CFTC Report: Defensive currency positioning takes hold

The week in one sentence: Sterling and Euro shorts deepened in the week to September 22, while Yen longs were cut sharply. Oil positioning improved despite a steep price decline, and Gold exposure remained crowded. The main signal was a more defensive currency positioning backdrop.

NEAR reclaims $5 as Bitwise ETF clears key regulatory hurdle

NEAR Protocol’s native token climbed above $5 on Friday, extending a sharp multi-week rally as progress on a proposed Bitwise exchange-traded fund (ETF) coincided with growing activity across the network’s ecosystem.

South Korean Won: Export strength supports KRW – Societe Generale

Societe Generale notes the Korean Won has been one of Asia’s standout performers, with USD/KRW slipping from around 1,390 to 1,360 as local exporters sold Dollars ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

Ethereum Price Forecast: ETH holds steady despite weakening derivatives

Ethereum (ETH) holds steady just below $2,700 on Friday as derivatives weakness continues.

Chinese Yuan: Consolidation with downside risk toward 6.7330 – UOB

UOB’s Quek Ser Leang and Lee Sue Ann describe USD/CNH as consolidating after a move to 6.7200, with momentum slowing in the very near term.

Binance buys $100 million Circle stake in five-year USDC promotion deal

Binance bought $100 million of Circle stock at a discount alongside a five-year deal to promote USDC, per an SEC filing.

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Brussels and Washington’s stablecoin rulebooks edge closer as the ECB targets MiCA’s deposit rule

The ECB and EU central banks want MiCA's 30%/60% stablecoin bank-deposit rule scrapped for liquidity thresholds, moving closer to the US GENIUS Act if adopted.

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ECB to invest part of its own funds in tokenised securities

The ECB is preparing to put part of its own funds into tokenised securities settled in central bank money via Pontes.

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Saudi Arabia’s exit leaves mBridge running without its western architects

Saudi Arabia's central bank has left mBridge, the China-led cross-border CBDC payments platform, after its proof of concept and the BIS's 2024 exit.

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Brazil bars stablecoins from eFX settlement leg under Resolution 561

Brazil's central bank bars stablecoins from the wholesale eFX settlement leg from 1 October 2026 under Resolution 561, while individual crypto transfers remain permitted.

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