Coinpedia - Fintech & Cryptocurreny News Media| Crypto Guide

French regulators have stepped up anti-money laundering (AML) checks on many cryptocurrency exchanges, including Binance. This effort began in late 2024 and is led by the ACPR and AMF. Their goal is to make sure these exchanges follow strict EU AML and counter-terrorism rules, especially with the new MiCA licensing rules coming. Binance is cooperating well and has been told to improve its risk and compliance teams. If these rules aren’t met, exchanges could face fines or lose their EU licenses by mid-2026. This shows France’s strong commitment to safer crypto markets.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong believes that in the next ten years, crypto will be widely used worldwide, but most people won’t even realize they’re using it. He envisions a future where blockchain technology becomes seamlessly integrated into everyday financial systems, powering apps and services behind the scenes. Armstrong’s outlook reflects his confidence in crypto’s mainstream adoption and its transformation into an invisible part of global digital infrastructure.

Investment giant VanEck has filed an S-1 registration with the U.S. SEC to launch a new ETF tracking Lido Staked Ethereum (stETH). The proposed fund aims to offer investors regulated exposure to stETH, a popular liquid staking token linked to Ethereum’s network. If approved, it would mark a major step in bringing staking-based crypto assets to traditional finance through exchange-traded funds, expanding institutional access to Ethereum’s staking ecosystem.

Ripple Labs is launching a major fundraising drive worth at least $1 billion to build a new digital asset treasury focused on accumulating XRP. The funds will be raised through a SPAC deal, with Ripple also adding some of its own XRP holdings to the treasury. This move aims to strengthen Ripple’s control over XRP liquidity and expand its influence in the growing digital asset ecosystem.

OKX will remove several spot trading pairs, including SLERF, ALPHA, BADGER, OAS, MLN, and AIDOGE, on October 23, 2025, between 08:00 and 16:00 UTC. Users should manage their funds and cancel any open orders before the deadline to avoid losses. OKX urges everyone to act early and stay informed to protect their assets during the delisting process.

The U.S. government now owns around 316,760 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $35.9 billion, making it one of the biggest publicly known Bitcoin holders worldwide. Much of these holdings come from large seizures of illicit Bitcoin, managed by the Treasury Department. This stash is likely part of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve initiative launched to strengthen America’s position in digital assets. The government’s Bitcoin reserve highlights its growing role in cryptocurrency, with potential impacts on the market yet to unfold as policies develop around these digital holdings.

WazirX has completed its ACRA filing in Singapore on October 15, officially activating its restructuring scheme. As per the plan, the exchange is set to restart operations before October 30, with the team pushing to make it happen even earlier. This development marks a fresh chapter for WazirX, signaling its return to full operations and renewed focus on compliance and growth within India’s crypto ecosystem.

Kraken has acquired Small Exchange, a CFTC-regulated Designated Contract Market, from IG Group in a $100 million deal. The acquisition strengthens Kraken’s presence in the U.S. derivatives market, giving it a strategic edge among global exchanges. With this move, Kraken becomes one of the few trading platforms holding derivatives licenses across the U.S., U.K., and E.U., marking a major step in its mission to expand institutional and retail access to regulated crypto trading products.

OKX has teamed up with Standard Chartered Bank to integrate the bank’s regulated custody services into its European institutional platform. The partnership introduces safeguarded collateral mirroring and stronger asset protection measures, ensuring institutional clients a more secure and efficient trading experience. This collaboration highlights the growing link between traditional banking and digital asset platforms, reinforcing OKX’s commitment to compliance, transparency, and institutional-grade financial solutions.

YZi Labs has led a $50 million funding round for Better Payment Network (BPN) to drive the expansion of its multi-stablecoin payment infrastructure. The funding will support network scaling, faster transactions, and more efficient cross-border settlements. This move reinforces YZi Labs’ focus on supporting blockchain-driven payment innovation and BPN’s mission to make global digital transactions seamless, secure, and cost-effective.