution — 70% to unregulated self-custody versus 30% to licensed competitors — means the net regulatory outcome of MiCA’s enforcement has been negative. Compliance infrastructure designed to consolidate activity into supervised markets instead fragmented it, with the majority fraction moving beyond supervision. What Comes Next Teng indicated that multiple EU member states have subsequently invited Binance to apply for MiCA authorization, suggesting the company’s exit is being viewed by regulators as a process failure rather than an industry problem. Binance says it remains committed to European operations and expects to secure licensing within coming months, though the company has not named candidate jurisdictions. For ESMA and national regulators, the challenge now is determining whether the self-custody migration is temporary — a reaction to Binance’s specific exit and MiCA’s disruptive transition — or signals deeper structural problems with the regulatory approach itself. The custody review ESMA initiated this week will likely provide critical evidence about whether MiCA’s enforcement is protecting European consumers or pushing them beyond regulatory sight.