Visa Launches Stablecoin Platform for 200 Million Merchants as 90% of EU Crypto Firms Exit After MiCA

Visa launched a stablecoin platform giving banks and fintechs tools to issue the Open USD stablecoin across a network of more than 200 million merchants. Meanwhile, roughly 90% of crypto firms that operated in the EU have exited or fallen out of compliance now that MiCA’s transition period is over. US regulators missed the July 18 deadline to finalize stablecoin rules under the GENIUS Act, leaving issuers without clarity. A dormant Bitcoin wallet moved $383 million after sitting untouched for over eight years. Crypto hacks have already drained $1.3 billion from the industry in 2026. Here is a clear look at the most important crypto and tech stories making headlines.

US Regulators Missed the Deadline to Finalize Federal Stablecoin Rules

US regulators failed to finalize stablecoin regulations under the GENIUS Act before the July 18 deadline, leaving issuers without clear compliance timelines. The missed deadline extends a period of regulatory uncertainty that has been building for months.

The GENIUS Act was supposed to draw a clear line. Missing the deadline does not mean nothing changes, it means every stablecoin issuer now has to make compliance decisions without knowing what the final rules look like. That is a real operational problem for companies that need to plan infrastructure, legal structure, and capital reserves around regulations that keep moving.

Visa Launched a Stablecoin Platform for More Than 200 Million Merchants

Visa launched a new platform that allows banks and fintechs to issue and manage the Open USD stablecoin, making it available across Visa’s global merchant network of more than 200 million businesses.

Visa’s merchant network is one of the largest financial distribution systems on earth. When stablecoins plug into that network, they stop being a crypto product and start being a payment method at the checkout counter. More than 200 million merchants means this reaches scale that no crypto-native stablecoin project has ever come close to on its own.

90% of EU Crypto Firms Exited or Lost Compliance After MiCA Ended

Roughly 90% of crypto firms that previously operated in the European Union have exited the market, restructured, or fallen out of compliance since MiCA’s transition period officially ended.

A 90% exit rate is not a regulatory success story, it is a warning sign. MiCA was designed to create a clear legal framework for crypto in Europe. Instead the compliance burden has pushed out the vast majority of operators. The firms that remain are the large ones with resources to absorb the cost. Smaller companies and new entrants have mostly left.

Revolut Received Approval to Offer Crypto Services in the UAE

Revolut received in-principle approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority to offer crypto exchange and brokerage services in the UAE.

Dubai has positioned itself as the most accessible major jurisdiction for crypto businesses after MiCA tightened the EU and US rules remained uncertain. Revolut getting VARA approval gives one of Europe’s largest fintech companies a regulated crypto hub in a market that is actively trying to attract the firms Europe is pushing out.

Japan Advanced a Bill to Legalize Spot Bitcoin ETFs and Cap Crypto Tax at 20%

A Japanese parliamentary committee advanced legislation that would legalize spot Bitcoin ETFs and replace the current progressive crypto tax structure with a flat 20% rate.

Japan currently taxes crypto gains at rates up to 55% depending on income level. A flat 20% cap would make Japan one of the more competitive crypto tax environments among developed economies. Combined with spot Bitcoin ETF approval, this bill would open the Japanese market to a completely different category of investor than currently participates.

A Bitcoin Wallet Dormant for Over 8 Years Moved $383 Million

A Bitcoin wallet that had not moved for more than eight years transferred $383 million in BTC to a new address. The coins did not go to an exchange, suggesting the owner is not selling.

$383 million moved after eight years of silence and none of it went to an exchange. That matters because exchange deposits typically signal intent to sell. Moving to a new wallet without touching an exchange suggests the owner is reorganizing holdings rather than liquidating. Still, a wallet that size moving after that long gets attention because no one knows the reason, and that uncertainty moves markets.

Crypto Hacks Have Drained $1.3 Billion from the Industry in 2026 So Far

A new report found that crypto hacks have stolen $1.3 billion from the industry in the first half of 2026, driven primarily by two large infrastructure breaches rather than a high volume of smaller attacks.

$1.3 billion stolen in roughly six months means the industry is losing more than $200 million per month on average to hacks. What is notable is that the attacks are becoming fewer but larger. That shift toward targeted infrastructure breaches rather than scattered exploits suggests attackers are becoming more sophisticated and patient, which is harder to defend against than opportunistic attacks.

Dutch Crypto Exchange Knaken Collapsed with 7 Million Euros Missing from Customer Accounts

Dutch crypto exchange Knaken entered court-controlled bankruptcy after prosecutors discovered roughly 7 million euros missing from customer balances.

7 million euros missing from customer accounts at a regulated European exchange is exactly the kind of failure MiCA was supposed to prevent. The fact that it happened anyway, in the Netherlands of all places, raises questions about how thoroughly regulators are actually auditing the exchanges they license. Customer funds are gone, and the exchange is now in court-controlled proceedings with no guarantee of recovery.

US Spot Bitcoin ETFs Swung from $424 Million in Outflows to $132 Million in Inflows Within Days

US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a $424.7 million outflow as Middle East tensions escalated, then reversed to a $132.3 million inflow within days as sentiment shifted.

A $557 million swing in ETF flows within a few days shows how reactive institutional Bitcoin demand is to geopolitical news. The outflow came as US strikes on Iran escalated. The inflow followed cooler inflation data that lifted broader market sentiment. Bitcoin ETF holders are not buy-and-hold investors indifferent to macro conditions. They respond to the same signals as equity traders.

Ripple CEO Said the Company Seriously Considered Shutting Down After the 2020 SEC Lawsuit

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse revealed that the company had seriously considered shutting down entirely after the SEC filed its lawsuit against Ripple in December 2020.

The SEC’s 2020 lawsuit against Ripple was one of the most consequential regulatory actions in crypto history. XRP was delisted from major US exchanges, the price collapsed, and the company’s future was genuinely uncertain. The fact that Garlinghouse considered closing down entirely shows how close the industry came to losing one of its largest and most established players to regulatory pressure.

Brian Armstrong’s Profile Picture Change Sent a Memecoin to $37 Million Before It Crashed 90%

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong briefly changed his profile picture, which caused a memecoin called “Coinbase Man” to surge from under $1 million to a $37 million market cap before it crashed 90% when he switched his picture back.

A CEO changing a profile picture moved $36 million in market cap within hours. That is not investing, it is pure speculation on social media activity. The people who got in early made significant returns. Everyone who bought near the top lost 90% of their money when the trigger event reversed. Memecoins tied to individual social media activity are one of the most unpredictable instruments in crypto.

About Paybis

Paybis is a global cryptocurrency exchange platform that provides fast, secure, and user-friendly digital asset transactions. Founded in 2014, the company specializes in fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-fiat conversions, enabling users to buy, sell, and swap Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies using various payment methods, including credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets.

With a strong focus on security and compliance, Paybis is registered with regulatory authorities and implements industry-leading AML/KYC procedures. The platform is known for its intuitive interface, 24/7 customer support, and competitive exchange rates, making it a preferred choice for both beginners and experienced traders.

Wrapping Up

This week showed two very different versions of where crypto is heading at the same time. On one side, Visa is plugging stablecoins into 200 million merchants, Japan is one vote away from Bitcoin ETFs and a 20% tax cap, and Revolut just got licensed in Dubai. On the other side, 90% of EU crypto firms are gone after MiCA, $1.3 billion has been hacked out of the industry already this year, a Dutch exchange collapsed with 7 million euros missing, and three separate attacks landed in a single 24-hour window. The infrastructure for mainstream adoption is being built faster than the security layer can keep up. That gap is where most of the risk lives right now.

Disclaimer: Do not invest unless you are prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.

Written by

Rem Vasilenko

Rem Vasilenko is a Growth Operations Manager at Paybis. With a keen interest in FinTech, Rem brings a unique perspective to the evolving digital finance landscape. He combines his passion for FinTech with his marketing and business skills to drive innovative strategies. Find him on LinkedIn.