Bitcoinworld

BitcoinWorldCoW Swap Opens TWAP Orders to Every EOA Wallet, Removing the Safe-Only Barrier
The order type professional trading desks use to limit market impact is now available to any externally owned account (EOA) wallet – no Safe setup required.
LISBON, Portugal, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CoW DAO today announced that CoW Swap users can now place, edit, and cancel TWAP (time-weighted average price) orders directly from any externally owned account (EOA) wallet, closing a gap that previously restricted the feature to multisig wallet users.
Price impact is one of the least visible costs of trading – and one of the most expensive. Academic research analyzing over half a million real trades found that for swaps above $100,000, price impact and slippage together account for roughly 77% of the total cost of the trade. The effect isn’t limited to large trades. In the same study, on a thinner-liquidity pair, price impact and slippage made up more than a third of the total cost of trades between $1,000 and $100,000.
TWAP orders address this by splitting a large trade into smaller pieces that execute over set intervals, rather than filling all at once, helping to reduce the price impact a single large order can have. It’s a technique long used by professional trading desks and market makers; and is now available to all users of CoW Swap.
The feature already counts some of Ethereum’s most closely watched wallets among its users. The Ethereum Foundation has used CoW Swap’s TWAP orders on multiple occasions to convert ETH into stablecoins to fund R&D, grants, and donations without disturbing ETH’s market price – including a 5,000 ETH conversion in April 2026.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has separately used CoW Swap’s TWAP feature for his own ETH-to-stablecoin conversions, including a transaction of more than 3,100 ETH.
Traders use TWAP orders for other reasons, too. TWAP can spread execution across time, giving traders an average execution price rather than relying on the market price at a single moment. And because trades can be scheduled at regular intervals, TWAP can automate recurring strategies – such as buying a fixed amount of an asset every week or month – without requiring the trader to return and place each order manually.
“TWAP has long been a preferred tool for our biggest users,” says Anna George, CoW DAO’s co-founder. “But our ambition was to be able to build tools that anyone can use – be they a big trader or small. Rolling out TWAP to every EOA wallet means millions can now split their trades and lower their price impact, effortlessly.”
With the update, CoW Swap handles the timing and execution automatically once an order is placed – funds remain in the trader’s own wallet for the duration, and every fill still respects the price protection the trader sets, so an order won’t execute outside the range they’ve defined.
The change is live now on swap.cow.fi for all supported EVM chains.
About CoW Protocol
CoW DAO develops the most user-protective products in DeFi. Its products, including CoW Swap are class leaders in intent-based DeFi, enabling gasless, MEV-protected swaps across major chains through solver competition and batch auctions – powered by CoW Protocol. Since launch, CoW Protocol has processed over $200B in user trades, and saved more than $1.5 billion in extracted value and returned it to users. Learn more at https://cow.fi.
Media Contact Matt Hussey Content Marketing Managermatt@cow.fi
This post CoW Swap Opens TWAP Orders to Every EOA Wallet, Removing the Safe-Only Barrier first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldIllinois Publishes Draft Rules for 0.2% Crypto Tax
Illinois has published draft rules spelling out how its 0.2% digital asset transaction tax would apply to stablecoins, exchange withdrawals and some paid DeFi services when the levy takes effect on January 1, 2027, according to Ambcrypto. The tax is already law under the Digital Asset Tax Act, but the proposal offers the first detailed picture of which everyday crypto activities would carry an extra charge.
Illinois would charge 0.2% on the value of crypto in a qualifying transaction, collected by the broker involved. Stablecoins fall inside the tax while NFTs are excluded, and most DeFi activity is exempt unless a platform charges its own protocol fee. The draft rules are open for public comment until October 30.
The rules were published by the Illinois Department of Revenue, PANews reported on September 30, citing Cointelegraph.
Key facts
The tax equals 0.2% of the value of the crypto involved in a qualifying transaction, not a percentage of the exchange or service fee — a $1,000 taxable transaction would carry $2 in state tax, on top of any trading, withdrawal or platform fees.
Stablecoins such as USDT and USDC are treated as digital assets and can be taxed, but NFTs are excluded because they can represent art, music and other items with value beyond the token itself.
DeFi transactions are exempt in principle when fees go only to liquidity providers, miners or blockchain validators, and network gas fees are not included — but a platform that collects its own protocol fee to operate or maintain its service could be treated as a broker.
Moving assets from an exchange into a self-custody wallet could be taxable when the exchange charges a withdrawal fee, and paid bridging services that shift assets between blockchains could also qualify. Direct transfers between personal wallets with no broker involved are not taxed.
The draft has not been filed with the Secretary of State or submitted to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, and public comments are due by October 30.
Who owes the 0.2% — and who collects it
Four conditions have to line up for the tax to bite: an Illinois customer, a qualifying crypto service, a fee or other payment, and a business treated as a digital asset broker. The broker — a centralized exchange or custodian, for example — collects the charge, so customers would most often see it as a line item added at the point of a buy, sell, transfer or storage service rather than as a separate filing obligation.
The draft covers buying, selling, transferring and storing crypto through businesses such as centralized exchanges and custodians. That framing leaves self-directed activity alone: a user who simply moves coins between two wallets they control, with no intermediary charging a fee, is outside the scope.
Where stablecoins, DeFi and bridging land
The stablecoin treatment is the proposal’s most consequential detail. Tokens built to hold a $1 peg are classified as digital assets, so a qualifying USDT or USDC transaction can be taxed on value even though that value is designed not to move. Illinois is not carving out a low-volatility exemption.
DeFi is treated conditionally rather than uniformly, and the deciding factor is who receives the fee. Trades routed through a decentralized exchange generally escape the tax when fees flow only to liquidity providers, miners or validators, and gas costs are excluded entirely. The exemption breaks, however, when a DeFi platform collects a protocol fee used to operate or maintain its service — at that point the platform could be classed as a broker and the related transaction could become taxable.
Cross-chain activity sits in the middle. Bridging can qualify when a paid service moves assets from one blockchain to another, and an exchange charging a fee to send assets into self-custody is explicitly referenced in the proposal.
PANews characterised the DeFi position the same way — in principle exempt, with the protocol-fee exception as the trigger — and both accounts agree on the stablecoin inclusion, the NFT exclusion and the January 1, 2027 start date. Ambcrypto notes only that the rules remain preliminary and have not yet been filed with the Secretary of State or sent to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, a step that still has to happen before they become operative.
Why it matters
Illinois would be taxing value rather than profitability, which is a different model from the capital gains approach most U.S. crypto holders are used to at the federal level. A 0.2% charge on a straightforward swap is small in isolation, but it applies repeatedly — and it lands hardest on high-frequency users and on stablecoin rails, where the whole point is to move dollar-denominated value cheaply.
The practical burden falls on brokers operating in the state, which would have to build collection and reporting into their systems before January, and on DeFi front-ends whose fee structure determines whether their users are caught. The protocol-fee test also creates an incentive that cuts both ways: a service that charges nothing may stay outside the tax, while one that monetises its interface may pull its users in.
What to watch
The comment window closes on October 30, after which the Department of Revenue can revise the language before filing it with the Secretary of State and submitting it to the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules. How the protocol-fee trigger is finally worded — and whether stablecoins keep their current treatment — will decide who is collecting 0.2% on January 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Illinois crypto tax take effect?
The Digital Asset Tax Act is already law and is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, with the draft implementing rules still in a public comment period that closes on October 30.
How much is the Illinois digital asset tax?
Customers would pay 0.2% of the value of the crypto involved in a qualifying transaction. The broker providing the service collects it, and it comes on top of any trading, withdrawal or platform fees.
Are stablecoin transfers taxable under the proposal?
Yes. The draft treats stablecoins such as USDT and USDC as digital assets, so qualifying USDT or USDC transactions could be taxed even though the tokens are designed to hold a $1 value.
Is DeFi taxed under the Illinois draft rules?
Mostly no. Trades routed through a decentralized exchange are generally exempt when fees go only to liquidity providers, miners or validators, and gas fees are excluded — but a platform that collects its own protocol fee could be treated as a broker, making the related transaction taxable.
Do NFTs fall under the Illinois crypto tax?
No. NFTs are excluded because they can represent art, music and other items with value beyond the token itself, unlike the digital assets the draft covers.
This post Illinois Publishes Draft Rules for 0.2% Crypto Tax first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldBybit Releases Latest Proof-of-Reserves Report, Adding 10 Tokens as Mainstream Asset Value Hit $19.6 Billion
DUBAI, UAE, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the New Financial Platform trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, has added new 10 tokens to its Proof-of-Reserves (PoR) coverage with the release of its 40th PoR report, which reflects asset balances as of September 23, 2026. The report shows the reported value of mainstream assets reaching $19.6 billion, up from $18.1 billion in the 39th report in August.
The tokens joining Bybit’s September PoR report are SUI, PUMP, LIT, CAP, SPX, ZEREBRO, XPL, USDTB, PENGU, and ZRO. Bybit selects tokens for its PoR disclosures based on meaningful assets under management (AUM), with the current report covering the 50 highest-AUM tokens on the platform. This approach keeps the disclosure aligned with where user assets are concentrated.
The report, released on September 23, 2026, was independently verified by HACKEN. The snapshots and audited report show that reserve ratios for all 50 in-scope tokens were at or above 100%, including key assets such as USDT, USDC, BTC and ETH, indicating that user liabilities were fully backed by on-chain holdings.
Reserve positions strengthened across major assets compared with the 38th report published in July. The USDT reserve ratio rose to 110% from 105%, with wallet holdings exceeding user assets by roughly 364 million USDT. The USDC ratio increased to 223% from 174%. ETH edged up to 103% from 102%, while BTC held steady at 104%.
Ten tokens are newly added with reserve ratios between 101% and 125%, led by XPL at 125% and LIT at 121%.
Key Metrics (as of September 23, 2026 at 03:00 UTC)
USDT Reserve Ratio: 110% (~3.96 billion USDT in wallet backing ~3.59 billion USDT in user assets)
USDC Reserve Ratio: 223% (~748.3 million USDC in wallet backing ~334.8 million USDC in user assets)
BTC Reserve Ratio: 104% (58,721 BTC in wallet backing 56,131 BTC in user assets)
ETH Reserve Ratio: 103% (570,018 ETH in wallet backing 551,868 ETH in user assets)
As institutional and retail participation in digital assets continues to grow, proof of reserves has become a baseline transparency measure across the industry. Bybit’s 40th Proof-of-Reserves report offers an independently verified view of reserve balances and user liabilities, giving added visibility into the exchange’s custody and solvency position.
Reserve balances and verification records are published on Bybit’s Proof-of-Reserves page and updated on a recurring basis.
About Bybit
Bybit is The New Financial Platform.
We believe every person should have access to every financial opportunity on earth. That’s why we’re building the first intelligent platform that connects anyone, anywhere to the world’s finance.
Trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, Bybit brings together investing, trading, payments, and wealth-building in a single secure and intelligent ecosystem. Through the combination of AI-powered technology, deep global liquidity, robust security, and transparent operations, Bybit makes global finance more accessible, efficient, and empowering for everyone.
Built for everyone. Powered by intelligence. Open to the world.
Learn more at Bybit.com.
For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube
SOURCE Bybit
This post Bybit Releases Latest Proof-of-Reserves Report, Adding 10 Tokens as Mainstream Asset Value Hit $19.6 Billion first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldMEXC Leads SOL and DOGE Market-Price Liquidity in CoinGecko’s 2026 CEX Report
MUTSAMUDU, Comoros, Sept. 30, 2026/CNW/ — MEXC, a pioneer in 0-fee digital asset trading, led the exchanges studied in order book liquidity at the market price for both SOL and DOGE in CoinGecko Research’s 2026 Crypto Liquidity on CEXes Report. The report measured order book depth for the top five non-stablecoin assets, BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL and DOGE, across eight exchanges over 60 days from July 6 to September 3, 2026.
MEXC Records Highest SOL Liquidity at the Market Price
CoinGecko found that SOL liquidity was more evenly distributed across exchanges in 2026 compared with the previous year. Within this more competitive landscape, MEXC recorded approximately $934,000 in SOL order book liquidity at the market price, the highest among the eight exchanges studied.
The report also noted that SOL liquidity became more distributed across exchanges despite overall liquidity declining from 2025 levels. Beyond the immediate market price, other venues gained depth, with Bitget and Coinbase overtaking MEXC past the ±$0.20 range.
MEXC Leads DOGE Liquidity at the Market Price and Further Out
For DOGE, MEXC recorded more than $443,000 in order book liquidity at the market price, the highest among the exchanges studied. Only Binance, MEXC and OKX exceeded $200,000 at this level.
Further from the market price, MEXC regained the lead past the ±$0.0006 (0.3%) range, surpassing Binance and Bitget. Its liquidity then leveled off beyond the ±1% interval at roughly $2 million on each side of the order book.
MEXC Maintains Deep DOGE Liquidity During Market Shifts
The report also examined DOGE liquidity during individual market events. On August 21, as DOGE market depth shifted alongside broader price movements, MEXC remained among the venues showing substantial depth across the order book. The report’s observations also found that MEXC traders placed larger block orders around key price levels during subsequent DOGE price movements.
“For retail traders, liquidity is fundamental to market quality. It determines execution efficiency, price stability and the ability to enter or exit positions with confidence,” said Vugar Usi Zade, CEO of MEXC. “Deep liquidity is therefore central to how MEXC lowers barriers to trading and provides more efficient access to global market opportunities.”
Taken together, the findings show MEXC maintaining strong liquidity close to the market price for both SOL and DOGE, while its DOGE depth also extends further into the order book. For traders, deeper liquidity can support more efficient execution by allowing orders to be absorbed with less impact on market prices.
Looking ahead, MEXC will continue to strengthen market depth and execution quality as part of its broader effort to provide users with a more efficient trading experience under its “Infinite Opportunities” vision.
About MEXC
Founded in 2018, MEXC is a leading global multi-asset trading platform built as your 0-fee gateway to infinite opportunities. Serving users across 170+ markets, MEXC provides simple and efficient access to crypto, stocks, tokenized assets, derivatives, and a growing range of TradFi-linked opportunities through one account and one gateway.
With 0 trading fees, deep liquidity, broad asset coverage, and a high-performance trading experience, MEXC is designed for retail users who want to discover earlier, act faster, and trade with fewer barriers. As crypto and traditional finance continue to converge, MEXC is committed to making global opportunities more accessible, helping users trade freely and MEXCmize every opportunity.
MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜Telegram｜How to Sign Up on MEXC
Risk Disclaimer:
This content does not constitute investment advice. Given the volatility of financial markets, including digital assets, tokenized assets, and traditional financial products, investors should carefully assess market conditions, underlying asset fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any investment or trading decisions.
SOURCE MEXC
MEXC PR team: media@mexc.com
This post MEXC Leads SOL and DOGE Market-Price Liquidity in CoinGecko’s 2026 CEX Report first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldRipple and CSD BR Put Brazilian Fund Records on XRP Ledger
CSD BR, a Brazilian financial market infrastructure operator that administers more than BRL 22 trillion (roughly $4 trillion) in registered assets, has begun mirroring holding records for BTG Pactual investment fund shares onto the public XRP Ledger, according to Crypto.news. Ripple announced the arrangement on Sept. 29, and Ripple’s official account highlighted the launch on Sept. 30, describing it as the first time a licensed central securities depository is recording securities ownership on a public blockchain.
CSD BR is mirroring BTG Pactual investment fund share records onto the public XRP Ledger as an extra record and audit layer. The depository’s own systems remain the official source for ownership, registration, deposit, and settlement, so the blockchain copy does not replace the legal register. Key facts
Ripple said on Sept. 29 that CSD BR will use the public XRP Ledger as an additional record and audit layer while its own systems stay the official source for ownership, registration, deposit, and settlement.
CSD BR currently has more than BRL 22 trillion in registered assets, and BTG Pactual investment fund shares are the first live assets in the new setup.
Fund shares deposited with CSD BR are represented on XRPL using the network’s Multi-Purpose Token standard, with access restricted to corporate and banking customers that have completed KYC and anti-money laundering checks.
CSD BR’s head of products and clients, Daniel Polano Spreafico, said the company chose record mirroring because it is “the safest and most responsible way to introduce a new technology into critical market infrastructure.”
PANews reported that the two parties will also evaluate directly issuing and trading assets on the XRPL going forward.
How the Brazilian fund-share mirroring actually works
The project does not move the legal ownership register entirely onto the XRP Ledger. CSD BR continues to control the assets, and its internal systems remain legally responsible for recording who owns each security and for handling deposits and settlements. The blockchain copy lets authorized participants compare the mirrored ownership information with CSD BR’s official records close to real time.
The setup uses Ripple’s custody technology alongside native XRP Ledger functions. CSD BR keeps control over which institutions can participate and how the tokenized records are managed, and the system can freeze individual assets or reverse a transaction when a regulatory or judicial order requires it.
Spreafico said the decision to start with mirrored records was deliberate, because existing investor and issuer processes can remain unchanged. Luis Furtado, the BTG Pactual partner responsible for market infrastructure, said participating lets the bank test blockchain technology within regulated fund infrastructure while preserving current processes and the official record of the assets. The partnership did not identify individual funds, their value, or how many transactions are expected during the initial phase.
What the BRL 22 trillion figure does and does not mean
The scale of the headline number is easy to misread. The BRL 22 trillion figure refers to the total assets registered across CSD BR’s existing infrastructure, while the initial blockchain phase begins with selected BTG Pactual investment fund shares. Ripple has not said that Brazil’s registered assets are being tokenized on the XRP Ledger, and PANews made the same point explicitly, noting that the figure does not represent the scale of assets placed on-chain in this phase.
Brazil’s central bank separately lists the CSD BR system among the country’s authorized financial-market infrastructures, with permissions covering securities settlement, centralized depository services and asset registration, and authorized infrastructures are subject to oversight designed to protect the country’s payment and financial systems.
Why it matters
Most institutional blockchain pilots run inside closed environments. This one operates within CSD BR’s existing market infrastructure, which is why the project goes beyond a proof of concept — investors and issuers continue using the same processes during the first phase while approved institutions gain a second, independently checkable record. That matters for auditors, custodians, and regulators who need to reconcile blockchain data against an official register rather than trust it on its own.
The distinction between a blockchain record and a blockchain asset cuts both ways. Recent XRP Ledger growth in tokenized real-world assets has often been represented onchain while underlying assets stayed governed by separate legal and custody arrangements, and the CSD BR deployment follows that pattern rather than breaking from it. Use of XRP Ledger infrastructure also does not necessarily mean institutions must buy or hold large amounts of XRP; institutions can use ledger functions and tokenized assets while XRP’s direct role may remain limited to network fees, account reserves or specific liquidity routes.
What to watch
Once CSD BR validates the record-mirroring phase, Ripple and CSD BR plan to consider native issuance, trading among approved institutions, more asset classes and stronger confidentiality features. Two Brazilian fixed-income products are already under consideration — Real Estate Receivables Certificates (CRIs) and Agribusiness Receivables Certificates (CRAs) — though no date has been set for bringing either asset class onto XRPL. Ripple said the technical model could eventually expand beyond Brazilian assets and participants, but no international rollout has been announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Brazil’s fund assets actually being tokenized on the XRP Ledger?
No. The first phase mirrors ownership records for selected BTG Pactual investment fund shares onto the XRP Ledger as an additional audit layer, while CSD BR’s own systems remain the official record of ownership, registration, deposit, and settlement.
Does the project require new regulatory approval in Brazil?
According to Ripple, the partnership was built under Brazil’s existing regulatory framework and does not require new approvals for the first phase.
What does the BRL 22 trillion figure actually refer to?
The figure covers the total assets registered across CSD BR’s existing infrastructure, not the value of assets placed on the XRP Ledger in this initial phase, which begins with selected BTG Pactual fund shares.
What might come after the record-mirroring phase?
Ripple and CSD BR plan to explore issuing assets directly through blockchain infrastructure, with Real Estate Receivables Certificates (CRIs) and Agribusiness Receivables Certificates (CRAs) under consideration. No date has been set.
Does using the XRP Ledger mean institutions must hold XRP?
Not necessarily. Institutions can use ledger functions and tokenized assets while XRP’s direct role may remain limited to network fees, account reserves, or specific liquidity routes, subject to regulatory requirements.
This post Ripple and CSD BR Put Brazilian Fund Records on XRP Ledger first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldArthur Hayes Predicts Ethereum at $10,000 by End of 2026
Arthur Hayes, co-founder of the defunct BitMEX exchange, said at the KBW2026 with Upbit event that Ethereum will reach $10,000 by the end of the year, according to PANews. The prediction came as Spot Ethereum ETFs recorded a net outflow of approximately $2.81 million over the past 24 hours, CNBC reported PANews cited CoinDesk.
Arthur Hayes predicted Ethereum will reach $10,000 by the end of 2026 during Korea Blockchain Week. The call followed a week of positive Spot ETH ETF inflows totaling over $850 million, which then turned negative with $2.81 million leaving the market in 24 hours. Ethereum traded above $2,500 but faced resistance at $2,800. Key facts
Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, predicted ETH will reach $10,000 by the end of the year at the KBW2026 with Upbit event, per PANews.
Spot Ethereum ETFs attracted over $850 million in positive net inflows from September 18 before turning negative with $2.81 million in outflows over 24 hours, according to Ambcrypto.
Ethereum traded above $2,500 for two weeks but faced resistance at $2,800 while consolidating in a symmetrical triangle pattern, Ambcrypto reported.
PANews, citing CoinDesk, corroborated Hayes’s $10,000 ETH target, though PANews did not mention the ETF flow data or technical pattern details.
ETF inflows reverse as ETH consolidates
Spot Ethereum ETFs had drawn more than $850 million in net inflows between September 18 and the end of last week, Ambcrypto reported. That streak ended, with roughly $2.81 million exiting the products in the most recent 24-hour window. The shift was small relative to the weekly total but coincided with Ethereum’s price cooling off above $2,500.
On the charts, ETH was trading inside a symmetrical triangle with price near the apex, according to Ambcrypto. The consolidation originated from a retest of a sideways range between $2,300 and $2,550. The momentum indicator sat flat at 1.62, just above neutral, suggesting low volatility that often precedes larger moves.
Ambcrypto noted that a break and hold below the lower resistance would trigger a move to $2,550 or lower if bears outweigh bulls. Clearing the upper resistance, by contrast, increases the chance of trading toward $10,000.
Hayes explains why he favors Ethereum
Speaking at the KBW2026 with Upbit event, Hayes said he was not worried about putting large amounts of money into Ethereum because of some exploit. He called Ethereum the most secure layer 1, citing its market cap among altcoins, according to Ambcrypto.
When asked why Ethereum had underperformed, Hayes pointed to blockchains that had captured prevailing narratives. He noted that Solana captured the memecoin narrative, making Ethereum a victim of its own success despite pioneering decentralized computer networks. PANews, citing CoinDesk, reported the same $10,000 target but did not include Hayes’s comments on Ethereum’s security or its competition with Solana.
Why it matters
Hayes’s target is one of the most aggressive year-end calls from a prominent industry figure. It conflicts with the cautious technical picture Ambcrypto described: Ethereum is still trading above $2,500 but faces $2,800 as a hurdle, and ETF flows have just turned negative. If the $10,000 prediction proves wrong, traders who acted on it could face losses. If it proves right, it would represent a near-fourfold increase from current levels.
The ETF flow reversal suggests institutional demand may be cooling even as retail-facing voices like Hayes turn more bullish. Readers should weigh the prediction against the ETF data and the triangle pattern rather than treating either as definitive.
What to watch
Whether Ethereum can clear the upper resistance of its symmetrical triangle and sustain above $2,800 will signal if buyers are in control. Daily Spot ETH ETF flow data from SoSoValue, which Ambcrypto cited, will show if institutional capital returns. Any breakout above the triangle apex may bring the $10,000 target closer to the conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Arthur Hayes’s Ethereum price target for 2026?
Hayes said he expects ETH to reach $10,000 by the end of the year, speaking at the KBW2026 with Upbit event. The prediction was reported by PANews and Ambcrypto.
Why did Spot Ethereum ETF inflows turn negative?
After attracting over $850 million in positive net inflows since September 18, the products saw approximately $2.81 million leave the market in the past 24 hours. Ambcrypto linked weakening inflows to ETH’s price consolidation.
What does the symmetrical triangle pattern mean for Ethereum?
Ambcrypto noted that a break above the upper resistance could increase the chance of trading toward $10,000, while a break below the lower support could trigger a move to $2,550 or lower.
Why does Hayes consider Ethereum the most secure layer 1?
Hayes cited Ethereum’s market cap among altcoins as the basis for calling it the most secure layer 1. He was speaking at the KBW2026 with Upbit event.
This post Arthur Hayes Predicts Ethereum at $10,000 by End of 2026 first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldBinance Pay opens crypto spending at PayPay merchants in Japan
Binance Pay began allowing eligible overseas users to pay with crypto at PayPay-supported merchants across Japan on Sept. 30, 2026, connecting roughly 48 million eligible Binance Pay users from more than 100 countries and regions to the QR network visitors already find in restaurants, shops and hotels. The service runs through HIVEX, a payment interoperability framework, according to Crypto.news, while merchants keep receiving settlement in Japanese yen.
Binance Pay opened crypto-funded payments at PayPay-supported merchants in Japan on Sept. 30, 2026, for eligible overseas visitors using the HIVEX network. Merchants are settled in yen, and Japanese residents are excluded from the rollout. Key facts
Binance announced the service on Sept. 30, giving approximately 48 million eligible Binance Pay users from more than 100 countries and regions access to PayPay-supported merchants while visiting Japan.
Payments run through HIVEX, which links Binance Pay to PayPay’s existing QR infrastructure; participating merchants receive settlement in Japanese yen rather than cryptocurrency.
Japanese residents are not eligible, and overseas users must come from a jurisdiction where Binance Pay is supported and complete the exchange’s identity verification process.
PayPay and Binance already had ties: SoftBank group company PayPay acquired a 40% stake in Binance Japan in October 2025 under a capital and business alliance.
Cointelegraph reported that eligible overseas users can spend Tether’s USDT at the vast majority of PayPay-supported merchants, and that Binance says it is the first crypto payment service to access those merchants through HIVEX.
How the PayPay payments actually work
Crypto.news reported that users can pay directly from their Binance accounts by scanning a merchant’s PayPay QR code through Binance Pay, or, where supported, display a payment code in the Binance app for staff to scan. PayPay’s merchant guidance says HIVEX transactions follow a process similar to ordinary PayPay payments, with merchants confirming completion through PayPay for Business.
Because the crypto side of the transaction stays with Binance Pay and the connected infrastructure, individual shops do not need to hold or process digital assets. PayPay says eligible merchants do not need to submit a separate application to begin receiving HIVEX payments, though businesses can disable the service through their PayPay for Business settings.
Both reports describe the same terms, but they emphasize different details. Crypto.news frames the launch around Binance Pay’s full eligible user base of about 48 million people across more than 100 countries and regions. Cointelegraph, citing Binance, specifically names Tether’s USDT as the asset overseas users can spend and reports that Binance describes itself as the first crypto payment service to reach PayPay-supported merchants through HIVEX. Cointelegraph also notes that PayPay lists nine other overseas payment services supported through HIVEX, mainly from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Thomas Gregory, Binance’s vice president of payments and fiat, described Japan as one of the leading destinations for connected cashless payments and said the PayPay integration reflects a shared vision of making payments more seamless, borderless and accessible for travelers, according to Crypto.news.
Japan’s digital-asset payment experiments keep widening
Binance Pay joins a PayPay network that had already been expanding its reach to overseas wallets. Earlier in September, Crypto.news reported that PayPay added UnionPay QR payments through HIVEX for visitors using the UnionPay App. After that addition, PayPay said its merchant network could receive payments from 36 overseas cashless services covering 17 countries and regions, which it estimated represented approximately 80% of international visitors to Japan.
The rollout also follows a deepening relationship between the two companies in Japan. Crypto.news reported that their first services focused on moving money between PayPay and Binance Japan rather than spending crypto at merchants, letting Binance Japan users buy crypto with PayPay Money and PayPay Points and transfer crypto-sale proceeds back into PayPay. The companies expanded that link in April 2026 by allowing yen deposits into Binance Japan through PayPay Money, and Binance Japan raised PayPay Money instant deposit limits in August, lifting the 24-hour ceiling from ¥300,000 to ¥1 million and the 30-day limit from ¥1 million to ¥2 million.
The Sept. 30 service targets a different group. Binance said the PayPay QR feature through HIVEX is limited to eligible international visitors rather than residents using Binance Japan.
Why it matters
Japan’s visitor economy makes it an unusually consequential test bed for crypto payments: the country gives overseas wallets a large, dense base of shops, taxis and transport operators that already accept QR payments, without asking those businesses to change how they get paid. That removes the two biggest practical frictions for merchants, holding volatile assets and buying new hardware, and leaves the crypto exposure with Binance rather than the shopkeeper.
It also puts Binance Pay in direct proximity to household-name local payment brands rather than a crypto-native checkout. Binance Research said in April that Binance Pay had reached more than 21 million merchants globally and had connected with domestic payment networks including Brazil’s Pix, so the Japanese arrangement extends a pattern rather than standing alone.
For travelers, the change is narrow but concrete: an eligible Binance account becomes a payment method at merchants where the PayPay flow already works. The limits are just as concrete, since the feature excludes Japanese residents entirely.
What to watch
PayPay and Binance have both pointed to eligible merchants being switched on by default, so the next signal will be whether Japanese businesses use their PayPay for Business settings to opt out of HIVEX payments. Japan’s wider retail experiments will also matter: Crypto.news reported that convenience store operator Lawson tested stablecoin payments using JPYC, USDC and USDT at two Tokyo locations in August and said it would assess transaction speed, system stability and store operations before deciding on wider deployment, while JCB partnered with Circle in July to test USDC for internal treasury transfers and merchant payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Japanese residents use Binance Pay at PayPay merchants?
No. Binance said the PayPay QR feature through HIVEX is limited to eligible international visitors, with Japanese residents excluded from the Sept. 30 rollout.
Do merchants receive the cryptocurrency a customer spends?
No. PayPay-supported merchants continue to receive settlement in Japanese yen, so individual businesses do not have to hold or process digital assets themselves.
Do merchants need to sign up or apply for the feature?
PayPay said eligible merchants do not need to submit a separate application to receive HIVEX payments, though they can disable the service through their PayPay for Business settings.
Which tokens can be used, and who is eligible?
Cointelegraph reported the service lets eligible overseas users spend Tether’s USDT. Binance said users must come from a jurisdiction where Binance Pay is supported and complete its identity verification process.
How does Binance Pay connect to the PayPay network?
HIVEX provides the link between Binance Pay and PayPay’s existing QR infrastructure, so businesses do not need to integrate each overseas wallet connected to the network separately.
This post Binance Pay opens crypto spending at PayPay merchants in Japan first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldHSBC names Hong Kong dollar stablecoin RedCoin
HSBC named its forthcoming Hong Kong dollar stablecoin HSBC RedCoin on September 30, 2026, according to Crypto.news, keeping the expected launch inside the second half of this year. The bank said the token has not yet been issued and will initially be reachable only through PayMe and the HSBC HK Mobile App.
HSBC named its Hong Kong dollar stablecoin RedCoin on September 30, 2026, with an initial rollout planned for person-to-person transfers and merchant payments, keeping the launch within the second half of the year. HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial received Hong Kong’s first stablecoin issuer licenses from the HKMA on April 10, 2026. No token has been issued yet, and no exact launch date, blockchain network or contract address has been disclosed.
The naming follows the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s April 10 decision to grant HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial the city’s first stablecoin issuer licenses under the Stablecoins Ordinance, which took effect on August 1, 2025. HSBC announced the name alongside survey results and a warning that it has no connection to fraudulent stablecoins using its name.
Key facts
HSBC will start RedCoin with person-to-person transfers and person-to-merchant payments, in HKD, before adding corporate and institutional uses.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority licensed HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial on April 10, 2026, the first approvals under the Stablecoins Ordinance.
A survey of 1,060 Hong Kong customers aged 18 to 64, run online from June 18 to June 28, found 74% could name at least one stablecoin use case.
Digital asset trading and tokenized investments led the use cases at 57%, ahead of P2P transfers at 53% and cross-border remittances and merchant payments at 52% each.
Anchorpoint, a venture of Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong, HKT and Animoca Brands, began a phased rollout of its HKDAP stablecoin in August, starting with institutional distributors and professional investors.
HSBC has not published an exact launch date, the blockchain network it will use, or a public token contract address. Maggie Ng, HSBC’s chief executive officer for Hong Kong and head of Retail Banking and Wealth in Hong Kong, said: “Launching our coin is just the beginning.” The bank tied the RedCoin name to its brand heritage and said the rollout would prioritize security, trust and simple access.
Kicking the tires: everyday payments before institutional rails
The first phase is consumer-facing. HSBC expects to move into corporate and institutional applications after the opening stage, but it has not given separate dates for those later steps, and it has not said when access could expand beyond PayMe and its Hong Kong banking app. That is a narrower starting point than the city’s other licensed issuer. According to PANews, HSBC said the early focus is on direct use cases close to everyday life, with commercial banking and corporate uses to follow as Hong Kong’s digital asset and currency development progresses.
PANews also reported that Standard Chartered was among the two financial institutions in the first license batch, a simpler description of a group that Crypto.news identifies as Anchorpoint Financial, a venture established by Standard Chartered Bank Hong Kong, HKT and Animoca Brands.
What customers say, and what they get wrong
The bank’s survey, released with the naming announcement, looked at stablecoin awareness rather than demand. Nearly three in four respondents recognized a use case, but understanding was uneven. HSBC found 60% correctly described a stablecoin as a fiat-backed digital asset, while the same source reports that 26% believed stablecoins are issued by governments and 10% thought they carry interest, a feature both reports note is not part of Hong Kong’s current framework.
When asked what gives them confidence, respondents pointed to rules over features: 62% chose regulatory clarity, 55% education, 53% fraud protection, 51% easy conversion to cash and 39% transparency over reserves. HSBC said it will publish an educational series through its apps, website and social channels, focused on scam prevention and redemption mechanics.
That last point has a precedent. PANews reported the April licensing; Crypto.news reported that in the same month, the HKMA warned that tokens carrying the tickers “HKDAP” and “HSBC” were not issued by, or connected with, Anchorpoint or HSBC. Both issuers confirmed at the time that no regulated stablecoins were in circulation. HSBC repeated the warning in its September 30 release, saying no HSBC stablecoin has been issued and urging customers to watch for investment scams involving tokens falsely presented as HSBC products.
Why it matters
The HKMA has said it would keep a high threshold for applicants and grant only a limited number of licenses in the first stage of the regime. HSBC’s entry means Hong Kong’s largest bank and one of the city’s three note-issuing banks is moving from license to brand, a sign that the regulator’s framework is producing consumer-facing products rather than keeping stablecoins inside pilot programs. For residents, the practical change is where a regulated HKD token would sit first: inside apps they already use, rather than on a public exchange. For HSBC, the test is whether a deposit-heavy retail franchise can add a payments token without confusing customers who, by its own survey, still mix up who issues and backs stablecoins.
Hong Kong’s ordinance puts licensed issuers under HKMA supervision for reserves, redemption, risk controls, governance and anti-money laundering. Reserve assets must be high quality and highly liquid and kept separate from an issuer’s other holdings, with pools structured to meet valid redemption requests at par value, and independent attestation and audits required.
What to watch
The remaining months of 2026 hold HSBC’s stated second-half launch window, so the next concrete markers are an exact launch date, the blockchain network, a public contract address and the start of its educational series. Also worth watching: whether institutional access via PayMe and the HSBC HK Mobile App expands on its own timetable, and how tightly HSBC and the HKMA police tokens trading under the HSBC name before RedCoin is issued.
Neither report gives any figure on the business case, no reserve totals, no customer deposit targets, no fee structure. The absence is notable, and it keeps the RedCoin story a plan on paper for now, despite the branding.
This article covers a corporate announcement and is not financial advice. Stablecoin and digital asset markets are volatile and uncertain, and readers should do their own research before making any investment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HSBC RedCoin?
It is the name HSBC gave on September 30, 2026 to its planned Hong Kong dollar-denominated stablecoin, expected to launch in the second half of the year. HSBC said the coin has not yet been issued.
Where will customers be able to use RedCoin first?
HSBC said initial access will be limited to PayMe and the HSBC HK Mobile App, starting with person-to-person transfers and person-to-merchant payments before any corporate or institutional uses.
When did HSBC get its Hong Kong stablecoin license?
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority granted licenses to HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial on April 10, 2026, under the Stablecoins Ordinance that took effect on August 1, 2025.
Has any HSBC stablecoin been issued in Hong Kong?
No. HSBC said on September 30 that no HSBC stablecoin has been issued and warned customers about fraudulent tokens presented as HSBC products.
What did HSBC’s survey of Hong Kong customers find?
The survey of 1,060 customers aged 18 to 64, conducted from June 18 to June 28, found 74% could identify at least one stablecoin use case, led by digital asset trading and tokenized investments at 57%.
This post HSBC names Hong Kong dollar stablecoin RedCoin first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldApple Patches iOS Flaw Tied to Crypto Attacks
Apple released iOS 26.7.1 and iPadOS 26.7.1 on September 28, 2026, patching a CoreGraphics vulnerability that the company said may have been exploited in an “extremely sophisticated attack” against specific targeted individuals, according to a report by Cryptopotato.
Apple has fixed CVE-2026-86950, an out-of-bounds write flaw in CoreGraphics that could allow arbitrary code execution on iPhones and iPads. The patch, released on September 28, addresses a vulnerability that may have been used in highly targeted attacks. SlowMist warns crypto users to update immediately and avoid suspicious links, files, and app installation prompts. Key facts
Apple released iOS 26.7.1 and iPadOS 26.7.1 on September 28, 2026, fixing CVE-2026-86950, an out-of-bounds write in the CoreGraphics framework.
The vulnerability could be triggered by processing a specially crafted file and may allow attackers to run arbitrary code on affected devices.
Apple said the flaw may have been exploited in an “extremely sophisticated attack” against specific targeted individuals on iOS versions before iOS 27.
Affected devices include iPhone 11 and later models, along with several recent iPad models.
SlowMist warned that the vulnerability is relevant to iOS attack activity it has been tracking and urged crypto users to pay particular attention.
SlowMist ties patch to ongoing iOS exploitation
Blockchain security firm SlowMist said the update is “highly relevant” to the iOS attack activity it has previously investigated. “For crypto users, this is especially concerning given the iOS exploitation activity we have observed targeting sensitive wallet data,” the firm said, as reported by both U.Today and Cryptopotato.
U.Today reported that the vulnerability was reported by Meta Product Security and was fixed with improved bounds checking. Apple has not said that CVE-2026-86950 was specifically used to steal cryptocurrency, and SlowMist has not publicly established that the newly disclosed flaw was the exact exploit used in previously investigated wallet thefts. That distinction matters: the connection between the patch and crypto losses remains circumstantial, even as the security firm urges caution.
FomoPeek malware raised alarms a week earlier
The warning comes a week after SlowMist reported on FomoPeek, a malicious iOS app that contained a kernel exploitation framework with eight attack methods. According to a joint investigation by SlowMist and OKX’s security teams, the framework could select an exploit based on the device model and iOS version. Affected versions included iOS 12.0–18.7 and iOS 26.0–26.1.
If successful, the exploit could escape the iOS sandbox and access Keychain data and files from other apps, potentially exposing private keys, seed phrases, and login credentials. SlowMist said some users who lost digital assets had installed FomoPeek versions 1.1 and 1.2. Hidden server connections capable of receiving remote commands were also found, with the attack functionality reportedly running automatically at regular intervals.
Why it matters
For crypto holders, the iPhone is often the primary device for managing wallets, authenticating exchanges, and storing recovery phrases. A flaw that enables sandbox escape or unauthorized data access can translate directly into stolen funds, especially when users install apps from outside the App Store or open files from unknown sources. The timing of the patch — just days after the FomoPeek disclosure — underscores how quickly iOS vulnerabilities can be weaponized against crypto users.
The episode also highlights the limits of platform security. Apple’s App Store review has been challenged before: earlier this year, three people sued Apple for allegedly promoting a fake version of the Sparrow Wallet crypto app that drained $1.8 million from victims’ wallets between May and August 2025. While that case is separate from CVE-2026-86950, it reinforces that users cannot rely solely on platform gatekeeping to protect digital assets.
What to watch
Apple has not disclosed further details about the “extremely sophisticated attack,” and it is unclear whether the flaw was used in any confirmed crypto theft. SlowMist’s ongoing tracking of iOS exploitation activity will be the key indicator of whether this vulnerability becomes a broader threat to wallet security. Users should install iOS 26.7.1 or iPadOS 26.7.1 immediately and monitor official channels for any additional guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-86950?
It is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in Apple’s CoreGraphics framework that could let attackers run malicious code on affected iPhones and iPads by processing a specially crafted file.
Which devices are affected by the iOS flaw?
The vulnerability impacts iPhone 11 and later models, as well as several recent iPad models, according to Apple.
Why are crypto users specifically warned?
SlowMist says the flaw is relevant to recent iOS attack activity targeting sensitive wallet data, and urges crypto users to update their devices and avoid suspicious apps, links, and files.
What is the FomoPeek app?
FomoPeek is a malicious iOS app that SlowMist and OKX found contained a kernel exploitation framework with eight attack methods, capable of accessing private keys and other sensitive data.
This post Apple Patches iOS Flaw Tied to Crypto Attacks first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldCboe Extends S&P 500 Options License to 2051, Eyes Tokenized Contracts
Cboe Global Markets and S&P Dow Jones Indices renewed their exclusive licensing agreement through 2051 on September 29, 2026, keeping Cboe’s rights to offer options on the S&P 500 Index and naming tokenized options contracts as an area the two firms may explore together, Decrypt reported. Cboe shares rose more than 6% after the announcement, with premarket gains of 6.6%.
Cboe and S&P Dow Jones Indices extended their exclusive S&P 500 options license through 2051 and said they may explore tokenized options contracts. No tokenized product has been announced, filed, or scheduled, and any tokenized contract would be a separate product from the SPX options that trade today. Key facts
The renewed agreement preserves Cboe’s exclusive rights to offer S&P 500 Index, or SPX, options through 2051, replacing a prior horizon that ran through 2033 with exclusive index options rights through 2032.
SPX options volume reached a record 970.6 million contracts in 2025, up 25% from 2024, with average daily volume of 3.9 million contracts — a fourth consecutive annual record, per crypto.news.
Royalty terms stay the same during 2026, with revised terms taking effect in 2027; Cboe said it expects only a minimal effect on net revenue growth.
The tokenization discussion is exploratory: the companies named no filing, trading venue, settlement design, or timetable for a tokenized contract.
The partnership dates to 1983, when Cboe launched the first S&P 500 index options.
What Cboe and S&P actually agreed to
The extension locks in a commercial arrangement tied to one of Cboe’s most active products. Beyond the license itself, the two firms said they may collaborate on new products “beyond traditional index derivatives,” specifically naming tokenized options contracts, according to Decrypt. Any tokenized contract would be distinct from the SPX options available today.
Cboe Chief Executive Craig Donohue said the agreement provides “certainty and continuity” for the company’s SPX and VIX franchises, per crypto.news. He also pointed to the opportunity to develop products using emerging technology, though the announcement set out no commercial plan for tokenized options.
Tokenizing options is more involved than tokenizing stocks. Contracts carry expiration dates, strike prices, and settlement mechanics that a tokenized version would need to handle — questions the companies did not address.
A tokenization race with different starting lines
The announcement lands amid a wave of institutional tokenization. The New York Stock Exchange recently tapped Blockchain.com to reach crypto investors with tokenized stocks and ETFs, while BlackRock has leaned deeper into the space through a tie-up with Ondo Finance, Decrypt noted. A consortium including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and the DTCC has separately explored tokenized stocks.
PANews reported the same disclosure as a short newsflash, describing the possibility of joint work on tokenized options contracts without any product terms — consistent with crypto.news’s characterization that no regulatory filing accompanied the announcement.
The regulatory backdrop differs by asset type. The SEC granted five years of conditional relief for qualifying venues to trade tokenized U.S. stocks through permissioned systems, with conditions involving shareholder rights, trading limits, public smart contracts, and coordinated trading halts. That relief applies to eligible tokenized stocks, not to tokenized options. Separately, on September 1 the SEC proposed updating rules for transfer agents, covering digital records and cybersecurity — a proposal that has not become a final rule.
Other exchange groups are building tokenized securities systems at different stages. NYSE parent Intercontinental Exchange agreed in August to invest in tZERO and license its blockchain patents, with the planned platform still requiring regulatory approvals before it can offer round-the-clock trading and blockchain settlement. That project concerns tokenized securities; Cboe’s newly identified interest concerns options contracts.
Why it matters
For traders, the renewal provides continuity for a benchmark product heavily used to take positions on the U.S. stock market or manage risk. For Cboe shareholders, it extends a commercial arrangement tied to a flagship franchise. The tokenization language matters more as a signal: it places one of derivatives trading’s largest venues in a corner of crypto that has drawn institutional interest, while leaving execution details entirely open.
What to watch
The concrete next steps are the revised royalty terms that take effect in 2027, any movement on the SEC’s September 1 transfer-agent proposal, and whether Cboe or S&P Dow Jones Indices follow the exploratory language with a filing or product description. Cboe’s June launch of binary options tied to the Mini-S&P 500 Index through Cboe Predicts shows the company has been willing to bring index-linked contracts to market; no comparable regulatory or product announcement accompanies the tokenized options discussion.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Cboe’s exclusive S&P 500 options license now run through?
Through 2051, under an extension announced September 29, 2026. The previous arrangement ran through 2033, with exclusive S&P 500 Index options rights through 2032, according to Cboe’s 2025 annual filing cited by crypto.news.
Is Cboe actually launching tokenized options?
No. Cboe and S&P Dow Jones Indices only named tokenized options as a possible area for joint work and announced no filing, trading venue, settlement design, or timetable.
How many SPX options contracts traded in 2025?
A record 970.6 million contracts, up 25% from 2024, with average daily volume of 3.9 million contracts — a fourth consecutive annual record, according to crypto.news.
Does the SEC’s tokenized-securities relief cover tokenized options?
No. The five years of conditional relief granted for qualifying venues to trade tokenized U.S. stocks applies to eligible tokenized stocks, not to the tokenized options Cboe and S&P Dow Jones Indices said they may explore.
When do the revised royalty terms take effect?
Royalty terms remain the same during 2026, with revised terms starting in 2027. Cboe said it expects the reset to have only a minimal effect on its net revenue growth.
This post Cboe Extends S&P 500 Options License to 2051, Eyes Tokenized Contracts first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldProject Eleven Acquires Riva Labs to Expand Post-Quantum Research and Engineering
Riva Labs joins Project Eleven as the company brings more specialized post-quantum talent and technology under one roof.
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Project Eleven, the company building post-quantum security infrastructure for digital assets, today announced its acquisition of Riva Labs, expanding its expertise in post-quantum signatures, wallets, MPC, and account abstraction. The acquisition also brings technology and intellectual property developed through Riva’s work across Ethereum and other public blockchains, adding to Project Eleven’s capabilities in post-quantum cryptography and blockchain infrastructure.
Riva Labs has built a reputation for translating post-quantum cryptographic research into practical blockchain systems. Its work spans hash-based post-quantum signatures, post-quantum MPC, account abstraction, wallet infrastructure, and hardware signing, including recent demonstrations of post-quantum signing on consumer hardware.
The addition of Riva expands Project Eleven’s research and engineering bench as the digital asset industry prepares for the complexity of post-quantum migration. Rather than treating signatures, wallets, key management and protocol infrastructure as separate problems, Project Eleven is bringing together expertise across each layer required to make that transition practical.
That work is becoming more urgent as AI accelerates cryptographic research and cryptanalysis, allowing new techniques to be developed, tested, and challenged at greater speed. Riva has made AI a core part of its research and engineering process, bringing that capability into Project Eleven’s work across post-quantum cryptography and crypto agility.
“Riva Labs is exactly the kind of talent we want at Project Eleven: deeply technical and focused on turning cryptographic research into systems that can actually be deployed,” said Alex Pruden, CEO and Co-Founder of Project Eleven. “Bringing Riva into Project Eleven strengthens an already exceptional research and engineering team, adds valuable technology, and accelerates our ability to lead the transition to post-quantum security across digital assets.”
“Project Eleven and Riva Labs came at this problem from different directions and reached many of the same conclusions about what the industry needs,” said Matteo Vena, Co-Founder of Riva Labs. “Upgrading the public networks the future will run on, without compromising the properties that make them valuable in the first place, is a monumental challenge. Our focus is on giving the industry the tools to accelerate that transition, and joining Project Eleven lets us do it at a much larger scale.”
The Riva team and technology will become part of Project Eleven’s broader research and product efforts across post-quantum cryptography, digital asset custody, and blockchain security. The acquisition deepens Project Eleven’s technical capabilities as it builds the infrastructure required for a secure post-quantum transition.
Alex Pruden, Conor Deegan, and Matteo Vena are available for interview.
About Project ElevenProject Eleven builds resilient infrastructure and tooling for the post-quantum era. The company develops scalable solutions that strengthen security across a rapidly evolving quantum threat landscape. With deep expertise in cryptography, blockchain, and financial systems, Project Eleven bridges advanced post-quantum research with real-world implementations that prepare the digital asset ecosystem for the future. For more information, visit www.projecteleven.com.
About Riva LabsRiva Labs is a cryptography and protocol engineering team working on post-quantum infrastructure for digital assets, with a particular focus on hash-based signatures. Our work spans software wallets, hardware signers and MPC infrastructure on Ethereum and other public blockchains, and is grounded in our own research. We also contribute to the underlying protocols and to open source software, with the goal of making every layer of the stack more secure against both current and future adversaries.
Media ContactsAubrey Strobel / Elena Nisonoff, Halcyon Communicationsprojecteleven@halcyonpr.xyz
This post Project Eleven Acquires Riva Labs to Expand Post-Quantum Research and Engineering first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldBitwise Debuts First US Spot NEAR ETF With 0.75% Fee, 33% Staking Cost
Bitwise Asset Management launched the first US spot NEAR Protocol ETF on NYSE Arca on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, trading under the ticker NRR with a 0.75% annual management fee, as reported by Cryptopotato. The fund holds NEAR directly through Coinbase Custody and intends to stake a significant portion of its holdings, with staking expenses absorbing about 33% of the rewards generated.
Bitwise launched the first US spot NEAR ETF, ticker NRR, on NYSE Arca on September 29, 2026, with a 0.75% annual management fee. The fund stakes its NEAR, and roughly 33% of staking rewards are retained to cover staking expenses shared among Attestant, Coinbase Custody, and Bitwise. Key facts
NRR trades on NYSE Arca with a 0.75% annual management fee and holds NEAR directly, custodied by Coinbase Custody.
The fund’s SEC registration took effect on September 24, 2026, after Bitwise first filed in May 2025.
Bitwise stakes all of the fund’s NEAR, keeping about 67% of generated rewards; the other 33% covers staking expenses split among staking agent Attestant (a Bitwise affiliate), Coinbase Custody, and Bitwise.
NEAR’s average staking reward was about 5% a year as of September 25, 2026, per Bitwise’s prospectus.
SOURCE B added that Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan said the firm has been working on the US NEAR ETF since launching its European NEAR exchange-traded product in June 2025.
Fees and staking mechanics
The 33% staking cost is the highest among Bitwise’s US single-asset funds. Bitwise’s Hyperliquid ETF (BHYP), launched in May 2026 with in-house staking, pays 25% of its rewards as staking expenses. Its Avalanche ETF (BAVA) sets staking expenses at 12%, according to its April prospectus. Both charge a 0.34% management fee — less than half of NRR’s 0.75%.
The staking agent is expected to be Attestant, which the prospectus lists as a Bitwise affiliate. The NEAR prospectus also warns that staking could slow redemptions, since staked NEAR takes about 48 hours to unlock under normal conditions.
An AI and cross-chain angle
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan described NEAR as sitting at the intersection of AI and crypto. He said AI agents handling payments and trades for users will need fast settlement that does not rely on a single custodian, and pointed to NEAR Intents — the network’s cross-chain transaction protocol — as an early example. According to Bitwise, NEAR Intents processed over $32 billion in volume, up from under $1 billion a year earlier. Hougan told Cointelegraph that activity on NEAR today remains mostly human-driven but that he expects agent usage to grow.
NEAR had rallied roughly 167% over the past month to trade around $4.94 on Tuesday, according to CoinGecko data cited by Cointelegraph, up about 81% over the past year. Cryptopotato reported NEAR near $5.00 on Coinbase the same day.
Why it matters
The launch gives US investors regulated exposure to NEAR without holding the token directly, a milestone for a layer-1 blockchain that shifted toward AI in 2024. It also pushes staking economics into the ETF wrapper, meaning the fund’s net return will be shaped by the 0.75% fee plus the roughly one-third cut of staking rewards. By comparison, Grayscale’s NEAR trust (GSNR) charges a 2.5% annual fee and trades over-the-counter, sometimes above the value of its underlying NEAR, according to Grayscale’s June 12 amendment. The prospectus’s warning about 48-hour unlock times is also a reminder that staking mechanics can affect how quickly an ETF can meet redemptions during market stress.
What to watch
The key open item is Grayscale’s pending conversion of its NEAR trust into a spot ETF. Grayscale filed in January 2026, and its June 12 amendment left the proposed ETF’s annual fee blank — no approval had been announced as of September 29, 2026. How quickly NEAR Intents volume and AI-agent activity grow, and whether rival issuers file for spot NEAR products, will shape how much of the market NRR captures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bitwise NEAR ETF ticker and fee?
The fund trades under NRR on NYSE Arca and charges a 0.75% annual management fee.
How much of the fund’s staking rewards are kept for expenses?
Bitwise keeps about 67% of the NEAR generated through staking, with the remaining 33% covering staking expenses shared among Attestant, Coinbase Custody, and Bitwise.
Is Grayscale’s NEAR ETF already trading?
No. Grayscale filed in January to convert its NEAR trust into a spot ETF, but that conversion remained pending as of September 29, 2026, and the trust continues to trade OTC under the ticker GSNR.
What is NEAR Intents and why does it matter?
NEAR Intents is the network’s cross-chain transaction protocol, which processed over $32 billion in volume, up from under $1 billion a year earlier, according to Bitwise.
Where is NEAR trading now?
NEAR traded near $5.00 on Coinbase on Tuesday, according to Cryptopotato, though Cointelegraph cited CoinGecko data showing about $4.94.
This post Bitwise Debuts First US Spot NEAR ETF With 0.75% Fee, 33% Staking Cost first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldECB Opens Digital Euro Innovation Platform to AI Payment Testing
The European Central Bank opened applications on September 28, 2026, for companies to join the next phase of its digital euro innovation platform, a program that will examine whether AI agents could one day use a future digital euro for payments and interact with each other. According to Crypto.news, applications close November 9 at 17:00 CET, with selected work beginning in early 2027.
The ECB opened applications for its digital euro innovation platform on September 28, 2026. The program includes a prototype-building track from January to June 2027 and workshops on AI agent payments, micropayments, and machine-to-machine interactions. Any digital euro issuance still depends on EU legislation and a separate ECB decision.
The central bank structured the program around two tracks: experimentation, where companies build working payment prototypes, and workshops that examine technologies that may or may not become useful later. The ECB has not committed to making autonomous AI payments part of the digital euro, describing the effort as an examination of future possibilities.
Key facts
Applications close November 9, 2026, at 17:00 CET, with work beginning in 2027.
Prototype testing runs January through June 2027 and covers electronic receipts, multiparty transactions, conditional payments, and new payment app features.
AI agent workshops take place in the first and second quarters of 2027 at the ECB’s Frankfurt headquarters.
A separate 12-month pilot with 36 payment service providers begins in the second half of 2027, using a beta digital euro without legal tender status.
The ECB targets readiness for a possible first issuance during 2029, contingent on EU legislation.
The experimentation track: building before deciding
Companies selected for the experimentation track will test four areas between January and June 2027. Electronic receipts would allow proof of purchase to appear alongside a digital euro payment inside an app, with developers required to consider user privacy during testing. Multiparty payments would cover transactions where several people contribute toward one purchase or where a single payment is divided among multiple recipients. Conditional payments would execute only when predetermined requirements are met.
The ECB draws a distinction between conditional payments and programmable money. Under the European Commission’s proposal, a digital euro would not be money restricted to certain products, merchants, or periods. Conditional payments instead concern how a transaction is executed once agreed conditions are satisfied.
Participants will submit proofs of concept and reports. The ECB may invite some teams to present their work and could publish findings from the testing program. The central bank has encouraged joint applications involving companies in different roles, such as a merchant working alongside a payment provider or technology company.
AI agents, micropayments, and machines paying machines
The workshop track focuses on areas the ECB has not committed to for any future launch. Among the topics are AI agents capable of interacting with payment systems and with other AI agents. The ECB’s announcement does not specify transaction sizes or provide a technical model for how AI agents would authorize payments.
Micropayments form part of the same research track, covering very small amounts that can be difficult or expensive to process through some conventional payment methods. Machine-to-machine interactions are also under review, though the ECB describes this as an examination of future possibilities rather than a plan to give devices or AI systems unrestricted authority to spend digital euros.
Privacy requirements will shape the discussions. The ECB says participants should apply privacy-by-design principles, user control, and data protection when proposing AI-enabled payment functions. In related coverage, the ECB previously proposed cash-like privacy protections for future digital euro payments, while banks would still perform required identity and anti-money laundering checks for online transactions.
The separate pilot is already staffed
The innovation program should not be confused with the ECB’s larger digital euro pilot. That separate effort begins in the second half of 2027 and runs for 12 months, using a beta version of the digital euro to test actual payment functions under controlled conditions. The ECB selected 36 payment service providers from more than 50 applications. The group includes Deutsche Bank, Revolut Bank, Stripe Technology Europe, UniCredit, Adyen, and SumUp.
The pilot will involve the ECB and 19 euro-area national central banks. Staff members will use the beta currency to test person-to-person payments and purchases from participating merchants, covering online and offline transfers, physical point-of-sale purchases, e-commerce payments, and mobile transactions. The beta digital euro will not have legal tender status. The ECB is still recruiting merchants, with e-commerce and mobile-commerce businesses able to apply until October 27, 2026.
Why it matters
This is not a launch announcement. It is the ECB building the bench of companies and technologies it may draw on if a digital euro is ever issued, and by including AI agents in the research scope, the central bank is flagging that machine-initiated payments are now part of its long-term thinking. For readers, the practical implications remain years away. The research signals where European retail payments could be headed, but the near-term reality is applications, workshops, and prototypes, not usable digital euros.
What to watch
Applications close November 9, 2026, at 17:00 CET. The European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee approved its position on the core digital euro proposal in June 2026, but the full legislative process and a separate Governing Council decision must be completed before any issuance. The ECB’s current planning targets readiness for a possible first issuance during 2029.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ECB digital euro innovation platform?
It is a program where companies, fintechs, and researchers apply to help test potential digital euro features, split into a hands-on experimentation track and a separate workshop track on future use cases like AI agent payments and machine-to-machine interactions.
When will the digital euro be issued?
Not before 2029 at the earliest. The ECB says it will only decide whether to issue the currency after the European Union adopts the necessary legislation, and its current planning targets readiness for a possible first issuance during 2029.
Which companies are already in the digital euro pilot?
The ECB selected 36 payment service providers for a separate 12-month pilot beginning in the second half of 2027. The group includes Deutsche Bank, Revolut Bank, Stripe Technology Europe, UniCredit, Adyen, and SumUp.
How does this relate to the separate digital euro pilot?
They are separate tracks. The AI and experimentation work covers 2027 workshops and prototype testing, while the larger pilot with 36 payment firms will test actual payment functions using a beta digital euro for 12 months starting in the second half of 2027.
This post ECB Opens Digital Euro Innovation Platform to AI Payment Testing first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldAFTER 2049 Confirms Headliners Claptone and Crusy for Singapore Grand Prix Weekend Kickoff
Closing out TOKEN2049, the world’s largest digital assets conference series, AFTER 2049 takes over the 57th floor of the iconic Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck.
SINGAPORE, 10 September 2026 – TOKEN2049, the world’s largest digital assets conference series, announced the line-up for AFTER 2049, the official closing event of this year’s Singapore edition. Global house icon Claptone headlines, joined by Madrid’s Crusy. Taking place on 9 October 2026 at the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark Observation Deck, the night’s lineup is completed by returning acts ANONM and Hong Kong’s Leon (FR), along with Milam and Mo-Shi.
Once a year, the SkyPark Observation Deck closes to the public and hands the 57th floor to AFTER 2049, with Formula 1 arriving below. Polygon Live returns with its hemispherical 360° spatial audio rig. Limited-capacity tickets are on sale now, exclusively via Megatix.
“AFTER 2049 returns to the Marina Bay Sands rooftop for Grand Prix weekend with Claptone, 57 floors above the circuit, on the only Polygon rig in Asia this year,” says AFTER 2049 Founder Raphael Strauch. “Nothing else comes close.”
Headliner Claptone is one of dance music’s most recognisable figures. A German producer whose golden beak and white gloves have become a global calling card. He runs his own Golden Recordings label and stages The Masquerade parties worldwide, including residencies at Pacha in Ibiza.
Crusy is one of Spain’s most sought-after house and tech-house producers. The Madrid-based artist broke through with his Toolroom debut ‘SELECTA’, and has since stacked up Beatport hits and releases across Toolroom, Defected and Knee Deep In Sound. With 80-plus shows spanning Ibiza, Tokyo, London and beyond, expect a set built for peak-time abandon.
Polygon Live returns to deploy its 360° stage and spatial audio system, sending individual elements of each track around, above and through the crowd to place guests “inside the mix” in a way conventional stereo cannot. This will be the only Polygon Live production in South-East Asia for 2026.
“As always, collaborating with AFTER 2049 has been extraordinary. Our teams share a dedication to outdoing ourselves year after year. We’re thrilled to be returning to Singapore, where our system will make for an unforgettable night above the city skyline,” commented Nico Elliott, Polygon CEO.
AFTER 2049 is the official close of TOKEN2049 Singapore, capping two days of conference programming on 7-8 October, and the room where the industry ends its week.
AFTER 2049 partners include Moët Hennessy Diageo, Heaven Sake, American Fortress, Aria One, Ault Blockchain, BTCC, ChangeNOW, DWF Labs, EverValue Coin, Midnight, Websea, TxFlow and $TRUMP.
First Release tickets on sale now.
To purchase tickets, please visit: https://megatix.com.sg/events/after2049
###

About TOKEN2049
TOKEN2049 is the largest global digital assets conference series, organised semi-annually in Singapore and Dubai, where decision-makers in the global digital asset ecosystem connect to exchange ideas, network, and shape the industry. TOKEN2049 is the preeminent meeting place for entrepreneurs, institutions, industry insiders, investors, builders, and those with a strong interest in the digital assets industry.

CONTACTS
General info: community@after2049.com
Table reservations: reservations@after2049.com
Media: token2049@wachsman.com
This post AFTER 2049 Confirms Headliners Claptone and Crusy for Singapore Grand Prix Weekend Kickoff first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldDigital Assets Summit Singapore Returns For Second Edition
DAS2026 brings regulators, financial institutions and digital-asset leaders together to discuss the future of programmable finance
Singapore, 29 September 2026 – Digital Assets Association (DAA) Singapore today announced the second edition of the Digital Assets Summit 2026 (DAS2026), taking place on 6 October at SGX Centre, Singapore. The summit is expected to bring together 500+ attendees, 40+ speakers and 30+ industry partners spanning financial institutions, technology providers, regulators and the digital-asset industry.
Asia is emerging as a key market for digital finance, accounting for 60% of global stablecoin payment volume. Meanwhile, digital real-world assets on public blockchains grew by around 300% in 2025 to approximately US$30 billion, reflecting the growing application of digital assets across payments, capital markets and financial infrastructure. This momentum is putting Asia at the centre of the shift towards more programmable, connected financial markets.
“Two years ago, much of the conversation was about whether tokenised assets would move beyond experimentation. Today, the question is no longer whether tokenisation will move beyond the sandbox, but how far and how quickly it can scale. Singapore is already seeing these technologies move into real-world financial applications,” said Mr Danny Chong, Co-Chairman of DAA Singapore.
“The next phase is about building for scale, managing liquidity and risk in a 24/7 environment, and meeting regulatory requirements across jurisdictions. These priorities will be central to discussions at DAS2026, bringing policymakers, financial institutions, and industry leaders to examine what comes next,” he added.
DAS2026 will examine how digital assets are being integrated across financial markets, from tokenised bonds, funds and real-world assets to stablecoins and tokenised deposits across payments, treasury and FX. The programme will also examine the changing role of financial intermediaries, cybersecurity, fraud prevention, compliance and operational resilience, alongside AI’s growing role in finance and the interoperability and regulatory coordination needed to connect global markets.
“As digital assets become more closely integrated with mainstream finance, the focus must extend beyond what the technology can do to how it is governed and used in practice,” said Mr Chia Hock Lai, Co-Chairman of DAA Singapore and Chairman of the Responsible Fintech Institute (RFI). “As the industry scales, interoperability, security, compliance, and governance need to keep pace with technology. Asia’s progress shows how innovation can develop with safeguards and standards in place, and DAS2026 brings that into focus to examine what that looks like in practice.”
Confirmed speakers include:
Guest of Honour, Senior Minister of State, Mr Desmond TanMr Heng Swee Keat, Chairman, National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF), Former Deputy Prime Minister of SingaporeMr Ivan Han, Chief Risk Officer, Singapore Exchange (SGX)
Digital Assets Summit 2026 is supported by Sumsub, DBS, Safeheron, Integral, Northern Trust, SGX FX, TRM Labs, Elliptic, BitGo, OKX, RHTLaw, and Coinbase.
The full programme, registration details, and speaker lineup are available at https://das2026.digitalassetsassociation.org/
— ENDS —

About Digital Assets Association:
Digital Assets Association (DAA) is a non-profit association at the forefront of integrating blockchain technology into the fabric of traditional finance. DAA focuses on institutional engagement and asset tokenization, aiming to bridge the gap between the innovative world of digital assets and the established practices of financial institutions.

Media Contact:
Melody Faye Jimbangan | melody@yapglobal.com |+65 9352 5498
Shawn Seet | shawn@yapglobal.com |+65 8690 4148
Lionel Seah | lionel@digitalassetsassociation.org |+65 9756 5699
This post Digital Assets Summit Singapore Returns For Second Edition first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorld3 Weeks Until Sports Betting West Africa+ (SBWA+) Summit 2026 and Gaming Event Francophone Africa (GEFA) 2026
As the 3-week countdown begins, the focal point of gaming in Africa will shift to Dakar, Senegal, for the landmark 11th annual Sports Betting West Africa+ (SBWA+) Summit 2026 and 2nd annual Gaming Event Francophone Africa (GEFA). From 14–16 October 2026, at the King Fahd Palace Hôtel, this premier gathering brings together the key architects of Africa’s evolving betting ecosystem, including state lotteries, regulatory experts, regional operators, legal experts, and technology leaders.
Beyond high-level dialogue, the summit serves as an active deal-closing environment tailored specifically for industry decision-makers. Attendees will gain practical intelligence on navigating complex multi-jurisdictional frameworks, accelerating mobile player retention, optimising low-bandwidth gaming solutions, and unlocking emerging growth corridors across both French-speaking and West African jurisdictions.

Final Reminder to Nominate: SBWA+ Eventus Awards 2026
Nominate an organisation or executive setting new benchmarks for excellence, regulatory compliance, or technological innovation in gaming across West Africa!
The official SBWA+ Eventus Awards Ceremony will take place on 14 October 2026.
Nomination Deadline: Nominations close on 2 October 2026. Nominate a leader here: SBWA+ Eventus Awards Nomination Page

Spotlight on Sponsor: PlaylogiQ
Recognised as a premier B2B iGaming and gambling platform provider, PlaylogiQ delivers flexible, highly customisable sportsbook and casino solutions engineered for fast-growing, regulated markets. With a modular ecosystem encompassing over 80,000 live events and 8,000 casino titles, PlaylogiQ empowers operators to scale efficiently with data-light, mobile-first technology built for diverse regional network conditions.
Discover more about PlaylogiQ: Visit PlaylogiQ Official Website
Insights From PlaylogiQ: Building Scalable iGaming Infrastructure For West & Francophone Africa
To give attendees a preview of what to expect in Dakar, a recent discussion with Niko Mannino, Representative at PlaylogiQ, explored African market dynamics, platform customisation, and their expansion roadmap:
Addressing the rapid transition from retail to online sports betting across West and Francophone Africa, Niko shared:
“Across West and Francophone Africa, the shift from retail to online is not about replacing shops with a website. It’s about connecting both worlds so operators can grow without losing what already works.”
When asked how PlaylogiQ’s modular platform handles high-volume concurrent traffic across an ecosystem of over 80,000 live events and thousands of casino titles during major sporting events, Niko noted:
“This means operators can keep their retail presence while building a stronger online business, using technology that adapts to local payment habits, languages, currencies, and regulatory requirements.
Our near-term focus is on markets where we already have a presence and local partners – including Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria, where we are already active with local operators. These are the markets where we see the most immediate potential for expansion, without ruling out other opportunities across West and Francophone Africa as the regulatory landscape evolves.”
Regarding the integration of mobile money gateways, USSD capabilities, and retail agent networks into a unified management backend across critical African hybrid channels, the team highlighted:
“During big tournaments and key match days, traffic and bet volumes can spike very quickly. The platform needs to stay stable while giving operators full visibility and control.
PlaylogiQ is built as a modular, scalable environment where sportsbook, casino, payments, and player operations are managed from a single back office. Operators get real-time insight into users, wallets, transactions, limits, and exposure across all channels.
On top of that, our managed trading and risk services can support odds management, exposure monitoring and real-time interventions when needed. This allows operators to combine large content coverage with solid risk control and operational stability, even during the busiest periods.”
On providing automated risk management, real-time trading, and player retention tools to help local operators maximise margins in competitive jurisdictions, Niko explained:
“PlaylogiQ’s Payment Hub supports a wide range of global and local payment methods, including mobile money and other alternative payment solutions that are widely used across African markets. Operators can manage these integrations from a central interface, with real-time monitoring, transaction logic, and reporting.
For hybrid operations, our retail module connects betting shops and agent networks with the central platform, keeping wallets, users, odds and activity synchronised between online and land-based channels. USSD and mobile-money flows can be added through local payment and technology partners, so operators can offer a more accessible experience while maintaining central control over risk and operations.”
What automated risk management, real-time trading, and player retention tools does PlaylogiQ provide to help local operators maximise margins in competitive jurisdictions?
“In competitive markets, margins depend on how well operators can balance risk, trading efficiency, and player experience.
PlaylogiQ combines automated controls with professional trading support. Operators can set exposure limits by player, profile, event, sport, region, or tournament while real-time monitoring helps spot unusual activity and unbalanced betting patterns.
Our managed trading services can cover odds compilation, day-to-day trading, and risk management. Operators can also define their own margin strategies by sport, market or region, and adjust rules in real time.
On the player side, the platform supports tools like bonus management, cashback, bet builder, acca insurance, and league prioritisation, which operators can use to build more relevant campaigns and improve retention. All this sits on top of a centralised player account and transaction layer, giving clear visibility over behaviour and performance.”

Meet PlaylogiQ at SBWA+ Summit 2026
Do not miss the opportunity to connect directly with the PlaylogiQ team on the exhibition floor. Visit their stand at the King Fahd Palace Hôtel to experience their next-generation turnkey sportsbook and casino platform solutions in person.
Secure a Pass and Exhibition Space Today
With only 3 weeks to go, delegate passes, complimentary operator passes, and exhibition spaces are limited.
For licensed operators and affiliates who want to claim a complimentary pass (subject to approval and availability): Complimentary Pass Delegates and C-Suite Executives: Register today to unlock full access to conference sessions, executive luncheons, and networking functions.
Register for SBWA+ Summit 2026: SBWA+ Registration Gateway Register for GEFA 2026: GEFA Registration Gateway

Secure a Package Now
With 3 weeks remaining, organisations can still put their brand in front of West Africa’s gaming community, connect with potential partners, and build valuable relationships with key industry contacts through the available delegate, sponsorship, and exhibition packages.
For sponsorship or exhibition enquiries, contact:
Lou-Mari Burnett, Chief Operating Officer, Eventus International
loumari@eventus-international.com
+27 82 907 5850
This post 3 Weeks Until Sports Betting West Africa+ (SBWA+) Summit 2026 and Gaming Event Francophone Africa (GEFA) 2026 first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldBrazil sets $10,000 self-custody crypto reporting rule for Oct. 1
Brazil will require regulated financial institutions to report crypto transfers of $10,000 or more involving self-custody wallets from Oct. 1, 2026, under Resolution BCB 588, according to Cryptoslate. The rule obliges institutions authorised by the Banco Central do Brasil to notify the Financial Activities Control Council, known as Coaf, whenever they send virtual assets worth at least that amount to a wallet controlled directly by a user or receive the same amount from one.
Brazil will require banks and exchanges to report crypto transfers of $10,000 or more to or from self-custody wallets to Coaf from Oct. 1, 2026. The obligation falls on the institution processing the transfer, reports are due by the next business day, and the threshold applies automatically without any finding of suspicion. Key facts
Under Resolution BCB 588, institutions authorised by the Banco Central do Brasil must notify Coaf of qualifying transfers by the next business day, covering both deposits from and withdrawals to self-custody wallets.
Qualifying transactions are reported automatically on amount and transaction-type criteria, so a legitimate transfer between an exchange and a customer’s personal wallet can enter Coaf’s system without any suspicion finding.
Resolution BCB 584, due to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, establishes a precautionary holding procedure for certain virtual-asset transfers leaving regulated institutions, which may be delayed while additional checks are conducted.
Brazil accounted for $252.5 billion of crypto activity in the period measured by Chainalysis, the largest market in Latin America, and ranked first in the firm’s 2026 global crypto adoption index.
Spain’s Directorate General of Taxes said in binding consultation V0848 26, issued on April 21, that self-custody holdings fall outside Form 721 when the taxpayer controls the private keys, according to crypto.news.
How the Brazilian reporting threshold works
The requirement captures movement in both directions across the boundary between regulated platforms and wallets users control themselves. The filing obligation sits with whichever institution processes the transaction, and institutions do not have to judge a transfer suspicious before filing. The value and the transaction type are enough on their own.
Brazil already requires financial institutions to report transactions they separately assess as suspicious. The October provision adds a second layer by giving authorities visibility into large movements between regulated platforms and self-custody, even where no suspicious activity has been identified.
The operational burden is meaningful. Exchanges, banks and other covered providers must identify self-custody counterparties, calculate transaction values and integrate automatic Coaf reporting into their monitoring systems before the deadline. By January, some will also need processes capable of holding outbound transfers for further review.
Spain draws the line at key control, not wallet type
Spain’s approach points in a different direction. The Directorate General of Taxes set out its treatment in binding consultation V0848 26, issued on April 21, while the Spanish Tax Agency’s guidance on Form 721 states that the reporting requirement depends on who controls and safeguards the private cryptographic keys.
Form 721 covers virtual currencies located abroad when they are held by entities that safeguard private cryptographic keys on behalf of customers or otherwise maintain, store and transfer the assets. A €50,000 threshold applies to the reporting obligation, which Spain introduced in 2023 with the first filing period running in 2024.
The distinction turns on custody and control rather than wallet design. A hardware wallet can fall outside the requirement when the taxpayer holds the keys, and a hot wallet can receive the same treatment if it remains self-custodial. A blockchain network operating internationally, or a wallet that can be accessed from outside Spain, does not by itself pull a balance into the Form 721 calculation.
Why it matters
The two jurisdictions are targeting different links in the same chain. Brazil’s measure compels regulated intermediaries to report client transfers across the self-custody boundary, while Spain’s guidance tells individual taxpayers when their own overseas holdings need to be declared. High-value users, trading firms and businesses that routinely move assets between platforms and private wallets are the most likely to trigger automatic filings in Brazil, and exchanges will absorb the cost of identifying and reporting those counterparties.
Exclusion from Form 721 in Spain does not place self-custody activity outside every reporting framework. The European Union’s DAC8 regime, in force since Jan. 1, 2026, requires reporting crypto asset service providers to collect information on reportable users and transactions, including when assets move between regulated platforms and external addresses.
What to watch
Covered institutions have a short window to build counterparty identification and automatic reporting into their systems before Oct. 1. The next marker is Jan. 1, 2027, when Resolution BCB 584 takes effect and outbound transfers leaving regulated institutions may be held for additional checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Resolution BCB 588?
It is the Banco Central do Brasil rule requiring regulated financial institutions to notify Coaf whenever they send virtual assets worth at least $10,000 to a self-custody wallet or receive that amount from one. Reporting is due by the next business day under Brazil’s existing anti-money-laundering framework.
Do I need to report my own self-custody wallet transfers in Brazil?
No. The filing obligation falls on the regulated institution processing the transfer, not on the individual wallet holder, and it applies automatically once the transaction meets the value and transaction-type criteria.
Does Spain require self-custody crypto to be reported on Form 721?
No. Spain’s Directorate General of Taxes said in binding consultation V0848 26 that holdings are excluded from Form 721 when the taxpayer controls the private keys, whether the wallet is hot or cold. The test turns on who safeguards the keys, not on where the blockchain operates.
What is the difference between Brazil’s rule and Spain’s guidance?
Brazil’s measure targets reporting by regulated intermediaries on client transfers to and from private wallets, while Spain’s guidance addresses whether an individual taxpayer must declare their own overseas self-custody holdings under Form 721.
What happens in January 2027 under Brazil’s crypto rules?
Resolution BCB 584, due to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, establishes a precautionary holding procedure for certain virtual-asset transfers leaving regulated institutions, which may be delayed while additional checks are carried out.
This post Brazil sets $10,000 self-custody crypto reporting rule for Oct. 1 first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldTether Faces Senate Scrutiny Over Iran-Linked USDT
Democratic investigators on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations found that 84% of 846 sanctioned or seizure-targeted crypto wallets linked to Iran and regional groups transacted exclusively, or nearly exclusively, in USDT, according to Crypto.news. The preliminary report, released Sept. 28, described the stablecoin as a “significant financial lifeline” inside Iran’s shadow banking network and asked federal authorities to examine Tether‘s sanctions and anti-money-laundering controls.
Democratic Senate investigators reported that 84% of 846 Iran-linked sanctioned or seizure-targeted wallets transacted exclusively or nearly exclusively in USDT. Tether disputes that characterization and says it helped freeze nearly $550 million in Iran-linked USDT during 2026. Senator Richard Blumenthal has asked Treasury and the Justice Department to examine Tether’s compliance practices. Key facts
The minority staff reviewed 846 wallets designated by OFAC or Israel’s National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing between June 2021 and August 2026.
Among 757 wallets identified by the Israeli agency, investigators said 87% conducted more than 80% of their transaction value in USDT; among 101 OFAC-designated wallets, 57% predominantly used the stablecoin.
Two Iran-linked wallets held $344.2 million in USDT when OFAC designated them during April 2026, and Chainalysis found four Central Bank of Iran wallets held $131 million when frozen in July.
Tether said the April and July actions brought Iran-linked freezes during 2026 to nearly $550 million, part of more than $4.9 billion frozen across various cases globally.
Blumenthal sent the findings to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sept. 28, following a June 4 records request that Tether acknowledged but had not answered by the report’s publication, according to Crypto.news.
What the investigators found
The report leaned on more than five years of blockchain records. Within the Israeli-identified sample of 757 wallets, 87% moved more than 80% of their transaction value in USDT, while 57% of the 101 OFAC-designated, Iran-linked wallets predominantly used the stablecoin. Bitcoin ranked behind USDT in both samples.
Investigators traced large flows to specific figures and entities. They said two sanctioned Iranian nationals, Alireza Derakhshan and Arash Estaki Alivand, received $603 million in USDT between 2021 and 2025 through addresses later designated by OFAC. A separate section examined two wallets attributed to Iran’s central bank that received nearly $50 million exclusively in USDT during April and May 2025, while three wallets linked by investigators to Modex Exchange Company received close to $600 million over several months. The report tied the network to Iranian oil sales and financial flows involving entities associated with Hezbollah and the Houthis.
Outside the Senate inquiry, Cointelegraph reported that Tether disclosed its cooperation figures on Monday, including more than $130 million frozen across four wallets this year and more than $344 million tied to the Central Bank of Iran in April. Cointelegraph also reported that Tether said its work with authorities globally resulted in more than $4.9 billion in frozen assets, including more than $2.4 billion connected to US authorities — a breakdown that Crypto.news did not include. Crypto.news, meanwhile, carried the full statistical basis of the subcommittee’s review, including the 757-wallet and 101-wallet splits, which the Cointelegraph account did not.
Where Tether and investigators disagree
The dispute centers less on whether large USDT flows reached Iran-linked addresses than on how quickly Tether acted once governments did.
Investigators alleged some wallets stayed active after counterterrorism designations. One example involved 39 wallets identified by Israel in June 2023 as connected to Hezbollah-linked financier Tawfiq Muhammad Sa’id Al-Law; the report said five were initially blacklisted while another 34 were frozen in March 2024, and it calculated that more than $34.6 million in USDT left the wallets after the Israeli seizure notice.
Tether presents a different record. CEO Paolo Ardoino said USDT “is not a haven for sanctioned actors, terrorist organizations or criminal networks,” and the company said it had supported more than 2,900 investigations globally, including more than 1,600 involving US law enforcement. It also said 40 cases referred by Israel’s counterterrorism financing bureau involved more than 640 addresses and over 22 million USDT.
Independent analytics firms have documented comparable activity from outside the Senate process. Elliptic reported in 2025 that 187 addresses identified by Israeli authorities as IRGC-linked received $1.5 billion in USDT, while cautioning it could not verify whether every transaction was directly connected to the IRGC because some addresses may belong to service providers handling funds for multiple customers. TRM Labs traced more than $6.3 billion through Shelbit between May 2024 and March 2026, roughly 88% over Tron and almost entirely through dollar-linked stablecoins. Chainalysis estimated that sanctioned entities globally received 694% more crypto value in 2025 than a year earlier, while stressing that illicit transactions still represented less than 1% of attributed global cryptocurrency volume.
Why it matters
The report puts the largest dollar-pegged stablecoin at the center of a sanctions-enforcement debate at a moment when US agencies have widened action against Iran-linked digital asset networks. FinCEN warned financial institutions in May that Iranian facilitators could use stablecoins for their liquidity, settlement speed and exchange-rate stability, and OFAC designated BitBank and related parties on Sept. 17 as part of what it described as Iran’s digital asset-based sanctions-evasion infrastructure.
For exchanges, banks and payment firms handling USDT, the practical question is how much due diligence regulators will expect on counterparties. For Tether, a company that markets issuer-level blacklisting as a compliance feature, the Senate letter is the first formal push to have two federal departments decide whether that feature has been applied consistently enough to satisfy sanctions law. The report also lands as a minority staff document rather than a bipartisan finding, which limits its immediate legal weight even as it shapes the political framing.
What to watch
Whether Treasury and the Justice Department respond to Blumenthal’s Sept. 28 referral — and whether Tether answers the June 4 records request the report says went unanswered — will determine whether this becomes an enforcement matter or remains a congressional pressure campaign. Separately, a civil forfeiture complaint filed Sept. 14 by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York seeks approximately $61 million in crypto prosecutors allege came from black-market sales of sanctioned Iranian oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much USDT did Tether say it helped freeze in Iran-linked cases during 2026?
Tether said its enforcement cooperation supported nearly $550 million in Iran-linked USDT freezes during 2026, including more than $344 million across two wallets in April and roughly $131 million across four Central Bank of Iran-linked Tron wallets in July.
Did the Senate subcommittee’s report represent a bipartisan finding?
No. Crypto.news reported that the Sept. 28 report was released by the Democratic minority staff of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and represented the conclusions of those investigators, not a bipartisan finding by the full Senate.
Who is asking Treasury and the Justice Department to investigate Tether?
Senator Richard Blumenthal, the ranking Democrat on the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent the findings to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sept. 28 and asked both departments to examine Tether’s AML and sanctions compliance.
What has Tether said in response to the allegations?
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said USDT “is not a haven for sanctioned actors, terrorist organizations or criminal networks,” and the company said it has supported more than 2,900 investigations globally.
Is a Treasury or DOJ investigation into Tether confirmed?
No. As of Sept. 29, 2026, Blumenthal had requested that both departments examine Tether’s compliance practices and determine whether federal laws were violated; no investigation had been announced based on the reporting summarized here.
This post Tether Faces Senate Scrutiny Over Iran-Linked USDT first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldHoskinson: Cardano’s Midnight Will Outgrow Zcash
Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has predicted that the privacy-focused blockchain Midnight will eventually become larger than Zcash, the long-standing privacy coin. In a September 28 post on X, he cited features such as selective disclosure, private agents, and a DeFi kernel designed for all major chains, according to Cryptopotato. The claim comes as Midnight’s NIGHT token trades near $0.027, while Zcash changes hands around $1,600.
Charles Hoskinson said Midnight will be bigger than Zcash, pointing to selective disclosure, private agents, and a cross-chain DeFi kernel. NIGHT trades near $0.027 with a market cap of about $443 million, while Zcash sits near $1,600 with a $26.2 billion valuation. Key facts
On September 28, Hoskinson posted on X that “Midnight will be bigger than ZCash,” citing selective disclosure, private agents, and a DeFi kernel for all major chains.
NIGHT was trading near $0.027, up over 2% in 24 hours and more than 9% in the past week, according to Cryptopotato.
Zcash traded around $1,600, down almost 7% in 24 hours, but up 93% over the past month and 2,660% year-over-year.
Midnight’s market cap is approximately $443 million, while Zcash’s is around $26.2 billion, per AMBCrypto and U.Today.
NIGHT plummeted over 43% on July 21 to a low near $0.016 after 290 million tokens were dumped following a Wanchain bridge withdrawal; the Midnight Foundation said the network was not hacked.
Two privacy networks, one big valuation gap
Hoskinson’s prediction, made in reply to a bullish post from Weiss Crypto labeling NIGHT a top play for the next 24 months, highlights the contrast between Midnight’s early-stage ambitions and Zcash’s established market position. Cryptopotato notes that NIGHT remains about 78% below its all-time high of nearly $0.12 set on December 9, 2025, while ZEC is roughly 51% under its own record of $3,191.
Midnight, developed by Input Output—the same team behind Cardano—went live in March as a specialized layer-1 partner chain, according to U.Today. It operates its own ledger and processes transactions independently, but maintains connections to Cardano. Hoskinson has described it as arguably the most exciting project Input Output is working on in 2026.
Investment attention has grown. Weiss Crypto had earlier suggested NIGHT has “a good chance of becoming one of the best plays of the next 24 months.” Hoskinson’s tweet also referenced zero-knowledge proofs, trusted execution environments, and multi-party computations, alongside Cardano’s 24/7 uptime and the Leios upgrade. He ended with “LFG 2027,” implying a long-term outlook.
Despite the bullish narrative, market data shows the two assets often move together. AMBCrypto reports that NIGHT’s 20-day correlation with Zcash stands at 0.87, meaning they have recently tended to rise and fall in tandem. At current valuations, NIGHT would need to grow roughly 59-fold to match Zcash’s market cap, assuming Zcash stands still.
Why it matters
For investors and privacy advocates, Hoskinson’s claim underscores a broader bet on Midnight’s differentiated approach: selective disclosure allows users to prove specific facts without revealing unnecessary data, a feature aimed at both compliance and privacy. If Midnight gains traction, it could challenge Zcash’s dominance in the privacy coin sector, which has seen renewed interest amid regulatory scrutiny. The correlation between NIGHT and ZEC suggests the market currently groups them together, but a major shift in adoption or technology could change that dynamic.
What to watch
NIGHT’s immediate price action hinges on whether it can break above $0.028, a level identified by AMBCrypto as key resistance. A successful breach could open the door to $0.030 and $0.033, while failure might see support at $0.025. Meanwhile, analyst Crypto Patel’s cup-and-handle pattern analysis suggests Zcash could face a local top between $1,600 and $2,000, with a potential drop below $500 in one to three years. Investors will also watch for further developments on Midnight’s cross-chain integrations and the Leios upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Midnight?
Midnight is a privacy-focused blockchain developed by Input Output, the team behind Cardano. It operates as a specialized layer-1 partner chain with its own ledger.
Why does Hoskinson think Midnight will surpass Zcash?
He points to features like selective disclosure, private agents, and a DeFi kernel for all major chains, combined with Cardano’s 24/7 uptime and the upcoming Leios upgrade.
What is the current price of NIGHT?
NIGHT was trading near $0.027, up over 2% in 24 hours and more than 9% in a week, according to Cryptopotato.
How does Zcash compare to Midnight?
Zcash has a market cap of around $26.2 billion, while Midnight’s is about $443 million. ZEC trades around $1,600, far higher than NIGHT’s $0.027.
What does the future hold for NIGHT and ZEC?
Analyst Crypto Patel suggests Zcash could drop below $500 within one to three years, while Hoskinson expressed optimism for Midnight in 2027.
This post Hoskinson: Cardano’s Midnight Will Outgrow Zcash first appeared on BitcoinWorld.

BitcoinWorldCiti and Coinbase Link Fiat Rails to Stablecoin Settlement
Citigroup and Coinbase said Monday they will let Citi clients convert regular money into stablecoins and back again without having to build or run their own banking and crypto stacks, a bet on 24/7 payments rails that the two companies say will eventually reach more than 150 million holders. The first phase focuses on fiat on- and off-ramps, according to Ambcrypto, with stablecoin settlement mechanics still being worked out.
Citi and Coinbase are building rails that let Citi’s business clients move between regular money and stablecoins without running their own banking and crypto systems. Coinbase Virtual Accounts, built on Citi’s banking-as-a-service platform, will support 24/7 fiat on- and off-ramps, while Citi’s Spring merchant platform will use Coinbase infrastructure to accept stablecoin payments at checkout.
The move extends a partnership the two firms first announced last year, when they said they would work together on digital asset payment capabilities for institutional clients. Citi has run its own blockchain plays alongside that, including Citi Token Services for real-time cross-border payments using tokenized deposits, and has been working with Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America since last year to explore issuing a stablecoin product.
Key facts
Coinbase Virtual Accounts, built on Citi’s banking-as-a-service platform, will give Coinbase’s payments customers bank-account-like features for accepting, holding and sending funds, with Citi providing the regulated banking backbone for automatic fiat-to-stablecoin conversion, per Bitcoin Magazine.
Citi’s Spring by Citi merchant platform will use Coinbase infrastructure to accept stablecoin payments at checkout; Coinbase converts the stablecoins to fiat and Citi settles the funds, so merchants never hold crypto directly.
Ambcrypto reports the stablecoin mechanics are still being negotiated and that both companies will share more detail in the next few months.
Ambcrypto cites DeFiLlama data putting more than $306 billion in stablecoins in circulation and BlackRock figures showing stablecoins processed $11.2 trillion in transactions last year, with another $8.5 trillion in the first half of 2026 alone.
Coinbase and Citi announced their major institutional crypto payments partnership last year, before this Monday’s specific build-out.
Coinbase Virtual Accounts and Spring by Citi are two different products
The joint statement describes a two-track build. On one side, Coinbase Virtual Accounts will sit on Citi’s banking-as-a-service infrastructure, giving Coinbase’s payments customers bank-account-style functionality; Citi supplies the regulated banking layer that lets incoming fiat convert automatically to stablecoins. On the other, Spring by Citi will hand Citi’s enterprise clients the ability to accept stablecoin payments at checkout, with Coinbase as the conversion engine.
That means merchants on the Citi side never touch crypto directly, and Coinbase’s payments customers get access to regulated banking rails without assembling them in-house. Debopama Sen, Head of Payments, Services at Citi, framed the intended outcome as “the next generation of payments infrastructure — one that is seamless, interoperable, and operates across both traditional and digital payments instruments and networks.” Coinbase’s Head of Infrastructure Product, Alec Lovett, described the bank’s role as giving fintechs a “fast, compliant bridge between fiat and stablecoins” and said Citi provides it at scale.
Where the two reports differ in emphasis: Ambcrypto foregrounds the 24/7 fiat on- and off-ramp as step one and treats the stablecoin mechanics as still in design, citing a target audience of 150 million-plus holders. Bitcoin Magazine describes the stablecoin infrastructure for businesses as the announced product itself and frames the deal as the latest instance of major banks adopting Bitcoin’s underlying technology, including Citi’s August statement that it would let institutional investors custody traditional assets and bitcoin within one framework later this year. Taken together, the reports agree on the shape of the deal and disagree only on where the emphasis sits.
Why it matters
For Citi’s enterprise clients, the pitch is direct: accept stablecoin payments without hiring crypto custody staff or running blockchain nodes. For Coinbase, which brings the exchange infrastructure, the partnership adds a regulated banking backstop it cannot build itself. The framing in both reports is that commercial money is leaning toward 24/7 settlement rails, and the bank that gets there first has an edge in client retention. Citi already moves dollars around the clock and reportedly banks about 90% of the world’s top eCommerce companies, per Ambcrypto, giving the tie-up a wide base of existing payment volume to plug into.
What to watch
Both companies have said more detail on the stablecoin mechanics is coming in the next few months, making the next disclosure the one that matters. Separately, Citi’s stated plan to let institutional investors custody traditional assets and bitcoin within a single framework later this year, reported by Bitcoin Magazine, sets a second timeline worth tracking alongside the payments build-out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly are Citi and Coinbase building together?
According to Bitcoin Magazine, the deal has two parts: Coinbase Virtual Accounts, built on Citi’s banking-as-a-service platform, will offer Coinbase payments customers bank-account-like features for accepting, holding and sending funds, while Citi’s Spring by Citi merchant platform will use Coinbase infrastructure to accept stablecoin payments at checkout and settle in fiat.
Do Citi clients send stablecoins today under this partnership?
Ambcrypto reports the stablecoin piece is still being worked out and that both companies have promised more detail in the next few months. The first step covers 24/7 fiat on- and off-ramps; stablecoins come next.
How large is the stablecoin market compared with card networks?
Ambcrypto cites DeFiLlama data putting more than $306 billion worth of stablecoins in circulation, and BlackRock figures showing stablecoins processed $11.2 trillion in transactions last year against $10.6 trillion for Mastercard. Ambcrypto cautions the comparison is not apples-to-apples because stablecoin volume also counts trading and DeFi activity.
Who at the two companies has spoken about the deal?
Debopama Sen, Head of Payments, Services at Citi, framed the goal as interoperable payment infrastructure spanning traditional and digital instruments, while Coinbase’s Head of Infrastructure Product, Alec Lovett, described Citi as the compliant fiat-to-stablecoin bridge at scale, per Bitcoin Magazine.
This post Citi and Coinbase Link Fiat Rails to Stablecoin Settlement first appeared on BitcoinWorld.