
KuCoin suspends services in Russia and Belarus over sanctions compliance	͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏	View in browser

October 29, 2026

Your Daily Digest of the 🔥Hottest News in Crypto.

Today’s top stories

🗓️ ECB’s Lagarde to step down in February 2027
🏦 Russia central bank approves NAUFOR as crypto self-regulatory body
🏦 Kalshi closes $1B Series G at $40B valuation
📰 Keep reading for all of today’s biggest headlines

ECB President Christine Lagarde to step down in February 2027

ECB President Christine Lagarde announced she will step down on February 7, 2027, after more than seven years leading the central bank. Her successor will be appointed by the European Council following the EU treaty nomination process, which requires consultation with the European Parliament and the ECB. During her tenure, Lagarde oversaw preliminary work on a digital euro and the launch of the Pontes tokenized-settlement system, while remaining a vocal critic of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies and guiding the ECB through crises including the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the resulting energy shock.

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KuCoin suspends services in Russia and Belarus

KuCoin has immediately suspended all products and services for users in Russia and Belarus, citing legal and regulatory compliance and offering an “orderly exit process” so affected users can withdraw assets. The move comes as many crypto companies comply with U.S.- and Europe-led international sanctions against the two countries over the war in Ukraine. Separately, Russia’s central bank approved NAUFOR as a self-regulatory body for crypto exchanges and custodians, with registered entities required to join such an organization within 90 days.

Kalshi raises $1B at $40B valuation as non-sports revenue run rate tops $1B

Kalshi has closed a $1 billion Series G funding round at a $40 billion valuation, co-led by Wellington Management and Sequoia Capital, as its non-sports markets now generate more than $1 billion in annualized revenue. The prediction market platform is expanding partnerships with the NBA and S&P Dow Jones Indices even as it faces legal challenges over whether its sports contracts fall under state gambling laws or federal derivatives regulation. Those disputes include a Utah lawsuit and criminal charges against Kalshi and its co-founders, plus a CFTC lawsuit seeking to block state enforcement.

Private, fast USDT is coming to Bitcoin. Can it compete with Ethereum and Tron?

Utexo is preparing to bring USDT back to Bitcoin using the RGB protocol, which keeps transaction data off-chain, with a public launch set for Nov. 28 and Lightning Network support planned for Q1 2027. The Dubai-based startup says the setup will enable private, fast payments through Bitcoin settlement and Lightning, and it has opened early access to its USDT Mint product on Bitcoin’s Signet test network.

The effort faces tough competition from Ethereum and Tron, where roughly $300 billion in stablecoin supply already circulates, and Bitcoin still lacks smart contracts and DeFi. Utexo’s minting process also locks USDT0 on Arbitrum before issuing Bitcoin-based USDT, introducing bridge-related trust risk. Utexo is targeting business payments, confidential transfers and miners, aiming for $1 billion in USDT on Bitcoin in its first year, but it must prove demand after USDT on Bitcoin was previously discontinued in 2023.