digital

Grayscale announced the launch of an in-kind investing mechanism, allowing investors to directly deliver eligible digital assets in exchange for shares of Grayscale's products. Grayscale stated that this mechanism is expected to alleviate the burden of self-custody of assets for investors, reduce potential trading execution costs, and make digital assets easier to incorporate into traditional portfolio management.Currently, this mechanism covers 10 products, including Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC), Ethereum Staking Mini ETF (ETH), Avalanche Staking ETF (GAVA), Chainlink Trust ETF (GLNK), Dogecoin Trust ETF (GDOG), Hyperliquid Staking ETF (HYPG), Solana Staking ETF (GSOL), Sui Staking ETF (GSUI), XRP Trust ETF (GXRP), and Zcash ETF (ZCSH).

Anchorage Digital, the first federally regulated crypto bank in the United States, announced a partnership with the tokenization platform Securitize, which will allow for the direct minting and redemption of stablecoins issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, N.A., without the need for intermediaries. Anchorage Digital Bank is also responsible for custody and settlement, ensuring that the counterparty and custody standards on the dollar side of tokenization transactions on Securitize align with those on the securities side.Securitize is the largest tokenization platform globally by assets under management, providing regulated infrastructure for tokenized funds for institutions such as Apollo, BlackRock, BNY, Hamilton Lane, KKR, and VanEck, with platform assets exceeding $4 billion. The stablecoin issuance ecosystem of Anchorage Digital Bank includes USDtb, issued in collaboration with Ethena Labs, and USA₮, co-developed with Tether.According to an independent reserve report verified by Anchorage Digital Bank, as of August 31, 2026, approximately 99% of the $530 million reserves of USDtb are held by the Securitize tokenized BlackRock BUIDL fund.Nathan McCauley, co-founder and CEO of Anchorage Digital, stated that Anchorage Digital Bank is designed for the large-scale issuance of stablecoins under federal regulation, and regulated issuance is key for tokenization to reach institutional scale. Carlos Domingo, chairman and CEO of Securitize, mentioned that collaborating with Anchorage Digital Bank enables them to directly access digital dollars issued under federal regulation and custodied by the same institution.

According to Caixin, Liu Jun, President of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, stated at the first Digital Renminbi Annual Conference held during the 2026 Financial Street Forum Annual Meeting that while digital technology promotes the development of the digital economy, it also brings changes to the currency trust mechanism. Data, algorithms, and programmability are beginning to participate in the generation and transmission of credit, with trust shifting from being supported by institutional singular points to being jointly supported by institutions and technology. However, technology can only reinforce trust, not replace it.Liu Jun mentioned that whether digital currency can become a currency is not primarily about the algorithm design itself, but rather about how credit is supported and fulfilled, and how responsibility is implemented. He pointed out that currency is transitioning from physical forms to data, moving from multi-step clearing reliant on accounts and intermediaries to synchronous payment and settlement. The way currency is realized is changing, but its attributes remain the same, still fulfilling the three functions of a medium of exchange, a store of value, and a unit of account.

According to a report by Xinhua News Agency, the Digital Renminbi Operation Management Center has publicly announced the digital renminbi infrastructure service system and launched two core achievements.The two core achievements are the Central Bank Digital Currency System (DCEPS) and the Digital Renminbi Smart Contract Ecological Service Framework (e-CNY SMART Contract).

On October 20, 2026, Jason Pagoulatos, a macro and market author at the cryptocurrency research institution Delphi Digital, released a report titled "The House Always Wins: Why Speculation is the Theme of This Decade." Pagoulatos stated that speculation has two long-term engines: constructive and lottery-like. Technological changes open the former, while fiscal and political pressures open the latter; historically, many famous bubbles have been driven by one or the other. Today, both are operating at high speed simultaneously, and the same batch of technologies is feeding both. He thus considers speculation itself as an investable theme, advocating for holding places for liquidation bets rather than holding the bets themselves.The data cited in the report includes that the U.S. federal deficit for fiscal year 2025 is $1.8 trillion, about 5.8% of GDP, with net interest around $1 trillion per year, exceeding defense spending. The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies states that the national median price for single-family homes in 2024 is 5.0 times the median household income; the National Association of Realtors reports that first-time homebuyers account for 21% of transactions, with a median age of 40. According to the American Gaming Association, legal sports betting amounts have risen from $6.6 billion in 2018 to $166.9 billion in 2025. Capital expenditures for Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta are approximately $416 billion for 2025, with guidance for 2026 totaling about $720 billion to $745 billion, plus Oracle.In terms of venues, Robinhood's event contract revenue for Q2 2026 is $156 million, higher than stock revenue of $129 million and crypto revenue of $100 million during the same period. Hyperliquid's expenses for 2025 are about $972 million, with transactions around $3 trillion. Kalshi reportedly raised funds at a valuation of about $40 billion, and Polymarket is set to relaunch in the U.S. by the end of 2025. The author also mentions that the most likely mistake is to hold inventory of the crowd and call it a casino. The report states that it is for educational and general informational purposes only and is not investment advice; the author may hold Bitcoin, HYPE, HOOD, and LIT, and affiliated party Delphi Ventures may invest in the assets or agreements discussed in the report.

Bitcoin News posted on platform X, stating that as the Clarity Act is stalled, regulators are independently formulating rules for the digital asset market based on existing authorities. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has solicited opinions on a framework for retail digital asset trading, which includes a new category of "crypto asset market" exchanges, with the comment period ending on December 14.The comment period for the Securities and Exchange Commission's proposed Regulation Crypto Assets will close on October 20. The pace at which regulators are crafting rules is faster than congressional legislation, but the relevant rules may face challenges in court or be rescinded by future commissions; a lasting regulatory framework still requires legislation.

According to The Block, investment bank StoneX reiterated its "buy" rating on Galaxy Digital (GLXY) and maintained a target price of $57.The agency believes that Galaxy's current valuation underestimates its AI data center business and does not actually take its digital asset business into account in the valuation. Market concerns are primarily focused on the rising borrowing costs of CoreWeave and the outstanding debt of $35.6 billion as of the end of June.

Financial technology company Ramp announced that it submitted an application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on October 16 to establish Ramp National Trust Bank. If approved, the trust bank license will allow it to provide fiduciary investment management and digital asset custody services, bringing it under a unified federal regulatory framework.In addition, the proposed entity will not engage in accepting deposits or issuing commercial loans.

According to Cointelegraph, Section 502 of the Digital Asset Tax Clarification Act (H.R. 10357) currently advancing in the U.S. Congress stipulates that the Secretary of the Treasury must establish a voluntary disclosure program for digital assets within 12 months after the act takes effect.Eligible taxpayers can correct past digital asset tax violations by submitting amended returns and paying back taxes, interest, and penalties under the program. The act was passed by the House Ways and Means Committee on September 16 with a vote of 38 to 5, but it has not yet officially become law and still needs to be passed by the House, the Senate, and signed by the President.Andrew Gordon, Executive Director of the Digital Asset Taxation Action Organization, stated that this is a significant change that will help many ordinary taxpayers, yet it has received little attention. He pointed out that U.S. investors are facing the first filing season under the new 1099-DA broker reporting rules, which give the IRS greater visibility into crypto transactions but do not address the years prior to the rules taking effect. Sharon Yip, founder of Crypto Tax Advisors, also noted that filing errors among ordinary crypto investors are very common, and the existing procedures lack standardized processes, making it impossible to provide predictable penalty treatment for unintentional violators.According to Section 502, taxpayers generally must submit amended returns within 24 months after the program is established, and the act sets two penalty standards. Taxpayers who provide proof that their violations are neither fraudulent nor intentional can apply a 0% penalty on the portion of back taxes up to $25,000 if they file within the first 12 months after the program starts, while amounts exceeding that will incur a 5% penalty.Those who do not provide such proof will face penalties of 25% and 40%, and the tax rates will increase if the initial window is missed. The act also provides specific civil penalty waivers, allowing unproven taxpayers to be exempt from criminal referral within the scope of the disclosed information. A report by CoinTracker in 2026 showed that only 49% of crypto users correctly understand that selling crypto assets is a taxable event.

According to The Block, Strategy founder Michael Saylor outlined his vision for a "perfect" digital currency at the ParaFi Investor Day, which is a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar and backed by Bitcoin, offering a yield of 6% to 8%.Saylor stated that this will be the next development direction for digital capital and digital credit products.

Patrick Witt, the Executive Director of the White House Presidential Digital Asset Advisory Committee, announced his departure from government service to return to the private sector. He made this decision public last week, and the White House has not yet announced a new head of cryptocurrency policy, with a successor still undetermined.Previously, Harry Jung and Bo Hines had also left the committee. White House officials stated that cryptocurrency policy and the Digital Asset Market Clear Act will remain a focus of the Trump administration, but the personnel vacancies have raised concerns about the momentum of policy advancement.As the midterm elections approach next month, the administration is still advancing rule-making in the digital asset space. After the new Congress is sworn in in 2027, cryptocurrency legislation will require coordination from a White House liaison, with tax legislation expected to proceed ahead of market structure reforms; if the Democrats flip the House of Representatives, the congressional landscape may also bring new variables. Meanwhile, the rule-making efforts of agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Department of the Treasury will continue.

The NFT project Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) officially announced the launch of the physical and digital collectible card series Mudwater based on Solana, and has airdropped 6,551 Totems paired with all BAYC and MAYC for claiming card packs. Each BAYC can claim 10 packs, each MAYC can claim 2 packs, each pack contains 10 cards, and there are a total of 10,000 boxes with 24 packs each.The series includes 120 pieces of artwork and features flash cards, numbered cards, and cracked ice rare cards, among which 8 cracked ice cards are 1/1 exclusive cards. The physical cards are printed by Orange Cap Games using their orange core paper.2.5% of each transaction will be used to purchase APE and distributed according to the proportion of collectors holding the Mudwater series. Totems, card packs, and cards are now available for trading on OpenSea, and future support will allow card packs to be upgraded to boxed and case versions.

Michael Saylor posted on the X platform, stating that this week at ParaFi Investor Day, he introduced digital capital, credit, and equity, and had a fireside chat with Jeff Park discussing digital assets, digital intelligence, and the future of finance.The speech covered topics such as Bitcoin as digital capital, CLARITY regulation, the adoption of Bitcoin banking, reshaping gold-backed credit with STRC, STRC returning to par value, Bitcoin earnings per share, the Strategy triple flywheel, shifting from quarterly dividends to daily dividends, Bitcoin-backed stablecoins, the adoption of digital credit institutions, as well as digital currencies, derivatives, exchanges, regulation, and product development in the AI era.

Franklin Templeton's digital asset account FTDA posted job openings on X, publicly announcing multiple positions related to digital assets and cryptocurrency business, and stated that private messaging communication is now open.Specific positions include Head of Digital Asset Product Strategy, Head of Capital Formation for Franklin Crypto, Head of Private Credit for Franklin Crypto, Digital Audience Engagement Project Manager, and Vice President of Business Development for the Cryptocurrency Market.

According to Hong Kong media HK01, Hong Kong BBB Group (Chinese name: Hao Hao Hao Group) claims to invest in the agarwood industry in Malaysia and sell over-the-counter stocks and digital assets, suspected to be a scam. The company states that it will convert OTC stocks into "digital asset" cryptocurrency by February 2027 or earlier.It is reported that the Hong Kong police have received reports from 21 individuals, involving an investment project amounting to 14 million Hong Kong dollars. The Commercial Crime Bureau is investigating for "conspiracy to defraud," and so far, four people have been arrested. Additionally, according to the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission's official website, "Malaysia Agarwood Plantation Investment, Agarwood Tree Program, Agarwood Potted Trees, APT4" have been listed as suspicious investment products.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde stated that the 3.8% inflation rate in the Eurozone for September primarily reflects high energy costs, and the European Central Bank expects some relief next year. She pointed out that energy shocks are expected to keep Eurozone inflation above the central bank's target in the first half of 2027, but it is still appropriate to adopt a cautious policy response at this time. This statement was made on Saturday during the International Monetary Fund annual meeting.Lagarde also mentioned that the European Central Bank is designing a digital euro. She stated that in the retail payments sector, the European Central Bank is preparing to supplement cash in digital form by launching a digital euro for everyday payments. The digital euro will further stimulate innovation and competition in the retail payments sector, ensuring the continued coexistence of public and private solutions, thereby supporting Europe's strategic autonomy in the payments field.Previously, Cointelegraph reported on September 21 that the European Central Bank had launched the Pontes system, allowing financial institutions to settle wholesale tokenized asset transactions in central bank currency, providing an alternative for private settlement assets such as stablecoins. The system initially offers a set of core services, with full implementation expected by 2028.

According to Bitcoin Magazine, Amy Oldenburg, head of Morgan Stanley's digital asset-related business, stated in a video interview with Bitcoin Magazine that the investment logic of Bitcoin as "digital gold" is "quite sound." However, she hopes to see Bitcoin's trading performance align more closely with gold, rather than being highly correlated with technology-related risk assets. She mentioned that factors such as the correlation between Bitcoin and gold, demand for stablecoins, concerns about quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and inflation are all influencing the market's demand for Bitcoin.She also stated that she would not define Bitcoin's prospects based on a single day's market performance or a specific inflation data point. The interview also covered topics such as the application of stablecoins and USDT on the Bitcoin network, the client composition of Morgan Stanley's spot Bitcoin ETF, the pathways for clients to transfer self-held Bitcoin into ETF shares, and borrowing against Bitcoin ETFs and spot Bitcoin as collateral.In addition, Oldenburg introduced how Morgan Stanley assesses quantum risks and discussed how asset tokenization could change various asset classes, as well as the role of Morgan Stanley's Digital Asset Lab and AI agents in the future "agent economy."

According to the CoinShares market report, the U.S. September CPI rose by 0.6% month-on-month and 3.7% year-on-year, exceeding the market expectation of 3.6%. Gasoline prices increased by 9.1% for the month, accounting for about half of the overall increase. The core CPI rose by 0.3% month-on-month and 2.6% year-on-year. During the same period, U.S. September retail sales grew by 0.8% month-on-month, higher than the expected approximately 0.3%, with August data revised up to 1.3%. However, retail sales excluding gasoline only grew by 0.2%, lower than August's 1%.The report pointed out that inflation remains high, and economic demand also remains resilient, leading the market to reprice the Federal Reserve's policy in a hawkish manner, causing Bitcoin and the overall digital asset market to decline. Data shows that since the CPI was released, market sentiment has significantly weakened, with global digital asset investment products seeing an outflow of $434 million so far this week. Regarding interest rate expectations, as of October 15, Polymarket data shows that the probability of the Federal Reserve maintaining interest rates at the October meeting is about 75%, while the probability of a 25 basis point rate hike is about 25%. After the CPI release, the futures market clearly shifted to a hawkish stance, with expectations for another rate hike within the year rising significantly.

Upbit's official announcement states that due to BitMEX terminating the integration of the travel rule solution VerifyVASP, Upbit will suspend deposits and withdrawals of digital assets of 1 million Korean Won and above with BitMEX starting from October 16. Deposits below 1 million Korean Won will continue to be supported as usual.Manual deposits of over 1 million Korean Won from BitMEX to Upbit will cease at 14:00 on December 18, and any similar assets credited thereafter will enter the refund process, which users must follow to retrieve.