General Crypto
October 9, 2026
LINK Whale Transactions Surge as New Wallets Show Little Growth
- Standard Chartered crypto trading lets eligible UAE clients buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether through existing bank accounts
- Kraken parent Payward plans to acquire Saldo Bank’s holding company, with completion expected in 2027 pending regulatory approval
- France’s proposed tax change could make gains on certain crypto-to-stablecoin swaps taxable from 2027, even without a cash withdrawal
Standard Chartered crypto trading is moving into existing bank accounts in the UAE, while Kraken’s parent is pursuing a European banking acquisition. Both developments bring digital assets closer to familiar financial services, from trading to deposits and loans. Yet easier access leaves another question unresolved, when does moving crypto trigger a tax bill? A France stablecoin tax proposal puts that issue into focus, with potential consequences for investors who never withdraw cash.
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Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading Moves Into Bank Accounts
Standard Chartered’s recent announcement gives eligible UAE clients a way to buy and sell Bitcoin and Ether through their existing accounts, without opening separate wallets or using outside trading platforms.
The service initially targets Professional Investor clients. Standard Chartered will manage custody and settlement within its banking system, with Zodia Markets involved in delivering the offering. The bank said it secured licensing approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
For eligible customers, the practical change is fewer steps between their banking relationship and crypto holdings. Access remains restricted, however, and the launch does not open trading to every retail account holder.
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Kraken Bank Acquisition Would Broaden Payward’s Business
Payward, Kraken’s parent company, is approaching the same market from the other direction. Under a definitive agreement announced on October 14, it plans to acquire Saldo Finance Oy, the Finnish holding company behind Lithuania’s Saldo Bank. The bank’s license has been passported across five European markets.
The acquisition would support interest-bearing deposits, lending, card issuance, and SEPA payments. Payward said its banking business has already originated more than $2 billion in loans.
Financial terms were not disclosed. Closing is expected in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals and other conditions, leaving the expanded European offering dependent on completion.
France Puts Stablecoin Conversions Under Scrutiny
France’s proposal addresses what happens when investors move between digital assets. The National Assembly’s finance committee adopted amendment I-CF1826 on October 7. It would remove tax deferral for crypto swaps into electronic-money tokens defined under MiCA, a category covering certain fiat-linked stablecoins.
The proposed rules would apply to transactions from January 1, 2027, if enacted. Committee adoption alone does not make the measure law.
It should be noted for anyone moving out of a volatile asset while keeping funds in crypto. A qualifying stablecoin conversion could realize a taxable gain before any money reaches a bank account. As banks and exchanges broaden their services, investors would still need to account for the tax consequences of moving their holdings.
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