Crypto
Luno Pushes South Africa to Rewrite Crypto Rules Through Parliament, Not Proclamation
Key Takeaways
- Luno challenged South Africa’s draft capital flow rules in 2026, arguing the executive-led plan is unconstitutional.
- Restrictive rules could penalize CASPs up to 1 million rand, pushing South Africa’s crypto market underground.
- Next, Luno wants Parliament to enact a fair Act of 5 key rules to protect bitcoin and stablecoin innovation.
Strict Enforcement and Steep Penalties
Cryptocurrency exchange Luno has launched a formal challenge against a proposed overhaul of South Africa’s foreign exchange laws, arguing that the National Treasury’s plan to bring digital assets under an apartheid-era capital flow regime is unconstitutional because it bypasses Parliament. The challenge was detailed in Luno’s formal submission to the National Treasury on the Draft Capital Flow Management Regulations.
The draft rules, jointly published by the Treasury and the South African Reserve Bank for public comment, aim to modernize the country’s exchange controls. However, Luno warns that the proposal contains highly restrictive measures that threaten fundamental property and privacy rights.
As previously reported by Bitcoin.com News, the draft regulations seek to replace South Africa’s 1961 Exchange Control Regulations with a risk-based system focused on monitoring cross-border transactions and combating illicit financial flows. Violations could carry penalties of up to five years in prison, a fine of $53,000 (1 million South African rand), or both.
In its submission, Luno raised serious alarms over three specific enforcement provisions: asset seizure without court orders, forced liquidations and business-ending sanctions. Marius Reitz, Luno’s general manager for Africa, argued that changes of this magnitude must not be enacted via ministerial regulation.
“By proceeding through ministerial regulation, the executive branch effectively bypasses the democratic process for changes that will affect the fundamental property and privacy rights of millions of South Africans,” Reitz said. “They should, in our view, have been enacted as a new Act passed through Parliament.”
Luno further charged that the National Treasury is contradicting the central bank’s own policy roadmap, which identifies stablecoins as potential future money capable of facilitating low-cost, borderless payments. Yet, Luno argues, the Treasury’s draft regulations treat all digital assets as identical, bringing bitcoin, stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets under the same restrictive capital flow framework.
“By attempting to capture every digital asset regardless of utility or economic function, Treasury risks unintentionally stifling South Africa’s broader blockchain technology sector,” Luno stated.
Proposed Solutions for Industry Growth
The exchange warned that the proposed reporting requirements for transactions above an unspecified threshold would create an “unmanageable administrative burden” for platforms and the state alike, given that large transaction volumes are processed within seconds.
“Our experience demonstrates that overly restrictive regulation simply pushes digital asset activity underground or offshore, beyond the reach of domestic regulators and tax authorities,” the company added.
Meanwhile, the crypto exchange’s submission also shared several key recommendations to resolve some of the friction points. First, Luno calls for the enactment of the final crypto capital flow framework through an Act of Parliament rather than executive regulation. It also recommends the designation of crypto assets bought and held on South African-licensed exchanges as onshore assets.
Luno wants regulations to distinguish between digital asset classes based on economic function while dropping the proposed forced-sale and warrantless asset seizure mechanisms. Non-resident international trading firms must also be allowed to continue operating in the South African market under appropriate registration to preserve market liquidity.
“South Africa needs a regulatory framework that protects the integrity of the digital asset system without stifling the innovation, investment and economic growth that the digital asset sector is uniquely positioned to deliver,” Reitz said.
Crypto
Blackrock Becomes World’s First $15 Trillion Asset Manager, Unleashes Tokenization Blitz
Key Takeaways
- Blackrock’s Q2 2026 revenue hit $7.1 billion as Fink filed new SEC papers for tokenized funds.
- Ishares products crossed $6 trillion in assets while Blackrock’s digital currency and tokenized exchange-traded fund (ETF) business held near $110 billion.
- Blackrock raised its 2026 buyback plan to $2 billion as Fink pointed to accelerating momentum ahead.
The New York-based asset manager posted adjusted earnings per share of $13.91, up 15% from a year ago, and adjusted operating income of $2.9 billion, a 39% increase. On a GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share reached $12.19, up 20% year over year.
Blackrock’s assets under management (AUM) reached a whopping $15.3 trillion, driven by $868 billion in net inflows over the trailing 12 months and 10% organic base fee growth.
Record Inflows Push Assets to $15.3 Trillion
According to the firm’s second-quarter 2026 earnings, Blackrock brought in $192 billion of net inflows during the second quarter alone, contributing to the strongest first half in the firm’s history. Flows through the first six months of 2026 topped $321 billion, more than double the total from the same period last year.
During the earnings call, Chief Financial Officer Martin Small told analysts on the earnings call that the results reflect Blackrock’s position at the center of mega trends reshaping public markets, private markets, and technology. The company’s adjusted operating margin hit 45.9%, its highest level in nearly five years, expanding 260 basis points from a year earlier.
Ishares, Blackrock’s exchange-traded fund platform, crossed $6 trillion in assets under management, roughly doubling in three years. The unit pulled in $178 billion of net inflows in the quarter, led by $85 billion into core equity ETFs and $61 billion into index bond ETFs. Active ETFs added another $20 billion.
Tokenization Push Moves From Concept to Filings
Blackrock disclosed it has filed two registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for tokenized money market funds. One would create a tokenized share class on ethereum for an existing fund. The other is described as a digitally native strategy with features like daily dividend reinvestment.
Small explained that the filings are meant to connect Blackrock’s cash management products to investors who already hold assets in digital wallets. He noted the funds are expected to operate across multiple blockchains, with stablecoins supporting subscriptions and redemptions directly on chain.
“When we talk about tokenized assets, tokenized assets are the spear tip into an entirely new distribution channel,” Small explained, pointing to an estimated 5 billion digital wallets worldwide as a long-term growth opportunity for the firm.
Bitcoin, Ethereum and Stablecoin Business Expands
Blackrock now has roughly $110 billion in AUM connected to digital assets, according to Small. The firm’s Ishares Bitcoin Trust, Ethereum Trust, and its BUIDL tokenized fund remain the largest products in their respective categories. Blackrock has set an internal target of turning digital assets into a $500 million revenue business as part of its 2030 growth plan.
The company also manages $60 billion in reserves for stablecoin issuer Circle, which Small disclosed represents about a quarter of the $300 billion stablecoin market.
Despite a decline in bitcoin and ethereum prices during the quarter, Small detailed that Blackrock’s European bitcoin ETF took in more than $650 million in international demand. He attributed the flows to investors treating bitcoin as a small, diversifying allocation inside broader portfolios rather than a core holding.
Blackrock’s financial tables showed digital assets as a product category recorded $3.1 billion in net outflows for the quarter, with digital asset AUM falling to $48.8 billion from $60.7 billion in the first quarter, reflecting the price declines Small referenced.
Fink Points to Strong Market Fundamentals
Fink used much of his prepared remarks and the question and answer session to lay out his view of the broader economy. He described a market environment marked by rising corporate earnings and technology-driven productivity gains.
“Market fundamentals are strong and well supported, with higher margins and earnings momentum catalyzed by new technology,” Fink said in the earnings release.
Fink added:
“The scale and depth of our client relationships globally have never been greater.”
On the call, Fink pointed to U.S. equity markets climbing to new highs and said returns are broadening beyond American stocks. He also addressed the dollar’s role in global portfolios, noting the currency’s volatility is tied closely to Federal Reserve policy on interest rates.
Fink also highlighted Blackrock’s role supporting the U.S. Treasury Department’s newly launched Trump Accounts program, with two Ishares ETFs expected to become investment options later this year. He closed the call on an optimistic note.
“Our momentum is accelerating, and I’ve never been more optimistic about the growth ahead,” Fink stressed.
What Comes Next
Blackrock raised its planned 2026 share repurchases to $2 billion, up from prior guidance, after buying back $450 million in stock during the quarter. Executives said they expect quarterly buybacks of at least $550 million going forward, citing confidence in free cash flow growth.
The firm’s private markets business, built around its HPS and Global Infrastructure Partners acquisitions, added $15 billion in net inflows during the quarter. Executives said infrastructure and private credit deployment activity have been among the busiest periods on record for the platform, with insurance companies increasingly seeking higher yields through private market allocations. Fink remarked that the firm has closed about $10 billion in high-grade and infrastructure debt mandates for insurers so far this year, a trend he expects to keep building.
Crypto
Proposed cryptocurrency mining facility under review in Starkville
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) — A proposed cryptocurrency mining facility is under review in Starkville, with city officials and residents divided over its potential benefits and drawbacks.
Several citizens voiced concerns at a recent meeting, citing potential noise pollution, environmental impact and the volume of resources the facility would require to operate.
Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill said the facility would benefit the community, describing it as a $10 million investment. She said the money would go to the city, the county and the school district.
Spruill said the facility is projected to use 20,000 gallons of water per day, noting the city’s splash pad uses more — at 60,000 gallons per day.
The center would draw 30 megawatts of power; the city has a 50-megawatt capacity.
Spruill said the facility would generate about $1 million for the electric department, allowing the city to offset rate increases.
Michael Frayser, owner of High Ground Coffee, said he opposes the proposal.
“What it’s really going to do is — it’s going to gobble up electricity. And all these people are up in the air about the environment and all this stuff. I don’t really want to see a cryptocurrency mining center here gobbling up even more resources, taking up space. I’m not a fan of it,” Frayser said.
Vice Mayor Roy A. Perkins said he needs to see all of the facts and has questions for the company.
“As a decision maker, if I see any type of impact, I’m not going to vote for it to locate here because I’m not willing to risk any quality-of-life issue,” Perkins said.
Spruill said the board could see plans as soon as August.
Copyright 2026 WTVA. All rights reserved.
Crypto
Interactive Brokers Unleashes Stablecoin Rails, Slashes Crypto Trading Costs
Key Takeaways
- Interactive Brokers added 12 digital assets and enabled 24/7 stablecoin wallet transfers on July 14, 2026.
- IBKR fees starting at 0.12% undercut high-cost brokers by 85% to capture institutional crypto volume.
- Zero Hash and Paxos will drive compliance into late 2026 as UK and Irish accounts face 0% access rules.
Interactive Brokers (Nasdaq: IBKR), the automated global broker that manages approximately $930.3 billion in client equity as of mid-2026, integrated these capabilities directly into its core electronic trading architecture. Clients can now execute automatic conversions to withdraw U.S. dollars from their brokerage accounts directly into external destinations, including personal non-custodial cryptocurrency wallets, using Circle’s USDC, Paypal’s PYUSD, or Ripple’s RLUSD.
This infrastructure upgrade bridges traditional finance (TradFi) markets and digital currency networks without requiring investors to switch between separate applications. By allowing near-instantaneous transfers 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays, the firm ensures that market participants can move capital onto the platform and begin trading across 170 global markets within minutes.
Redefining Brokerage Cost Structures
“We believe digital assets should be integrated into a client’s broader financial experience, not treated separately,” explained Milan Galik, Chief Executive Officer of Interactive Brokers. Galik emphasized that as stablecoins become a more widely used method of payment and transfer, the firm remains focused on providing seamless digital asset access alongside a diverse range of global products.
The institutional expansion addresses a critical friction point for high- volume traders who frequently contend with steep transactional overhead on specialized crypto exchanges. Interactive Brokers charges crypto commissions starting between 0.12% and 0.18% of total trade value, featuring a modest $1.75 minimum per order. Crucially, the broker imposes no added spreads, markups, or custody fees, undercutting conventional competitors by up to 85%.
Industry data reveals that recently launched crypto offerings from traditional brokerages charge client commissions as high as 0.75% per transaction. Alternative platforms often remain two to four times more expensive, with some retail applications charging up to 1.20% or more. By maintaining low overhead, IBKR leverages its $21 billion consolidated equity capital to aggressively capture market share from standard spot exchanges.
Token Expansion and Custodial Pipelines
Tuesday’s Interactive Brokers crypto expansion routes new asset classes through separate regulated pipelines to guarantee institutional-grade compliance and security. Through its partnership with Zero Hash, the broker added Aave, Aptos, Canton, Lido DAO, Monad, NEAR Protocol, Plasma, Pax Gold, and Uniswap. The addition of Pax Gold provides a digital token backed entirely by physical gold stored in professional vault facilities.
Concurrently, Paxos Trust Company will facilitate trading for three of these newly supported assets, specifically AAVE, UNI, and PAXG. These choices join an existing institutional catalog that already includes high- liquidity crypto assets such as bitcoin, ethereum, solana, bitcoin cash, litecoin, and XRP. This dual-vendor model minimizes counterparty risks for the firm’s rapidly growing base of 5.185 million client accounts.
This strategic development coincides with a period of massive operational growth, as the firm’s Daily Average Revenue Trades recently surged 53% year-over-year to 5.269 million. Margin loan balances also climbed 67% to $108.5 billion, highlighting a highly active client base that utilizes capital leverage across unified portfolios. The addition of crypto flexibility serves as an onboarding tool for sophisticated international investors.
Regulatory Guardrails and Global Availability
While the expansion enhances utility for domestic accounts, strict geographic limitations remain firmly in place due to fragmented cross-border regulatory frameworks. Bidirectional funding via stablecoin is entirely unavailable to clients registered under Interactive Brokers U.K. Limited or Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited. Furthermore, the newly introduced crypto-assets cannot be accessed by clients of the Irish affiliate.
Corporate executives maintained a realistic, risk-managed tone regarding broader market conditions, explicitly stating that digital asset trading carries exceptional financial danger. The platform noted that these specific digital products are designed exclusively for individuals with high risk tolerance and the financial capacity to sustain total capital losses. This conservative positioning aligns with the firm’s corporate credit profile and S&P rating of A- with a stable outlook.
As digital and TradFi continue to converge through tokenization and institutional investment vehicles, Interactive Brokers positions its balance sheet as a primary clearing house. The elimination of separate wallet ecosystems reduces operational friction for hedge funds and independent money managers alike. This long-term framework underpins the broker’s overarching strategy to capture institutional wallet share as the digital currency landscape matures.
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