European stablecoin issuers are positioning regulated US dollar tokens as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, euro-pegged offerings. Their argument: cross-border commerce still runs on dollar liquidity, and MiCA-compliant frameworks can address that demand without forcing a zero-sum “euro versus dollar” debate. On Wednesday, German issuer AllUnity expanded its MiCA-regulated lineup by launching US dollar-pegged stablecoin USDAU . The company said a euro-only approach can leave European corporates with gaps in settlement and payment flows that involve the US and other dollar-dependent markets. Key takeaways AllUnity launched USDAU , a US dollar-pegged stablecoin, as part of its MiCA-regulated product range. Issuers argue dollar demand in Europe is driven by real cross-border business and settlement needs, not speculation. Some European market participants say the policy objective should be a diversified stablecoin ecosystem with both euro and dollar options. Even wi...

Crypto’s long-running argument over whether decentralized protocols should block stolen funds flared again after the Bitget hack. According to the reporting around the incident, roughly $387.5 million in funds tied to the attack began moving across chains, and some of that activity reportedly headed toward the decentralized cross-chain swap platform THORChain. Bitget CEO Gracy Chen publicly urged THORChain to refuse service to attacker-linked addresses, warning that “the industry is watching.” THORChain did not comply, and the decision has now become the focus of a broader debate: should permissionless infrastructure be technically capable of stopping known illicit flows—or does any ability to filter such activity undermine decentralization? Key takeaways Bitget’s CEO called on THORChain to block services for addresses linked to the Sept. 24 hack, as an estimated $387.5 million in stolen funds moved across chains. THORChain declined, reigniting a dispute between those who want prot...

SINGAPORE, 1 October 2026 - The biggest speaker lineup of Token Week is heading to Gardens by the Bay. CoinFerenceX The Best Event Singapore 2026 will bring more than 85 speakers to Flower Field Hall on 5–6 October for two days of keynotes, panels and fireside chats during TOKEN2049 week. The summit is headlined by Arthur Hayes, CIO of Maelstrom; Raoul Pal, Co-Founder and CEO of Real Vision; Yat Siu, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands; Sandeep Nailwal, Co-Founder and CEO of Polygon; and Andrei Grachev, Managing Partner of DWF Labs. They are joined by senior leaders from Binance, Coinbase, Crypto.com, BNB Chain, MEXC, Gate, BingX, KuCoin, CertiK, Hacken, MetaMask, Base, Berachain and Spartan Group. Across 26 sessions, the programme moves past narratives and into the questions shaping the next cycle: which crypto businesses actually earn revenue, how banks and funds are putting real assets on chains, where Asian family-office money is going, and what happens when AI agen...

Circle has asked the European Commission to reconsider parts of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework for stablecoin reserve rules, arguing that rigid requirements tied to bank deposits can expose issuers—and indirectly token holders—to banking-sector credit and counterparty risk. In a response to the Commission’s MiCA review consultation, Circle said mandatory levels of commercial bank deposits are the wrong tool for managing reserve safety. The submission highlights why this concern is not theoretical, pointing to the USDC dollar peg disruption in March 2023 after Circle disclosed that $3.3 billion in USDC reserves were held at Silicon Valley Bank. Depositor protection measures and subsequent actions to make funds available ultimately enabled USDC to restore its peg. Key takeaways Circle warns MiCA’s deposit-minimum approach can increase banking credit and counterparty exposure for stablecoin issuers. The stablecoin issuer points to the 2023 USDC depeg linked t...

Bitcoin treasury companies built around accumulating and holding the cryptocurrency face a tough competitive landscape, economist Saifedean Ammous argues—especially when compared with Strategy, the corporate vehicle led by Michael Saylor. In a recent episode of Cointelegraph’s Proof of Thesis , Ammous said he sees “a compelling case” primarily for Strategy, pointing to its scale and balance-sheet resources as decisive advantages for financing, dividend coverage, and resilience during drawdowns. The comments come as Strategy continues to operate its Bitcoin-as-treasury-reserve model amid ongoing volatility in the underlying asset. Key takeaways Ammous believes Strategy’s size and cash reserves give it an edge over smaller Bitcoin treasury companies, particularly during periods of large Bitcoin declines. Strategy’s latest 8-K filing cites 847,666 BTC acquired for $63.95 billion, alongside a $5.02 billion US dollar reserve tied to preferred stock dividends and debt interest. Strateg...

Economist Saifedean Ammous, author of The Bitcoin Standard , says he expects Bitcoin treasury-focused companies to face stiffer competition from Michael Saylor’s Strategy because of its scale and financing strength. Speaking on Cointelegraph’s Proof of Thesis , Ammous argued there is limited incentive to choose another Bitcoin treasury operator when Strategy is already positioned as the dominant holder and buyer. Strategy’s advantages are grounded in its corporate balance sheet. According to the company’s Monday 8-K filing cited by Cointelegraph, Strategy reported 847,666 BTC purchased for $63.95 billion, alongside a reported $5.02 billion US dollar reserve to cover preferred stock dividends and debt interest. Key takeaways Ammous says Strategy’s sheer Bitcoin holdings could make it difficult for smaller treasury companies to compete effectively. Strategy’s reported $5.02 billion US dollar reserve is intended to support dividend and debt obligations. Ammous frames corporate Bitco...

Bitcoin climbed toward the high-$80,000s on Friday, with prices briefly testing near $87,000 as short liquidations surged over a 24-hour period. The move marks Bitcoin’s highest level since Sept. 23, underscoring how tightly current trading dynamics are still linked to exchange order books and leveraged positioning. According to CoinGlass liquidation data, BTC short liquidations totaled about $122 million in the past day, while liquidation activity across crypto overall reached roughly $210 million. The combination of a breakout above a well-watched sell zone and the resulting forced closures helped propel the rally. Key takeaways Bitcoin topped $86,857 on Bitstamp, its highest point since Sept. 23, before easing back below $86,000. Glassnode pointed to reduced ask-side liquidity above the $85,000 area, which can let price move upward more efficiently. CoinGlass’s liquidation heatmap showed clustered liquidation exposure above $87,000 after the breakout. Glassnode emphasized th...