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  • Polymarket to challenge France’s nationwide website block

    Polymarket to challenge France’s nationwide website block

    Polymarket added it does not take the other side of trades or profit from market outcomes, distinguishing its model from a gambling operator that sets odds and trades against customers.

    The French regulator said the platform remained accessible after trading restrictions were introduced and continued to promote an unauthorized gambling service.

    It also cited concerns over identity checks and suspected manipulation of weather-related markets.

    France is the latest country to order internet providers to block Polymarket. Ukraine imposed an ISP-level block in January, Argentina followed in March and Spain blocked Polymarket and Kalshi in May.

    France’s action goes beyond the trading restriction already in place. Polymarket had blocked transactions from the country since November 2024, but the ANJ ordered the entire website blocked because users could still view its markets and live probabilities.

    Other countries including Brazil, India, Indonesia and Romania have also restricted access or classified Polymarket as an unauthorized gambling platform. Ukraine currently has no legal framework through which the platform could operate, according to a government policy official.

    CoinDesk has asked Polymarket whether it is challenging enforcement decisions outside France and had not heard back at the time of writing.

  • ‘George Michael: The Faith Tour’ Concert Tour Film Acquired by Bleecker Street, Universal Pictures Content Group

    The concert film “George Michael: The Faith Tour” has been acquired by Universal Pictures Content Group and Bleecker Street’s event cinema division Crosswalk.

    Universal Pictures Content Group will release the film internationally, and Bleecker Street’s Crosswalk will release the film in North America.

    Shot at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy during the European leg of the Faith Tour in
    1988, the film features never-before-seen footage of Michael.

    The concert film is directed by Michael’s longtime collaborators Andy Morahan (“Last Christmas”; “Faith”; “Careless Whisper”) and David Austin (George Michael “Freedom Uncut”, “George Michael at the Palais Garnier, Paris”). Screening with an opening original short film by Mary McCartney (“If These Walls Could Sing; “Mary McCartney Serves It Up!”) and produced by George Michael Entertainment and Globe Originals, in partnership with Mercury Studios, the film is slated for a late 2026 worldwide release in theaters in premium formats. In the U.S., Bleecker Street will partner with Imax on exclusive early
    access screenings.

    “George Michael: The Faith Tour” transforms archival footage assembled from a 14-camera shoot captured on 35mm film over two nights, into a cinematic event and audio experience. The film opens with an original short, “Finding Faith,” which features voice-over from Michael during an unheard interview alongside unseen images captured by photographer Herb Ritts, and behind-the-scenes footage of the “Faith” music video.

    The deal was negotiated by Helen Parker for Universal Pictures Content Group and Avy Eschenasy for Bleecker Street.

    Parker said, “George at the height of the Faith tour was simply electrifying — there’s a magnetic force of charisma and connection with the audience that feels just as powerful today as it did then.” She added, “To see these performances brought to life on the big screen, in such a cinematic and immersive way,
    makes this incredibly special — particularly for those who were there or remember that moment so vividly. We also can’t wait for a whole new generation to experience just how extraordinary he was as a creative force, performer and musical auteur.”

    Bleecker Street CEO Kent Sanderson said, “An icon of his generation and beyond, George Michael was at the height of his creative and cultural power during the Faith tour, a defining moment that was made for the big screen. Through beautifully restored archival footage and intimate, never-before-heard interviews, audiences will be given a front-row seat to a beloved artist at the peak of his impact.”

    Hit singer Michael, the founding member of the duo Wham!, died at the age of 53 in 2016. The singer sold more than 100 million albums over a career spanning almost four decades.

    “We are incredibly proud of ‘George Michael: The Faith Tour’ and the extraordinary craftsmanship that has gone into bringing this footage to life,” said Ken Danquah, Chief Finance & Commercial Officer, Mercury Studios. “We’re excited to be partnering with such world-class distributors as Universal Pictures Content Group and Crosswalk, whose proven track record and expertise in delivering immersive cinematic events make them the perfect partners to bring this film to audiences around the world.”

    The London-born singer, whose real name was Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, formed Wham! in 1981 with school friend Andrew Ridgeley, and the pop duo went on to have a string of hits, including “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” “Club Tropicana” and “Last Christmas.”

    Michael and Ridgeley parted ways in 1986, and the former embarked on a solo career. His first album, “Faith,” sold more than 25 million copies, and won a Grammy. 

    “George was utterly unique, both as a man and an artist. Having had the great privilege of personally working closely with him and his team over the years, the opportunity to bring The Faith Tour to audiences through Globe Originals is an honor,” said Lucie Avery, general manager, Globe Originals. “Mercury Studios, working hand-in-hand with George Michael Entertainment, brought their unrivaled expertise and vision to this project from the outset. The result is a film that truly honors his timeless legacy.”

    Alongside the theatrical release, George Michael Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment will release “The Faith Tour”, an 18-track live album of previously unreleased recordings featuring hits from Michael’s Wham! and solo catalogs.

  • Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Capital joins tokenization push as Coinbase takes stake in onchain fund

    Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Capital joins tokenization push as Coinbase takes stake in onchain fund

    Tokenization has become one of the fastest-growing corners of digital assets as traditional finance firms look to modernize fund infrastructure. Citi recently projected that tokenized securities could grow to roughly $5.5 trillion by 2030, while Boston Consulting Group and Ripple estimate tokenized assets across all asset classes could reach $18.9 trillion by 2033.

    Creating blockchain-based tokens of existing funds could help broaden access to a new set of investors and open the door for fund shares to be used as collateral or plugged into other onchain financial applications.

    For this particular case, KAIO provides the infrastructure that issues and administers Mubadala Capital’s tokenized fund. The company said Mubadala joins firms including Hamilton Lane, Brevan Howard and Laser Digital that use its platform to distribute investment products onchain, and currently has $144 million in tokenized funds on its platform.

    “This strategy was built on differentiated access — to deal flow, to co-investment, to a global network that most investors cannot reach on their own,” Max Franzetti, head of Mubadala Capital Solutions, said in a statement. “Bringing it onchain extends that access to a new class of qualified investors without compromising the institutional discipline that defines how we invest.”

    Brett Tejpaul, head of Coinbase Institutional, said that Coinbase adding the fund to its corporate balance sheet investment is a reflection of growing interest in regulated tokenized assets as treasury holdings. “As regulated assets become programmable, they can become part of a broader onchain economy that is more transparent, composable and accessible to qualified investors in eligible jurisdictions.”

  • Rubio says US policy on Iran is ‘a head for an eye’

    Rubio says US policy on Iran is ‘a head for an eye’

    NewsFeed

    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran will continue to ‘pay the price’ for what he said was the failure to stick to agreements, telling reporters that President Trump’s policy is ‘a head for an eye’.

    Published On 23 Jul 2026

  • ‘Brave New Love’ Dives Into Lust, Infidelity, Norms, Motherhood and Shame (Exclusive Clip)

    ‘Brave New Love’ Dives Into Lust, Infidelity, Norms, Motherhood and Shame (Exclusive Clip)

    Can you be happily married while leading a double life? Especially if that double life involves another person? One way to explore that question is to watch Kate, the protagonist of Brave New Love, the new feature film from writer-director Maria Bäck (I Remember When I Die, Psychosis in Stockholm) that will world premiere on Aug. 9 in the international competition of the 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.

    But be warned: things may get awkward at times.

    After all, Kate, a hypnotherapist, lives happily with her husband, Orla, and their daughter, Athena. But she also shares a secret romantic relationship with another man, Andreas. “After years of secrecy, the fragile balance of her double life begins to unravel,” reads a synopsis. “As a role model to her daughter, she struggles to navigate her existential quest – a journey filled with body fluids, intimacy, Greek mythology, laughter, madness, and clumsiness.” In the process, Kate struggles to redefine love.

    Kathrine Thorborg Johansen (Post Mortem: No One Dies in Skarnes) stars as Kate, Simon Sears (Shadow and Bone) is husband Orla, and Anders Danielsen Lie (Sentimental Value, Everybody Digs Bill Evans, The Worst Person in the World) portrays Andreas. Young Noemi Carbone Mannov plays Athena, and Angeliki Papoulia (Dogtooth, The Lobster) also features in the cast.

    Produced by Anna-Maria Kantarius, Brave New Love features cinematography by Maria Von Hausswolff, with editing handled by Julius Krebs Damsbo. Reinvent Yellow is in charge of International sales.

    “There are so many rules and inherited expectations attached to love,” Bäck says about the film. “I wanted to explore these often absurd ideas through wit and sensuality, and create a mirror for the loneliness and power of a heart set on fire.”

    THR can now exclusively premiere a clip from Brave New Love that introduces you to Kate in a scene that is likely to take your breath away – and not necessarily in the way you may expect.

    You might remember that Madonna, in her 1998 hit “Frozen,” sang: “Love is a bird; she needs to fly.” Well, the scene here fits in with that line – but again, not necessarily in the way you may expect. Watch the exclusive clip from Brave New Love right here.

  • Matt Rife Sets Four-Night Comedy Cruise for 2027

    Matt Rife Sets Four-Night Comedy Cruise for 2027

    Matt Rife is ready for that cruise life.

    The superstar comedian announced a unique new venture, Suite Rife On Deck, a comedy cruise featuring some of his stand-up pals on board for a four-night voyage setting sail from Miami with a stop in Grand Turk from Feb. 10-14, 2027. The cruise will take place on MSC Poesia.

    The comedy cruise has already booked performances from Craig Robinson, Nate Jackson, Lukas Zelnick, Erik Griffin, Finesse Mitchell, Shapel Lacey, Ian Edwards, April Macie, Paul Elia, Martin Amini, David Lucas, Jackson McQueen, Clayton Thomas, Janet McNamara, Erica Rhodes, Cam Bertrand, Matt Lopes and Doug Key. But it won’t just be jokes on stage as there will be live music from Blake Whiten and DJ sets from Cosmo Baker, DJ Rock and DJ Spider.

    “All right guys, I have been thinking about this for a very long time and it’s finally coming to life,” Rife said in a new video posted Tuesday on Instagram. He promised great comedians, great musicians, great people — only. “Only cool people, only good vibes.”

    Rife also promised “infinite activities on this boat,” like a “welcome roast toast,” a swimsuit competition with prizes, a talent show with prizes, movie nights, an all-star comedians basketball game and more. Registration is now open with packages set to go on sale Tuesday, July 28. Added bonus: The first 500 cabins booked will include an onboard meet and greet and photo opportunity with Rife. The full schedule will be announced soon.

    The voyage is mounted in partnership with experiential events and hospitality company 100x Hospitality with travel & production services provided by Cloud 9 Adventures. “Suite Rife On Deck is about creating an experience that goes far beyond a comedy show, giving fans the opportunity to spend four unforgettable days immersed in Matt’s world. We’re excited to partner with Matt and Cloud 9 Adventures to bring people together through comedy, connection, and a truly unique vacation experience,” offered 100x Hospitality CEO Dan Berkowitz.

    Up next, Rife will star opposite Owen Wilson in the R-rated comedy, Rolling Loud, that hits theaters on Oct. 2. He will also costar Julia Garner in Netflix’s limited series, The Altruists, which is based on the collapse of the FTX crypto currency exchange

    Courtesy of Suite Rife on Deck

  • Venice Unveils 2026 Lineup (Updating Live)

    Venice Unveils 2026 Lineup (Updating Live)

    The 83rd Venice International Film Festival is unveiling its official lineup today.

    Venice artistic director Alberto Barbera and Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, president of the Biennale di Venezia, will confirm the films running in competition and main sidebar sections.

    You can follow their presentation, starting from 11 am local time at La Biennale Library of the Historical Archive in Venice, on the festival site or on its social media channels on YouTube, X, TikTok, and Facebook.

    Venice, alongside Cannes, is considered the world’s most prestigious film festival and a major awards season prognosticator.

    The festival has already confirmed that Danny Boyle’s Ink, a biographical drama starring Jack O’Connell, Guy Pearce and Claire Foy, about Rupert Murdoch and his British tabloid empire, will open this year’s event, on Sept. 2. Dio Ride, an Italian period drama from director Giovanni Veronesi starring Pierfrancesco Favino (Maria, Rush) will close the fest on Sept. 12.

    Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Lost Daughter, The Bride!) will head up this year’s Venice competition jury as president, picking the winner of the Golden Lion for best film. George Clooney, a Lido regular, will receive an honorary Golden Lion lifetime achievement award.

    Last year’s Biennale included several high-profile premieres, though many — Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine, Noah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly, Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite — were award season flops.

    The only 2025 Venice title to score at the Oscars was Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein, which picked up 9 Academy Award nominations, winning three, for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design and Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling. Bugonia, from Yorgos Lanthimos, another Venice world premiere, picked up three Oscar nominations but won none. Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, which won Venice’s Silver Lion last year, was nominated for Best International Feature but lost out to Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value.

    Europe’s other big festivals, Cannes and Berlin, struggled this year to attract films from major studios, leading to speculation that the majors are going cold on the festival circuit. Barbera has traditionally proven adept at enticing the studios, and Netflix, to premiere their prestige titles on the Lido. This year’s lineup will see if he still has the touch.

  • Sarajevo Film Festival Unveils Competition Programs With 21 World Premieres, Six International Premieres

    Sarajevo Film Festival Unveils Competition Programs With 21 World Premieres, Six International Premieres

    The Sarajevo Film Festival, the leading festival for South-East European cinema, unveiled the lineups for the four competition sections on Thursday, which include 21 world premieres, six international premieres, one European premiere and 23 regional premieres. The 32nd edition runs from Aug. 14 to 21.

    The narrative feature films section includes nine films from South-East Europe, of which one film will have its world premiere, one its international premiere, one its European premiere, and six their regional premieres.

    Elma Tataragić, the programmer of the section, said, “The selection is dominated by second and third features, alongside one debut and two fifth feature films, reflecting both the emergence of new voices and the continued development of established auteurs. Together, these nine films offer a rich panorama of contemporary regional cinema, spanning intimate family dramas, coming-of-age stories, social realism, and formally adventurous works. With six of the nine films directed by women, this year’s competition reflects not only the artistic diversity of the region but also the growing strength and plurality of voices shaping its cinematic future.”

    Competition Program – Narrative Feature Film:
    EVERYTHING THAT’S WRONG WITH YOU, Urša Menart (Slovenia, Germany, Serbia, 2026, 97 min.) – World Premiere
    After the emotional collapse that follows her mother’s death, Maruša builds an online bond with Alja, a nurse living in a small coastal town in Germany. Bonding through humor over their shared struggles, Maruša and Alja quickly develop a friendship that is put to the test when they finally meet in person.
    SMALL THINGS, Zvonimir Jurić (Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, 2026, 80 min.) – International Premiere
    During a winter weekend, sisters Anica and Irena, accompanied by Irena’s two children, travel to an island to visit their father and their brother Ivan, a quiet loner. The reason for the gathering is their father’s decision to sell the family land. Confined in the worn-down family house, the members of the family are forced to confront long-suppressed tensions and difficult choices, while one of them will have to make the ultimate sacrifice.
    SKATEBOARDING IS NOT FOR GIRLS, Dina Duma (North Macedonia, Belgium, Slovenia, Croatia, 2026, 82 min.) – European Premiere
    In Skopje, 11-year-old Adela and her elder sister Zara share a deep bond shaped by their navigation of two contradictory worlds. At school, they are typical, rebellious teens with skateboards, social media, crop tops, and boyfriends. After school, in a quiet and disciplined mode, they help their mother with cleaning jobs to make ends meet. When poverty shakes the family, Adela tries to find a way to save her sister – still a minor – from a fate that is becoming almost inevitable: an arranged marriage.
    17, Kosara Mitić (North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, 2026, 105 min.) – Regional Premiere
    Seventeen-year-old Sara is hiding a secret during a school trip. When the excursion spirals out of control and Sara witnesses her friend Lina being sexually assaulted, the two girls try to break the cycle of casual violence. This seals an everlasting bond between them.
    DUA, Blerta Basholli (Kosovo, Switzerland, France, 2026, 101 min.) – Regional Premiere
    Pristina, Kosovo, late 1990s. As war looms and ethnic tensions escalate, 13-year-old Dua struggles to find her place among her peers and within her changing body. After an incident shakes her community, she becomes a target herself and bonds with a fearless girl who draws her toward an unexpected form of resistance. Between the daily violence and the growing threat of exile, there is little room for quiet awakenings.
    EVERYTIME, Sandra Wollner (Austria, Germany, 2026, 121 min.) – Regional Premiere
    A tragedy brings a mother, a daughter, and a teenage boy together. Struggling with blame and forgiveness, the unlikely trio takes a trip to Tenerife for a family holiday that never happens. Under the glow of the sun, past and present quietly start to overlap.
    SHAME AND MONEY, Visar Morina (Germany, Kosovo, Slovenia, Albania, North Macedonia, Belgium, 2026, 129 min.) – Regional Premiere
    A couple in their forties live with their extended family in rural Kosovo, where they make a modest living from their farm. Following a familial dispute, their livelihood is lost. They are forced to move to Pristina, where the pressure to provide for their family weighs heavily on the parents as they do their best to find work and a place to stay. A journey into a hyper-capitalist society begins.
    SUPPORTING ROLE, Ana Urushadze (Georgia, Estonia, Türkiye, 2026, 139 min.) – Regional Premiere
    Niaz Ninua has seen brighter days. Once a leading man, he stepped away from cinema some 15 years ago. When he decides to return, he discovers a landscape that no longer revolves around him. He attends a casting session for a supporting role in a debut feature directed by a young woman. The encounter bruises his pride, and he leaves unconvinced, dismissing the role as pretentious. Yet, as he replays the encounter, Niaz begins to sense a pull toward the role he so quickly dismissed. What seemed beneath him starts to reveal contours he did not anticipate.
    YOU DON’T BELONG HERE, Florin Șerban (Romania, 2026, 154 min.) – Regional Premiere
    Marius, the chief medical officer at a hospital in his small hometown, is raising his teenage son Ioan alone after the death of his wife. Marius is a confident professional who has no idea what his son gets up to at night: cycling through town vandalizing cars with a gang of masked vigilantes. Marius’ world is shaken when he learns the police have come to suspect his son of murder.

    Competition Program – Documentary Feature:
    BEAR WITH ME, Martin Genovski (Bulgaria, 2026, 84 min.) – World Premiere
    GOOD PEOPLE, Milcho Manchevski (North Macedonia, 2026, 86 min.) – World Premiere
    THE BALKAN COWBOY, Dragana Jurišić (Croatia, Ireland, 2026, 93 min.) – World Premiere
    THE FORBIDDEN AUNT, Bojana Novaković (Serbia, Australia, 2026, 82 min.) – World Premiere
    WE SHALL LIVE TOGETHER, Damir Markovina (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2026, 75 min.) – World Premiere
    DON’T ASK ME IF I KILLED, Helena Maksyom (Romania, Netherlands, Germany, Ukraine, 2026, 103 min.) – International Premiere
    FRAGMENTS OF BELONGING, Tatjana Božić (Croatia, Netherlands, Germany, 2026, 80 min.) – International Premiere
    WHEN I GET OUT, Metod Pevec (Slovenia, 2026, 106 min.) – International Premiere
    32 METERS, Morteza Atabaki (Türkiye, Iran, Qatar, 2025, 83 min.) – Regional Premiere
    BUGBOY, Lucas Paleocrassas (Greece, France, Denmark, 2026, 87 min.) – Regional Premiere
    ELECTING MS SANTA, Raisa Răzmeriță (Moldova, Romania, 2025, 95 min.) – Regional Premiere
    FOR LIFE, Ahmet Seven (Türkiye, 2026, 89 min.) – Regional Premiere
    TO HOLD A MOUNTAIN, Biljana Tutorov, Petar Glomazić (Serbia, France, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, 2026, 105 min.) – Regional Premiere

    Competition Program – Documentary Shorts:
    BRO RAM, Branko Schmidt (Croatia, 2026, 14 min.) – World Premiere
    FAHRUDIN, Alen Drljević (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2026, 20 min.) – World Premiere
    OF LIGHT GHOSTS, Isabella Fellinger (Austria, 2026, 27 min.) – World Premiere
    THE CAPTAIN AND THE CASPIAN SEA, Turkan Huseyin (Azerbaijan, 2026, 30 min.) – World Premiere
    DEAR ORCHID, Hana Selena Sokolović (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Netherlands, 2026, 18 min.) – International Premiere
    ASPARAGUS BEAR, Ivan Grgur (Croatia, 2025, 18 min.) – Regional Premiere
    HOLY DEFIANCE, Karla Jelić (Croatia, 2026, 15 min.) – Regional Premiere
    THE FERRY FLOWS, Zhora Papoian (Ukraine, United Kingdom, 2026, 18 min.) – Regional Premiere

    Out of Competition
    YUGO GOES TO AMERICA, Filip Grujić, Aleksa Borković (Serbia, Croatia, 2026, 87 min.) – National Premiere

    Competition Program – Narrative Short Film
    DITCH, Marianna Vas (Hungary, 2026, 24 min.) – World Premiere
    HIDDEN IN FRAME, Anna Sarukhanova (Georgia, United Kingdom, 2026, 16 min.) – World Premiere
    MAMAMA, Danica Dakić (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2026, 8 min.) – World Premiere
    PATCH, Luka Galešić (Croatia, 2026, 13 min.) – World Premiere
    PORKATAL, Sis Gürdal (Türkiye, France, United Kingdom, 2026, 16 min.) – World Premiere
    ADGWA-ATA, Zsuzsanna Krief (Hungary, France, 2026, 15 min.) – Regional Premiere
    COSMONAUTS, Leo Černic (Slovenia, Italy, 2026, 14 min.) – Regional Premiere
    GO OUTSIDE AND HUG A TREE, Irina Alexiu (Romania, 2026, 14 min.) – Regional Premiere
    MOTHERHOOD, Anca Damian (Romania, Belgium, France, 2026, 18 min.) – Regional Premiere
    NOBODY SAID ANYTHING, Tamara Todorović (Serbia, France, Slovenia, Croatia, 2026, 15 min.) – Regional Premiere

    Competition Program – Student Short Film
    HYENA, Fanny Rösch (Austria, 2026, 23 min.) – World Premiere
    NEIGHBOR, Dan Grabnar (Serbia, 2026, 17 min.) – World Premiere
    SISTERS, Sara Ećimović (Serbia, 2026, 21 min.) – World Premiere
    THE GO-BETWEEN, Emir Solaković (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2026, 7 min.) – World Premiere
    UNWELLNESS, Réka Pinczés (Hungary, 2026, 21 min.) – World Premiere
    WATER WALLS, Bianka Szelestey (Hungary, 2026, 34 min.) – World Premiere
    THE FUTURE IS IN YOUR HANDS, BUT WHY NOT LEND IT TO THE SPECIALISTS?, Alexandra Schinteie (Romania, 2026, 18 min.) – International Premiere
    A. WANTS OUT (ON NEUTRALITY), Zorah Berghammer (Austria, 2026, 18 min.) – Regional Premiere
    BONEFUZZ, Márk László (Hungary, 2026, 10 min.) – Regional Premiere
    OVER THE THRESHOLD, Tara Gajović (Serbia, 2026, 15 min.) – Regional Premiere
    RABBIT DON’T RUN, Maximilian Conway, Elisabeth Jakob (Austria, 2026, 30 min.) – Regional Premiere

  • 24/7 financial rails: How BNY plans to eliminate the weekend lag in U.S. Treasuries

    24/7 financial rails: How BNY plans to eliminate the weekend lag in U.S. Treasuries

    BNY, the world’s largest custody bank, plans to support round-the-clock settlement of conventional and tokenized U.S. Treasuries in 2027, after completing an after-hours trade involving the reserves of 2 stablecoin issuers.

    The bank will test tokenized Treasuries on a private blockchain by the end of the year and will extend its existing settlement network later this year to cover more of the Asian, European and U.S. trading days, according to a letter sent to clients reported by Bloomberg.

    The earlier transaction involved Ripple’s $RLUSD and OpenEden’s USDO with Ripple participating directly, while BNY’s cash-management business unit Dreyfus acted for OpenEden.

    Tradeweb handled the trade after Fedwire Securities had stopped processing secondary-market Treasury transfers for the day, according to the report.

    BNY said the transaction settled shortly afterward through existing cash rails. The securities were not tokenized, but the test instead showed that Treasury activity tied to stablecoin reserves could continue after the main U.S. settlement window closed.

    $RLUSD and USDO hold short-dated government debt as reserve assets. The tokens trade continuously, but the Treasuries behind them remain tied to weekday settlement windows.

    That can delay reserve adjustments following large creations, redemptions or collateral calls.

  • BitMEX to Close on September 23, Halts New Sign-Ups

    BitMEX to Close on September 23, Halts New Sign-Ups

    In brief

    • Crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX said Thursday it will shut down on September 23, 2026, and has already stopped new account registrations.
    • The company cited a strategic review of the business and the wider crypto industry as being behind the decision.
    • BitMEX urged users to close positions and withdraw funds before the deadline.

    BitMEX, one of crypto’s oldest derivatives venues, is shutting down.

    The platform will cease operations on September 23 at 04:00 UTC, its operator, HDR Global Trading, said Thursday, pinning the decision on a “strategic review of the business and the broader industry.” New account sign-ups have already been halted. The move, BitMEX said, “comes with a heavy heart.”

    Users have two months to get out. Trading continues as normal until August 26, when BitMEX will bar new positions and let traders only reduce existing ones. From there it will force-close open positions to wind the market down in an orderly fashion, and any left open at the deadline will be closed automatically. Even after the shutdown, the company said, users can still log in to withdraw balances—though those who leave funds parked will eventually be charged a monthly account fee.

    Founded in 2014 by Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed, BitMEX built a template much of the industry still runs on. In May 2016 it launched the perpetual swap—a no-expiry futures contract offering up to 100x leverage. Crypto perps have since gone on to reach volumes of $61.7 trillion in 2025, per CryptoQuant, up $13.8 trillion on the previous year. BitMEX noted it had gone more than 11 years without losing user funds to a hack—a pointed claim in a year defined by nine-figure exploits.

    Its later history was rockier. BitMEX pleaded guilty in 2024 to violating the Bank Secrecy Act over lax anti-money-laundering controls, and paid $100 million in penalties. In March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned Hayes and his co-founders, wiping out the criminal case that had shadowed the exchange for years. BitMEX told users to trade on “the many excellent platforms that have followed in our footsteps.”

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