Breaking: France's Crypto Tax Hike to 36% Leads Major Market Developments - What Investors Need to Know Now

France Eyes Flat Tax Increase to 36%: Top 5 Crypto News Roundup

September 30th brought significant announcements affecting taxation, regulation, and market infrastructure across the cryptocurrency landscape. From potential tax hikes in France to accelerated tokenization in the United States and Tether's strategic Bitcoin acquisitions, the market displayed a mix of caution and innovation appetite. Let's examine the five most impactful developments shaping the crypto ecosystem.

1. France Considers Raising Flat Tax to 36%

The French government is contemplating an increase in the flat tax on capital gains, including cryptocurrency profits, from the current 30% to 36% in the 2026 finance bill. This measure would further align crypto taxation with other financial products while boosting public revenue.

According to Les Echos, this 6% increase could generate approximately €1.6 billion in additional tax revenue for the state. The proposal continues the trend of standardizing crypto asset taxation within France's broader financial framework, potentially affecting investment strategies for French crypto holders.

2. SEC Accelerates Stock Tokenization Efforts

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is intensifying its work on enabling direct blockchain trading of shares. The tokenization market, currently valued at $31 billion, is projected to reach $2 trillion by 2030.

Commissioner Hester Peirce indicated at the Digital Assets Summit in Singapore that the regulator is ready to collaborate with the industry, particularly on how paper, electronic, and on-chain securities can coexist. Tokenized shares in circulation already represent about $714 million.

Companies like Republic are announcing tokenization of private equity, including Animoca Brands on Solana, with compliant secondary markets open to international investors. These initiatives promise increased liquidity and efficiency while presenting new technical and compliance challenges.

3. Generic Listing Framework Transforms Spot Crypto ETFs

The SEC's implementation of generic listing standards for crypto ETFs has eliminated the need for case-by-case examination of 19b-4 applications. Now, only S-1 approvals remain necessary to launch new products, accelerating and securing market access for funds backed by bitcoin and ether.

Issuers such as BlackRock, Fidelity, and VanEck can now aim for faster launches. BlackRock has filed for a Bitcoin Premium Income ETF based on a covered call strategy to complement its iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which currently holds $87 billion in assets.

Bitcoin spot ETF assets have grown from $37.3 to $60.6 billion in one year, while ether ETF assets have quadrupled to $13.4 billion. This simplified process opens the door to other cryptocurrencies (LTC, SOL, XRP, DOGE mentioned as likely candidates) and attracts record capital, with 241,000 new crypto millionaires reported in 2025.

4. Visa Tests Cross-Border USDC Payments

Visa has launched a pilot program integrating stablecoins, primarily USDC (and potentially EURC), into its Visa Direct network to enable near-instant cross-border transfers. This initiative aligns with the growing prominence of stablecoins in international payments.

Simultaneously, Swiss liquidity provider Arf is joining the Circle Payments Network to offer on-demand credit, eliminating the need for pre-funding cross-border payments. USDC, issued by Circle, now has a market capitalization of $73.26 billion, with the stablecoin market projected to grow significantly by 2028.

5. Tether Closes Q3 with 8,888.88 Additional BTC

Tether acquired 8,888.88 BTC in the third quarter of 2025, an investment approaching $1 billion. Its portfolio now exceeds 78,000 BTC, with an average purchase price of approximately $112,500 per bitcoin, according to on-chain data and quarterly reports.

CEO Paolo Ardoino reaffirms Tether's commitment to incorporating assets uncorrelated to the dollar in USDT reserves. USDT's market capitalization has surpassed $110 billion. This operation, confirmed in the Q3 attestation validated by BDO, enhances transparency regarding reserve management and fuels expectations of short-term support for the BTC price.

What This Means for Crypto Investors

These developments reflect a crypto landscape increasingly shaped by institutional involvement and regulatory frameworks. For investors, the mixed signals suggest both challenges (potential tax increases) and opportunities (simplified ETF frameworks, institutional adoption of stablecoins). As major players like Tether continue their Bitcoin accumulation strategy, market participants should stay informed about these evolving dynamics in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.