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The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Wednesday that Colombian cryptocurrency broker Leonardo de Jesus Zuluaga Duque was sentenced to 160 months in prison for assisting in the laundering of drug trafficking proceeds through Tether's USDT and participating in a scheme to import cocaine into the United States.Zuluaga Duque, along with five others, assisted in laundering approximately $14.5 million in USDT through a network of cryptocurrency accounts, shell companies, and fund transfers between the U.S. and Colombia from May to November 2023. The court also ordered the forfeiture of $14.75 million and the cryptocurrency held in four addresses under his control.

According to Bloomberg, the Milan prosecutor's office stated that Italian authorities are conducting arrest operations against 30 individuals suspected of operating a mafia-linked underground bank. This network is alleged to have transferred approximately 68 million euros abroad and used cryptocurrency to launder illegal funds.The operation extends to Spain, where local police are executing European arrest warrants, and Swiss authorities are also seeking to apprehend another suspect. The prosecutor's office claims that the network is based around a car rental company near Milan, using shell companies to issue false service invoices, helping involved businesses in construction, logistics, and other industries reduce taxable income. After companies made payments via bank transfers, the network deducted commissions and returned the funds in cash.Funds in the shell company accounts were transferred to banks in Luxembourg, Lithuania, and Germany, and then entered digital wallets allegedly controlled by the organization through cryptocurrency exchanges. Investigators identified over 110 million euros in false invoices and found that the network also handled drug trafficking proceeds and funds from victims of online cryptocurrency investment scams.

According to GMGN data, the top 5 tokens with net inflow of smart money in the past 24 hours are as follows:PHP-UP (E1FT....smh): Net inflow of $1,000, with a 24-hour increase of 512.7%, currently priced at $0.0001.Pokémon (D42T....vb1): Net inflow of $1,000, with a 24-hour decrease of -38%, currently priced at $0.0007.XHOLDINGS (5SPg....ump): Net inflow of $699, with a 24-hour decrease of -18.8%, currently priced at $0.0001.Naseem (9PSZ....ump): Net inflow of $570, with a 24-hour increase of 37.1%, currently priced at $0.0001.XMR (WXMR....eJp): Net inflow of $544, with a 24-hour decrease of -3.2%, currently priced at $582.4483.

On-chain detective ZachXBT stated that in August 2026, a centralized money laundering service named FreedomXMR (FXMR) appeared on Hyperliquid Core (HL Core). Over 87% of its incoming funds are directly related to illegal activities.Through manual verification, it was found that among all historical inflows over $10,000 to FXMR, more than $20 million directly originated from ransomware attacks, exploits, malware, and social engineering attacks, including: the DCENT wallet exploit incident (September 2026), the Fetch.ai exploit incident (September 2026), the Axelar exploit incident (September 2026), a certain ransomware payment (September 2026, specific source undisclosed), and the Gamdom exploit incident (October 2026). The operators of this service obtained XMR liquidity from KuCoin (over 3,000 deposits), suspected of using a similar exchange model to Wagyu.The token name (ticker) FXMR was acquired by the operators at an HL auction on July 27, 2026, for 518.28 HYPE (approximately $28,000). Several such centralized money laundering services had previously appeared on HL Core, exploiting the chain's "permissionless" design features and its wide application for illegal money laundering activities. Relevant data tables have been shared with the Hyperliquid team.

BlockBeats published an in-depth article titled "All in One is the Only Way Out," focusing on the industry trend of cryptocurrency trading platforms transforming into comprehensive financial services, using Gate Money as an example to analyze the development potential of integrated global asset trading, daily payments, and wealth management.The article points out that as user demands extend from cryptocurrency trading to multi-asset allocation, cross-border consumption, and idle fund management, All in One is becoming an important direction for trading platforms to explore business growth. Gate currently supports over 5,400 digital assets and 12,800 stock assets, while Gate Money further integrates multi-currency accounts, exchanges, payments, and wealth management functions, supporting over 60 currencies and planning to expand services for stocks, ETFs, and gold. At the same time, the platform connects eligible stock assets with consumption scenarios through an automatic recharge feature, with Money Earn offering an annualized yield of up to 3.6%.BlockBeats believes that as financial demands become increasingly diversified, the ability to allow assets to flow freely between investment, management, and payment, while continuously meeting users' actual needs, will become an important direction for cryptocurrency platforms to build long-term competitiveness. Gate Money not only integrates product functions but also connects global assets with real financial needs, promoting cryptocurrency platforms to extend into broader and more frequent financial service scenarios, opening new space for the evolution of the global financial service landscape and long-term industry growth.

According to the official announcement, the Gate Idle Money Treasure × Yu Bi Bao second phase interest rate increase activity is ongoing. This phase of the activity covers USDT current financial products, and users who meet the specified net recharge conditions can receive additional interest rate rewards.In the Idle Money Treasure activity, users who accumulate net recharges of BTC, ETH, and USDT to reach the specified threshold during the activity period and activate Idle Money Treasure can receive additional interest on top of the basic earnings. Specifically, if the cumulative net recharge reaches 10,000 USDT, users can enjoy an additional 1% interest rate, resulting in a comprehensive annualized yield of 4%; if it reaches 50,000 USDT, users can enjoy an additional 2% interest rate, resulting in a comprehensive annualized yield of 5%. The upper limit for the principal eligible for interest rate increases in both tiers is 50,000 USDT.The Yu Bi Bao activity is open to VIP 2 to VIP 14 users. If the cumulative net recharge of USDT reaches 100,000 USDT and users subscribe to a 7-day fixed-term financial product in USDT, they can enjoy an additional 7.3% interest rate on top of the 3.7% basic annualized yield, resulting in a comprehensive annualized yield of 11%. The upper limit for the principal eligible for interest rate increases is 100,000 USDT. Users must continuously meet the net recharge requirements during the subscription and the order's duration to receive the additional interest rate rewards.

An alliance composed of core banking and instant payment software company Matera, embedded payment company Payfinia, and Solana Foundation conducted the first public live demonstration of the American National Standard ANSI X9.150 at Money20/20 USA in Las Vegas. The demonstration showed that a single QR code on an invoice allows customers to pay via FedNow, RTP network, or with USDC on Solana, with the business invoice records automatically updated afterward.The report states that X9.150 was approved by the American National Standards Institute's standards committee X9 in July 2026, providing a unified QR code payment format for banks, payment networks, and software providers, covering account-to-account payments such as FedNow, RTP, ACH credit transfers, Zelle, and stablecoins. In the live process, small businesses send invoices with X9.150 QR codes, and customers can scan them using their credit union banking app or pay and confirm with USDC using the Squads Altitude wallet, with funds arriving within seconds, and the ERP marking the invoice as paid.Carlos Netto, Co-founder and CEO of Matera North America: The company has open-sourced the X9.150 reference software because a standard built by only one company is not a true standard. Jamal Raees, General Manager of Payments at Solana Foundation: X9.150 provides American businesses with a single QR code that can be used across payment rails, allowing customers to scan and pay with USDC, marking the invoice as paid within seconds. Payfinia provides embedded payment support for nearly 30 community financial institutions and stated that testing has been completed using the Star One Credit Union mobile app. The report clarifies that this demonstration is not a product launch. Participants in the X9.150 QR code alliance include Matera, Payfinia, Zelle under Early Warning, and Solana Foundation.

According to Thai media Khaosod English, Thai immigration police recently arrested a 37-year-old Chinese man in Bangkok. He is wanted by Chinese police for allegedly participating in a transnational criminal network and money laundering activities. The police stated that the related criminal network involves transactions exceeding 500 million yuan (approximately 2.485 billion Thai baht).The suspect is accused of processing cryptocurrency and foreign exchange transactions for the criminal gang through more than 133 accounts and assisting members of the transnational criminal network in obtaining visas. The police indicated that the suspect had evaded capture by falsifying residence registration documents, changing license plates, and altering the appearance of vehicles, ultimately being apprehended in a luxury mansion in Bangkok. Thai authorities will handle his overstayed residence issue according to the law and coordinate his repatriation to China for investigation.

According to a report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Aiden Pleterski, who claims to be the "King of Crypto," is on trial in the Ontario Superior Court. A senior forensic accountant from the Ontario Securities Commission testified that between 2020 and 2022, investors invested $36.3 million with him, of which he used nearly half for personal expenses. Specific expenditures included approximately $5.6 million on luxury cars, $4.9 million in credit card bills, $870,000 on travel and private jets, $598,000 on security costs, and nearly $3.7 million transferred to his parents. At the same time, he paid investors about $16.1 million as "returns."The accountant pointed out that investor funds were never transferred to the trading platform FXChoice as promised in the contracts, with only about $113,000 flowing to other forex and cryptocurrency platforms. The prosecution alleges that he guaranteed investment returns but did not actually trade, instead using the funds for personal consumption. Pleterski denies the charges of fraud and money laundering, and the case is still ongoing.

On October 15, Saber Money, a payment infrastructure company based in San Francisco, announced a strategic investment from Tether and Titan Fund under Hong Kong's CMCC Global, with the amount undisclosed. The company provides cross-border remittance services for financial institutions, fintech companies, and enterprises in emerging market corridors, and operates the Indian cryptocurrency exchange Mudrex. The company stated that the funds will be used to deepen existing corridors and expand into emerging markets in the Asia-Pacific and Gulf regions, focusing on obtaining local licenses and banking relationships.Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated that emerging markets represent the next stage of global payments, and stablecoins are the relevant infrastructure, with Saber having regulatory depth and market access in Asia and the Middle East. Shiau Sin Yen, co-founder and managing partner of Titan Fund, mentioned that Asia accounts for approximately 53% of global remittances, and cross-border B2B stablecoin payments are expected to reach $5 trillion by 2035. Saber Money CEO Edul Patel stated that the company provides stablecoin payment rails to markets such as the Asia-Pacific and Gulf for near-instant, round-the-clock settlement, and plans to expand B2B payments for vendor payments, fund management, and cross-border working capital.Saber Money has held or obtained licenses, registrations, or authorizations in Canada, the European Union, India, and Australia. Over the past nine months, payment volume has increased more than sixfold, processing billions of dollars in payments across more than 40 countries, with over 90% of payments completed within one minute. The company's backers include Y Combinator, Nexus Ventures, Tether, and Titan Fund of CMCC Global. Market data listed by the company indicates that the Asia-Pacific accounts for about 35% of global payment flows, with South Asia and East Asia and the Pacific receiving over $1 trillion annually, and the UAE expected to remit about 188 billion dirhams by 2025.

Recently, Gate founder and CEO Dr. Han accepted an exclusive interview with the cryptocurrency media Bitcoin.com, reflecting on Gate's journey from developing its underlying trading system in 2013 to becoming a platform serving over 61 million users across more than 130 countries and regions. He further elaborated on the strategic vision of the TOKEN2049 keynote speech "One Gate, Everything Money."Dr. Han stated that in the face of the long-standing barriers between traditional finance and the cryptocurrency market, users have often faced the dilemma of fragmented capital management. They not only need to frequently transfer funds between banks, brokerages, and cryptocurrency platforms but also have to keep a large amount of cash idle in bank accounts, suffering losses from inflation and lack of returns. Meanwhile, high-quality assets like stocks and gold are difficult to consume immediately due to liquidity constraints.To address this industry pain point, Gate officially launched the integrated financial application Gate Money, which consolidates fiat currency, cryptocurrency assets, gold, ETFs, and over 12,800 global stocks into a single account. Users no longer need to hold large amounts of low-yield idle cash and can allocate capital to high-quality assets with value preservation and appreciation potential. When a consumption demand arises, the system will instantly convert the corresponding assets into fiat currency for payment, keeping the funds in an investment state before consumption.

During a live AMA interview hosted by CoinMarketCap, Gate founder and CEO Dr. Han discussed the development direction of digital finance, the product positioning of Gate Money, and the accelerated integration of digital assets with traditional finance.Dr. Han stated, "The future of digital finance lies not only in providing more asset choices but also in connecting assets, funds, and payments, allowing users to manage assets, transfer funds, and meet daily payment needs more conveniently within one ecosystem." Upholding the core concept of "One Gate, Everything Money," Gate Money integrates services such as digital assets, fiat currency, stocks, ETFs, gold, bank accounts, payments, and asset management into a single account, covering scenarios like asset holding, receiving payments, transferring, exchanging, paying, and earning. Users in eligible regions can also open an e-banking account with the same name and use the Gate Card for online and offline consumption with fiat or digital assets, further bridging asset allocation and daily payment scenarios.Regarding the accelerated integration of digital assets and traditional finance, Dr. Han also explored the roles of stablecoins and asset tokenization in cross-border capital flow, on-chain settlement, and financial service innovation. As user demands extend from single transactions to investment management, fund transfers, and daily consumption scenarios, Gate will continue to expand the asset categories, payment methods, and service capabilities of Gate Money, enriching the application of digital assets in diverse financial scenarios and providing users with a more integrated financial service experience.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has revoked the major payment institution license of the currency exchange and cross-border remittance entity Sir Money Changer Pte. Ltd. (SMC) under the Payment Services Act 2019, effective from September 15, 2026. From that date, SMC is no longer allowed to provide cross-border remittance and currency exchange services.The action by MAS stems from an investigation that found SMC allowed third parties to independently operate cross-border remittance services in one of its business premises under the name of SMC and provided false or misleading information to MAS. MAS pointed out that license holders must not allow third parties to use their license to conduct financial service activities and require payment service providers to maintain effective supervision and control over their business operations.

According to CoinDesk, the consortium Qivalis, supported by 37 major European banks, announced that the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) has granted it an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license, bringing it closer to issuing Euro-denominated electronic money tokens (EMT). The Amsterdam-based company still needs to meet the remaining requirements of the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), including publishing a white paper, in order to issue the token in the coming months.This license enables Qivalis to provide a blockchain-based method for transferring Euros for banks and payment institutions. Qivalis plans to distribute its tokens through banks, cryptocurrency exchanges, and payment service providers, rather than directly to consumers. Since its establishment in September 2025, the consortium has expanded to 37 European banks, including BBVA, BNP Paribas, ING, and DZ Bank, and has chosen Fireblocks to provide digital asset infrastructure.According to MiCA regulations, EMTs are classified as stablecoins, but not all stablecoins are EMTs. EMTs are pegged to a single fiat currency and must be issued by authorized credit institutions or electronic money institutions, with holders having legal claims to them and the right to redeem them at face value at any time, and EMTs cannot pay interest.Qivalis CEO Jan-Oliver Sell stated that the currency in Europe should be carried on-chain by European rules, and Europe should have Euro-denominated on-chain settlement assets issued under European law and subject to European regulatory standards.

According to Bloomberg, Bank of America has been fined over $1.21 billion by U.S. regulators for anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance issues. Among them, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a $750 million civil penalty, setting a record for fines related to this agency; the settlement measures from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) involve 475 alleged violations of sanctions programs, with related countries including Russia and Iran.Regulators also issued a consent order against the bank.

According to reports from Japan's Jiji Press and TBS, Japanese police have arrested 6 individuals suspected of laundering money for a fraud group through cryptocurrency assets. Police investigations indicate that the gang is suspected of handling approximately 91 million yen (about 580,000 USD) in fraud funds between February and March 2024, involving around 30 victims.The funds first entered the company's bank account, then were exchanged for BTC, converted to USDT through overseas channels, and returned to the fraud group. The individuals involved are reportedly charging a commission of about 1%.