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CryptoMappa

Issue 4 · 19–25 Oct 2026Issue 5 · 26 Oct–1 Nov 2026Issue 6 · 2–7 Nov 2026Issue 7 · 8–14 Nov 2026

This week in crypto, around the world

One story from each region, picked by what mattered most there, not by what America read. 6 regions this week, plus 25 more stories inside them. Pick a region to see everything from it.

Draft for review: stories outside Asia are checked but not yet approved.

KazakhstanUzbekistanRussiaGreenlandTajikistanKyrgyzstanTurkmenistanCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaCanadaUnited States of AmericaUnited States of AmericaUnited States of AmericaUnited States of AmericaUnited States of AmericaUnited States of AmericaUnited States of AmericaUnited States of AmericaUnited States of AmericaUnited States of AmericaArgentinaArgentinaChileChileHaitiDominican Rep.BahamasBahamasBahamasFalkland Is.MexicoUruguayBrazilBoliviaPeruColombiaPanamaCosta RicaNicaraguaHondurasEl SalvadorGuatemalaBelizeVenezuelaGuyanaSurinameFranceEcuadorPuerto RicoJamaicaCubaParaguayTrinidad and TobagoRussiaRussiaRussiaRussiaRussiaRussiaRussiaRussiaRussiaRussiaRussiaNorwayNorwayNorwayNorwayFranceFranceArmeniaSwedenBelarusUkrainePolandAustriaHungaryMoldovaRomaniaLithuaniaLatviaEstoniaGermanyBulgariaGreeceGreeceAlbaniaCroatiaSwitzerlandLuxembourgBelgiumNetherlandsPortugalSpainIrelandItalyItalyItalyDenmarkDenmarkUnited KingdomUnited KingdomIcelandAzerbaijanAzerbaijanGeorgiaSloveniaFinlandSlovakiaCzechiaN. CyprusCyprusBosnia and Herz.North MacedoniaSerbiaMontenegroKosovoW. SaharaIsraelLebanonPalestineTunisiaAlgeriaJordanUnited Arab EmiratesQatarKuwaitIraqOmanOmanIranSyriaTurkeyTurkeyYemenSaudi ArabiaMoroccoEgyptLibyaTanzaniaDem. Rep. CongoSomaliaKenyaSudanChadSouth AfricaLesothoZimbabweBotswanaNamibiaSenegalMaliMauritaniaBeninNigerNigeriaCameroonTogoGhanaCôte d'IvoireGuineaGuinea-BissauLiberiaSierra LeoneBurkina FasoCentral African Rep.CongoGabonEq. GuineaZambiaMalawiMozambiqueeSwatiniAngolaAngolaBurundiMadagascarGambiaEritreaEthiopiaDjiboutiSomalilandUgandaRwandaS. SudanIndiaBangladeshBhutanNepalPakistanAfghanistanSri LankaNorth KoreaNorth KoreaSouth KoreaMongoliaChinaChinaTaiwanJapanJapanJapanIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesiaTimor-LesteCambodiaThailandLaosMyanmarVietnamPhilippinesPhilippinesPhilippinesPhilippinesPhilippinesPhilippinesPhilippinesMalaysiaMalaysiaBruneiFijiFijiPapua New GuineaPapua New GuineaPapua New GuineaPapua New GuineaVanuatuVanuatuNew CaledoniaSolomon Is.Solomon Is.Solomon Is.Solomon Is.Solomon Is.New ZealandNew ZealandAustraliaAustraliaHong KongSingaporeBahrainNorth America5 storiesUS bank regulator OCC issues the first final rule under the GENIUS stablecoin lawUnited StatesOn 21 October the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued its final rule implementing the GENIUS Act, the 2025 US stablecoin law, becoming the first regulator to finalise its rule, The Block reported. The rule sets reserve, redemption, risk-management, custody and capital standards for stablecoin issuers under the OCC, Decrypt reported, and takes effect on 18 January 2027, the same day as the law, Decrypt and Cointelegraph reported. Anti-money-laundering and sanctions rules are left to a separate rulemaking with the Treasury, Decrypt and Unchained reported.Rules & policy+4 moreLatin America4 storiesArgentina's securities regulator tightens its rules for crypto exchanges and bans mixersArgentinaArgentina's National Securities Commission (CNV) published General Resolution 1172/2026, updating its rules for virtual asset service providers, Livecoins reported. Exchanges serving people in Argentina, local or foreign, must stay registered and show a minimum net worth of up to US$150,000. They must check each client's identity, source of funds and transaction profile, and may not offer mixers, tumblers or other tools that hide where a transfer came from or went. From 1 November, registered providers must send the regulator monthly data.Rules & policy+3 moreEurope5 storiesGermany's Sparkassen start offering bitcoin and four other coins in their banking appGermanyOn 19 October the first participating German savings banks (Sparkassen) began offering crypto trading in their existing banking app, Crypto Insiders reported. Customers open a separate crypto account at DekaBank, the group's central investment house, and can buy and sell bitcoin, ether, solana, XRP and polygon for EUR 0.99 per order. The German savings banks association (DSGV) expects 30 to 40 more Sparkassen to join each month, Crypto Insiders and ForkLog reported.Markets+4 moreMiddle East & North Africa4 storiesBybit gets a Dubai licence for spot tradingUAEBybit's Dubai company, Bybit Fintech FZE, received a licence from Dubai's crypto regulator VARA for exchange services, meaning spot trading. Bybit announced it on 22 October.Licensing+3 moreAfricaQuiet weekSouth AsiaQuiet weekEast Asia8 storiesHSBC launches RedCoin, a Hong Kong dollar stablecoinHong KongHSBC launched RedCoin (RCHKD), a stablecoin worth one Hong Kong dollar each, on its PayMe app on 23 October. PayMe's more than 3.3 million users can switch on a wallet over the coming days, to pay friends or more than 100,000 merchants. At launch about $10.2 million was in circulation, backed by about $10.4 million held in cash. (The source does not say whether these are US or Hong Kong dollars.)Stablecoins & payments+7 moreSoutheast Asia5 storiesMalaysia and Thailand's central banks join Singapore's BLOOM networkSingapore · Malaysia · ThailandBank Negara Malaysia and the Bank of Thailand have joined BLOOM, the Monetary Authority of Singapore's programme for cross-border payments in digital money, as policy-making members. MAS announced it on 23 October. BLOOM looks at using tokenised bank deposits and regulated stablecoins across borders. Airwallex, Mastercard, Maybank, Monee, Nium, Ripple, ShopeePay, Visa and the World Bank Group also take part.Stablecoins & payments+4 moreOceaniaNo sources yet

North America

Local news read from United States.

This week's story Rules & policy

US bank regulator OCC issues the first final rule under the GENIUS stablecoin law

What happened. On 21 October the OCC issued its final rule implementing the GENIUS Act, the 2025 US stablecoin law, becoming the first regulator to finalise its rule, The Block reported. It takes effect on 18 January 2027, Decrypt and Cointelegraph reported.

Why it matters. The rule drops a proposed presumption that an issuer's deals with affiliates or third parties break the law's yield ban, Cointelegraph reported. Banks and crypto firms are divided over yield.

  • Issuers must still redeem within two business days, Unchained reported.
  • Anti-money-laundering and sanctions rules are left to a separate rulemaking with the Treasury, Decrypt and Unchained reported.
  • The American Bankers Association said the rule preserves platforms' ability to offer yield; the Blockchain Association called it "more closely in line with the statutory text", The Block reported.
Read the full storyShow the short version

What happened. On 21 October the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued its final rule implementing the GENIUS Act, the 2025 US stablecoin law, becoming the first regulator to finalise its rule, The Block reported. The rule sets reserve, redemption, risk-management, custody and capital standards for stablecoin issuers under the OCC, Decrypt reported, and takes effect on 18 January 2027, the same day as the law, Decrypt and Cointelegraph reported. Anti-money-laundering and sanctions rules are left to a separate rulemaking with the Treasury, Decrypt and Unchained reported.

Why it matters. The final rule drops a proposed presumption that deals between an issuer and its affiliates or third parties break the law's ban on paying yield; the OCC said it keeps the power to act against evasion, Unchained and Cointelegraph reported. That question, whether platforms such as Coinbase may pass rewards to stablecoin holders, has divided banks and crypto firms. American Bankers Association CEO Rob Nichols said the rule preserves crypto platforms' ability to offer yield despite "Congress's clear intent to protect local lending", while the Blockchain Association said dropping the presumption brings the rule "more closely in line with the statutory text", The Block reported.

  • Issuers must still redeem within two business days; the proposed automatic seven-day extension when requests top 10% of outstanding coins in a day was replaced by an extension the issuer must ask the OCC for, Unchained reported.
  • The OCC said it received hundreds of comments on its February proposal, Decrypt reported, and will announce separately when it starts accepting issuer applications and waiver requests.
  • Comptroller Jonathan Gould called it "a clear, practical framework for payment stablecoin innovation"; Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent compared the GENIUS Act to the National Currency Act of 1863, Decrypt and Unchained reported.
  • An OCC official told reporters third-party arrangements would be judged case by case; TD Cowen called that uncertainty a negative for banks, The Block reported.
Read the originals (7), usually in their own language

Latin America

Local news read from Brazil, Spanish-language Latin America.

This week's story Rules & policy

Argentina's securities regulator tightens its rules for crypto exchanges and bans mixers

What happened. Argentina's National Securities Commission (CNV) updated its rules for virtual asset service providers, Livecoins reported. Exchanges serving Argentina must stay registered and show a minimum net worth of up to US$150,000. They may not offer mixers.

Why it matters. The rules follow the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Livecoins reported. Platforms operating without registration face immediate court requests to block their websites.

  • Exchanges must check each client's identity, source of funds and transaction profile.
  • From 1 November 2026, registered providers file a monthly report by the 15th, Livecoins reported.
  • Providers must keep clients' funds separate from their own and publish proof of reserves.
Read the full storyShow the short version

What happened. Argentina's National Securities Commission (CNV) published General Resolution 1172/2026, updating its rules for virtual asset service providers, Livecoins reported. Exchanges serving people in Argentina, local or foreign, must stay registered and show a minimum net worth of up to US$150,000. They must check each client's identity, source of funds and transaction profile, and may not offer mixers, tumblers or other tools that hide where a transfer came from or went. From 1 November, registered providers must send the regulator monthly data.

Why it matters. The rules follow the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Livecoins reported. Platforms operating without registration face immediate court requests to block their websites and social-media profiles. Self-custody wallet providers, decentralised protocols not controlled by any one person or company, and people trading on their own account or accepting crypto as payment stay outside registration, the outlet reported.

  • The resolution appeared in the Official Bulletin on Thursday 15 October and, for the first time, defines Bitcoin and the stablecoins USDT and USDC in Argentina's capital-markets rules, Livecoins reported.
  • From 1 November 2026, registered providers file a monthly report by the 15th: active clients split between individuals and companies, gross dollar volume in spot and in perpetuals and other derivatives, the ten most-traded assets, and the wallet addresses holding clients' funds, Livecoins reported.
  • Providers must keep clients' funds separate from their own, publish proof of reserves, use offline multi-signature wallets, and keep identification records, accounts and client communications for at least ten years.
  • Tokens with less than ninety days of history may appear only in a separate tab with warnings of the risk of total loss, and smart contracts in use need a yearly security audit, Livecoins reported.
  • A registered firm leaving the Argentine market must give clients thirty days' notice to withdraw their balances; individuals operating for third parties need to register only above 35,000 UVAs a month.
Read the originals (1), usually in their own language

Europe

Local news read from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Russia.

This week's story Markets

Germany's Sparkassen start offering bitcoin and four other coins in their banking app

What happened. On 19 October the first participating German savings banks (Sparkassen) began offering crypto trading in their banking app, Crypto Insiders reported. Customers can buy and sell bitcoin, ether, solana, XRP and polygon for EUR 0.99 per order.

Why it matters. Many German account holders get a route to bitcoin without signing up to a separate platform, Crypto Insiders said. BTC-ECHO called it a notable turnaround for a group once very critical of bitcoin.

  • The DSGV expects 30 to 40 more Sparkassen to join each month, Crypto Insiders and ForkLog reported.
  • Each Sparkasse decides for itself whether and when to add the service, Crypto Insiders reported.
  • Crypto held this way is not covered by the statutory deposit guarantee, Crypto Insiders reported.
Read the full storyShow the short version

What happened. On 19 October the first participating German savings banks (Sparkassen) began offering crypto trading in their existing banking app, Crypto Insiders reported. Customers open a separate crypto account at DekaBank, the group's central investment house, and can buy and sell bitcoin, ether, solana, XRP and polygon for EUR 0.99 per order. The German savings banks association (DSGV) expects 30 to 40 more Sparkassen to join each month, Crypto Insiders and ForkLog reported.

Why it matters. The Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, a network of hundreds of local Sparkassen and other financial firms, describes itself as Europe's largest financial services provider, so many German account holders get a route to bitcoin without signing up to a separate platform, Crypto Insiders reported. BTC-ECHO called the launch a notable turnaround for a group that was very critical of bitcoin a few years ago. Neobanks such as N26, Trade Republic and Revolut already offer crypto in Germany, and the Volksbanken recently joined them, ForkLog reported, citing media reports.

  • There is no single national start date: each Sparkasse decides for itself whether and when to add the service, Crypto Insiders reported. More than 230 Sparkassen have signalled interest, BTC-ECHO reported.
  • The offer runs as "Krypto powered by Deka" and is built with Börse Stuttgart, BTC-ECHO reported; DekaBank keeps the coins centrally and holds the keys on customers' behalf, Crypto Insiders reported.
  • There is no advice and no broad marketing; the association calls crypto highly speculative and will warn customers directly about volatility and the risk of total loss, ForkLog reported.
  • Crypto held this way is not covered by the statutory deposit guarantee that protects money in a bank account, Crypto Insiders reported.
  • DSGV board member Joachim Schmalzl said the aim is for a large share of the interested savings banks to be connected by the first half of 2027, ForkLog reported.
Read the originals (3), usually in their own language

Middle East & North Africa

Local news read from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Turkey, Egypt.

This week's story Licensing

Bybit gets a Dubai licence for spot trading

What happened. Bybit's Dubai company, Bybit Fintech FZE, received a licence from Dubai's crypto regulator VARA for exchange services, meaning spot trading. Bybit announced it on 22 October.

Why it matters. Dubai has been Bybit's international headquarters since 2022, so this licenses its home market. It does not cover derivatives; Bybit says it will seek that, subject to approval.

  • Bybit says it has more than 80 million users worldwide.
  • This year it has gained five other licences or approvals: in the EU, the Cayman Islands, Indonesia, South Africa and El Salvador.
Read the full storyShow the short version

What happened. Bybit's Dubai company, Bybit Fintech FZE, received a licence from Dubai's crypto regulator VARA for exchange services, meaning spot trading. Bybit announced it on 22 October.

Why it matters. Dubai has been Bybit's international headquarters since 2022, so this licenses its home market. It does not cover derivatives; Bybit says it will seek that, subject to approval.

  • Bybit says it has more than 80 million users worldwide.
  • This year it has gained five other licences or approvals: in the EU, the Cayman Islands, Indonesia, South Africa and El Salvador.
  • Its chief executive, Ben Zhou, said Bybit will follow VARA's rules and keep expanding in Dubai.
Read the originals (3), usually in their own language

Africa

Local news read from Nigeria, Kenya.

Quiet week: Nothing from this region made our cut this week.

South Asia

Local news read from India.

Quiet week: Nothing from this region made our cut this week.

East Asia

Local news read from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea.

This week's story Stablecoins & payments

HSBC launches RedCoin, a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin

What happened. HSBC launched RedCoin (RCHKD), a stablecoin worth one Hong Kong dollar each, on its PayMe app on 23 October. PayMe's more than 3.3 million users can switch on a wallet over the coming days.

Why it matters. It is licensed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and runs on HSBC's own private ledger, not a public blockchain. It is not a bank deposit, so Hong Kong's deposit protection does not cover it.

  • At launch about $10.2 million was in circulation, backed by about $10.4 million held in cash; the source does not say whether these are US or Hong Kong dollars.
  • HSBC plans to add it to its Hong Kong wealth apps later this year.
Read the full storyShow the short version

What happened. HSBC launched RedCoin (RCHKD), a stablecoin worth one Hong Kong dollar each, on its PayMe app on 23 October. PayMe's more than 3.3 million users can switch on a wallet over the coming days, to pay friends or more than 100,000 merchants. At launch about $10.2 million was in circulation, backed by about $10.4 million held in cash. (The source does not say whether these are US or Hong Kong dollars.)

Why it matters. It is licensed by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and runs on HSBC's own private ledger, not a public blockchain. It is not a bank deposit, so Hong Kong's deposit protection does not cover it. HSBC plans to add it to its Hong Kong wealth apps later this year, including for buying tokenised shares of its Hong Kong dollar money-market funds.

  • RedCoin is pegged one-to-one to the Hong Kong dollar.
  • John O'Neill, who heads HSBC's digital assets and currency business, said uses for businesses and institutions will be added later.
Read the originals (6), usually in their own language
How it got here (2 developments)
  1. HSBC launches RedCoin, a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin
  2. HSBC names its planned Hong Kong dollar stablecoin HSBC RedCoin

Southeast Asia

Local news read from Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines.

This week's story Stablecoins & payments

Malaysia and Thailand's central banks join Singapore's BLOOM network

What happened. Bank Negara Malaysia and the Bank of Thailand have joined BLOOM, the Monetary Authority of Singapore's programme for cross-border payments in digital money, as policy-making members. MAS announced it on 23 October.

Why it matters. MAS says the aim is shared frameworks, so that banks and payment firms in different countries spend less and launch faster when they connect.

  • BLOOM looks at using tokenised bank deposits and regulated stablecoins across borders.
  • Mastercard, Maybank, Ripple, Visa and the World Bank Group are among those taking part.
Read the full storyShow the short version

What happened. Bank Negara Malaysia and the Bank of Thailand have joined BLOOM, the Monetary Authority of Singapore's programme for cross-border payments in digital money, as policy-making members. MAS announced it on 23 October. BLOOM looks at using tokenised bank deposits and regulated stablecoins across borders. Airwallex, Mastercard, Maybank, Monee, Nium, Ripple, ShopeePay, Visa and the World Bank Group also take part.

Why it matters. MAS says the aim is shared frameworks, so that banks and payment firms in different countries spend less and launch faster when they connect.

  • BLOOM's first priorities are settling digital money across borders, making different digital money systems work together, and built-in checks such as identity checks, sanctions screening and transaction controls.
  • Each central bank will work with firms in its own country on how different forms of digital money are accepted, converted and settled.
  • The firms taking part will try digital money for payments, cash management and trade finance.
Read the originals (4), usually in their own language
How it got here (2 developments)
  1. Malaysia and Thailand's central banks join Singapore's BLOOM network
  2. MAS launches BLOOM

Oceania

No local sources yet.

No local sources here yet, so no story. We looked for local crypto outlets in Australia and New Zealand and found none we can use yet.