On 14 January 2026, the UK government confirmed it has abandoned plans to make a single, state-issued digital identity mandatory for all workers, instead keeping digital right-to-work checks while making any future national ID optional. Critics had warned the centralized system could enable excessive state control and create cybersecurity risks, and the policy reversal comes as wider global debates continue over how digital ID, CBDCs, and DeFi rules should balance privacy with regulatory oversight.

Visa selected UK-based BVNK to support Visa Direct pilots that enable some business customers to pre-fund cross-border payouts in stablecoins and send digital U.S. dollars to eligible wallets in select markets. The initiative extends prior onchain settlement tests with USDC on Ethereum and Solana and is aimed at enabling money movement outside traditional banking hours.

A report dated January 14, 2026 says Elon Musk’s Starlink is providing free internet access inside Iran after a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. The move follows nationwide shutdowns amid anti‑regime protests, with over 1,800 deaths reported and rights groups warning the toll may be higher. Authorities have allegedly begun jamming Starlink and seizing equipment.

On January 14, 2026, BVNK said it will power stablecoin functionality for Visa Direct, enabling businesses to pre-fund payouts in stablecoins and send funds to recipients in digital dollars. Visa Direct handles around $1.7 trillion in annual volume, while BVNK reports processing more than $30 billion in stablecoin payments each year, with services starting in approved markets.

On January 14, Binance Wallet introduced on-chain perpetual futures trading via Aster, allowing Binance Wallet (Web) users on BNB Smart Chain to trade derivatives while retaining self-custody. The integration routes orders to Aster's decentralized perpetuals platform, supports multiple collateral tokens, and initially focuses on web access with more networks and mobile support planned. Eligible trades earn rewards through Aster's airdrop and competitions, alongside a Binance Wallet campaign offering up to 200,000 USDT.

During JPMorgan Chase’s fourth‑quarter earnings call this week, CFO Jeremy Barnum cautioned that interest‑paying stablecoins replicate deposit‑like features without prudential oversight. An amended draft of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act released this week would bar interest paid solely for holding a stablecoin while allowing incentives tied to liquidity, governance or staking.

Betterment said attackers used a social engineering scheme on January 9 to access its systems and obtain customer names, emails, addresses, phone numbers, and birth dates. The firm said accounts and passwords were not compromised, is working with a cybersecurity provider, and warned users about fraudulent messages urging $10,000 crypto transfers.

CFTC Chair Mike Selig has rebuilt the Innovation Advisory Committee with a crypto- and fintech-heavy lineup. Announced Monday, the membership spans Gemini, Kraken, Polymarket, Kalshi and major market operators such as Nasdaq, CME Group, ICE and Cboe, with the group set to advise on AI, blockchain, DeFi and market structure.