Polymarket shut down a market on nuclear detonation after public outcry and regulatory scrutiny. The move follows insider trading allegations and a wave of foreign bans putting the platform under pressure.
FATF warns stablecoins now account for the majority of illicit crypto activity, with peer-to-peer transfers enabling sanctions evasion and money laundering. The report signals a need for stronger AML controls and closer scrutiny of off-ramps and decentralized rails.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal has launched a formal Senate Homeland Security Committee investigation into Binance after reports the exchange allegedly facilitated $1.7 billion in crypto transfers to Iranian entities tied to terrorism. The probe targets Binance's Hong Kong operations and requests internal records and communications.
Bitcoin Depot will verify customer identities for every ATM transaction, voluntarily tightening its compliance procedures. The change comes as regulators and law enforcement increase focus on crypto cash-in points.
Crypto.com has received an initial nod to establish a U.S. national trust charter custody bank, aiming to consolidate custody services under federal supervision. The move could boost institutional confidence and streamline onshore custody options if finalized.
An Australian man has been charged after police linked the NEXOpayment portal to the suspected laundering of roughly $3.5 million stolen from 190 elderly investors.
Austria’s financial regulator has ordered KuCoin EU to stop onboarding new EU users and to appoint both primary and deputy AML and sanctions compliance officers. The directive cites compliance lapses and requires strengthened governance for anti-money-laundering and sanctions controls.
Russia’s monetary authority said on Feb. 20, 2026 that cryptocurrency exchanges must establish a Russian subsidiary and comply with local law to operate, a step that will force many foreign platforms to restructure or exit the market.
Anchorage Digital is offering U.S.-compliant stablecoin rails to international banks to speed cross-border transfers and reduce reliance on correspondent banking. The move bundles custody, tokenized USD settlement and compliant onboarding for institutional clients.
Regulators are moving into a new era of crypto tax enforcement, but many of the rules were written by people who don’t fully grasp how digital assets work. That knowledge gap could create widespread compliance headaches and legal clashes for businesses and users.