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Union is a yper-efficient interoperability protocol connects all blockchains and rollups, across any ecosystem. It's based on consensus verification and has no dependencies on trusted third parties, oracles, multi-signatures, or MPC.
Prediction market platform Pascal completes $9 million Series A funding round led by USV
: Prediction market platform Pascal has announced the completion of a $9 million Series A funding round. The platform aims to create a next-generation prediction market platform for professional traders and institutional users, challenging the current market landscape dominated by Kalshi and Polymarket.This funding round was led by Union Square Ventures (USV), with the specific valuation not disclosed. This financing expands on a $6 million seed round from August last year, with early investors including Wintermute Ventures and DBA.Headquartered in New York, Pascal positions itself as a prediction market platform similar to Kalshi, but aims to offer users lower fees, higher liquidity, and more specialized trading tools through a trading model closer to perpetual futures.Pascal co-founder Ivo Crnkovic-Rubsamen stated that the hope is to establish highly liquid prediction markets for real business risks in the future, allowing companies to utilize these markets for risk management and hedging. (Fortune)
Securitize plans to list on the NYSE on July 2, aiming to raise approximately $400 million
the business combination between Securitize and SPAC Cantor Equity Partners II (NASDAQ: CEPT) is expected to raise approximately $400 million (including PIPE, before deducting related expenses). Upon completion of the merger, the new company will be renamed Securitize Corp., and its common stock is planned to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "SECZ" starting July 2. The CEPT shareholder meeting is scheduled to vote on the transaction on June 29, with the current redemption rate below 30%. Securitize claims to have obtained regulatory licenses related to digital securities infrastructure in both the United States and the European Union, managing over $4 billion in on-chain real-world assets. (PR Newswire)
OCC Proposes Applying the Bank Secrecy Act to Stablecoin Issuers
According to PYMNTS, on June 22, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a proposed rulemaking requiring payment stablecoin issuers (PPSIs) under its supervision to comply with provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and the GENIUS Act, and mandating that they implement anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) programs, sanctions programs, and reporting requirements administered by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The rule would also establish an OCC supervisory and enforcement framework for PPSIs’ AML/CFT obligations and clarify coordination mechanisms between the OCC and FinCEN in enforcement actions. Previously, the OCC had jointly sought public comment with the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) regarding requirements for stablecoin issuers to establish customer identification programs.
Crypto trading app Fomo closes $75 million Series B funding round, achieving a $550 million valuation
According to Fortune, cryptocurrency trading startup Fomo has announced the completion of a $75 million Series B funding round, led by Index Ventures, with participation from Union Square Ventures, Mark Pincus—co-founder of Zynga—Humam Sakhnini, CEO of Discord, and Kevin Hartz, co-founder of Eventbrite. The company’s valuation stands at $550 million. Fomo was founded in 2025 by Paul Erlanger, Se Yong Park, and Prashan Dharmasena—former members of the dYdX team.
Nvidia-backed robotics AI startup Generalist AI completes $400 million funding round at $2 billion valuation
: Robotics AI startup Generalist AI has completed a new $400 million funding round, led by Radical Ventures, with participation from 8VC, Union Square Ventures, Hanabi Capital, and existing investors Nvidia and Bezos Expeditions. The company is valued at $2 billion post-investment. Founded by Pete Florence, Andy Zeng, and Andy Barry, the company focuses on leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to iterate robot models and develop intelligent robot products capable of handling complex tasks. The proceeds from this round will be used for advanced AI model research and development, as well as expanding robot application scenarios. (Bloomberg)
Former US Congressman Settles with CFTC for $35,000 Over Prediction Market Manipulation
Odaily News: Former US Congressman George Santos has reached a settlement with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The CFTC stated that Santos engaged in manipulative trading behavior while trading a prediction contract on Kalshi regarding whether he would attend the State of the Union address in February 2026, profiting over $17,500 from the trades.According to the CFTC's Friday announcement, Santos is required to pay $35,000 as part of the settlement, but neither admitted nor denied the regulator's findings.The CFTC stated that in the two weeks leading up to the State of the Union address, Santos repeatedly made public comments about whether he would attend the event, causing significant fluctuations in the price of the event contract. For example, while holding a "Yes" position indicating he would attend, he posted on X asking what he should wear to the State of the Union. Within hours, the price of the Yes position rose, after which Santos closed his position for a profit.The CFTC also alleged that Santos subsequently continued to post updates about his travel to Washington, D.C., including flights and train rides, and profited by trading back and forth based on market reactions to his public statements. The CFTC stated that Santos's conduct was intentional, or at least reckless. He traded in an event contract whose underlying outcome he could influence, and affected the contract price through misleading public statements or omissions of information, thereby profiting from his trading positions.Santos's attorney, Joseph W. Murray, stated in Friday's announcement that the State of the Union contract was Santos's first foray into prediction market betting.
Hungary abolishes third-party verification requirements for crypto transactions, CoinCash receives the first MiCA license in the country
the Hungarian Parliament has voted to abolish the crypto verifier requirement, eliminating the need for third-party approval for certain crypto transactions. This requirement originated from Hungary's 2024 Crypto Asset Act, which was originally set to mandate that from July 1, 2025, licensed verifiers must check asset sources, wallet ownership, and client information before issuing compliance statements. Hungarian Finance Minister Kármán András stated that the previous rules disrupted Hungary's crypto market, with some service providers ceasing local operations, leading the government to cancel the verification requirement. Broader licensing and compliance requirements continue to apply. On July 20, the Hungarian National Bank (MNB) granted authorization to Tiwala Solutions, the operator of the crypto platform CoinCash, under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). The authorization covers custody, exchange between cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies, exchange between cryptocurrencies, transfers, investment advice, and portfolio management. CoinCash plans to gradually resume its services.
EU Expands 21st Round of Sanctions Against Russia to 14 Crypto-Related Platforms
: The European Union (EU) has expanded its sanctions against Russia, targeting the A7 cross-border payment network and its newly established African connections, as well as the A7A5 stablecoin used to circumvent sanctions. The latest sanctions package extends transaction bans to 14 crypto-related platforms in countries including Georgia, the UAE, and Panama, and introduces a tool that can be used to comprehensively ban crypto asset services used by Russia. In addition to digital asset measures, the EU has imposed asset freezes and transaction bans on 94 banks and major financial institutions, and expanded transaction bans to another 33 Russian credit and financial institutions.
EU Adopts 21st Round of Sanctions Against Russia, Expanding Restrictions on Finance, Energy, and Crypto Assets
The Council of the European Union formally adopted the 21st sanctions package against Russia on July 23, focusing on strengthening restrictions on the Russian financial system, energy revenue, military industry, and crypto-asset services. In the financial sector, the EU imposed asset freezes on 94 banks and major financial institutions and expanded transaction bans on 33 Russian credit and financial institutions; meanwhile, 14 service platforms related to crypto-assets were included in the scope of restrictions, and for the first time, it was proposed that comprehensive bans could be implemented on crypto-asset services in third countries that assist Russia in evading sanctions.
EU expands crypto restrictions on Belarus, banning its citizens from controlling all MiCA-regulated crypto service providers
OdailyOdaily reports that the European Union has further tightened restrictions on crypto assets concerning Belarus, prohibiting Belarusian citizens and residents from owning, controlling, or managing crypto service providers regulated under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.According to Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1847, adopted by the Council of the European Union on July 24, this measure is an extension of the EU's sanctions framework targeting Belarus's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The new rules will take effect on July 24, with the expanded restrictions on the crypto industry slated for implementation from August 25.As defined by MiCA, the affected services include operating crypto trading platforms, exchanging crypto assets, executing and transmitting customer orders, crypto asset issuance services, asset transfer services, investment advisory, and portfolio management. These restrictions come as the MiCA transitional period ended on July 1. The EU had previously required unauthorized crypto firms to cease relevant operations or face regulatory enforcement.The EU stated that this expansion is part of its efforts to combat the use of crypto platforms to evade sanctions against Russia. Earlier, in its 21st round of sanctions against Russia, the EU had extended trading bans to 14 foreign crypto service platforms and established a mechanism to potentially prohibit transactions with any foreign crypto service providers deemed to be assisting Russia in sanctions evasion.Market participants point out that with the full implementation of the MiCA regulatory framework, the EU is further tightening its oversight of the crypto industry through licensing systems and sanction mechanisms. (Cointelegraph)
Kalshi and Polymarket Combined Trading Volume Exceeds $44 Billion in 2025
Kalshi and Polymarket processed a combined trading volume of over $44 billion in 2025. As of April 2026, the monthly trading volume on the two platforms has risen to $24 billion, surpassing the average monthly betting volume of legal sports platforms in the United States. Kalshi reported $263.5 million in fee revenue last year, with its annualized revenue exceeding $1.5 billion since then. Prediction markets operate on a binary contract exchange model, where the platform matches buyers and sellers without placing bets, holding positions, or bearing the risk of event outcomes. Its primary revenue comes from transaction fees, with additional revenue sources including data licensing, API access for institutional traders, and, in some cases, market creation fees on the platform. In the U.S. market, Kalshi is a Designated Contract Market (DCM) registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Polymarket re-entered the U.S. market at the end of 2025 by acquiring the CFTC-regulated QCEX for $112 million. Some states still classify prediction market contracts as gambling, and related federal and state-level lawsuits remain ongoing. The European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) does not directly define the attributes of prediction market contracts, and classification varies among member states. If a platform uses crypto settlement and provides custody or transfer services to EU users, it must also obtain a license as a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP).
Binance app unavailable on Google Play in some EU countries
Binance’s Android app is no longer available on the Google Play Store in several European Union countries. Spanish users have confirmed that the Binance app can no longer be found through Google Play searches, though it remains accessible via the Oppo App Market, an Android app store used by Oppo devices. Checks in Poland indicate that the Binance app is still available on Google Play, suggesting the situation does not cover all EU markets. Last week, OKX Europe CEO Erald Ghoos stated on X that the app was removed due to licensing requirements under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). This development comes weeks after Binance withdrew its MiCA application in Greece. The transition period for the framework ended on July 1st. Subsequently, Binance notified some EU users that access to certain services would be restricted, although withdrawals remain available.
EU Sanctions "Most Prolific Ransomware Operator" Stern, Linked to Over $300 Million in Ransom Payments
the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have jointly announced sanctions against a group of individuals involved in state-sponsored hacking organizations, cybercriminal groups, and their infrastructure providers. The targets are accused of causing billions of dollars in losses to global enterprises, critical infrastructure, and government agencies. Among them, the most notable is the EU's sanction against Russian cybercriminal Vitaly Nikolayevich Kovalev, also known as "Stern." The EU identified Stern as one of the core managers of the notorious Trickbot Group ransomware syndicate, which is behind high-risk ransomware variants such as Conti ransomware and Ryuk.On-chain analysis shows that wallet addresses linked to Stern have collectively received over $300 million in ransom payments, potentially making him the most prolific ransomware operator ever identified.According to the analysis, the $300 million figure represents only Stern's personal gains, while the total illicit income of the Trickbot Group could be significantly higher. On-chain fund flows indicate that Stern had transactional ties with multiple ransomware ecosystems, including Ryuk, Conti, Diavol, Karakurt, Royal, and Quantum.The investigation reveals that Stern played a role similar to a "CEO" within the Trickbot organization, responsible for budget management, personnel recruitment, infrastructure procurement, and attack planning. (Chainalysis)
France charges 88 suspects in crypto "wrench attack" cases, including over a dozen minors
the French National Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office (PNACO) issued a statement on Friday stating that France has launched judicial investigations into 12 cryptocurrency kidnapping cases orchestrated by organized crime groups, and has indicted 88 suspects, including more than 10 minors.According to statistics, since 2023, France has recorded 135 cryptocurrency-related attacks, including 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 so far in 2026. The accused individuals face charges including kidnapping, illegal detention, extortion, and money laundering. Recently, police arrested six suspects in two operations targeting kidnapping cases, and all individuals are currently in preventive detention. CertiK blockchain intelligence analyst Jonathan Riss stated that the masterminds behind such criminal gangs are typically located outside the European Union.
EU Sanctions "Most Prolific Ransomware Operator" Stern, Linked to Over $300 Million in Ransom Payments
the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have jointly announced sanctions against a group of individuals involved in state-sponsored hacking organizations, cybercriminal groups, and their infrastructure providers. The targets are accused of causing billions of dollars in losses to global enterprises, critical infrastructure, and government agencies. Among them, the most notable is the EU's sanction against Russian cybercriminal Vitaly Nikolayevich Kovalev, also known as "Stern." The EU identified Stern as one of the core managers of the notorious Trickbot Group ransomware syndicate, which is behind high-risk ransomware variants such as Conti ransomware and Ryuk.On-chain analysis shows that wallet addresses linked to Stern have collectively received over $300 million in ransom payments, potentially making him the most prolific ransomware operator ever identified.According to the analysis, the $300 million figure represents only Stern's personal gains, while the total illicit income of the Trickbot Group could be significantly higher. On-chain fund flows indicate that Stern had transactional ties with multiple ransomware ecosystems, including Ryuk, Conti, Diavol, Karakurt, Royal, and Quantum.The investigation reveals that Stern played a role similar to a "CEO" within the Trickbot organization, responsible for budget management, personnel recruitment, infrastructure procurement, and attack planning. (Chainalysis)
France charges 88 suspects in crypto "wrench attack" cases, including over a dozen minors
the French National Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office (PNACO) issued a statement on Friday stating that France has launched judicial investigations into 12 cryptocurrency kidnapping cases orchestrated by organized crime groups, and has indicted 88 suspects, including more than 10 minors.According to statistics, since 2023, France has recorded 135 cryptocurrency-related attacks, including 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 so far in 2026. The accused individuals face charges including kidnapping, illegal detention, extortion, and money laundering. Recently, police arrested six suspects in two operations targeting kidnapping cases, and all individuals are currently in preventive detention. CertiK blockchain intelligence analyst Jonathan Riss stated that the masterminds behind such criminal gangs are typically located outside the European Union.
Grinex Ceases Operations, Potentially Delivering a Heavy Blow to Russia’s Sanctions-Evasion Shadow Financial System
According to DL News, Russian cryptocurrency exchange Grinex announced last Wednesday that it would cease operations after suffering a cyberattack that resulted in the theft of over 1 billion rubles—approximately $13 million. The report states that Grinex had processed nearly $100 billion in trading volume for the sanctioned stablecoin A7A5 in 2025. Its shutdown is expected to weaken Russian companies’ ability to convert rubles into usable international currencies and deliver a severe blow to Russia’s shadow financial system designed to circumvent sanctions. Grinex was viewed as the successor to Garantex, which had previously been sanctioned and shut down. Both Grinex and Old Vector—the issuer of A7A5—were sanctioned in August 2025 by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
Former US Congressman Settles with CFTC for $35,000 Over Prediction Market Manipulation
Odaily News: Former US Congressman George Santos has reached a settlement with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The CFTC stated that Santos engaged in manipulative trading behavior while trading a prediction contract on Kalshi regarding whether he would attend the State of the Union address in February 2026, profiting over $17,500 from the trades.According to the CFTC's Friday announcement, Santos is required to pay $35,000 as part of the settlement, but neither admitted nor denied the regulator's findings.The CFTC stated that in the two weeks leading up to the State of the Union address, Santos repeatedly made public comments about whether he would attend the event, causing significant fluctuations in the price of the event contract. For example, while holding a "Yes" position indicating he would attend, he posted on X asking what he should wear to the State of the Union. Within hours, the price of the Yes position rose, after which Santos closed his position for a profit.The CFTC also alleged that Santos subsequently continued to post updates about his travel to Washington, D.C., including flights and train rides, and profited by trading back and forth based on market reactions to his public statements. The CFTC stated that Santos's conduct was intentional, or at least reckless. He traded in an event contract whose underlying outcome he could influence, and affected the contract price through misleading public statements or omissions of information, thereby profiting from his trading positions.Santos's attorney, Joseph W. Murray, stated in Friday's announcement that the State of the Union contract was Santos's first foray into prediction market betting.
European Central Bank Launches Digital Euro Pilot, 36 Institutions Including Deutsche Bank and Revolut Selected
the European Central Bank (ECB) has selected 36 banks and payment companies to participate in the digital euro pilot project, preparing for the potential issuance of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) possibly in 2029. Selected institutions include Deutsche Bank, Revolut, Adyen, SumUp, UniCredit, and Worldline. The list was selected from 50 applicant institutions.The digital euro pilot program is scheduled to launch in the second half of next year, lasting for 12 months. It will test the Beta version of the digital euro across various payment scenarios, including: online person-to-person transfers, offline payments, in-store payments, and e-commerce payments. The pilot scope will cover the ECB and the central banks of 19 eurozone countries. ECB employees and staff from national central banks will participate as users, while some restaurants, cafes, and online merchants will support digital euro payments.Although the digital euro currently lacks legal tender status, its design will closely align with the relevant legislative framework being developed by the European Union. The ECB stated that the final decision on whether to issue a digital euro will await the passage of relevant regulations and a decision by the ECB's Governing Council.One of the key reasons for the ECB's push for a digital euro is concern that the development of private dollar-pegged stablecoins could impact Europe's monetary sovereignty. In recent years, dollar-backed stablecoins like Tether's USDT and Circle's USDC have grown rapidly in global payment volumes, drawing the attention of European regulators to financial autonomy.However, the CBDC project still faces privacy controversies. Some privacy advocacy groups worry that a central bank digital currency could lead to transaction tracking or even pose a risk of restricted account access. In contrast, the United States has recently passed laws restricting the Federal Reserve System from issuing a digital dollar before the end of 2030.Currently, Europe's digital euro project is entering its practical testing phase, while EU legislative bodies are advancing the relevant legal framework. If the regulatory process proceeds smoothly, the digital euro could potentially be officially launched as early as 2029. (CoinDesk)
Cambridge Research: 31% of Ethereum Node Activity Located in the US, One-Third of Nodes Offline Can Block Network Finality
According to The Block, the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF)'s newly released report "Ethereum After the Merge" shows that approximately 31% of Ethereum node activity is located in the United States, with 39% distributed across the European Union (excluding the UK), presenting an overall Western-centric centralization pattern. The report points out potential centralization risks in the Ethereum network—nodes are highly concentrated among three major hosting providers: Hetzner, AWS, and OVH. Once more than one-third of validators go offline simultaneously, network checkpoints will stop finalization (Finalization). Additionally, the report recalculated Ethereum's energy consumption; annual electricity consumption after the Merge is approximately 7.9 GWh, a decrease of approximately 99.98% compared to before the Merge, with sustainable energy accounting for over 56%, and the cost required to offset its annual carbon emissions is only about $33,500 to $73,800.
OCC Proposes Applying the Bank Secrecy Act to Stablecoin Issuers
According to PYMNTS, on June 22, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a proposed rulemaking requiring payment stablecoin issuers (PPSIs) under its supervision to comply with provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and the GENIUS Act, and mandating that they implement anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) programs, sanctions programs, and reporting requirements administered by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The rule would also establish an OCC supervisory and enforcement framework for PPSIs’ AML/CFT obligations and clarify coordination mechanisms between the OCC and FinCEN in enforcement actions. Previously, the OCC had jointly sought public comment with the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) regarding requirements for stablecoin issuers to establish customer identification programs.
The UK House of Lords published a 71-page stablecoin regulatory report, criticizing the current regulatory proposals for lacking competitiveness.
According to the UK House of Lords’ Financial Services Regulation Committee’s report, “Stablecoins: Waiting for Regulation,” the global stablecoin market capitalization has exceeded $310 billion. However, the British pound (GBP) stablecoin market remains in its infancy, and the UK’s regulatory framework lags significantly behind those of the United States (the GENIUS Act) and the European Union (MiCA). The report levels several criticisms against the current regulatory proposals put forward by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Bank of England, with key concerns including: • The Bank of England’s requirement that systemic stablecoin issuers hold at least 40% of their reserve assets in non-interest-bearing central bank deposits is viewed by industry participants as severely undermining issuers’ profitability and the UK’s international competitiveness in this market; • The proposed holding limits—£20,000 per individual and £10 million per corporate entity—are considered operationally unworkable and potentially stifling to the development of the GBP stablecoin market; • The T+1 redemption requirement would impose substantial operational burdens on issuers; • The Prudential Regulation Authority’s (PRA) restriction prohibiting deposit-taking institutions from issuing stablecoins under independent brands is deemed overly stringent. The report does commend the Bank of England’s proposed liquidity-support lending facility, recognizing it as an innovative regulatory measure surpassing those adopted by other major jurisdictions. The Committee urges regulators to strictly adhere to the established timeline, ensuring the full regulatory framework enters into force on 25 October 2027. It further recommends adopting a principles-based, technology-neutral regulatory approach to strike an appropriate balance between financial stability and market innovation.
Western Union Launches Stablecoin USDPT, Actively Accelerating the Erosion of Its 174-Year-Old Business Model
According to Forbes, Western Union will launch its stablecoin USDPT on the Solana blockchain in May 2026. Issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, USDPT will be accompanied by a digital asset network designed to connect crypto wallets and exchanges. Analysts note that this move represents Western Union’s deliberate disruption of its core profit model: traditionally, the company relies heavily on foreign exchange spreads in cross-border remittances, but near-instant settlement via stablecoins will render such spreads transparent and unsustainable. At the same time, Western Union must still bear substantial fixed costs associated with its extensive offline agent network—a burden absent from crypto-native remittance firms from day one. The company’s Q1 financial report already reflects mounting pressure, with net income halved year-on-year to $65 million.
Related news
Former US Congressman Settles with CFTC for $35,000 Over Prediction Market Manipulation
Odaily News: Former US Congressman George Santos has reached a settlement with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The CFTC stated that Santos engaged in manipulative trading behavior while trading a prediction contract on Kalshi regarding whether he would attend the State of the Union address in February 2026, profiting over $17,500 from the trades.According to the CFTC's Friday announcement, Santos is required to pay $35,000 as part of the settlement, but neither admitted nor denied the regulator's findings.The CFTC stated that in the two weeks leading up to the State of the Union address, Santos repeatedly made public comments about whether he would attend the event, causing significant fluctuations in the price of the event contract. For example, while holding a "Yes" position indicating he would attend, he posted on X asking what he should wear to the State of the Union. Within hours, the price of the Yes position rose, after which Santos closed his position for a profit.The CFTC also alleged that Santos subsequently continued to post updates about his travel to Washington, D.C., including flights and train rides, and profited by trading back and forth based on market reactions to his public statements. The CFTC stated that Santos's conduct was intentional, or at least reckless. He traded in an event contract whose underlying outcome he could influence, and affected the contract price through misleading public statements or omissions of information, thereby profiting from his trading positions.Santos's attorney, Joseph W. Murray, stated in Friday's announcement that the State of the Union contract was Santos's first foray into prediction market betting.
Hungary abolishes third-party verification requirements for crypto transactions, CoinCash receives the first MiCA license in the country
the Hungarian Parliament has voted to abolish the crypto verifier requirement, eliminating the need for third-party approval for certain crypto transactions. This requirement originated from Hungary's 2024 Crypto Asset Act, which was originally set to mandate that from July 1, 2025, licensed verifiers must check asset sources, wallet ownership, and client information before issuing compliance statements. Hungarian Finance Minister Kármán András stated that the previous rules disrupted Hungary's crypto market, with some service providers ceasing local operations, leading the government to cancel the verification requirement. Broader licensing and compliance requirements continue to apply. On July 20, the Hungarian National Bank (MNB) granted authorization to Tiwala Solutions, the operator of the crypto platform CoinCash, under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). The authorization covers custody, exchange between cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies, exchange between cryptocurrencies, transfers, investment advice, and portfolio management. CoinCash plans to gradually resume its services.
Binance app unavailable on Google Play in some EU countries
Binance’s Android app is no longer available on the Google Play Store in several European Union countries. Spanish users have confirmed that the Binance app can no longer be found through Google Play searches, though it remains accessible via the Oppo App Market, an Android app store used by Oppo devices. Checks in Poland indicate that the Binance app is still available on Google Play, suggesting the situation does not cover all EU markets. Last week, OKX Europe CEO Erald Ghoos stated on X that the app was removed due to licensing requirements under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). This development comes weeks after Binance withdrew its MiCA application in Greece. The transition period for the framework ended on July 1st. Subsequently, Binance notified some EU users that access to certain services would be restricted, although withdrawals remain available.
EU Expands 21st Round of Sanctions Against Russia to 14 Crypto-Related Platforms
: The European Union (EU) has expanded its sanctions against Russia, targeting the A7 cross-border payment network and its newly established African connections, as well as the A7A5 stablecoin used to circumvent sanctions. The latest sanctions package extends transaction bans to 14 crypto-related platforms in countries including Georgia, the UAE, and Panama, and introduces a tool that can be used to comprehensively ban crypto asset services used by Russia. In addition to digital asset measures, the EU has imposed asset freezes and transaction bans on 94 banks and major financial institutions, and expanded transaction bans to another 33 Russian credit and financial institutions.
EU Adopts 21st Round of Sanctions Against Russia, Expanding Restrictions on Finance, Energy, and Crypto Assets
The Council of the European Union formally adopted the 21st sanctions package against Russia on July 23, focusing on strengthening restrictions on the Russian financial system, energy revenue, military industry, and crypto-asset services. In the financial sector, the EU imposed asset freezes on 94 banks and major financial institutions and expanded transaction bans on 33 Russian credit and financial institutions; meanwhile, 14 service platforms related to crypto-assets were included in the scope of restrictions, and for the first time, it was proposed that comprehensive bans could be implemented on crypto-asset services in third countries that assist Russia in evading sanctions.
EU expands crypto restrictions on Belarus, banning its citizens from controlling all MiCA-regulated crypto service providers
OdailyOdaily reports that the European Union has further tightened restrictions on crypto assets concerning Belarus, prohibiting Belarusian citizens and residents from owning, controlling, or managing crypto service providers regulated under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.According to Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1847, adopted by the Council of the European Union on July 24, this measure is an extension of the EU's sanctions framework targeting Belarus's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The new rules will take effect on July 24, with the expanded restrictions on the crypto industry slated for implementation from August 25.As defined by MiCA, the affected services include operating crypto trading platforms, exchanging crypto assets, executing and transmitting customer orders, crypto asset issuance services, asset transfer services, investment advisory, and portfolio management. These restrictions come as the MiCA transitional period ended on July 1. The EU had previously required unauthorized crypto firms to cease relevant operations or face regulatory enforcement.The EU stated that this expansion is part of its efforts to combat the use of crypto platforms to evade sanctions against Russia. Earlier, in its 21st round of sanctions against Russia, the EU had extended trading bans to 14 foreign crypto service platforms and established a mechanism to potentially prohibit transactions with any foreign crypto service providers deemed to be assisting Russia in sanctions evasion.Market participants point out that with the full implementation of the MiCA regulatory framework, the EU is further tightening its oversight of the crypto industry through licensing systems and sanction mechanisms. (Cointelegraph)