KLEA Crypto Daily: Saturday, October 17, 2026

Published: October 18, 2026 – 00:10 UTC

Key stories from October 17, 2026.

Goldman Sachs CEO Sees Tokenization as Wall Street’s Next Act

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon emphasized the transformative potential of tokenization in financial markets during the bank's earnings call on October 13. He highlighted opportunities in tokenized bonds and real estate, suggesting that this shift could create new revenue streams for traditional finance rather than merely posing a threat to existing structures.

French Assembly Approves Tax on Crypto-to-Stablecoin Swaps

The French National Assembly has narrowly approved a budget amendment that would impose a 31.4% capital gains tax on exchanges from cryptocurrencies to single-currency stablecoins, set to take effect on January 1, 2027, pending further legislative processes. This significant regulatory change could drive French crypto holders to seek alternatives for managing their digital assets, potentially impacting the local crypto market.

BIS Study Reveals Impact of Bank Rates on Stablecoin Growth

A recent study by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) indicates that higher deposit rates offered by banks can significantly slow the growth of stablecoins, particularly USDC. The research found that a 1 basis point increase in bank deposit rates correlates with a decrease in stablecoin growth, cutting ten-week growth from 15% to 12%, highlighting the competitive dynamics between traditional banking products and digital currencies.

Brooklyn Prosecutor Targets Crypto Scams Linked to $11 Billion in Losses

In a major crackdown on cryptocurrency fraud, Brooklyn's Assistant District Attorney, Alona Katz, collaborated with the FBI to disrupt 241 scam domains and 112 servers, revealing a network of scams that has led to approximately $11.366 billion in losses for Americans in 2025. This operation underscores the growing threat of crypto-related fraud, particularly targeting vulnerable communities, and highlights the need for increased regulatory scrutiny in the cryptocurrency space.

BlackRock’s IBIT and ETHA Lead $152M in Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF Outflows

On October 16, U.S. spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs experienced significant net outflows totaling $152.07 million, primarily driven by BlackRock's IBIT and ETHA funds. This trend reflects a broader investor pullback from the cryptocurrency market, with BlackRock's IBIT alone accounting for $71.78 million of the outflows, indicating growing concerns about market stability and investor sentiment.

Source: KLEA News