FATF tightens focus, CBDCs race forward, Sharia council backs Bitcoin investing, Iran doubles down and Russia drops the hammer.

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Global

Germany takes over FATF from China as Travel Rule improves. More →

FATF plan October meet to strengthen crypto regulation framework. More → 

World Bank smart contract research finds financial inclusion benefits. More →

World Federation of Exchanges asks Financial Stability Board for common cryptoasset, stablecoin definitions. More →

Private sector could ‘bring value to CBDCs’, says IM. More →

Europe

Austria

A1 Telekom Austria adds Bitcoin payment service to thousands of retailers. More →

Finland

P2P exchange LocalBitcoins adopts Elliptic tracing in compliance move. More →

France

Official move to start trial of alleged BTC-e criminal money laundering operation. More →

Germany

BaFIN highlights ICO, STO work in 2019 round up. More →

Binance adds BaFIN-registered CM Equity to broaden German crypto sales. More →

Latvia

Police seize $126k in cryptocurrency in cybercrime bust. More →

Lithuania

Central bank claims world first with CBDC precursor, blockchain-based coin launch. More →

Netherlands

ING Bank to chair crypto custody working group to set industry standards. More →

Russia

Suspicion reigns in commercial blockchain as FSB takes over cryptography checks.  More →

Bug in Moscow blockchain polling system can show how users voted. More →

Parliamentary law ‘On Digital Financial Assets’, defines crypto as property, bans payments.  More →

Cryptocurrencies are pyramid scheme, not investment, says Bank of Russia. More →

Putin signs bill to make cryptocurrency illegal as means of payment in Russia. More →

Spain

National operator Iberpay says blockchain bank smart contract trials complete. More →

Switzerland

National Council amends 12 finance laws to encourage blockchain boom. More → 

UK

Japan’s SBI takes £30m minority stake in UK crypto market maker B2C. More →

UK exchanges falling behind as buyers turn to overseas options, FCA results show. More →

1.1 million spike in new crypto buyers in UK, FCA finds. More →

Britain to beef up powers to regulate cryptoassets, finance ministry says. More →

Britain nearly went bust in March, Bank of England reveals. More →

Cambridge, World Bank researchers study Covid-19 pandemic’s affect on fintech. More →

Ukraine

Security services detain two for Bitcoin bomb threat. More →

Americas

Brazil

Regulators block Binance from offering derivatives. More → 

Canada

Canada Stock Exchange owner JPX moves on with blockchain settlement pilot. More → 

Ontario Securities Commission accuses Coinsquare of 590,000BTC wash trading. More → 

Coinsquare execs to resign over wash trading scandal. More →

3iQ files IPO for ETH fund on Toronto Stock Exchange. More →

El Salvador

Village adopts Bitcoin as local currency after anonymous donation. More → 

Mexico

Promoters of OneCoin Ponzi scheme found murdered. More →

United States

Senate floats bill requiring watchdog to track illicit crypto use. More →

Crypto-friendly trading app Robinhood raises new funds for $8.3bn valuation.  More →

Bitcoin market structure more resilient than equities, gold, says JP Morgan. More →

Crypto founder admits $25m ICO fraud. More → 

Major Bitcoin wallets address double-spend vulnerability. More → 

Arca registers ETH bond fund for institutional investors with SEC. More →

Bakkt volume leaps as institutional interest grows. More →

Costco strikes blockchain ocean cargo deal with Alibaba. More → 

IRS challenged to find tech to trace problem privacy coins.  More → 

Texas Securities Board labels South Africa trading pool a fraud. More → 

Coinbase readying landmark IPO, says Reuters. More → 

Telegram defeat ‘not binding’ in Kik case, judge tells SEC. More →

SEC, CFTC hit Abra Cryptocurrency app with joint charges over illegal swaps. More → 

Crypto investors can donate to charity to minimise tax. More → 

Cryptocurrencies can not comply with US anti-encryption rules, say lawmakers. More → 

Co-ordinated spear phishing attack on Twitter accounts leads to celebrity Bitcoin scam. More → 

NYDFS BitLicense refresh reaction ‘beyond positive’, says chief. More → 

Institutions invested record $900m in crypto products in Q2, says Grayscale. More → 

US audit firms warn of overconfidence with crypto holding clients. More →

2020 uncertainty slows release of IRS crypto broker rules. More → 

Mastercard expands cryptocurrency card deal with UK startup Wirex. More → 

CFTC chair reaffirms commitment to regulate cryptocurrencies on his watch. More → 

SEC Commissioner Pierce blasts regulator’s Telegram action. More → 

Coinbase, BitGo plan P2P user info sharing system to comply with FATF Travel Rule. More → 

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency greenlights US banks to custody crypto. More → 

Department of Justice takes down $25m Bitcoin ATM scam. More → 

US says Ghosn son made $500k crypto payment for Japan escape. More → 

Senate Banking Committee hearing sees Digital Dollar as ‘tool for economic supremacy. More → 

Quebec trio charged with $8m PlexCoin scam. More →

Federal court defines Bitcoin as ‘form of money’ in Washington DC. More → 

Bitcoin rides to 2020 high on Gold rally, US dollar slump. More → 

Traders debate if gold or Bitcoin is best safe haven amid world uncertainty. More → 

A large part of financial system could end up on blockchain, CFTC chair says. More →

Abra adds 9% yield Bitcoin interest accounts. More →

SEC gives CipherTrace contract as only software able to track BinanceChain. More → 

Congressional Blockchain Caucus co-chair rebuked, ordered to pay $50k fine. More →

2000% crypto pivot firm Longfin ordered to repay $223m to investors after scandal-hit IPO. More →

Two teenagers and 22-year old charged for biggest ever Twitter hack. More →

FinCEN warns on Covid-19 scams demanding crypto. More →

Ripple twists and turns over XRP class-action lawsuit. More →

Cryptoexchange operator to list on NASDAQ in September through reverse merger. More →

Travel giant CWT pays $4.5m Bitcoin ransom in Ragnar DDOS attack. More →

17-year-old accused of being mastermind behind Twitter hack, $100,000 bitcoin scam. More →

Venezuela

Military seizes 315 cryptomining rigs as operators claim extortion. More →

Middle East & North Africa

Iran

Cryptominers have one month deadline to register with authorities.  More →

14 cryptominers licensed, electricity tariffs dropped 47%. More →

Power plants now authorised to mine Bitcoin. More →

Israel

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange preps blockchain-based securities lending. More →

UAE

Blockchain KYC platform goes live between banks. More →

Kazakhstan

Government to double investment in cryptomining. More →

Kazakhstan aims for top three global position in Bitcoin mining. More →

South Asia

India

Multi-million subscriber Youtube channels hacked for Bitcoin scam. More → 

Government confirms crypto bill is awaiting approval. More →

Sri Lanka

Central bank selects shortlist for blockchain KYC proof of concept. More →

East Asia & Pacific

Australia

New South Wales state treasury proposes flexible blockchain regulatory reform. More →

Binance launches in Australia. More →

China

Alibaba leads blockchain patent race. More →

Rideshare giant Didi gets digital yuan’s first real-world CBDC test.  More →

Nanjing Iron & Steel seals blockchain ore deal with Rio Tinto JV.  More →

BSN blockchain infrastructure integrates with Tezos, NEO, ETH, EOS.  More →

Supreme Court calls for better protection of cryptocurrency rights.  More →

Beijing to pilot blockchain for private stock registration, custody.  More →

China did not ban Bitcoin entirely, says Beijing arbitration. More →

Police arrest 109 in $6bn Plustoken scam swoop. More →

Japan

Japanese CBDC at heart of policy framework document.  More →

Central bank creates department to study digital yen CBDC. More →

Bank of Japan sets new head for CBDC digital currency department. More →

Malaysia

Regulator warns over unlicensed Bitcoin ATMs.  More →

Sharia Advisory Council gives backing to Bitcoin investments. More →

Binance ‘operating illegally’ in Malaysia, regulator says. More →

Securities Commission plans to extend crypto regulation to wallet providers. More →

Philippines

Four more cryptoexchanges licensed by central bank. More →

UnionBank completes blockchain remittance pilot. More →

Central bank forms working group to study CBDC. More →

Singapore

Cryptojacking hackers targeting Singapore because of fast internet, report finds. More → 

Monetary Authority of Singapore blockchain payment network ready to launch. More → 

MAS may include overseas activity in crypto regulation. More → 

Japan’s Liquid delists 29 cryptocurrencies to comply with Singapore FATF regulation. More → 

South Korea

Court refuses US extradition order for darkweb Bitcoin-based child porn operator. More →

Government finalises 20% cryptocurrency tax. More →

Taiwan

Binance acquires London crypto debit card provider Swipe. More →

Binance unveils crypto debit card in EU and UK. More →

Thailand

Bank of Thailand rolls out CBDC to multinationals ahead of launch. More → 

Thai regulator greenlights licenses for four more crypto service providers. More → 

Caribbean

Bermuda

Insurtech smart contract startup opens Bermuda office. More →

Africa

Nigeria, Uganda lead explosion in Africa crypto interest. More →

South Africa

Government proposes new crypto regulation framework in line with FATF. More → 

Cryptoexchange VALR raises $3.45m in Series A. More → 

Uganda

Communications Commission puts SIM cards on blockchain. More →