Crypto news, 22 October 2026: bitcoin ETFs, Coinbase in Ireland, the FCA and SoFi
Over one billion into bitcoin ETFs in three sessions, an Irish central bank fine for Coinbase, FCA consultations on DeFi, SoFi's tokenised deposit and a Ticino link in an Italian probe.
Thursday 22 October 2026. This round-up gathers the relevant facts of the last 24 hours, each checked against a primary or reliable source. Today's focus is on European supervision of customer funds, new UK rules and the arrival of tokenised bank deposits.
Markets: over one billion into bitcoin ETFs in three sessions
According to CoinGecko data checked on 22 October at 18:12 (Zurich time), bitcoin is trading at around 81,700 US dollars, about 67,200 Swiss francs, down 3.3% over 24 hours; ether is at around 2,400 dollars (-4.4%). Over the last 24 hours bitcoin fell from about 84,800 to 81,600 dollars; over seven days bitcoin is down 0.5% and ether 1.5%.
According to Farside, US spot bitcoin ETFs took in a net 524.8 million dollars on Wednesday, including 235.0 million in BlackRock's IBIT and 212.7 million in Fidelity's FBTC. Together with Monday and Tuesday, the three sessions add up to 1,074.7 million, and the October balance is back in positive territory at +460.0 million. Ether ETFs recorded +14.9 million, their first inflow after five sessions of outflows; month to date they stand at -1,069.6 million.
Ireland: the central bank fines Coinbase over safeguarding
The Central Bank of Ireland has fined Coinbase Ireland, the Coinbase group's e-money institution, 3,252,618 euros and issued a reprimand. Between November 2020 and August 2025 the firm breached the safeguarding and outsourcing obligations of the e-money rules: it relied too heavily on its US parent, and its designated safeguarding account was underfunded for lengthy periods. The initial penalty of 4,646,597 euros was reduced by 30% under the settlement scheme; it takes effect once confirmed by the High Court. According to Reuters, Coinbase says it self-reported the issues and that no customer suffered a financial loss.
United Kingdom: the FCA consults on DeFi and the crypto perimeter
The Financial Conduct Authority has opened two consultations, running until 18 November 2026. The first, GC26/7, proposes guidance for authorised firms using decentralised finance, focused on operational resilience, financial crime and anti-money laundering; final guidance is planned for January 2027. The second, CP26/36, explains new exclusions introduced by recent legislative changes, for example for certain stablecoin arrangements, proprietary trading and technical services that merely give access to decentralised protocols. The UK cryptoasset regime comes into force on 25 October 2027.
United States: SoFi launches a tokenised deposit for consumers
SoFi has launched SoFi Earn (SOFIE), which it describes as the first tokenised deposit issued by a US national bank for consumers. Each SOFIE represents one dollar on deposit at SoFi Bank, earns 4.40% a year and is FDIC-insured up to the applicable limits. It can be converted 1:1 into the SoFiUSD stablecoin to buy crypto assets or move funds on a blockchain; unlike the deposit, the stablecoin is not insured.
Anti-money laundering: an arrest in Lugano in the "hidden bank" probe
Italy's Guardia di Finanza has dismantled an alleged "hidden bank" for organised crime in Pero, near Milan: 30 precautionary measures, more than 110 million euros in alleged fake invoices and about 68 million euros of international laundering, partly through crypto assets; seizures exceed 21 million. According to Corriere del Ticino, a man said to have converted the proceeds into crypto was arrested in Lugano pending extradition; fedpol carried out searches in Ticino at the request of Milan prosecutors.
Sources
- CoinGecko, bitcoin and ether prices, checked on 22 October 2026 at 18:12: https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/bitcoin
- Farside Investors, Bitcoin ETF Flow and Ethereum ETF Flow: https://farside.co.uk/btc/, https://farside.co.uk/eth/
- Central Bank of Ireland, press release of 22 October 2026: https://www.centralbank.ie/news/article/press-release-central-bank-takes-enforcement-action-against-coinbase-ireland-22-october-2026
- Reuters via Euronext, 22 October 2026: https://live.euronext.com/en/financial-news/irish-central-bank-fines-coinbase-unit-eu325-million
- FCA, GC26/7 and CP26/36 of 21 October 2026: https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/guidance-consultations/gc26-7-decentralised-finance-guidance, https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/consultation-papers/cp26-36-cryptoasset-perimeter-guidance
- SoFi, press release of 22 October 2026: https://investors.sofi.com/news/news-details/2026/SoFi-Launches-SoFi-Earn-SOFIE-the-First-and-Only-National-Bank-Issued-Tokenized-Deposit-for-Consumers/default.aspx
- Corriere del Ticino and La Stampa, 21 October 2026: https://www.cdt.ch/news/ticino/si-occupava-della-conversione-in-cripto-dei-profitti-illeciti-la-pista-porta-da-pero-a-lugano-442401, https://www.lastampa.it/cronaca/2026/10/21/news/banca_occulta_mafie_30_arresti_giro_d_affari_milionario-15772892/
