Germany’s Sparkassen savings-bank network began offering cryptocurrency trading to retail customers on October 19, 2026, marking a significant shift for a banking group that previously resisted direct digital asset investments. The service, branded Krypto – powered by Deka, allows eligible customers at participating savings banks to buy, sell and hold cryptocurrencies through the existing Sparkasse
Japanese Bitcoin treasury company Metaplanet has moved closer to establishing a US-listed subsidiary after shareholders of Super League Enterprise approved proposals supporting a transaction involving 2,100 Bitcoin and $2.5 million in cash. Super League announced the approval on October 19, 2026, following its annual shareholder meeting on October 16. The agreement, originally announced on August
BlackRock is accelerating efforts to integrate tokenized financial assets into traditional banking and investment infrastructure, positioning blockchain technology as an extension of existing capital markets rather than a replacement for conventional finance. The world’s largest asset manager has expanded its tokenization activities throughout 2026, introducing blockchain-enabled money market fund share classes and supporting digital investment
BlackRock has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch the iShares Bitcoin Managed Protection ETF, an actively managed fund designed to provide exposure to bitcoin gains while limiting certain downside risks through options contracts.The October 19 filing identifies the proposed fund under the ticker PBIT and outlines a strategy combining call-option spreads
France’s National Assembly has narrowly approved an amendment that would make certain cryptocurrency-to-stablecoin conversions taxable from January 1, 2027, potentially ending a tax deferral widely used by investors who move between volatile digital assets and fiat-backed tokens without cashing out.Amendment I-3898, introduced by lawmaker Nicolas Sansu, passed on October 16 by 38 votes to 37,
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has expanded its Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) register to 375 unique crypto-asset service providers (CASPs), adding nine firms in its October 16 update, including BingX, YouHodler and banking entities linked to Santander and German cooperative lenders.The additions illustrate the expanding participation of cryptocurrency exchanges, fintech platforms and
World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin has lost approximately $401 million in market capitalization since October 6, with large redemptions on Ethereum and BNB Chain accounting for most of the decline as the Trump family-backed cryptocurrency venture prepares to take over issuance from BitGo.CoinGecko data showed USD1’s market capitalization at approximately $4.02 billion on Monday, October
Key Facts The Blockchain for Good Alliance and the United Nations Development Programme have signed a two-year programme on cybersecurity knowledge and the responsible use of digital technologies in development. Edward Vrkić and Helen Liu signed on 19 October 2026 at the Cybersecurity, Trust and Digital Safety Launch Summit in Singapore. UNDP’s Alternative Finance Lab
Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley are increasingly positioning blockchain-based asset tokenization as a potential source of business growth rather than a threat to traditional financial institutions.During their third-quarter earnings calls in October 2026, executives from the three banks outlined opportunities spanning securities trading, cross-border payments, settlement infrastructure and investment advisory services.Their comments reflect
The European Union and eight countries have signed an international treaty designed to strengthen authorities’ ability to trace, freeze, seize and confiscate assets linked to criminal activity, including cryptocurrencies.The agreement was signed in Strasbourg on October 14, 2026, during the Council of Europe’s Octopus Conference on cybercrime. Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino and