MiCA's July 2026 expiry, the US CLARITY Act and SEC-CFTC MoU, plus UK and Japan's FSMA-style regimes are forcing a global licensing reset, squeezing out thin-margin crypto venues.
The UK plans to bring crypto firms under a full regulatory regime from October 2027, with the FCA opening a licensing gateway in September 2026. Existing AML or payment registrations will not automatically convert into crypto licenses.
Nearly 1,700 UK investors have sued Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao at London's High Court, seeking at least £150 million ($200 million) for allegedly selling leveraged tokens, futures, and options without regulatory authorization. Binance denies wrongdoing and vows to contest the claim.
KBC Bank will roll out Bitcoin and Ether trading on Bolero during the week of February 16, becoming the first Belgian bank to offer crypto trading under the country’s MiCA framework.
UK wholesale digital markets champion Chris Woolard's report proposes a hybrid blockchain model to bring repo and funds onchain within 12 months. Ripple is named to the task force, having acquired Hidden Road (FCA-licensed) and powered Santander UK's cross-border payments. The report estimates a £33bn GDP boost over a decade.
Belgium's FSMA reports €23M+ in losses from crypto trading scams and WhatsApp stock tip schemes in H2 2025, with fake platforms and social media fraud driving the surge.
Fidelity invested $20 million to acquire a 7.4% stake in Marathon Digital Holdings in July, allocating shares across four index funds. Marathon's July bitcoin production surged 66% month-over-month, and it signed a deal to purchase 30,000 Antminer S19 Pro rigs from Bitmain.
Fidelity Investments spent ~$20M to acquire a 7.4% stake in bitcoin miner Marathon Digital in July. Marathon also reported a 66% MoM increase in BTC production to 422.2 BTC, and ordered 30,000 Bitmain miners.
