13 October 2026
Key Developments in Crypto Law: Lawsuits, Sanctions, and Regulatory Changes
This week has been pivotal for the crypto legal landscape, marked by a lawsuit from community banks challenging the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) over its chartering framework for crypto businesses.
On October 2, the Independent Community Bankers of America filed a suit in Washington, D.C., arguing that the OCC exceeded its authority by allowing national trust banks that do not accept deposits. This legal action raises significant questions for crypto custodians and businesses considering national trust charters.
In another major development, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on the A7 Network on October 1, labeling it a significant transnational criminal organization linked to Russia and Iran. This designation includes the ruble-backed A7A5 token, highlighting the need for exchanges and financial institutions to scrutinize their exposure to such networks.
Additionally, renewed scrutiny of Tether's compliance with sanctions was initiated by Senate investigators. A report released on September 28 criticized Tether's controls over wallets associated with sanctioned entities, prompting calls for further investigation by the Treasury and Justice Department.
In Europe, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) proposed enhancements to the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, aiming for stronger enforcement and clearer regulations for decentralized finance (DeFi) access.
Finally, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority has opened its application window for crypto authorization, urging firms to align their operations with the new regulatory regime set to take effect in October 2027.
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