The Block - 2026-09-17 ​
14 items collected.
1. US sanctions Iranian crypto exchange BitBank over alleged bitcoin transfers to IRGC ​
Author: Kyle Baird
Published: 9/17/2026, 8:05:28 PM
Categories: Legal, Policy, Regulation, U.S. Policymaking, Sanctions, Treasury Department, News
Treasury said the previously sanctioned Hormuz Safe platform used BitBank to transfer payments collected since June.
2. JPMorgan says bitcoin could get more support than gold if ETF hedging eases ​
Author: Yogita Khatri
Published: 9/17/2026, 5:48:51 PM
Categories: Companies, Crypto Ecosystems, Equities, Finance firms, Funds, Layer 1s, Markets, Token Projects, Web3, Analyst Reports, Bitcoin, Bitcoin ETF, Crypto, exclusive, JPMorgan, News
Bitcoin could get more support than gold if investors reduce their ETF hedges, according to JPMorgan analysts.
3. As RWA trading surges on Hyperliquid, Dragonfly’s Qureshi makes the case for a multichain future ​
Author: Jason Shubnell
Published: 9/17/2026, 5:21:07 PM
Categories: Crypto Ecosystems, Deals, DeFi, Layer 1s, Markets, Organizations, Token Projects, Web3, Avalanche, Dragonfly Capital, Protocols, Tokenization, News
Dragonfly's Haseeb Qureshi said the shift reflects crypto's broader maturation toward tokenized stocks, bonds, and other real-world assets.
4. Regulators keep moving on crypto: CFTC follows SEC with developer-friendly no-action stance ​
Author: Sarah Wynn
Published: 9/17/2026, 4:50:22 PM
Categories: Policy, Regulation, CFTC, SEC, News
Software developers who build crypto trading tools just got some breathing room from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
5. ‘There’s not enough blockspace’: Avalanche Treasury CEO says AI agents could crunch L1 blockchain capacity ​
Author: Kyle Baird
Published: 9/17/2026, 3:41:22 PM
Categories: Companies, Crypto Ecosystems, DeFi, Layer 1s, Markets, Policy, Regulation, Token Projects, Web3, AI, Avalanche, Ethereum, Solana, News
Smith expects traditional financial markets to shift to 24/5 trading by mid-2027, requiring new blockchain infrastructure.
6. World launches ‘World Money’ super app with stablecoins, Stripe integration and boosted rewards ​
Author: Jason Shubnell
Published: 9/17/2026, 3:06:58 PM
Categories: Companies, Crypto Ecosystems, DeFi, Finance firms, Web3, Payments, News
The self-custody app also plugs into Stripe, Kalshi, and Morpho, with World ID verification unlocking boosted rewards.
7. S&P Global agrees to acquire OpenZeppelin in onchain security push ​
Author: James Hunt
Published: 9/17/2026, 1:32:01 PM
Categories: Companies, Crypto Ecosystems, Crypto Infrastructure, Deals, DeFi, Mergers & Acquisitions, Public Company Mergers and Acquisitions, Security Firms, News
OpenZeppelin will continue operating as a standalone business unit under S&P Global, with financial terms of the deal not disclosed.
8. It’s here — SEC releases long-awaited innovation exemption to ‘bring America’s capital markets into the digital age’ ​
Author: Sarah Wynn
Published: 9/17/2026, 1:00:00 PM
Categories: Policy, Regulation, SEC, News
The SEC released its 'innovation exemption,' positioning the measure as a response to the Senate's failure to advance crypto legislation.
9. Crypto.com registers with SEC for single-stock futures, plans US stock perps ​
Author: James Hunt
Published: 9/17/2026, 12:41:53 PM
Categories: Companies, Policy, Regulation, News
CEO Kris Marszalek said the company is also working with the SEC and CFTC to offer single-stock perpetual futures in the U.S.
10. Grayscale’s Pandl still sees bitcoin’s $58K low as the bottom, gives clients ‘green light’ ​
Author: Brian Danga
Published: 9/17/2026, 11:47:30 AM
Categories: Markets, News
Grayscale's Zach Pandl maintains bitcoin bottomed near $58,000 as the firm gives clients a "green light" to allocate.
11. Bitwise CIO Hougan revises Clarity Act outlook, says crypto bull market may continue without legislation ​
Author: James Hunt
Published: 9/17/2026, 10:19:55 AM
Categories: Crypto Ecosystems, Equities, Layer 1s, Markets, Token Projects, Analyst Reports, Bitcoin, News
Bitcoin climbed above $80,000 in early September despite declining odds of the legislation passing this year, Hougan noted.
12. South Korean police charge 26 Polymarket users for illegal gambling: report ​
Author: Danny Park
Published: 9/17/2026, 6:12:50 AM
Categories: Policy, Regulation, News
The country blocked local access to Polymarket last month after its media regulator ruled that the platform offers illegal gambling.
13. ‘Not the end’: Sen. Gillibrand says Democrats still committed to passing Clarity Act ​
Author: Danny Park
Published: 9/17/2026, 2:09:31 AM
Categories: Policy, Regulation, News
Industry analysts say it is highly unlikely for the bill to pass this Congress, and instead pointed to the SEC and CFTC's rulemaking efforts.
14. House committee moves to codify Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve ​
Author: Sarah Wynn
Published: 9/17/2026, 12:56:10 AM
Categories: Crypto Ecosystems, Layer 1s, Markets, People, Policy, Regulation, Token Projects, U.S. Policymaking, Bitcoin, Donald Trump, House Financial Services Committee, News
A House committee advanced a bill to create a strategic bitcoin reserve, which would codify Trump's plan for permanent bitcoin holdings.