⚖️ 80 of Europe's Top 100 Banks to Attend EBC 2026
The European Blockchain Convention 2026, its 12th edition, is set for Barcelona this September, drawing 80 of Europe's top 100 banks as MiCA regulation enters full force across the continent.
The event marks a shift in tone — no longer debating whether Europe will regulate crypto, but focusing on how institutions operate within that framework. The convention is positioned as a major gathering point for banks, asset managers and digital asset firms navigating the post-MiCA landscape.
With regulatory clarity now in place, institutional participation at events like EBC signals growing mainstream integration of digital assets into European finance.
⛏️ BitRiver Founder Moved to Pretrial Detention in Russia
Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky District Court has escalated detention measures against Igor Runets, founder of BitRiver — Russia's largest crypto mining company. On July 29, Runets was transferred from house arrest to a pretrial detention facility for at least two months while investigators build their case.
The charges relate to an alleged fraud involving a deal with local conglomerate En+, reportedly causing 1 billion rubles (roughly $12.5 million) in damages linked to mining equipment.
The case marks a significant development for Russia's crypto mining sector, where BitRiver operates as the dominant player.
⚖️ DCG urges Senate to pass crypto clarity bill or cede ground to rivals
Digital Currency Group has warned U.S. senators that failure to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act could cost the country its competitive edge in crypto, with Singapore and the UAE named as the key jurisdictions poised to benefit.
DCG is the latest major crypto conglomerate to publicly back the bill in its current form, adding institutional weight to lobbying efforts already underway in Washington.
The warning reflects a broader industry argument that regulatory uncertainty in the U.S. is pushing crypto activity and investment offshore to more permissive markets.
💵 Russian bank-linked stablecoin A7A5 collapses 96% after sanctions
The A7A5 stablecoin has effectively lost all value after coordinated sanctions from the U.S., EU, and U.K. targeted the Russian state bank it was linked to.
The token, which once processed over $100 billion in transactions in a single year, now trades at near zero. The simultaneous sanctions from three major jurisdictions severed the asset's institutional backing, triggering an immediate and near-total collapse rather than a gradual decline.
The case highlights how geopolitical sanctions can eliminate a crypto asset's value instantly when the underlying issuer is directly targeted.
⚖️ Visa Posts $11.6B Revenue as Crypto Infrastructure Expands
Visa reported $11.6 billion in Q3 revenue, a 14% year-over-year increase, alongside an expanded push into crypto and blockchain infrastructure.
The payments giant confirmed it will maintain a multi-coin, multi-chain strategy, with active development across OpenUSD, tokenized deposits, and AI-driven commerce integrations.
As one of the largest traditional payment networks, Visa's deepening commitment to on-chain infrastructure signals continued convergence between legacy finance and blockchain rails.
The crypto market shed nearly $24 billion in market capitalization as Bitcoin fell below the $64,000 level, erasing a portion of recent recovery gains.
The selloff coincided with a broader rout in semiconductor stocks, which weakened risk appetite across markets. Volatile digital assets bore the brunt of the move as investors pulled back from higher-risk positions.
The episode highlights how closely crypto continues to track macro sentiment, with equity-sector weakness capable of triggering rapid capital rotation out of digital assets.