Digital Assets

In response to Tether freezing wallets linked to Russian users, a Finance Ministry official proposed a ruble-backed stablecoin to reduce reliance on dollar-pegged tokens like USDT and USDC, granting Russia more financial autonomy.

US and Canadian authorities teamed up in "Operation Avalanche" to dismantle a $4.3M Ethereum phishing scam, recover stolen funds, and alert affected wallet holders. Could this mark a new chapter in global crypto crime enforcement?

South Korean presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo vows to ease crypto regulations, aiming to replicate the US’s market-friendly approach that’s boosted jobs and bank charters. His proposals, aligned with ongoing AML and foreign investment talks, position digital assets as a growth driver. Could Trump-style crypto deregulation be emerging as a broader political strategy in Asia?

Donald Trump’s family is set to launch a Monopoly-inspired crypto game this month, aiming to capitalise on their public profile to attract attention. The game adds to Trump’s expanding digital asset ventures, which include a meme coin, NFT collections, and the DeFi project World Liberty Financial. However, the crypto community remains sceptical, citing vague tokenomics and possible legal challenges. Is Trump’s rapid expansion into Web3 moving too fast?

Bhutan mined Bitcoin using its extra hydropower and sold it to raise money. The country used the funds to double civil servant salaries and slow down people leaving for jobs abroad.

Bitcoin’s price jumped above $84,000, and signs suggest Strategy may have resumed buying after a brief pause. The company now holds nearly 3% of all Bitcoin, and its investment is up around 24% despite recent market volatility.

Hong Kong’s SFC has approved staking services for licensed crypto platforms, advancing the city’s goal of becoming a global crypto hub. HashKey can now offer Ethereum staking, including for spot ETFs—signaling rising regulatory support for digital assets.

Japan’s government is discussing cash handouts of ¥30,000–¥50,000 per person to ease the impact of rising living costs and new US tariffs. The move comes as inflation and a weak yen put pressure on households, while a 24% US tariff on Japanese goods adds to economic concerns.

Singapore is emerging as a leading crypto hub, with Gen Z and millennials increasingly using digital assets for everyday payments despite ongoing challenges.

The Trump administration’s rollback of crypto enforcement, marked by the DOJ’s crypto unit shutdown, signals a shift toward industry-friendly regulation. While some welcome the move, others warn it may weaken protections in a risky market. Innovation boost or regulation setback?