Digital Assets

Brazil is proposing a new tax that would charge 30% on previously undeclared cryptocurrencies to bring hidden assets into the legal system. The law, approved by the lower house, now awaits a Senate vote and could give investors legal protection if they declare their holdings.

France has approved the Lightning Stock Exchange to launch Europe’s first platform for trading tokenised shares of small and medium-sized businesses. The system lets companies issue and settle equity on a single blockchain, offering faster, cheaper, and more transparent trading.

Ripple has partnered with Absa Bank to offer institutional digital asset custody in South Africa. Absa will use Ripple’s technology to securely store and manage cryptocurrencies for its clients.

Coinbase is launching a new credit card with American Express and Cardless, offering up to 4% cashback in bitcoin. The Coinbase One Card, set to arrive in the US in autumn 2025, will be available only to Coinbase One members.

India plans to launch a state-backed digital rupee through the RBI to make payments faster, safer, and fully traceable. The move aims to encourage regulated digital money while limiting the use of unbacked cryptocurrencies.

Paul Tudor Jones warns today’s markets resemble the 1999 dot-com bubble, with high gains in gold, Bitcoin, and tech stocks but rising risks. He highlights bonds as the biggest threat and urges investors to watch closely while keeping some exposure to crypto and gold.

Metaplanet bought 5,268 BTC, raising its total holdings to 30,823 BTC and making it the fourth-largest publicly traded bitcoin treasury.

US regulators are investigating over 200 companies for unusual stock trading ahead of crypto-treasury announcements, suspecting possible insider leaks. The SEC and FINRA are checking compliance with disclosure rules, with potential fines and sanctions if violations are found.

Binance has launched Crypto-as-a-Service, letting banks and brokers offer crypto trading and custody under their own brand using Binance’s technology. The service handles all technical and compliance work, allowing traditional financial firms to enter the crypto market without building their own systems.

MicroStrategy bought 196 more Bitcoin, raising its total holdings to 640,031 BTC, but funded most purchases by issuing over 3 million new shares. This share dilution has raised concerns among investors as the company’s stock underperforms despite strong Bitcoin gains.