South Korean police have reportedly referred 18 Polymarket users to prosecutors as part of an illegal gambling investigation that involves 26 suspects and roughly 17.6 billion won (about $12.7 million) in wagers. The case is based on analysis of on-chain activity, according to a report citing data submitted by the National Police Agency. Authorities say they identified participants by examining publicly available blockchain transactions tied to Polymarket, despite the platform operating without a conventional, real-name user registry. Suspects are accused of placing stakes on event outcomes that—under South Korean legal interpretation—amount to gambling. Key takeaways South Korea’s police have referred 18 Polymarket users to prosecutors, based on an investigation covering 26 people and about 17.6 billion won in wagers. Investigators reportedly used publicly available blockchain transaction data to connect individuals to activity on the platform. Authorities argue Polymarket trans...

German crypto adoption is accelerating, with younger investors and wealth intermediaries increasingly pointing inherited funds toward digital assets, according to CoinShares researcher Luke Nolan. In the UK, momentum appears slower, largely tied to regulatory delays and a retail-access framework that only recently reopened. Speaking on Cointelegraph’s Chain Reaction show, Nolan characterized Germany’s progress as “very good,” while describing the UK market as “nascent” after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) lifted its ban on certain crypto exchange-traded products in the last year. The difference matters for investors: where regulation and banking infrastructure move in tandem, institutions and advisors can more readily bring compliant custody and distribution into existing wealth channels. Key takeaways CoinShares researcher Luke Nolan says Germany’s crypto adoption is being driven by family offices, wealth managers, individual advisors, and younger investors reallocating inher...

Bitcoin traded close to its levels prior to the US Federal Reserve’s announcement on Wednesday, even after the Fed lifted its benchmark interest rate for the first time since 2023. The market largely appeared to have priced in the move: at the time of writing, BTC was around $76,663, up about 1.35% over 24 hours. The Federal Open Market Committee voted unanimously to raise rates by 25 basis points to a target range of 3.75% to 4%. While rate hikes typically weigh on stocks and other risk assets, crypto analysts told Cointelegraph that Bitcoin’s immediate reaction was muted and near pre-announcement price levels. Key takeaways Bitcoin held around pre-Fed levels near $76,000 after a unanimous 25bp hike to 3.75%–4%. Analysts said the decision looked “largely anticipated,” limiting the immediate downside in BTC. Derivatives activity showed net selling in perpetual futures, partially offset by net spot buying. FOMC projections pointed to at least one more potential hike before year-...

North Korea’s cyber and financial theft efforts are increasingly relying on remote workers based in third countries, according to a report published by NBC. The scheme reportedly involves recruiting foreign IT workers—such as people located in Iran and Lebanon—to help North Korean-linked actors infiltrate US companies and route funds back to the DPRK in support of its weapons programs. The renewed focus on “outsourced” digital labor comes after a July alert issued by the US government and multiple foreign agencies, warning that North Korean IT workers actively seek contracts with the aim of remitting salaries to parent agencies in North Korea. The alert also described these workers as potential insider threats, including roles in data exfiltration and cryptocurrency theft. Key takeaways US and partner agencies warned in July that DPRK-linked IT workers use employment contracts to funnel pay back to North Korean agencies. NBC reports North Korea is using remote workers from third co...

The UK’s House of Lords has backed a push for a clearer government roadmap on digital assets, approving an amendment to require the Treasury to produce and consult on a formal strategy. The measure passed on Wednesday in a 194–138 vote, despite opposition from the Labour government. The amendment was inserted during the Report Stage of the Financial Services and Markets Bill as it continues through Parliament. If the change survives further scrutiny in the House of Commons, it would set a timeline for policy work that currently relies largely on the government’s existing approach to digital assets. Key takeaways The House of Lords approved an amendment (88) requiring the Treasury to publish and consult on a digital asset strategy within 12 months of the bill becoming law. The proposed strategy would cover cryptoassets, stablecoins, and tokenized securities, and is meant to address both innovation and consumer protection. The vote highlights ongoing UK political disagreement over ...

The UK House of Lords has backed an amendment that would force the government to set out a formal digital asset strategy, even as the Labour administration voted against the proposal. The measure passed during Wednesday’s Report Stage of the Financial Services and Markets Bill by a 194–138 margin. The amendment—added to the bill in the Lords—would require the Treasury to prepare, publish, and consult on a strategy within 12 months after the bill becomes law. It is designed to cover cryptoassets, stablecoins, and tokenized securities, along with key issues such as consumer protection and how firms can access banking, payments, and settlement services. Key takeaways The House of Lords approved an amendment (194–138) that would require a UK digital asset strategy to be published and consulted within 12 months of the bill becoming law. The proposed strategy must address multiple digital asset categories, including cryptoassets, stablecoins, and tokenized securities, rather than treatin...

Bitcoin posted its first weekly close above $80,000 in roughly four months, landing just after markets refocused on a fresh batch of U.S. inflation releases ahead of the Federal Reserve’s Sept. 16 meeting. The move comes as investors balance softer inflation prints against renewed pressure from a stronger labor market and ongoing policy uncertainty. At the same time, analysts say BTC’s bounce still lacks the spot-market participation needed to decisively break out of the $80,000 area. On-chain and derivatives data point to a rally that has leaned heavily on futures positioning—an imbalance that typically increases the odds of volatility if macro conditions turn. Key takeaways Bitcoin achieved its first weekly close above $80,000 since early May, according to TradingView data. U.S. CPI and PPI prints are due this week ahead of the Sept. 16 Fed decision; CME’s FedWatch Tool shows 0.25% hike odds at 58.4%. Japan’s record yen interventions coincide with a reported $79.57 billion drop...

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) has outlined a three-phase plan to build the legal and technical foundation for issuing tokenized securities covering assets such as stocks, bonds, and funds. The roadmap is designed to bring tokenization into the country’s existing capital markets framework rather than treating it as a separate, unregulated activity. In a press release published Friday, the FSC said tokenized securities will gain formal legal recognition as digitized forms of securities once an update to the Act on Electronic Registration of Stocks and Bonds takes effect on Feb. 4, 2027 . The implementation schedule is closely tied to a broader roll-out of amended capital markets and electronic securities laws. Key takeaways Legal status begins Feb. 4, 2027 , when an amendment to the Act on Electronic Registration of Stocks and Bonds takes effect for tokenized securities. Phase 1 (from recognition) covers institutional money market funds, bonds, unlisted stocks, a...

The US jobs report landed hotter than many economists expected in August, and the immediate ripple was felt across risk assets—including Bitcoin. According to figures released on Friday, the US economy added 162,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, roughly three times the consensus estimate of about 56,000. Bitcoin initially slid from around $81,300 to local lows near $78,600 before recovering to about $79,500 by the time of writing. The stronger labor market also injected fresh volatility into expectations for the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) decision on Sept. 15–16. With the Fed’s path still being debated, traders appeared to reprice the odds of a pause versus a rate hike after the payroll release, even as parts of the political debate around interest rates intensified. Key takeaways US nonfarm payrolls rose to 162,000 in August—well above the ~56,000 economist consensus. Bitcoin reacted with a selloff from $81,300 to $78,600, then rebounded to roughly $79,500. Polymarket’s i...

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) has laid out a three-phase plan to build the legal and technical groundwork for issuing tokenized securities—an effort that, if executed on schedule, would clarify how onchain securities could fit within the country’s existing capital markets framework. In a press release issued Friday, the FSC said tokenized securities are expected to gain formal legal recognition starting Feb. 4, 2027 , following an update to the Act on Electronic Registration of Stocks and Bonds . The initiative also points toward a later phase connecting tokenized issuance and payments with stablecoins . Key takeaways The FSC plans to recognize tokenized securities legally from Feb. 4, 2027 via amendments to the Act on Electronic Registration of Stocks and Bonds . Phase one covers legal recognition for tokenized versions of selected instruments, including certain funds and bonds, along with unlisted stocks and fractional investment securities. Phase two wou...

Ethena has rolled out Ethena Pay , a global “money app” designed to bring its USDe synthetic dollar into everyday use—covering payments, savings and cross-border transfers. The announcement positions USDe less as a tradeable stablecoin and more as a mechanism for day-to-day value storage and movement. According to Ethena’s update posted on X, the self-custodial app will let users hold USDe via a dollar-denominated balance, earn up to 6% annualized rewards , and spend using a payment card . The beta rollout is set to begin with limited access—initially 400 users —before expanding weekly across a broad set of regions. Key takeaways Ethena Pay is a self-custodial app built around USDe for payments, savings and transfers. Users can deposit fiat or crypto , with funds converted into USDe (USDe) for a dollar-denominated balance. The beta begins with 400 users and expands weekly ; Ethena targets 48 countries at launch. Avalanche is named as the exclusive settlement layer for p...

Bitcoin is entering September facing a familiar squeeze: price is still trapped under a dense layer of resistance while macro expectations swing back toward tighter Federal Reserve policy. At the same time, volatility in traditional markets is intensifying, with oil reacting to new developments tied to the US and Iran. For traders, the next catalysts are largely calendar-driven. The week ahead brings multiple US employment releases that can quickly shift interest-rate expectations, while Bitcoin’s technical landscape remains centered on reclaiming key levels below the $86,000 area and defending important moving averages. Key takeaways According to CME Group’s FedWatch Tool, markets assign just under a 60% probability to a 0.25% Fed rate hike in September—up from 41.4% a week earlier. US labor-market data resumes focus this week, with August nonfarm payrolls expected to show job growth after a reported loss of 23,000 jobs in June. Oil markets are reacting to renewed US strikes on ...

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has renewed its scepticism toward stablecoins, arguing that they have not proven credible as everyday payment instruments at scale—even as governments push forward with regulatory regimes for tokenised cash. In comments reported by Reuters, BIS General Manager Pablo Hernández de Cos said stablecoins struggle to function reliably as a means of payment. He contrasted them with tokenised bank deposits, which he described as a more direct way to bring tokenisation into finance while preserving the core foundations of the monetary system. Hernández de Cos, who is also a candidate to succeed European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde next year, tied the debate to how regulators should weigh innovation against financial stability and monetary policy control. Key takeaways The BIS argues stablecoins are not credible for everyday payments at scale, while tokenised deposits are viewed as a more workable alternative. Hernández de Cos acknowl...