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Articles by Laura Mitchell
FBI Confirms North Korea Behind Binance’s $6.3B Hack
The FBI has confirmed that North Korea was responsible for stealing more than $6 billion in virtual assets from Binance on or around October 29. Its October 31 alert identifies the malicious cyber activity as TraderTraitor, moving the attribution beyond earlier private-sector assessments. The bureau said investigators working with the U.S. Secret Service and IRS Criminal Investigation had observed the attackers converting stolen assets primarily into ether.
After Binance’s $6.3B Hack, What Actually Protects Your Crypto?
Binance’s reimbursement pledge is distinct from insurance or a government guarantee. FDIC deposit insurance does not cover crypto assets or a nonbank exchange failure. Self-custody shifts responsibility for private keys and recovery to the holder. Binance’s roughly $6.3 billion hack has revived a question that matters beyond one exchange: what actually protects a customer when a crypto platform loses assets?
CFTC’s Selig Pushes Crypto Exchange Security Rules After Binance Hack
CFTC Chairman Michael Selig says the Binance hack strengthens the case for a federal registration option that would bring eligible crypto exchanges under U.S. cybersecurity safeguards. He discussed the plan in an October 30 CNBC interview, Stocktwits reported, contrasting offshore platforms with regulated U.S. markets. The initiative builds on the CFTC’s October 5 consultation covering Regulation Crypto Asset Transactions, or CTX, and Regulation Crypto Asset Markets, or CAM.
Recall Foundation Winds Down With No Buyback for RECALL Holders
Recall Foundation is ending development and liquidity support without a token-holder buyback. A planned burn covers about 35.86% of total RECALL supply and excludes users’ staked tokens. The Foundation’s remaining treasury is allocated to creditors and closure costs, with liquidation targeted for Q1 2027. The Recall Foundation is winding down after concluding that continued development of its AI evaluation protocol is no longer commercially viable.
Tether Reports $1.5B Q3 Operating Profit as Buffer Nears $8B
Tether reports $1.5 billion in Q3 net operating profit and $4.5 billion for the first nine months. Reserve assets of $191.45 billion exceeded liabilities by $7.95 billion at September 30. BDO’s assurance covers the quarter-end report, while operating profit differs from its separate financial-result measure. Tether reported $1.5 billion in net operating profit for the third quarter of 2026, bringing the first nine months’ total to $4.5 billion.
CZ Tells Musk to Stop Trolling Binance, Cites $1B SpaceX Stake
CZ asks Musk to stop trolling Binance and cites a SpaceX shareholding he values at more than $1 billion. Yi He says Binance’s annual revenue can cover the losses without selling those shares for now. The exchange reiterates full loss coverage through SAFU and company funds, while no SpaceX sale is announced.
Binance Hacker Splits $1.4B in Bitcoin Across 19 Addresses
CoinDesk traced roughly 18,270 stolen BTC into 19 addresses, with no onward transfers reported as of 04:23 UTC on October 30. Bitcoin has no issuer-operated freeze function, but custodial restrictions and potential seizure remain possible. Binance pledges to cover all losses while withdrawals remain paused and deposits operate normally.
a16z Crypto Becomes Frontier, Expands Beyond Crypto Investing
Chris Dixon confirmed a16z Crypto’s rebrand to a16z Frontier and a broader investment remit. Dixon says the team will continue investing in crypto and related ventures. Ali Yahya’s reported departure remains separately attributed to The Information. Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto investment team is becoming a16z Frontier and expanding its new fund’s scope beyond crypto startups, Chris Dixon confirmed on October 22.
SoFi Launches SOFIE Tokenized Deposits With 4.40% APY
SOFIE represents a dollar deposit at SoFi Bank and advertises a variable 4.40% APY. FDIC coverage follows standard limits and does not extend to SoFiUSD. Members can convert SOFIE 1:1 to SoFiUSD as access rolls out through November. SoFi has launched SoFi Earn, or SOFIE, a consumer tokenized deposit offering a variable 4.40% annual percentage yield and eligibility for federal deposit insurance. The product connects an interest-bearing bank balance with the company’s cryptocurrency service.
Visa in Talks to Buy Fireblocks for $2.5B, Axios Reports
Axios reports Visa is in late-stage talks to acquire Fireblocks for about $2.5 billion. Fireblocks provides digital-asset custody and stablecoin infrastructure for financial businesses. The reported negotiations do not establish a definitive agreement or completed acquisition. Visa is in late-stage talks to buy Fireblocks for approximately $2.5 billion, Axios Pro reported on October 22, citing multiple sources.
They Raised $727M. Inside Crypto’s 82-Project Shutdown List
DropsTab’s 82-name list carries about $727 million in disclosed project funding, including venture capital and token sales. The cohort mixes completed closures, future wind-downs, product retirements and bankruptcies, with disputed entries such as Beets. The directory links all 82 names and separates parent-company financing from project-level totals.
Standard Chartered Signs Deal to Buy Zodia Custody
Standard Chartered has signed definitive agreements to acquire 100% of Zodia Custody Limited. Regulated custody will join the bank while software assets move to Zodia Solutions. Completion remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Standard Chartered has signed definitive agreements to acquire Zodia Custody, moving its proposed takeover of the institutional crypto custodian beyond the non-binding offer accepted in May.
Bitcoin Tops $83,000 Amid US–Iran Diplomatic Hopes
Bitcoin climbed back above $83,000 on October 20, with Coinbase data showing BTC-USD trading near $83,005 at 15:08 UTC. The exchange reported a 24-hour high of $83,344 and a low of $81,081, putting the latest reading roughly 1.4% above its opening price for that period. The move came as reports of possible US–Iran diplomatic progress circulated.
Arkham Moves Full Transaction History and Filters to Enterprise
Arkham is restricting full transaction history and transaction filtering to Enterprise users as it launches a professional analytics platform. The changes take effect on October 20, according to its announcement. Free users can now view only the 100 most recent transactions for an address or entity. Tracer 2.0 and the counterparties section on explorer pages are also becoming Enterprise-only.
LayerZero Sets November 30 Launch for Zero Mainnet and lzATLAS
LayerZero has scheduled the launch of Zero mainnet and its lzATLAS trading infrastructure for November 30, 2026. The project announced the date on October 20 and said further updates on partners and performance would follow. ATLAS will be the first application launching on Zero, starting with Open ATLAS. LayerZero said it would support more than a dozen trading venues at launch, with additional venues to follow this year. Teams are testing order execution, settlement and production readiness.
Western Union Taps Noah for Stablecoin Transfers on Solana
Western Union has selected Noah to build USDPT payouts into a recipient’s digital wallet. USDPT is issued by Anchorage Digital Bank on Solana and already launched in May. Receiver Redirect’s start date, initial markets and customer pricing have not been disclosed. Western Union has selected Noah to build a stablecoin remittance service that would let recipients receive international money transfers as USDPT in a digital wallet, rather than immediately collecting local currency.
Switzerland Approves First Spot Bitcoin ETF for Retail Investors
FINMA approved Switzerland’s first retail fund investing directly in Bitcoin. The fund differs legally from crypto ETPs already listed on Swiss exchanges. Its provider, fees and trading date were not disclosed in the announcement. Switzerland has approved its first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund for retail investors, opening a Swiss-law fund structure to the wider public for direct exposure to BTC. The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, FINMA, announced the decision on October 20.
Bitget Moves to Buy GMO’s Thai Crypto Exchange
Bitget is linked to the buyer of GMO’s Thai cryptocurrency exchange operator. The acquisition remains subject to regulatory approval and its price is undisclosed. GMO’s September filing targeted October 31 for the share transfer. Bitget has agreed to acquire the operator of Thailand’s Z.com EX cryptocurrency exchange through a local buyer in which it holds an interest, according to Investing.com.
Multicoin Keeps Its Crypto Focus as AI Draws Rival Investors
Multicoin Capital is retaining its crypto investment mandate rather than expanding into standalone AI businesses, according to Bloomberg. The firm’s own framework still includes crypto-AI opportunities such as computing marketplaces and identity services. Kyle Samani’s February departure from daily management to explore other technologies was separate from the firm’s investment mandate.
Visa Partners With Mesh to Enable Direct Crypto Wallet Payments
Visa and Mesh plan to connect participating wallet balances to Visa’s network of more than 175 million merchant locations. Mesh will handle funding and conversion, with a Visa credential provisioned behind the scenes and standard payments delivered to merchants. Initial availability, supported devices and participating platforms have not yet been announced.
XRP Gets Dedicated Website and Official X Account
XRP now has a dedicated X account and a token-focused website at xrp.org, giving the cryptocurrency its own public information channels. The account’s biography says it is jointly managed by Ripple and the XRP Ledger Foundation, rather than identifying Ripple as its sole operator. The account debuted on October 19 with the greeting, “hello, world. It’s about time.” Later that day, it promoted the site under the “Crypto Responsibly” message.
Sparkassen Launches Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and Solana Trading
Sparkassen began offering BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL and POL trading through DekaBank at participating banks on October 19. Each savings bank decides whether to join, with another 30–40 institutions expected to be added monthly. DekaBank provides custody, while transfers are restricted to selected service providers and crypto is not covered by deposit insurance.
Tether CEO Says Freezes Cut Iran-Linked Stablecoin Volume by 94%
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino says the issuer’s wallet-freezing actions led to a 94% decline in Iran-linked stablecoin transaction volume. In an October 19 post, he pushed back against Senator Richard Blumenthal’s assessment of Tether’s sanctions controls, arguing that the company had acted proactively through law-enforcement partnerships.
Super League Shareholders Approve Metaplanet’s 2,100 BTC Deal
Super League shareholders approved the transaction proposals on October 16, with the result announced October 19. Metaplanet would contribute 2,100 BTC and cash at closing, rather than make a new market purchase. The Superplanet name and SUPA ticker remain conditional on closing, expected in the fourth quarter.
JPMorgan Brings JPM Coin to Ethereum for 24/7 Institutional Payments
JPMorgan is adding Ethereum to the public networks supported by its JPMD bank deposit token. Only approved institutional counterparties can participate, despite the use of public blockchain infrastructure. Round-the-clock token transfers are distinct from legacy bank-account funding, which has a disclosed Saturday downtime window. JPMorgan is bringing JPM Coin to Ethereum, adding another public blockchain for institutional clients to move dollar deposits around the clock.
BlackRock Sees Tokenized Funds as Collateral for Wall Street Trades
BlackRock sees traditional finance as a larger opportunity for tokenized fund collateral. BUIDL’s off-exchange collateral arrangement with Binance was announced in November 2025. BlackRock’s European onchain share classes use Ethereum while the official shareholder register remains with the transfer agent. BlackRock sees a larger role for tokenized investment funds as collateral in traditional finance, extending an application already operating in cryptocurrency markets.
Balaji’s Network School Acquires Farcaster From Neynar
Network School is acquiring Farcaster’s app, protocol repositories and related products from Neynar, with financial terms undisclosed. Part of Neynar’s team will continue development under Network School while co-founders Rish and Manan move on. The flagship app is introducing a new community-governance model while the underlying protocol remains open to alternative clients.
Thailand’s Bitcoin and Ether ETF Rules Take Effect
Thailand’s domestic crypto ETF rules took effect on October 16, following the regulator’s October 8 announcement. The framework initially covers passive Bitcoin and Ether funds with average annual net exposure of at least 80% of net asset value. The rules establish a launch framework rather than confirming that a named ETF has started trading.
Japan’s Three Megabanks Complete Cross-Border Stablecoin Trial
MUFG, Mizuho and SMBC announced completion of their joint stablecoin pilot on October 16 after tests conducted in July. The test verified issuance, transfers and redemption for a corporate cross-border payment scenario. Commercial transactions remain a separate fiscal 2026 goal, with further assessments required before deployment.
Binance bStocks Surpasses $1 Billion in AUM Four Months After Launch
Binance says its bStocks tokenized securities have surpassed $1 billion in assets under management, roughly four months after their June 11 launch. The exchange announced the milestone on October 15, citing Dune Research data, and described the product as the fastest tokenized equity offering to reach that level. The exchange reported more than $40 billion in cumulative trading volume since launch and $6 billion in conversions between bStocks and direct stock positions.
Australia Proposes Crypto Transaction Reporting From July 2027
Australia’s Treasury has released draft legislation that would require crypto service providers to report Australian residents’ transactions and support international tax-information sharing. The October 15 consultation proposes a domestic reporting regime alongside implementation of the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, or CARF. The measures remain proposals. The domestic rules would cover transactions during reporting periods beginning on or after July 1, 2027.
Binance.US Seeks $100 Million at $1 Billion Valuation, Bloomberg Reports
Binance.US is seeking up to $100 million in private funding at about a $1 billion valuation, according to Bloomberg’s unnamed source. The reported targets concern the separate American exchange and remain prospective, rather than confirmed proceeds from a completed financing. The fundraising effort follows restored dollar services, new leadership and lower spot-trading fees as Binance.US rebuilds its US business.
Visa Direct Launches USDC Funding for Global Payouts
Visa Direct’s USDC prefunding capability has entered commercial production through Inyo Global for eligible businesses. Inyo’s wider payout platform reaches more than 180 countries, while stablecoin availability varies by eligibility and geography. The launch concerns business payout funding, distinct from Visa’s separate pilot for sending stablecoins directly to recipients’ wallets.
PUFFER Spikes 244% on Upbit’s BTC Market as Won Trading Opens
Puffer Finance’s PUFFER token spiked almost 244% above its previous close on Upbit’s existing Bitcoin market as the South Korean exchange added won trading. Upbit announced the new KRW pair on October 15, expanding direct access for customers trading in local currency. The notice scheduled trading to begin at 14:00 Korean time, or 05:00 UTC, with deposits and withdrawals supported through Ethereum.
USDC Becomes EU’s First Significant E-Money Token Under MiCA
USDC is the first of 45 e-money tokens notified in the EU to receive significant status under MiCA. From November 12, the EBA will supervise capital, reserves, liquidity and recovery and redemption plans for Circle’s European issuer. France’s ACPR will retain responsibility for governance, management suitability, outsourcing and conflicts of interest.
France Proposes 31.4% Capital-Gains Tax on Crypto-to-Stablecoin Swaps
France’s finance committee backed taxing gains on swaps into MiCA-defined electronic money tokens, with January 2027 proposed as the starting date. The 31.4% figure is the existing default rate on private crypto capital gains, not a charge on the full value of every swap. The proposal remains pending in the full Assembly, alongside measures for ten-year loss carry-forwards and a crypto exit tax.
South Korea Orders Blocks on 27 Crypto Sites, Including KuCoin
South Korea has approved domestic restrictions on 27 unregistered crypto websites, including KuCoin, MEXC and BingX, after reviews on October 6 and 7. The FIU plans withdrawal guidance through DAXA and operator cooperation because the blocks may disrupt access for existing customers. Website restrictions extend earlier app controls, while authorities will monitor replacement domains and can seek blocking before specific losses are reported.
Kraken Plans UAE Launch Within Weeks After Full VARA Approval
Kraken plans to launch its UAE service within weeks after Payward received full market approval from Dubai’s virtual-asset regulator. The rollout will include dirham funding, spot and margin trading, staking and xStocks, with OTC trading and Kraken Prime for institutions. VARA lists Payward’s licence as active, while additional derivatives and yield products remain subject to further regulatory approval.
Justin Sun Sees Banks Losing Ground as TRON Targets AI Payments
Justin Sun expects younger generations to rely less on traditional banks as blockchain-based financial services become more familiar. He sees AI agents as a major crypto use case over the next five years, while acknowledging that current systems still need human guidance. TRON is pursuing tokenized stocks, but its supplied conference account does not confirm a fourth-quarter launch date or disclose product terms.
Bitwise’s Hougan Says Bitcoin Is Maturing Into Digital Gold
Matt Hougan points to lower Bitcoin volatility over recent measurement windows as evidence supporting its development into a digital store of value. His hypothetical 1% Bitcoin allocation improved historical portfolio returns with a small increase in volatility, but future results remain uncertain. Fidelity and World Gold Council research highlight separate questions about measurement periods, position sizing and performance during market stress.
Ondo Finance Denies Sale Talks Following Death of Founder Nathan Allman
Ondo Finance has officially denied reports claiming the real-world asset tokenization platform was offered to prospective buyers following the unexpected passing of founder and controlling shareholder Nathan Allman in May 2026. Ondo Finance Rejects Reported Buyer Outreach A company spokesperson called reports of a potential acquisition wholly untrue, asserting that no executive or board member had sought prospective buyers or authorized an external party to initiate sale discussions.
CertiK Joins Linux Foundation Initiative to Strengthen Open Source Blockchain Security
Blockchain security firm CertiK has joined LF Decentralized Trust, the Linux Foundation’s umbrella organization for open-source decentralized technologies. Under the membership, CertiK plans to contribute formal verification, security research, and auditing expertise to open-source protocols used across institutional financial systems and enterprise infrastructure.
Strategy Buys 950 Bitcoin to Rebuild Treasury to 846,000 BTC
Strategy has resumed its Bitcoin acquisitions, deploying $75.7 million between September 14 and September 20 to purchase 950 BTC at an average price of $79,670 per coin. The latest purchase restores the firm’s total treasury to 846,000 BTC, representing roughly 4% of the ultimate 21 million Bitcoin supply cap. Strategy’s aggregate cost basis now stands at $63.80 billion, or $75,416 per coin. The transaction was accompanied by a larger corporate buyback.
Justin Sun Launches $1M Decentralized Academic Bounty to Award AI-Driven Mathematical Proofs
Entrepreneur and TRON founder Justin Sun has officially established the Justin Sun Prize, a decentralized academic bounty mechanism offering up to $1 million for machine-verifiable proofs to listed mathematical challenges. Positioned as a zero-trust alternative to traditional academic honors, the initiative judges submissions entirely on the rigor and verifiable execution of their proofs rather than credentials or institutional prestige.
Kraken Launches xStocks Vaults for Tokenized Equity Yield
Crypto exchange Kraken has launched onchain yield vaults for select tokenized equities and ETFs, enabling investors to earn passive returns on traditional asset exposures. The new xStocks vaults support tokenized versions of the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPYx), Invesco QQQ ETF (QQQx), and Nvidia (NVDAx). The vaults leverage infrastructure from Kraken DeFi Earn, moving deposited assets to non-custodial wallets on Kraken’s Ink Layer-2 before deploying them into decentralized protocols.
UK FCA Explores Fund Rule Exemptions for Tokenized Gold
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has launched a call for input to evaluate whether certain tokenized gold products should be granted exemptions from existing fund regulations. The regulator is assessing whether legal uncertainty regarding whether physical gold-backed tokens fall under the perimeter of Collective Investment Schemes (CIS) or Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) is hindering institutional adoption and investor access.
Bybit Expands TradFi Suite with 24/7 FX Perpetuals at 100x Leverage
Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has officially expanded its traditional finance (TradFi) derivatives lineup with the launch of USDT-settled perpetual contracts tracking three major foreign exchange pairs: EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/JPY. The synthetic instruments grant traders direct price exposure to movements in the underlying fiat currencies without requiring physical ownership or foreign currency deposits.
Robinhood Partners with Crypto.com and OG.com to Expand Prediction Markets
Robinhood Markets has expanded its derivatives ecosystem by partnering with Crypto.com and sports-focused derivatives venue OG.com to route event contracts ahead of the professional football season and the 2026 US midterm elections. Effective September 8, Robinhood will begin directing select football event contracts through Crypto.com’s CFTC-regulated exchange and clearinghouse, operating as Crypto.com | Derivatives North America (CDNA), as well as its specialized trader platform OG.com.
Spain’s Bit2Me Launches Forensic and Asset Seizure Unit Bit2Shield
Spanish digital asset platform Bit2Me has announced the launch of Bit2Shield, a legally distinct subsidiary registered as CryptoShield S.L., created to provide end-to-end forensic and operational support for criminal investigations involving cryptocurrencies.
Weekly NFT Sales Jump 55.6% as BNB Chain Takes Top Spot
Global non-fungible token sales rebounded significantly during the first week of September 2026, climbing 55.6% to reach approximately $75.54 million according to seven-day snapshot data from CryptoSlam. The total expansion occurred despite overall network transactions dropping 14.77% to 650,332, indicating that higher average trade values drove the overall volume increase rather than a larger quantity of individual sales.
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