Trust Wallet has restored its browser extension to the Chrome Web Store after a December exploit involving about $8.5 million in stolen digital assets from thousands of users. The team released version 2.71.0 with a verification code feature to support a tightened reimbursement process, following reports of more than 5,000 compensation claims against roughly 2,600 identified affected wallet addresses. Trust Wallet and parent company Binance have committed to fully reimbursing verified victims while warning users to avoid fake browser extensions.

Turkmenistan legalized cryptocurrency mining and trading after President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed a new law on Thursday. The statute classifies virtual assets under civil law, sets up central bank oversight for licensed exchanges, and keeps digital assets from being used as payment, while state controls on internet access continue.

Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs reports that several governments are using cryptocurrency both to evade sanctions and to modernize financial infrastructure. The findings highlight North Korea’s large-scale hacking campaigns, Russia and Iran’s sanctions workarounds, and Venezuela’s growing dependence on stablecoins amid economic turmoil. Regulators in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Singapore are simultaneously turning to blockchain analytics to tighten oversight and freeze criminal funds.

Failing to declare crypto holdings or gains already triggers fines, capital freezes and automated checks, with stricter rules starting on 1 January 2026. Penalties range from 3%–15% for non-monitoring and 90%–120% of the tax due for undeclared profits, while banks require proof of fund origin. Under MiCA, exchanges share user data with authorities, and the capital gains rate will move to 33%.

On March 2, Hong Kong influencer "Zhu Gongzi," whose real name is Chu Ka-fai, appeared at Eastern Magistrates' Courts to face a revised indictment of four money laundering charges linked to the collapsed JPEX crypto platform. Prosecutors claim he processed about HK$18.78 million through four bank accounts between November 2020 and August 2023, and they are seeking to transfer the case to the District Court.

On January 2, 2026, Banxa and Vicox Legal announced a partnership to enable crypto-funded property purchases across Spain, Portugal, France, Greece, and Montenegro. The framework pairs Vicox's real estate legal due diligence with Banxa's regulated payment rails, including a MiCA licence in the Netherlands to operate as a CASP across 30 EEA and coverage in over 200 countries.

Dexter became the largest daily facilitator for x402 transactions from December 11, according to data published by Hashed Official. The AI protocol has processed over 19.8 million total payments, 14 million fewer than Base. Charts indicate Dexter now handles roughly half of daily volume while Coinbase's share ranges from one-quarter to one-third.

In late 2025 and early 2026, Coinbase came under renewed fire from Base ecosystem traders and developers, who accused the exchange of "corporate double-speak" over how it lists tokens and backs projects. Critics pointed to Coinbase's initial reluctance to list Base-native tokens, its preference for Solana meme coins, and uneven support for ventures like Arcadia and Giza, while CEO Brian Armstrong defended the firm's reliance on DEX integrations and positioned Coinbase as an "everything exchange."