Looking for the biggest crypto news today? Several major developments are influencing Bitcoin, blockchain, DeFi, Web3 and digital asset regulation.
Among the most important stories, Greece has added its first providers to the European Union’s MiCA crypto register. Meanwhile, the fallout from Bitget’s $387.5 million hack continues, while the US Securities and Exchange Commission has issued new guidance on when certain crypto activities may fall outside federal securities laws.
Greece Adds Its First MiCA-Registered Crypto Providers
Greece has entered the European Union’s crypto regulatory register for the first time.
Four Greek companies — BCash, Xenios Blockchain Group, Capital Wallet Greece and Piraeus Bank — were added to the European Securities and Markets Authority’s Markets in Crypto-Assets register.
Several additional providers from Germany, France and Slovenia were also added, bringing the total number of unique entities on the register to 359.
The development marks an important step for the Greek crypto market as the European Union continues implementing its MiCA regulatory framework.
Binance Previously Sought MiCA Approval in Greece
Binance could have become one of the first major crypto exchanges to secure authorization through Greece.
Approval from Greek regulators would have allowed the exchange to offer services across the European Union through MiCA’s passporting system.
However, Binance withdrew its application on June 24 before the Hellenic Capital Market Commission reached a formal decision.
Later reports claimed that European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde had intervened in the process. The Greek regulator rejected those claims and has since provided further clarification regarding the matter.
NEAR Intents Blocks More Than $50 Million Linked to Bitget Hack
The aftermath of the Bitget hack also remained a major crypto story.
Attackers stole approximately $387.5 million from the exchange, with part of the funds later moving across multiple blockchain networks.
NEAR Intents said its security system identified and blocked more than $50 million in attempted transfers connected to the attack.
The protocol also froze about $503,000 during transaction execution. However, approximately $166,000 in suspected stolen assets still passed through the platform.
Crypto Protocols Face Debate Over Stolen Funds
The Bitget incident has renewed debate over how decentralized and permissionless crypto protocols should respond to illicit transactions.
THORChain also faced pressure to block addresses allegedly connected to the hack.
Alex Shevchenko, general manager of NEAR Intents, argued that decentralized protocols can still make policy choices about how their systems are used.
He said protecting property rights remains essential for healthy financial markets and suggested that crypto infrastructure should not automatically provide unrestricted access to stolen assets.
SEC Issues New Crypto Securities Guidance
The US Securities and Exchange Commission has also updated its guidance on when certain crypto assets and transactions may fall outside federal securities laws.
The latest guidance expands on the SEC’s interpretation of the Howey test and addresses areas such as token buybacks, network development and staking receipt tokens.
According to the agency, certain token buybacks may not represent the managerial efforts typically associated with an investment contract when a blockchain network is already fully functional and does not depend on a central party.
Staking Tokens May Not Automatically Be Securities
The SEC also clarified that staking receipt tokens should not automatically be treated as securities.
In addition, work performed to maintain or improve an already operational blockchain network may fall outside some elements of the traditional investment contract framework.
The guidance does not change existing law and is not legally binding. However, it gives crypto companies greater insight into how SEC staff may interpret current securities rules.
Crypto Regulation Remains in Focus
The SEC update follows similar regulatory guidance from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
It also comes after the US Senate failed to advance the CLARITY Act, legislation designed to establish a clearer division of digital asset oversight between the SEC and CFTC.
With the legislation stalled, both agencies are continuing to regulate the crypto market using their existing authority.
Together, the developments in Greece, the Bitget hack and the latest SEC guidance highlight how regulation, security and institutional oversight remain central themes across the crypto market.
