The German banking giant has applied for a digital asset custody licence from BaFin, marking a significant step in its expansion into cryptocurrency services. The move positions Deutsche Bank to offer safekeeping solutions for clients seeking exposure to digital assets.
Plans form part of a broader strategy to build a dedicated digital assets division, according to David Lynne, a commercial banking executive. DWS Group’s initiatives highlight rising institutional interest in crypto partnerships in Germany.
Previous experimentation includes a tokenised investment platform developed in Singapore with Memento Blockchain, enabling access to digital asset funds through fiat on-ramps.
Activity mirrors wider domestic momentum, as Deutsche WertpapierService Bank has already launched crypto infrastructure linking traditional and digital accounts.
Regulatory clarity and growing client demand appear to be key drivers, with Deutsche Bank signalling a cautious yet deliberate approach to integrating cryptocurrencies into its mainstream banking services.
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OpenClaw has introduced a firm community rule prohibiting any reference to Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies on its Discord server, according to its creator, Peter Steinberger.
Enforcement drew attention after a user was removed for mentioning Bitcoin block height as a timing method in a benchmark, with the developer later offering to restore access.
The policy follows a rebrand scare when scammers hijacked old accounts to promote a fake Solana token. Market value spiked then plunged after Steinberger denied involvement, warning that no official token would be issued.
Rapid growth of the open-source project, which has attracted a large developer base within weeks of launch, contrasts with wider industry momentum linking AI agents and digital assets.
Leaders such as Jeremy Allaire of Circle argue stablecoins could become default payment rails for autonomous software, while Coinbase is already rolling out infrastructure enabling agents to transact on-chain.
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Swiss firm Procivis has secured a contract to deliver Lithuania’s end-to-end Digital Identity Wallet sandbox, supporting the country’s preparations under eIDAS 2.0. The project will establish a national testbed for digital ID use cases and interoperability across the European Union.
Selected by Lithuania’s digitalisation agency, Procivis will build a platform for public authorities and relying parties to test secure digital wallet use cases. The sandbox will validate readiness ahead of the EU’s 2027 digital identity wallet deadline.
The updated eIDAS 2.0 technical framework sets out how wallets will store and share trusted digital credentials and electronic identification. Governments and private organisations will be able to integrate services into the wallets, streamlining authentication, onboarding, and cross-border access.
Across Lithuania and the EU, testbeds and large-scale pilots have been central to turning regulatory requirements into interoperable infrastructure. Lithuania’s sandbox will also support activities under the EU’s LSP Aptitude consortium, which is testing cross-sector digital identity solutions.
Procivis said the collaboration aims to accelerate practical validation while ensuring compliance with European standards on security, interoperability, and data protection. The company stated that supporting a timely, budget-aligned implementation of eIDAS 2.0 remains central to its mission.
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South Africa’s fintech sector has evolved from a niche disruptor into a pillar of the digital economy, fuelled by rapid digital adoption and entrepreneurial growth. Regulators are now tasked with supporting innovation in decentralised finance and AI while safeguarding market stability and consumer protection.
Coordinated oversight has been central to that effort. The Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group, bringing together the National Treasury, the South African Reserve Bank and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority, promotes a harmonised and principle-based regulatory approach.
A significant turning point came when crypto assets were classified as financial products under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act. Licensing requirements for Crypto Asset Service Providers and alignment with Financial Action Task Force standards strengthened consumer safeguards and anti-money laundering controls.
Fintech also plays a growing role in financial inclusion, particularly through mobile money, digital lending and digital payments. Wider access to affordable financial tools supports inclusive economic growth across underserved communities.
AI presents fresh regulatory questions around bias, transparency and operational resilience. Ensuring compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act while encouraging responsible experimentation remains central to South Africa’s evolving fintech strategy.
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The European Central Bank (ECB) has joined forces with Spain’s ONCE Foundation to ensure the digital euro app is accessible to all citizens, including people with disabilities, older adults, and those with limited digital skills.
The partnership focuses on technical advice, design collaboration, and testing prototypes for accessibility.
ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said accessibility is a core principle of the digital euro, designed to empower all citizens in the digital age. ONCE Foundation Director Jesús Hernández Galán said experts with lived disability experience are helping make the digital euro app practical and user-friendly.
The collaboration supports an ‘accessibility by design’ approach, going beyond minimum legal requirements under the European Accessibility Act.
Features under consideration include voice-controlled transactions, large-font displays, guided onboarding, and multiple support options to ensure clarity, simplicity, and control for users less confident with digital tools.
Public input will also shape the app’s development, with focus groups and vulnerable consumer feedback guiding design choices. The partnership follows European accessibility and digital regulations, promoting a user-friendly and inclusive digital euro for all.
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Swiss lender PostFinance has broadened its digital-asset offering to 22 cryptocurrencies, adding Algorand, Arbitrum, NEARProtocol, Stellar, USDC, and Sui to its platform. The expansion strengthens its position as one of the most comprehensive retail crypto offerings among Swiss banks.
Direct cryptocurrency access was introduced in early 2024, making the institution the first systemically important bank in Switzerland to provide such services. Further additions followed mid-year, reflecting growing client demand for regulated exposure to digital assets.
More than 36,000 custody accounts have been opened since launch, generating over 565,000 trades. According to Alexander Thoma, the bank continues to broaden its selection as customers increasingly prefer to manage crypto through their primary banking provider.
Trading is available via e-finance and the PostFinance app, with a minimum entry level of $50 for both savings plans and individual orders, a move aimed at lowering barriers and widening retail participation.
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A fresh analysis from Arthur Hayes argues that Bitcoin is signalling mounting stress in the global fiat system as it diverges from the Nasdaq 100. Hayes says Bitcoin is the most sensitive market gauge of credit supply, making its decoupling a possible early warning of systemic stress.
He links the risk to accelerating AI-driven layoffs among knowledge workers. Data cited from CBS News shows firms attributed roughly 55,000 job cuts in 2025 to AI adoption, a sharp rise from two years earlier.
A significant drop in employment, he argues, could translate into large mortgage and consumer-credit losses for US banks.
Estimates suggest a 20% drop in US knowledge workers could trigger about $557 billion in credit losses, hitting bank capital and regional lenders first. Hayes expects instability to force the Federal Reserve to add liquidity, a move he says could lift Bitcoin to new highs.
Beyond the flagship cryptocurrency, Hayes said his firm Maelstrom may allocate stablecoin reserves to Zcash and Hyperliquid once monetary policy shifts, although timing and price targets remain unspecified.
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Fraudsters are using a fake AI chatbot posing as Google’s Gemini to promote a bogus ‘Google Coin’ cryptocurrency presale. The automated assistant delivers convincing investment projections and directs victims to send irreversible crypto payments.
The scam site copies Google branding and claims the token will surge in value after launch, despite Google having no cryptocurrency project. Visitors are shown fabricated presale stages, countdowns and token sales figures to create urgency.
When questioned about regulatory or company details, the chatbot avoids providing verifiable information and instead repeats scripted claims about security and transparency. Tougher queries are redirected to a supposed ‘manager’, suggesting human operators step in to close larger payments.
Researchers warn that AI tools are making crypto scams more scalable and more challenging to detect. Consumers are urged to verify claims on official websites and to avoid sending digital assets in exchange for promised returns.
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Dutch lawmakers have approved a new tax law that will impose a 36% levy on actual investment returns, including both realised and unrealised gains from cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The law, called the Actual Return in Box 3 Act, takes effect on 1 January 2028 and applies annually, meaning investors will owe tax even if assets are not sold.
Real estate and startup shares are exempt from mark-to-market taxation, raising concern among crypto investors. Critics say taxing paper gains may force investors to sell assets or consider moving to more favourable jurisdictions.
The government defended the measure as essential to prevent significant revenue losses.
The legislation includes some relief measures, such as a tax-free annual return for small savers and unlimited loss carry-forward above certain thresholds, allowing investors to offset downturns against future gains.
Despite these provisions, many crypto advocates argue that taxing unrealised gains remains problematic.
Crypto adoption in the Netherlands is growing rapidly. Indirect holdings by Dutch companies, institutions, and households reached $1.42 billion by October 2025, up from $96 million in 2020.
Officials say the long-term goal is to move towards a realised gains model, but annual taxation of paper gains is currently seen as necessary to safeguard public finances.
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Cryptocurrency flows linked to suspected human trafficking services surged sharply in 2025, with transaction volumes rising 85% year-on-year, according to new blockchain analysis.
Investigators say the financial activity reflects the rapid expansion of digitally enabled exploitation networks operating across borders.
Growth is linked to Southeast Asia-based illicit networks, including scam compounds, gambling platforms, and laundering groups operating via encrypted messaging channels.
Analysts identified multiple trafficking service categories, each with distinct transaction structures and payment preferences.
Stablecoins became the dominant payment method, especially for escort networks, thanks to their price stability and ease of conversion. Larger transfers and structured pricing models indicate increasingly professionalised operations supported by organised financial infrastructure.
Despite the scale of the activity, blockchain transparency continues to provide enforcement advantages. Transaction tracing has aided investigations, shutdowns, and arrests, strengthening digital forensics in combating trafficking-linked financial crime.
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