Flash News

TREE NEWS update: US Director of National Intelligence and AI affairs chief Jay Clayton said the artificial intelligence working group’s recommendations on responsible AI development will be published “very soon.” Asked in an interview when the proposals would be issued, Clayton said they would be released gradually but declined to commit to a specific date.

TREE NEWS update: US Director of National Intelligence and AI affairs chief Jay Clayton said recommendations from the AI working group on responsible AI development will be released “soon.” Asked on CNBC when the recommendations would be proposed, Clayton said they would be rolled out gradually but declined to commit to a specific date.

TREE NEWS update: Blockchain.com has begun offering call and put options on BTC, ETH, SOL, HYPE, AVAX, XRP and TRX, with expiries of up to one week. The exchange is rolling out the product as it pursues US derivatives licenses, expanding beyond spot trading into crypto options.

TREE NEWS update: Bitget has revealed it is the buyer behind a newly formed Bangkok company that was named in a Sept. 24 filing as the purchaser of GMO Internet’s licensed Thai crypto exchange. The deal still requires Thai regulatory approval, and no purchase price has been disclosed.

TREE NEWS update: Sberbank has secured authorization to operate a crypto exchange in Russia and plans to launch the service in December, offering Bitcoin, Ether and USDT through its existing apps. Russian rules impose testing and purchase limits on non-qualified investors.

TREE NEWS update: French lawmakers backed an amendment that would make swapping crypto into euro or dollar stablecoins taxable in France from 2027, with gains measured coin by coin. The measure passed by a single vote. The rule would apply to conversions into stablecoins, treating each coin’s gains separately for tax purposes.

TREE NEWS update: The US on October 19 sanctioned five Chinese companies under the Protect American Intellectual Property Act, citing trade secret theft. China’s Commerce Ministry said it firmly opposes the move, calling it a stigmatization of Chinese firms that seriously harms their lawful rights. Beijing urged Washington to correct the action and said it would take necessary measures to defend Chinese companies if not.

TREE NEWS update: France’s National Assembly passed an amendment to the 2027 budget by a 38-37 vote on Oct. 16 that would tax swaps from crypto into stablecoins. The measure still must survive the remainder of the budget process before any such swap is taxed.

TREE NEWS update: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a notice of federal procurement exclusion and removal orders targeting Chinese companies. China’s Ministry of Commerce responded that Beijing balances development and security, citing the Cybersecurity Law and Personal Information Protection Law as safeguards for data privacy. It said Chinese AI firms provide safe, reliable services worldwide and comply with local laws.

TREE NEWS update: MEXC will end services for users in Russia and Belarus, with affected customers receiving individual deadlines for closing positions and withdrawing assets. Users who have not received a notice can continue trading under the exchange’s existing terms. The exchange did not specify a single cut-off date for the withdrawal.

TREE NEWS update: Bitget has agreed to buy a licensed Thai cryptocurrency exchange from Japan’s GMO Internet, the Japanese seller disclosed to the Tokyo Stock Exchange four weeks ago. The purchase price was withheld at the buyer’s request. The deal would give Bitget a regulated foothold in Thailand’s digital-asset market.

TREE NEWS update: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate consultation and information-sharing on investment advisers and investment service providers. The agreement is designed to enhance supervisory cooperation between the two regulators. No further terms or effective date were disclosed.

TREE NEWS update: Switzerland’s financial regulator FINMA has approved a retail exchange-traded fund that holds bitcoin directly, marking the first time Swiss retail investors can access a bitcoin-only ETF. The regulator did not name the fund or its issuer, and warned that the investment remains highly risky.

TREE NEWS update: Switzerland’s Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) on Oct. 20 approved the country’s first spot Bitcoin ETF directly holding Bitcoin for retail investors. The product falls under the “other alternative investment fund” category and offers regulated Bitcoin exposure. FINMA waived standard diversification requirements while imposing stricter custody, disclosure and investor-suitability rules, and warned of Bitcoin price volatility and potential significant losses. The issuer, manager, ticker and listing date have not been disclosed.

TREE NEWS update: FINMA approved Switzerland’s first Bitcoin ETF for retail investors, citing growing appetite for cryptocurrency investments. Multiple fund providers have submitted Bitcoin ETF applications, the regulator said. The approval marks Switzerland’s first retail-accessible Bitcoin ETF.

TREE NEWS update: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Japan’s Financial Services Agency convened the Autumn SEC-FSA Financial Regulatory Dialogue in Tokyo on Oct. 19, 2026. The dialogue builds on longstanding cooperation between the two regulators. No further details of the agenda or outcomes were disclosed.

TREE NEWS update: FINMA has approved Switzerland’s first spot bitcoin ETF open to retail investors, following earlier crypto ETP listings and a fund that was restricted to qualified investors. The approval marks the first time Swiss retail investors can access a spot bitcoin ETF. No launch date, issuer or fee details were disclosed.

TREE NEWS reports: Stand With Crypto says it has logged thousands of complaints against UK banks, including Lloyds and Barclays, over crypto transfer limits and outright bans. The advocacy group’s figures come as the country prepares to install its crypto regulatory regime in 2027. The complaints put bank-level restrictions on customer transfers to crypto platforms under scrutiny.

TREE NEWS update: France has moved its budget vote carrying a proposed stablecoin tax to Nov. 3. The measure would end tax deferral on gains from swaps into single-currency stablecoins starting January 2027. The proposal still requires further parliamentary votes before it can become law.