EU regulation
SWIFT Taps Ripple Banks for Blockchain Pilot as XRP Faces Institutional Skepticism
SWIFT and Ripple-linked banks launched a blockchain payments pilot on July 9, marking a significant convergence between traditional banking infrastructure and distributed ledger technology. The move signals institutional appetite for blockchain-based cross-border settlement, though market reaction has been decidedly mixed, with XRP itself posting modest gains while institutional investors continued reducing exposure. The SWIFT Blockchain...
EU MiCA Framework Takes Full Effect, Binance Restricts EU Services
The EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) entered full enforcement today, July 1, 2026, marking the end of a 12-month transition period and fundamentally reshaping how cryptocurrency exchanges operate across the bloc. With no extensions granted and penalties reaching up to 5 million euros or 5 percent of global turnover for non-compliance, major platforms including...
EU Sets July 1 Deadline for Unlicensed Crypto Firms to Exit
The European Securities and Markets Authority has issued a final enforcement deadline requiring all unlicensed cryptocurrency service providers to cease EU operations by July 1, 2026, marking the first major regulatory crackdown under Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation. The order, issued June 23, affects an estimated 900 to 1,000 firms currently operating without proper licensing...