Crypto Regulation

For months, speculation has swirled that a yuan-pegged stablecoin was quietly being launched in Hong Kong, fueling expectations that Beijing could be taking its first subtle step into global digital asset markets.

Despite his claims of total independence, President Trump’s handling of crypto regulation has once again exposed how deep-pocketed industry patrons can reshape the political chessboard.

Crypto exchange Kraken is moving beyond lobbying and into full-blown political action, pledging $2 million to pro-Trump political committees in a bold attempt to shape the rules that will define the future of digital assets.

South Korea’s ruling party has set up a task force to create new crypto laws and aims to pass key rules by the end of 2025. The group will focus first on stablecoin regulation and plans to involve government agencies, the central bank, and private firms.

China’s war on crypto is taking a new shape. Unlike the sweeping, highly public bans of 2021 that outlawed trading and mining overnight, Beijing is now pursuing a quieter, more tactical campaign—this time targeting the booming real-world asset (RWA) tokenization market emerging in Hong Kong.

The global contest to digitize money just escalated, with China and South Korea entering the stablecoin arena in the same week. Their launches signal a direct challenge to the dominance of U.S. dollar–pegged tokens and underscore how digital currencies are fast becoming geopolitical tools.

A group of anonymous memecoin enthusiasts on Pump.fun have secretly erected a 12-foot (3.6 metres) golden statue of Donald Trump to voice their support for the President's "unwavering commitment to advancing the future of finance through bitcoin and decentrlaized techonlogies."

Australia’s ASIC has exempted intermediaries from needing extra licences to distribute stablecoins from licensed issuers until June 2028. Catena Digital’s AUDM stablecoin is the first to benefit, allowing easier trading, advice, and custodial services.

BitGo received approval from Germany’s regulator BaFin to expand its crypto services in Europe. The company can now offer regulated trading, custody, transfer, and staking to institutional clients.

Chinese software and AI company Next Technology Holding is doubling down on its Bitcoin strategy, announcing plans to raise up to $500 million through a common stock offering.