Here’s what happened in crypto today

Today in crypto, Aptos launched an encrypted mempool feature designed to protect traders from frontrunning and sandwich attacks, a proposed US accounting rule could make it easier for companies to hold stablecoins as cash equivalents and the Financial Stability Board warned of gaps in stablecoin oversight and emerging AI risks ahead of a G20 finance meeting.

Aptos rolls out Encrypted Mempool to curb frontrunning, sandwich attacks

Layer-1 blockchain Aptos has launched an optional new feature that could help shield traders from attacks involving maximal extractable value (MEV), including frontrunning and sandwich attacks. 

On Monday, Aptos said its Encrypted Mempool feature is now live on its mainnet, allowing users to opt in to keep pending transactions encrypted until their block ordering is finalized. Aptos said the feature was built for institutions submitting large transactions to the chain, traders wanting to avoid MEV risk, AI agents and builders. 

“When you send a transaction on any major chain today, anyone watching the network can see the details before it executes, the function you’re calling, the assets and amounts involved, and the contracts you’re interacting with,” Aptos said. “Bots use that visibility to trade against you or copy your strategy.”  

Sandwich attacks, one form of MEV attack, cost Ethereum traders about $60 million over the 12 months through October 2025, according to Cointelegraph’s analysis of EigenPhi data. On Solana, sandwich attacks generated $29.7 million for bots over an 11-month period examined by Bitquery, which identified nearly 6.9 million attacks affecting about 2.2 million wallets. 

US accounting proposal could clear path for corporate stablecoin adoption

A proposed change to US accounting standards could make it easier for corporations to hold and use stablecoins without compromising their reported cash positions, according to a new report from Stripe-backed blockchain Tempo.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is considering allowing qualifying stablecoins to be classified as cash equivalents on corporate balance sheets. Currently, companies may have to report stablecoin holdings as other assets, which can affect liquidity ratios and compliance with loan covenants.

Tempo said the proposed treatment would depend on whether companies have direct redemption rights with stablecoin issuers. This means two companies holding identical USDC tokens could receive different accounting treatment depending on their arrangements with Circle.

For example, Coinbase classified USDC and other payment stablecoins as cash equivalents in its 2025 annual report, supported by its direct redemption arrangement with Circle.

The proposal follows the passage of the GENIUS Act, which established federal requirements for payment stablecoin issuers. FASB’s separate initiative addresses how businesses account for those assets.

The accounting proposal remains open for public comment until Nov. 19.

Global watchdog flags stablecoin risks, AI threats ahead of G20

The FSB, a global financial watchdog, has outlined financial stability risks associated with artificial intelligence and regulatory concerns surrounding stablecoins.

In a letter published Monday, FSB Chair Andrew Bailey warned that cross-border mechanisms for stablecoin oversight and crisis management “remain immature or are not yet developed.” In its 2025 review, the FSB found that 11 of 28 surveyed jurisdictions had finalized stablecoin regulatory frameworks.

He also urged G20 members to support the FSB’s newly finalized practices for responsible AI adoption in the financial sector.

“AI therefore requires our continued close attention alongside careful management by financial institutions,” Bailey wrote.

The FSB submitted the letter to G20 finance ministers and central bank governors ahead of their Thursday meeting. The G20 brings together the world’s major economies to coordinate financial policy and regulatory priorities.