Global

July 30, 2026 @ 8:54 am By JD Alois  |  

On July 1, 2026, MiCA [Markets in Crypto Assets] regulation came into full force, meaning digital asset platforms that had failed to apply for or were unable to comply with it had to halt services to European users. OKX, a US-based company that offers a… Read More

July 30, 2026 @ 6:49 am By Omar Faridi  |  

On-chain investigator Specter has reported that losses tied to compromised hot wallets associated with Singapore payments firm Triple-A have risen further, reaching an estimated $11.8 million. This marks an increase from the more than $9.3 million initially identified late Friday. Specter first publicly highlighted the… Read More

July 30, 2026 @ 1:16 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The European Union has expanded its restrictive measures targeting Russia’s financial networks by adding the cryptocurrency platform HTX to a list of entities facing transaction prohibitions. This step forms part of the bloc’s 21st sanctions package against Russia, adopted in response to the ongoing conflict… Read More

July 30, 2026 @ 12:40 am By Omar Faridi  |  

After months of firm opposition, Germany’s Commerzbank has signaled a willingness to engage in formal discussions with Italy’s UniCredit regarding a potential acquisition. The shift marks a notable turning point in one of Europe’s most prolonged and contentious banking battles of recent years. Supervisory board… Read More

July 29, 2026 @ 5:49 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Russia’s Federal Security Service has formally accused Pavel Durov, the founder of the popular messaging platform Telegram, of facilitating terrorist activities and has issued an international arrest warrant for him. On July 29, 2026, the FSB announced that Durov, who heads Telegram’s administration, faces charges… Read More

July 29, 2026 @ 9:54 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Bitcoin’s trading activity has entered a notably subdued phase this summer, with recent analysis from research firm K33 indicating that July is shaping up as the weakest month for spot volume in the leading cryptocurrency since the closing stretch of 2023. According to the firm’s… Read More

July 29, 2026 @ 9:31 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A new global survey highlights how the rapid integration of artificial intelligence is reshaping corporate priorities around information security funding. According to findings released by Kaspersky’s Internal Research Center, 41 percent of enterprises now cite AI adoption as the primary reason for increasing their IT… Read More

July 28, 2026 @ 10:44 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Customers of several major UK high street banks faced disruptions to digital banking services on Monday, with widespread reports of difficulties completing online transfers and payments. Account holders at institutions including Lloyds Banking Group brands and Barclays encountered problems that began emerging around midday, according… Read More

July 28, 2026 @ 9:31 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Lido, a liquid staking protocol on Ethereum, has commenced a significant infrastructure update that involves consolidating more than 8 million ETH—valued at approximately $16 billion to $16.5 billion—into larger validators. This marks the protocol’s most substantial core change since its V2 release in 2023 and… Read More

July 28, 2026 @ 10:58 am By JD Alois  |  

Following a targeted report on VASPs and digital assets, the FATF [Financial Action Task Force], a global coordinator of financial standards and illicit activity, has filed a report on decentralized finance, or DeFi. FATF standards are followed, and at times adhered to, by approximately 200… Read More

July 28, 2026 @ 7:48 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A state-backed Chinese company has started mass production of domestically developed immersion deep-ultraviolet (DUV) lithography machines, a critical technology for advanced semiconductor manufacturing previously dominated by Dutch firm ASML. The development, first reported by The Information and later detailed by Reuters, marks progress in Beijing’s… Read More

July 27, 2026 @ 10:40 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Cryptocurrency exchange BitMart has announced it will begin an orderly wind-down of its trading platform operations. The decision follows a thorough review of the company’s current operating conditions, the broader market environment, and its longer-term strategic priorities. Officials expressed deep regret over the move while… Read More

July 27, 2026 @ 8:33 am By JD Alois  |  

Open banking platform Salt  Edge has made a strategic investment in Sientia. Sientia is a “payments-linked advertising platform” that supports rewards, loyalty programs, and insight into purchasing activity. Sientia is a bootstrapped firm that works with global brands including Adidas, Ocado, Lyle & Scott, Honest… Read More

July 27, 2026 @ 8:16 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Chainalysis has pointed out that on July 23, 2026, the European Union adopted its 21st package of sanctions against Russia, representing the most extensive set of designations in four years and encompassing 218 listings overall. The measures focus heavily on disrupting Russia’s financial systems that… Read More

July 27, 2026 @ 8:14 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Elliptic has noted that Crypto ATMs, often called Bitcoin ATMs because of the cryptocurrency’s dominance, provide a straightforward way for people to convert physical cash into digital assets. While these machines serve legitimate customers, they have also become a favored tool for fraudsters. Scams typically… Read More

July 27, 2026 @ 1:18 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Lendbuzz is reportedly weighing an initial public offering on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange rather than pursuing a traditional debut on Nasdaq. The Boston-headquartered company, which specializes in AI-driven auto financing solutions, has built a strong track record serving consumers often overlooked by conventional lenders,… Read More

July 27, 2026 @ 12:21 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Anthropic has released Claude Opus 5, the latest iteration in its Opus model lineup, positioning it as a highly capable option that approaches the performance of the company’s frontier Fable 5 model while remaining more accessible in terms of price and everyday usability. Announced on… Read More

July 27, 2026 @ 12:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Cybersecurity researchers at Kaspersky have uncovered a series of ransomware assaults targeting businesses in Colombia and Mexico during May and June 2026. These operations stood out for their reliance on built-in Windows encryption tools combined with an unusual tactic: forcing the victims’ own office printers… Read More

July 26, 2026 @ 9:26 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Global payments fintech Wise (LON:WISE) has confirmed it intends to file a new application for a US national trust bank charter following the rejection of its earlier submission by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. On July 23, 2026, the OCC informed the… Read More

July 26, 2026 @ 5:16 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Qatar is seeking to build the skilled workforce needed to support its ambitions of becoming a regional financial and fintech hub. “Developing national talent is essential to achieving the Qatar National Vision 2030, serving as a fundamental pillar for supporting sustainable economic growth,” Qatar Financial… Read More