Macquarie projects global wagering on the 2026 World Cup could surpass $50 billion, up from $35 billion in 2022, as the tournament expands to 48 teams and 104 matches. The event began June 11 in Mexico City and is the first World Cup to feature regulated U.S. prediction markets such as Kalshi and Polymarket alongside sportsbooks. Crypto sportsbooks including Stake, Betfury, and 1win are also running World Cup promotions worth millions in rewards.

On June 11, Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC) priced its first digital bond, raising close to HK$12 billion (about US$1.5 billion). The three-tranche, blockchain-based issuance drew peak demand of around HK$24 billion from more than 100 investor accounts and shortened settlement to three working days.

On 12 June 2026, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said the proposed Digital Asset Market Clarity Act could shift about 90% of crypto trading volume from offshore venues to the U.S. He argued the bill would improve consumer protection by bringing activity under defined rules, while criticizing JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon as opposing it to defend a payments unit he said generates $20 billion in revenue and over $5 billion in profit.

CFTC Chair Mike Selig, confirmed to lead the agency in December 2025, said crypto markets have faced prolonged regulatory uncertainty and that the regulator will prioritize clear, rule-based oversight over enforcement-led policymaking. As the CFTC's only sitting commissioner, he now holds unusual sway over crypto, derivatives and prediction markets, including a $36.6 billion event-contract market reported for Q1 2026. Selig also pointed to work on U.S.-regulated crypto perpetual futures and a June 10 proposal that would review prediction-market contracts under a 90-day process.

Chainalysis reported on June 11 that an international law enforcement effort dismantled AudiA6, a laundering service it links to ransomware actors and darknet activity. The firm said AudiA6 processed about 10,333 BTC since launching in 2021, historically valued at roughly $389 million, and allegedly relied on more than 6,000 KYC-verified mule accounts plus exchange infrastructure.

Figure Technology Solutions agreed to buy Kiavi’s technology and operating platform in a $717 million deal, aiming to place more private-credit lending activity onto its blockchain marketplace. Figure said the transaction could add more than $7 billion in annual first-lien loan volume and over $100 million in monthly flow to its Democratized Prime platform, while targeting a $200 billion annual origination market.

Nine Italian banks began testing Eur.Bank infrastructure on June 3, 2026, in a technical phase that is not a consumer launch. The European Central Bank is awaiting payment service provider feedback by the end of June 2026 after inviting applications by May 14, and it is aiming for an operational pilot in the second half of 2027.

On June 11, 2026, Citigroup rolled out a blockchain-based marketplace aimed at wealthy and institutional clients to trade tokens that represent ownership interests in private companies. The offering is set to start with foreign investors, as Citi explores participation with several large private firms that it has not publicly named.