HM Revenue and Customs has directed cryptocurrency exchanges to collect detailed transaction records of UK customers starting January 2026, with submission to HMRC required by 2027. The mandate aligns the UK with jurisdictions adopting the OECD's Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework, including EU countries and Canada. Industry observers note platforms will face increased operational costs for system upgrades and compliance infrastructure.

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Upbit disclosed unauthorized withdrawals on the Solana network affecting $36 million worth of digital assets. The breach involved 24 tokens including SOL and USDC. Parent company Dunamu pledged complete customer reimbursement and froze assets totaling approximately 2.3 billion KRW while temporarily suspending withdrawals for affected tokens.

Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin has secured regulatory approval from the Abu Dhabi Global Market, marking a significant milestone for institutional adoption in the Gulf region. The authorization enables Financial Services Regulatory Authority-licensed entities to deploy RLUSD for cross-border payments, lending operations, and collateral management. The stablecoin currently maintains a market capitalization of approximately $1.03 billion.

Uniswap Labs' UNIfication governance proposal has secured 63 million UNI tokens in preliminary support, with minimal opposition recorded. The proposal seeks to restructure governance and introduce protocol-level fees. Formal on-chain voting is scheduled to begin next week, with potential implications for UNI tokenomics and the decentralized finance sector.

The UK's Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has introduced a 'No Gain No Loss' tax framework for decentralized finance activities. The proposal would exempt on-chain DeFi deposits from capital gains taxation, according to Aave founder Stani Kulechov. The policy aims to align tax rules with blockchain transaction mechanics and streamline compliance for users engaged in lending and staking.

Visa announced a partnership with Aquanow on November 27 to enhance payment settlements using stablecoins, targeting financial institutions across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The collaboration aims to accelerate cross-border transactions and reduce costs through blockchain technology integration. Visa's annualized transaction rate using USDC now exceeds $2.5 billion.

S&P Global has downgraded Tether's USDT stablecoin to a stability rating of '5,' the lowest on its assessment scale. The ratings agency cited elevated exposure to risky assets and inadequate reserve buffers as primary concerns. Tether's risky asset ratio has reached 24%, with Bitcoin exposure at 5.6% exceeding S&P's recommended buffer threshold of 3.9%.

JPMorgan has launched a structured note tied to BlackRock's spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT), according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The investment vehicle targets institutional clients and offers tiered returns based on IBIT's price performance. Investors can earn a 16% return if the ETF reaches its target price by 2026, with an extended opportunity window through 2028 if the initial target is not met.

The United Arab Emirates enacted Federal Decree No. 6 of 2025, bringing decentralized finance and Web3 operations under central bank oversight effective September 16, 2025. The decree mandates licensing for payment, lending, trading, and custody services by September 2026. Non-compliance carries penalties up to 1 billion dirhams, approximately $272 million.