On January 28, 2026, the U.S. SEC clarified that tokenized securities must comply with federal securities laws, outlining expectations for issuer-sponsored and third-party models. The update aims to align blockchain-based mechanisms with existing rules and may encourage traditional institutions to explore tokenization, while broader adoption still depends on pending legislation.

On January 28, 2026, the U.S. SEC issued guidance confirming that tokenized securities must follow existing U.S. securities regulations, regardless of the technology used. The update outlines issuer obligations around registration, disclosure, reporting and anti-fraud rules, and distinguishes issuer-backed from third-party tokenized instruments. One SEC commissioner warned that the staff guidance does not carry legal force, leaving broker-dealers exposed to potential shifts in enforcement.

The Central Bank of the UAE has approved USDU, a USD-pegged stablecoin issued by Universal Digital Ltd., for use within its regulatory framework and focused on institutional settlement. As of January 29, 2026, according to CoinMarketCap, USDU is priced at $1.00 with a fully diluted market cap of $10.01 billion.

On January 29, the UAE's Central Bank approved USDU under the Payment Token Services Regulation, marking the first USD-backed stablecoin authorized within its framework. Managed by Universal Digital, USDU targets professional clients for cross-border settlements, with reserves held at Emirates NBD and Mashreq Bank, and Aquanow designated as the global distributor outside the UAE.

The White House will meet banking and crypto executives on Monday to discuss a stalled cryptocurrency bill centered on stablecoin yield provisions. The agenda reflects ongoing tensions between the sectors, and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said the current Senate Banking draft cannot be supported as written.

On January 28, Grayscale's Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF was added to Morgan Stanley's E*TRADE platform, giving U.S. financial advisors a new channel for regulated Bitcoin exposure. The listing connects the product to more than $7.4 trillion in client assets and is presented as a milestone for institutional adoption of Bitcoin in traditional portfolios.

On January 27, 2026, Citrea, a Bitcoin Layer 2 project built by Chainway Labs with backing from Founders Fund and Galaxy, launched its mainnet and introduced the ctUSD stablecoin. The network uses zkEVM technology and the Clementine bridge to enable BTC-collateralized lending and other financial products on Bitcoin, while Bitcoin traded at $87,825.62 with a $1.75 trillion market cap and 58.95% dominance.

On January 23, 2026, ARK Invest began its 2026 crypto-linked equity activity, buying Coinbase (COIN), Circle (CRCL), and Bullish (BLSH). The firm disclosed 42,179 COIN, 129,446 CRCL, and 88,533 BLSH shares, totaling $21.88 million. The move reflects a preference for crypto-exposed equities amid a long-term innovation thesis.

After a hearing on January 25, the UK High Court began civil recovery proceedings tied to 60,000 BTC linked to fraud suspect Zhao Dong, highlighting disputes over how Chinese victims are represented. Authorities describe this as the largest Bitcoin seizure in UK history, with prosecutors also enforcing a £5.6 million confiscation order against Seng Hok Ling in a related money laundering operation.