TL;DR

• UK FCA sets October 2027 deadline for crypto licensing.
• Existing AML registrations must be replaced with new approvals.
• Stablecoin rules eased after industry feedback.
• UK pushes toward a fully regulated crypto market.

Crypto companies operating in the United Kingdom now have a clear timeline to secure regulatory approval after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which started the year with a crackdown on crypto companies, finalized its long-awaited crypto framework, setting October 25, 2027, as the date the new regime officially takes effect.

The announcement marks one of the country’s biggest regulatory overhauls for digital assets, bringing exchanges, custodians, stablecoin issuers, staking providers, and other crypto businesses under a unified licensing system. Firms currently registered under the UK’s anti-money laundering (AML) rules will not automatically qualify under the new framework and must submit entirely new applications if they wish to continue operating.

Firms Face Strict Authorization Timeline Under UK FCA

According to the FCA, the application window will open on September 30, 2026, and remain available until February 28, 2027. During that period, companies intending to provide regulated crypto services in the UK must either apply for a fresh license or amend their existing financial services permissions.

The regulator warned businesses not to delay their applications, noting that incomplete submissions or late filings could slow the approval process and potentially interrupt operations before the new rules become effective.

One notable revision concerns stablecoin issuers. The regulator reduced its proposed capital requirement from 2% of issued stablecoin value to 1%, acknowledging feedback that the original proposal was unnecessarily burdensome for businesses entering the market.

Despite the softer capital requirement, issuers will still be required to maintain adequate reserves, ensure timely redemption of tokens, and comply with strict operational standards.

The FCA also confirmed that sterling-backed stablecoins will fall under its direct supervision, while larger stablecoins considered systemically important may instead come under the oversight of the Bank of England.

Stronger Risk Controls for Crypto Businesses

Beyond licensing, the new framework introduces significantly tougher operational requirements for crypto companies.

Businesses will be expected to demonstrate that they can withstand severe market disruptions by maintaining sufficient capital against higher-risk assets and conducting annual stress tests that assess their financial resilience during periods of economic uncertainty.

Unlike major banks, which receive standardized stress-testing scenarios from the Bank of England, crypto firms will be allowed to design their own testing models based on their internal risk assessments before submitting the results to the FCA for review.

According to FCA Executive Director for Payments and Digital Finance David Geale, the framework applies the same regulatory principles already used across traditional financial services, ensuring firms manage comparable risks under comparable standards.

The FCA has also indicated that decentralized finance will remain a regulatory priority as the sector evolves.

As regulation gets tight around the world, future guidance is expected to distinguish between protocols that operate without any identifiable controlling entity and platforms that maintain centralized governance or management structures. Services with identifiable operators or controlled decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) are more likely to fall within the regulator’s supervisory scope.

Under the “yen carry trade” framework, a weak yen (USD/JPY rising) is supposed to be accompanied by rising BTC, just as it tends to support stocks. Extending that logic, a strengthening yen should trigger risk aversion in both stocks and cryptocurrencies.

That’s precisely what happened in late July/early August 2024, when the Bank of Japan hiked interest rates, sending the yen sharply higher. Risk assets had a meltdown, with BTC falling from roughly $65,000 to $50,000 in the following weeks.

Carry-unwind fears have resurfaced lately as the yen continues to slide, hitting four-decade lows this week. That’s raised hopes of more aggressive action by the BOJ to stem the yen’s slide.

However, if the latest correlation is anything to go by, potential BOJ action and a resulting rise in the yen could actually put a floor under BTC, working the opposite way from what carry-trade logic would predict.

A mirage?

Correlation doesn’t necessarily mean causation.

Neither BTC nor the yen may be driving the other directly. Instead, broad US dollar strength or weakness may be moving both assets independently, creating the appearance of a tight BTC-yen relationship.

That reading makes sense in context: markets have recently priced in at least one 25-basis-point interest rate hike from the Fed this year. That hawkish repricing, a sharp reversal from earlier hopes of rate cuts, has lifted the dollar broadly. The euro, the Australian dollar, the New Zealand dollar, gold and silver have all declined against the greenback over the same stretch.

The chances of the crypto market structure bill, or CLARITY Act, passing before the November midterm election have remained far from assured as major legislative hurdles continue, according to investment bank TD Cowen.

According to TD Cowen’s Washington Research Group, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is expected to begin the procedural process for the CLARITY Act during the week of July 13, potentially setting up a Senate floor vote either that week or during the week of July 20.

The investment bank’s managing director, Jaret Seiberg, said the legislation still faces several obstacles before it can clear the Senate. 

He identified July 24 as the key deadline before the House leaves for its August recess and questioned whether the bill could realistically advance later in the year if lawmakers fail to act before then.

“We continue to question if the bill can pass in the fall before the election,” Seiberg wrote.

The assessment follows similar concerns raised last week by Galaxy Research, which reduced its estimate of the CLARITY Act becoming law in 2026 to 50% from 60%, citing Senate scheduling constraints and limited legislative time.

Earlier this month, JPMorgan analysts also said they see less than a 50% chance of the bill passing this year because of the approaching midterm election, unresolved policy disputes and the continuing debate over stablecoin yield.

Previous reporting by journalist Eleanor Terrett also said congressional staff, White House officials and crypto industry representatives have continued negotiating the legislation while the Senate remains in recess, with ethics rules, anti-money-laundering provisions and digital asset market oversight among the unresolved issues.

Trump stance and ethics debate remain key obstacles

One area of uncertainty, according to TD Cowen, is whether President Donald Trump would ultimately sign the legislation.

Seiberg said Democrats are expected to force Republicans to vote on politically difficult amendments, and Republican lawmakers are unlikely to take those votes unless they believe Trump will approve the final bill.

According to the note, that confidence has weakened after Trump declined to sign a bipartisan housing bill negotiated by his own administration and later said he would not approve legislation until Congress passes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. Although Seiberg said Trump could still make an exception for the CLARITY Act, he warned the uncertainty could delay the bill.

Ethics provisions have also become another point of disagreement. According to TD Cowen, Democrats want to ban government officials and their families from owning crypto businesses, a proposal that would also apply to the president. Seiberg said Trump has not indicated a willingness to compromise, leaving Republicans in a position where they may have to reject a Democratic amendment.

“It is not clear to us the GOP has the votes,” Seiberg wrote, adding that Republican Senators Thom Tillis, Mitch McConnell, Bill Cassidy, John Cornyn, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski could play an important role because several are moderates or are retiring.

Separately, TD Cowen said the White House has continued meeting with stakeholders over concerns from law enforcement agencies about whether software developers should be held responsible if tools they create are later used for money laundering or other illicit finance. Seiberg said resolving those concerns would improve the bill’s prospects.

The discussion follows a letter sent last week by several law enforcement groups to the White House arguing that Section 604 of the CLARITY Act, known as the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, could weaken oversight by protecting non-custodial software developers and make investigations into illicit crypto activity more difficult.

However, Seiberg said he does not expect changes to the bill’s stablecoin yield provisions despite continued opposition from banks. 

Key Takeaways

• Solana is currently testing a critical demand zone between $65 and $71 after retreating to $71.37.
• Over 60 million SOL tokens were transacted within the $65–$71 range, establishing it as a significant support area.
• Failure to maintain $70 could trigger declines toward $64, followed by $53.10, based on URPD analysis.
• Technical indicators show RSI at 51.60 with a bullish MACD crossover, hinting at potential momentum shifts.
• World Xyz, a Solana-based project, officially launched, injecting renewed enthusiasm into the community.

Solana’s price has retreated to $71.37 in the last 24 hours. This decline mirrors Bitcoin’s broader market correction that affected most cryptocurrencies.

Blockchain data reveals that over 60 million SOL tokens were traded between the $65 and $71 price levels. This concentration of activity establishes this range as a formidable nearby support area.

When significant supply clusters form within a specific price band, they typically function as a buffer during market downturns. Numerous investors established their positions within this zone and may actively defend these levels.

Should SOL maintain support above $70, the asset could enter a consolidation phase. Subsequently, it might challenge the resistance barrier near $73.

A breach below $70 would alter the technical outlook significantly. Market participants would then monitor for potential movement toward the $64 level, according to recent technical assessments.

Critical Support Zones Under Watch

Should the $64 level give way, additional support areas exist at $53.10, $23.60, and $8.85. The $53.10 zone carries particular significance for near-term price action, with approximately 7 million SOL having changed hands at that level.

The present downturn isn’t driven by Solana-specific factors. Bitcoin declined 1.43% during the same timeframe, while overall cryptocurrency market capitalization contracted 1.18%.

This correlation demonstrates that Solana continues exhibiting high-beta characteristics. When Bitcoin experiences selling pressure, alternative cryptocurrencies typically amplify those movements.

The Fear and Greed Index currently registers 16, reflecting prevailing market caution. SOL is positioned beneath its 30-day EMA around $72.48.

The daily RSI indicator hovers near 34.83, indicating subdued momentum. While MACD remains in negative territory, the histogram displays marginal improvement.

Alternative technical analysis presents a more optimistic scenario. RSI has advanced to 51.60, with the signal line at 45.95, while the MACD line exhibits a bullish crossover with a histogram reading of 0.68730.

These technical signals indicate potential easing of downward pressure. Validation would require increased trading activity and decisive closes above resistance thresholds.

Project Developments and Market Commentary

The enigmatic Solana initiative World Xyz has officially unveiled itself following extended speculation. The project previously acquired the world.xyz domain for $80,000.

Vibhu from the Solana Foundation characterized World as an agentic, intent-focused settlement infrastructure constructed on the x402 protocol. The platform functions as a decentralized framework for tokenizing tangible assets.

Following this revelation, SOL’s price appreciated 2.86% over 24 hours. Market analyst 0xNeena indicated that losing the $65–$75 support corridor would leave SOL vulnerable to further declines toward the $50–$55 range.

On X, analyst Sjuul from AltCryptoGems observed that SOL “has been showing some strength on lower time frames” while noting that “on higher time frames it is still in trouble.” Sjuul emphasized that meaningful recovery requires SOL to recapture the $78 threshold.

Solana’s trading volume allegedly surged over 3,200% during Q2, hitting $67 billion. Memecoin trading, staking protocols, and diverse applications contributed to this substantial growth.

Solana ETF flow data indicated $5.8 million in net outflows throughout June. A $15 million short position has sparked discussion regarding whether the current correction might intensify.

CryptoPatel identified an extended support corridor between $40 and $60, projecting ambitious long-term targets at $500 and $1,000 should SOL reclaim higher resistance zones eventually. Analyst Ardi suggested one final capitulation below present levels remains plausible before any substantial recovery materializes.

CFTC has opened a wide ranging investigation into Polymarket’s business activities, including its social media operations, according to new reports.

According to Bloomberg, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is conducting an extensive investigation into prediction market platform Polymarket that covers multiple parts of its business, including its social media activities.

The report follows a Wall Street Journal investigation published last week that alleged Polymarket hired dozens of mostly college-aged content creators to post fake trading videos designed to attract new users. Bloomberg reported that the CFTC inquiry extends beyond those marketing practices into other aspects of the company’s operations.

CNBC has separately reported, citing a person familiar with the matter, that the investigation remains active, although the source did not disclose when it began. 

Both the CFTC and Polymarket have yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter.

Investigation follows scrutiny over promotional campaign

The Wall Street Journal has also alleged that Polymarket used replica versions of its trading platform to create promotional videos showing fabricated bets and winnings.

According to the newspaper, it reviewed 1,105 videos posted between December 2025 and mid-May and found that about 70% contained simulated trades rather than real market activity. The report said the campaign displayed roughly $1.9 million in fake bets, including nearly $900,000 in fabricated winnings that would instead have resulted in losses if placed on the live platform.

Further, it alleged that creators were paid about $2,000 to $3,000 per month through marketing contractor Virality and were instructed not to disclose the sponsorships. Analytics firm Tubular, separately, estimated the videos generated more than 140 million views across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

Responding to those allegations, Polymarket told CNBC it is conducting a comprehensive audit of its active promotional content to ensure it complies with company standards as well as regulatory and legal disclosure requirements.

Questions over U.S. access continue

Bloomberg reported that the CFTC previously closed, alongside the U.S. Department of Justice, an investigation into whether Polymarket violated restrictions on U.S. users without filing charges last year. 

The company has barred Americans from its main platform since reaching a settlement with the regulator in 2022, although the report noted that some users continue accessing the service through virtual private networks.

The company has also been working to restore access to the U.S. market. As crypto.news has previously covered, Polymarket launched a CFTC-regulated U.S. exchange in December.

In the meantime, Senators Adam Schiff and John Curtis asked CFTC Chair Michael Selig last week to confirm whether the agency had opened an investigation into Polymarket’s advertising practices and to explain how it has prevented the platform from attracting U.S. users since the 2022 settlement.

According to their letter, the senators also questioned whether the agency has sufficient oversight tools to supervise prediction markets and requested details on advertising standards, influencer disclosure rules, consumer safeguards and age verification requirements.

The current inquiry would be the first major investigation into an event contract platform under CFTC Chair Michael Selig, whose tenure has generally been viewed as supportive of prediction markets.

Following the US dollar’s notable strength last week, European currencies have entered a period of consolidation. Investors and market participants have temporarily reduced trading activity ahead of a series of key macroeconomic releases from the euro area, the UK and the US, which could determine the next direction for EUR/USD and GBP/USD. At the same time, markets continue to monitor developments in the Middle East, as easing geopolitical tensions have somewhat reduced demand for safe-haven assets, allowing investors to shift their focus back to economic fundamentals.

Investor sentiment has also been supported by reports suggesting that the US and Iran may be close to reaching an agreement to halt mutual strikes and resume negotiations. The restoration of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has reduced concerns over disruptions to global oil supplies and contributed to greater stability across financial markets. Nevertheless, ongoing disagreements over the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and conflicting statements from Iranian officials indicate that geopolitical risks have not yet fully subsided.

EUR/USD

Following a test of the March low, a bullish Piercing Line candlestick pattern formed on the daily timeframe. Technical analysis suggests that EUR/USD is trading within a sideways range between 1.1340 and 1.1430. Price action around these boundaries, together with the incoming macroeconomic data, should provide further clues regarding the pair’s next directional move.

Key events for EUR/USD:

• Today at 09:45 (GMT+3): France CPI.
• Today at 15:00 (GMT+3): Germany CPI.
• Today at 17:00 (GMT+3): US JOLTS Job Openings.

GBP/USD

After testing this year’s March low at 1.3160, sterling buyers regained the initiative and formed a bullish Piercing Line candlestick pattern. The pair has since rebounded towards 1.3270, although any further upside is likely to depend on incoming macroeconomic data. Technical analysis suggests the pair may retest the 1.3270 level. A decisive break and close above this resistance could pave the way for further gains towards 1.3300–1.3310, while rejection from current resistance may trigger a decline back towards the 1.3140–1.3160 area.

Key events for GBP/USD:

• Today at 09:00 (GMT+3): UK GDP.
• Today at 13:40 (GMT+3): Speech by Bank of England Financial Policy Committee member Sarah Breeden.
• Today at 17:00 (GMT+3): US CB Consumer Confidence Index.

Following the sharp moves seen in recent sessions, the foreign exchange market has entered a wait-and-see mode. The release of key economic data on both sides of the Atlantic is likely to determine whether the current consolidation becomes the starting point for a recovery in European currencies or gives way to a renewed strengthening of the US dollar.

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U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs lost a net $231 million on Monday, with BlackRock’s IBIT accounting for $300 million of outflows that other funds partly offset, including $50 million into ARKB and $35 million into GBTC, per SoSoValue data.

The outflow lands as risk appetite elsewhere is surging. Wall Street’s technology rally spread into Asia on Tuesday, with the MSCI Asia Pacific index up 1% on the year’s final trading day after a semiconductor rebound helped the S&P 500 snap a five-session losing streak. The Asian benchmark is on track for its biggest quarterly gain in almost 17 years.

South Korea’s Kospi, which crashed 10% in a single session earlier this month, climbed 2.1% to extend its lead as the world’s best-performing major benchmark this year. Samsung is up more than 100% this quarter, and SK Hynix has gained almost 240% since April. The yen slid to its weakest level against the dollar since 1986, a sign investors are funding the AI trade by borrowing in yen.

Bitcoin ETFs are not participating in that capital rotation, however. The same AI infrastructure spending fueling record quarters in Seoul and Tokyo is the trade competing for the dollars that might otherwise flow into bitcoin, a dynamic that has run through the month’s coverage of SpaceX, Anthropic and the chip sector.