AI agents can’t open bank accounts, but they can hold crypto wallets and use stablecoins to pay one another. The x402 protocol turns the web’s “payment required” response into a machine-readable paywall. This makes it possible for software to purchase data, APIs, or services directly from other software without using cards or banks.

Microsoft flagged a USB-spread crypto clipper malware on June 17, 2026, saying the activity has been ongoing since February. The threat monitors the clipboard and swaps wallet addresses when users paste them. It also steals seed phrases.

Strategy sold 32 Bitcoin in May 2026—its first sale since 2022—to fund dividend payments tied to its STRC preferred shares. STRC fell as low as $82.50 versus its $100 par value, pushing its yield to around 13%. The move has sharpened investor focus on how much strain the company’s Bitcoin-accumulation model can absorb as financing conditions tighten.

Crypto custody determines whether you control your assets by holding the private keys or relying on a third party. The guide explains the trade-offs between self-custody and keeping funds on an exchange, and compares hot wallets with offline cold storage. It also outlines seed-phrase security basics and common mistakes that can lead to permanent losses.

Kraken became FIFA’s first official crypto sponsor on June 9, 2026. More than $2B in on-chain prediction market volume was recorded over roughly a week. The development has put renewed focus on what it could mean for tokens such as CHZ and AVAX.

A proposal dubbed Root Reborn would reshape how Bittensor validators handle yield by reinvesting subnet proceeds instead of automatically selling them. Under the plan, validators would select baskets of subnets to support, resembling portfolio managers, while stakers could still convert returns back to TAO when they choose. The change would shift subnet economics by replacing persistent sell pressure with reinvestment flows.

Kelp DAO migrated rsETH from LayerZero to Chainlink after a $292M bridge hack on April 18, 2026. The breach stemmed from a compromised verifier that enabled an attacker to drain 116,500 rsETH. Chainalysis post-mortem data put the haul at roughly 18% of the token’s total supply.

OpenSea is adding perpetual contracts via Hyperliquid as NFT trading volumes decline. The marketplace, once the sector’s clear leader, now ranks third by volume with a 19.9% market share. The move marks a push into on-chain derivatives while its SEA token launch remains postponed.

Banca Sella said it became Italy's first bank authorised to provide crypto-asset services under MiCA on May 27, 2026, after completing a notification process with the Bank of Italy in forty days. The Biella-based lender is focusing on custody and transfer rather than retail trading, with a custody, send, and receive solution planned before the end of 2026 and initially aimed at corporate and institutional clients.