Here’s what happened in crypto today

Today in crypto, HTX agrees to halt illegal promotions in the UK, CFTC Chair Michael Selig suggested a future where AI-powered refrigerators could stake Ether and launch memecoins and Strategy shareholders approved daily dividend payments across four preferred stocks.

HTX agrees to halt unlawful UK crypto promotions after FCA case

Cryptocurrency exchange HTX has agreed to stop unlawfully promoting its services to consumers in the United Kingdom under a settlement announced Thursday by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Huobi Global S.A., the Panamanian company behind HTX, agreed that it would not knowingly run illegal promotions, including through the exchange’s website, apps or social media. The court undertakings run until Oct. 21, 2031.

The settlement terms are confidential, and the agreement does not constitute an admission of liability or wrongdoing.

“Crypto firms should be under no illusion: being based overseas does not put them beyond the reach of UK law,” said Steve Smart, executive director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA. “The message to other firms is clear: follow the rules or face the consequences.”

In an Oct. 16 notice outlining its UK exit arrangements, the exchange formerly known as Huobi said existing UK accounts could no longer deposit or trade. Eligible users can request a one-time 48-hour window to withdraw remaining assets, subject to approval and compliance checks. Accounts will close after all assets have been withdrawn.

The FCA brought the case in October 2025 and announced it in February, which it said was the agency’s first enforcement action against a crypto firm over illegal marketing.

Your fridge could one day stake Ether, launch memecoins: CFTC chair

Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Michael Selig says it is “no longer science fiction” to imagine one’s refrigerator autonomously purchasing groceries with money earned from staking Ether — or even launching its own memecoin, raising questions about how regulators should oversee autonomous AI agents.

The colorful comment came during Selig’s remarks at the CFTC’s inaugural Frontier Forum in Washington, DC, on Wednesday, where he argued that regulators must adapt to a financial system where AI agents can hold assets and execute trades autonomously.

“We’re gathered here today to discuss a technology that’s rapidly transforming the financial markets. President Trump calls it ‘super intelligence,’ or SI, because ‘it’s not artificial.’ It’s as real as the printing press, the steam engine, and the internet,” he said.

The regulatory questions come as younger investors embrace AI tools for managing money. An eToro survey published in September found that 79% of US millennial investors and 77% of Gen Z investors already used or were open to using AI to select or adjust their investments, highlighting the potential reach of rules governing automated finance.

Strategy shareholders approve daily dividends across four preferred stocks

Strategy shareholders have approved a proposal to introduce daily dividend payments across the company’s four preferred securities, with 99.3% of votes cast supporting the changes.

The amendments cover STRF, STRC, STRK and STRD, replacing existing semi-monthly or quarterly payment schedules with distributions every business day. Dividends will continue to accrue over weekends and holidays, while annual dividend rates remain unchanged.

Strategy expects STRC to begin daily payments on Nov. 2, followed by the other three securities on Jan. 4, 2027. The company said the shorter payment cycle could improve liquidity and reduce price fluctuations in its preferred shares.

The securities currently offer annual dividend rates ranging from 8% to 12%. STRC carries a variable rate of 12%, while the remaining three offer fixed rates.

The move follows similar efforts by rival Bitcoin treasury company Strive, which introduced daily dividends on its SATA preferred stock in June. Strive also recently raised $630 million through a second preferred offering, SATS, which carries a 15% annual dividend rate.

Strategy remains the largest corporate Bitcoin holder, with 848,517 BTC, compared with Strive’s 43,000 BTC.