Japan2026-10-04 05:36:46Japan adds Russia sanctions, including a group tied to crypto-based sanctions evasionJapan has decided at a cabinet meeting to impose additional sanctions on Russia, according to a report by Nikkei cited by Cankao Xiaoxi and relayed by ChainCatcher. The new measures target 35 vessels in Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” which has been used to secretly transport crude oil to avoid Western sanctions. Under the decision, Japan will in principle ban the provision of operational support, maintenance, insurance and financing services to those ships. Separately, the Japanese government added 33 Russian military-related organizations and nine individuals to a new asset-freeze list. The list includes a group accused of using crypto assets, or virtual currencies, to evade financial sanctions. The move places crypto within a broader sanctions-enforcement framework rather than as a standalone policy step, based on the details provided in the report.20
self-custody2026-10-01 22:19:22Self-custody proposal would require RIAs to spell out bankruptcy protection for crypto assetsA self-custody proposal would put bankruptcy protection at the center of how registered investment advisers handle client crypto, according to a post on X by a Fox Business crypto reporter. The proposal would require RIAs and their clients to sign a written agreement stating that crypto assets held in self-custody by the adviser would be treated as financial assets under Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code. The reported aim is to reduce the risk that clients could lose those crypto assets if an adviser becomes insolvent. The update was cited by Odaily in a brief report and did not include further details on the proposal’s timeline or scope.50
ESMA2026-10-01 05:35:41ESMA flags crypto market fragility in its second risk monitoring report for 2026The European Securities and Markets Authority on Thursday released its second risk monitoring report for 2026, outlining the main risks and vulnerabilities facing European Union financial markets. The watchdog said markets have remained resilient, but that resilience is being tested by persistent inflation, weak economic growth, elevated technology valuations, and rising geopolitical tensions. Beyond listed markets, ESMA said investors should also watch other pockets of risk, including exposure to private credit tied to the U.S. market and the growing links between crypto-asset markets and the broader financial system. The report described the crypto market as increasingly fragile. ESMA Chair Verena Ross said investor optimism continues to support high valuations, but warned that the wider the gap becomes, the greater the risk of a sudden market correction. The report also examined selected themes including trends in U.S. technology IPOs and prediction markets.00
Ministry of S2026-10-01 05:44:59China’s Ministry of State Security labels crypto assets an “accomplice” to espionageChina’s Ministry of State Security issued a document on Sept. 29 that described crypto assets as an “accomplice” to espionage, according to Techub News, which cited Bitcoinist. The document also said that as digital asset services become integrated into a broader institutional framework, compliance, security, and market liquidity are critical. The statement links crypto assets to national security concerns while also placing emphasis on how digital asset services operate within formal structures. No further details were provided in the source text beyond the ministry’s characterization and its focus on compliance, safety, and liquidity.00
SEC2026-10-01 01:47:09SEC FAQ lays out nine answers on crypto assets, functional networks and investment contractsThe U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance has issued a new FAQ on how federal securities laws apply to certain crypto assets and related transactions, offering a more detailed view of where the agency sees the line between non-security crypto assets and investment contracts. The document does not carry legal force and is not a formal SEC rule or statement, but it addresses several questions that have remained central to the industry. The FAQ covers how to think about functional and decentralized networks, the classification of staking receipt tokens, the meaning of receipts, when marketing statements may amount to promises of essential managerial efforts, and whether post-functionalization maintenance, upgrades, and network-effect activities still matter under the Howey framework. It also addresses whether a new investment contract can arise in a functional system, how buyback programs should be viewed, and when a secondary-market trading platform could be treated as a promoter. A key thread runs through the entire release: once a crypto system is functional and no longer subject to centralized control, certain ongoing activities by issuers or other participants may no longer count as the kind of essential managerial efforts that support an investment contract analysis. The FAQ also cites Regulation Crypto Assets, Release No. 33-11434, dated Aug. 18, 2026, and the Federal Register citation 91 FR 54510, 54525 dated Aug. 21, 2026.00
UK2026-09-30 13:10:24UK FCA formally launches crypto asset authorization regimeThe UK Financial Conduct Authority has formally launched a crypto asset authorization regime, creating an official regulatory framework for crypto businesses operating in the country. According to the FCA, the regime is designed to give market participants a clear compliance path while protecting consumers and preserving market integrity. Companies covered by the framework will be required to meet a range of standards, including anti-money laundering controls and safeguards for client assets. The move marks a new stage in the UK’s approach to crypto regulation, shifting from broader oversight efforts to a more formal authorization structure for firms active in the sector.00
Japan2026-09-30 12:44:0465-year-old man in Japan loses about $5.26 million in crypto to fake police scamPolice in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, said on Sept. 30 that a 65-year-old man was defrauded of about 826 million yen, or roughly $5.26 million, in crypto assets after being targeted by someone posing as a police officer. According to the notice cited by Techub News, the scammer told the victim that his bank account had been linked to multiple complaints and that his assets needed to be checked to prove his innocence. The man then followed instructions to convert his deposits and securities holdings into cryptocurrency and place the funds into a personal wallet. Between Sept. 7 and Sept. 17, the assets were transferred in 10 transactions to addresses controlled by the scammer. Police are investigating the case as computer fraud. The item was also attributed to Wu Blockchain in the source text.180
Netherlands2026-09-30 12:40:50Dutch Box 3 tax bill would count unrealized crypto gains in annual returnsA Box 3 tax bill under review in the Dutch parliament would tax investments based on actual annual returns, including gains on assets that have not been sold, according to a post by Bitcoin News on X. The Dutch Tax Administration has also made clear that crypto assets held in personal wallets, on exchanges, or with third parties would be included when calculating actual returns. At the same time, the Dutch government is studying a shift to a capital gains tax model that would tax appreciation when gains are realized. Even so, it said the current 2028 proposal remains the basis while those changes are being reviewed. The bill has already passed the House of Representatives and still requires Senate review. The final system could still change before 2028.190
