Crypto exchanges are expanding into tokenized stocks, commodities, and precious metals, with market capitalization growing to $6.6 billion in June 2026 from $1.4 billion in January 2025, driven by competition from traditional brokerages and decentralized exchanges.
The European Union added crypto exchange HTX, linked to Justin Sun, to its 21st Russia sanctions package, imposing a transaction ban from August 23. The move follows a similar UK designation, with the EU accusing HTX of frustrating Russia sanctions and widening its crypto measures.
South Korean crypto exchange Korbit will rebrand as Digital X after its acquisition by Mirae Asset Group. Mirae founder Park Hyeon-joo announced the name, central to the group's "3.0" strategy to combine digital and traditional finance, with plans for RWA tokenization, security tokens, and stablecoins.
BitMEX, the crypto exchange founded by Arthur Hayes, announced its shutdown on Sept. 23, giving customers two months to close positions and withdraw funds. New registrations have stopped, and a monthly fee will apply to remaining KYC-verified assets after the deadline.
Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget announced its registration as a financial services provider on New Zealand's FSPR, enabling it to offer services like foreign currency exchange and money transfers. However, the registration was not visible on the FSPR registry at the time of writing.
BitMEX, a pioneer in cryptocurrency derivatives trading, will cease operations by Sept. 23, 2026, following a strategic review by its owner, HDR Global Trading Limited. Users are urged to close positions and withdraw funds, with assets remaining safe during the wind-down period.
Mirae Asset Consulting, an affiliate of a major South Korean financial group, completed its acquisition of a controlling 92.06% stake in crypto exchange Korbit for 133.48 billion won, becoming its largest shareholder. Korbit confirmed operations and customer asset segregation remain unchanged.
Daily average trading volume at South Korea's five major crypto exchanges has fallen to 597.8 billion won, representing 1.59% of the KOSPI market's volume. This significant drop from 11.29% in January is attributed to falling Bitcoin prices, a semiconductor-driven stock market rally, and a focus on altcoins.
South Korea's major crypto exchanges saw trading activity fall by an average of 77% year-over-year, while the KOSPI stock index more than doubled. This suggests a significant shift in retail speculative interest from cryptocurrencies to equities, potentially impacting smaller crypto platforms.
Crypto exchange HTX has continued operations under the same brand after UK sanctions, rebuilding its on-chain wallet infrastructure by rapidly rotating addresses across multiple blockchains, according to a TRM Labs report. HTX denies any wrongdoing, stating these are routine security operations.
Vietnam introduces fines for retail crypto users on unlicensed platforms, while Japan reclassifies crypto as financial assets with new tax rules and penalties. South Korea updates national asset management to include crypto and addresses platform hacks, while Malaysia faces controversy over a school hosting Israeli citizens. Coinbase reportedly opens verification for China-based users, and Hong Kong approves a tokenized fund.
Federal prosecutors indicted Sioux Falls crypto investor Benjamin Paul Wiener on 29 counts, including wire fraud and money laundering, alleging he defrauded dozens of victims of $20 million through eight entities and concealed funds. He pleaded not guilty, with his trial set for September 15.
LimeWire, a generative AI platform, empowers creators to produce, share, and monetize AI-generated content, including images, with upcoming music and video tools, offering NFT minting, ad revenue, and royalty models.
SBI Holdings acquires majority stake in Coinhako, a Singaporean crypto platform, post-MAS approval, aiming to combine customer base and network with its financial and digital asset services.
A report by Australian crypto exchange Swyftx estimates that AI-native freelance workers could drive $262 billion in stablecoin transaction volume by 2033, as microbusinesses adopt AI and seek efficient cross-border payment solutions.
Kraken's parent company, Payward, has been awarded $22 million in arbitration against its former auditor, Mazars USA, which withdrew from a nearly completed audit. Payward is seeking final judgment and used the case to call for new crypto legislation.
Tether announced a $20 million investment in Brazilian crypto exchange Mercado Bitcoin to expand blockchain-based financial services in Latin America. Mercado Bitcoin serves 4.5 million users with diverse offerings including tokenized assets and lending.
Payward, Kraken's parent company, secured a $22 million arbitration award against former auditor Mazars USA. Payward alleges Mazars withdrew from a 2022 audit without cause, contributing to a broader campaign against crypto firms.
Robinhood has launched the public mainnet of Robinhood Chain, an "AI-native" Ethereum layer-2 network. The Arbitrum-powered network aims to bridge traditional finance and DeFi, starting with Stock Tokens and supporting AI agent trading. Shares rose over 8% on the news.
On July 1, Europe's crypto market will undergo a significant reset as the MiCA transitional period ends, forcing unauthorized exchanges to cease operations or face restrictions. The effectiveness of this deadline hinges on app stores and how offshore platforms maintain accessibility to EU users, potentially leading to asset access issues and a shift in volume to licensed exchanges.
Nearly 1,700 UK investors are suing Binance and its founder for £150 million, alleging the crypto exchange sold unapproved derivatives. The lawsuit claims Binance breached the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 by offering leverage tokens, futures, and options to UK customers without regulatory approval.
Binance and its founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao are facing a UK lawsuit from nearly 1,700 investors seeking $200 million over alleged unregulated risky financial products.
As the EU's MiCA deadline of July 1, 2026, approaches, UK traders face confusion. The key is understanding that MiCA primarily affects EU-authorized entities, and UK users must check their specific account's legal entity and jurisdiction, not just the exchange brand, to determine service impacts.
Australia is implementing the "travel rule" for crypto transfers starting Wednesday, requiring users of regulated exchanges to provide sender/receiver details. This aligns Australia with global standards to combat financial crime, though some users express privacy concerns.
