Regulatory Policy

Focuses on global regulatory developments, policy changes, and compliance requirements. It provides in-depth analysis of government regulations and their impact on the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries, helping businesses and investors proactively manage policy-related risks.

2025 Global Crypto Regulatory Map: The Dawn of the Co-optation Era, The Year Crypto and TradFi Converged

The year 2025 marks a pivotal turning point for global crypto regulation, shifting from a period of "wild growth" to the beginning of an era of institutional "incorporation." This transition is characterized by a fundamental change in regulatory logic across major economies, moving crypto from the fringes into the mainstream financial system. In the U.S., a significant policy reversal occurred with the new administration. The SEC ended its aggressive enforcement-based approach under new leadership, and the passage of the GENIUS Act established a federal framework for stablecoins, granting holders priority claims in case of issuer bankruptcy. The U.S. also officially recognized Bitcoin as a strategic national asset. The EU fully implemented its MiCA framework, creating a unified regulatory landscape with high compliance costs that forced smaller players out of the market. It also exhibited "monetary protectionism" by imposing strict limits on non-euro stablecoins. Hong Kong adopted an aggressive strategy, enacting its Stablecoin Ordinance and positioning itself as a hub for institutional-grade asset clearing and RWA tokenization, creating a unique bridge between Chinese and international capital. Japan signaled a major shift by proposing to drastically reduce crypto taxation from 55% to 20%, aligning it with stocks, in an effort to reclaim its position in Asian crypto finance. The overarching theme of 2025 is "incorporation." Regulators are no longer trying to eliminate crypto but are instead systematically integrating it into the existing financial landscape under clear, auditable rules. This has triggered a massive reshuffling in the stablecoin sector, which sits at the intersection of Crypto and TradFi (Traditional Finance). The market is splitting into compliant, "whitelisted" stablecoins for payments and a parallel ecosystem of crypto-native stablecoins focused on decentralization. The conclusion is clear: compliance is not the end goal but a necessary gateway for Web3 to access trillion-dollar markets. The key challenge for participants is to discern between temporary noise and the foundational changes that will shape the future.

marsbit12/30 14:00

2025 Global Crypto Regulatory Map: The Dawn of the Co-optation Era, The Year Crypto and TradFi Converged

marsbit12/30 14:00

Bills on Cryptocurrency Market Regulation to Be Submitted to the State Duma Within Six Months

Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov announced that cryptocurrency market regulation bills will be submitted to the State Duma in the first half of 2026. The Ministry of Finance supports allowing non-qualified investors to access the crypto market through Russian platforms, but with investment limits. The Central Bank's published concept permits such investors to purchase the "most liquid" cryptocurrencies after passing a test, with an annual limit of 300,000 rubles per intermediary. Siluanov emphasized the need for clear legislation to define permissible activities and participants, as crypto transactions are occurring without regulation. The Central Bank's proposals are under government review, and it plans to introduce penalties for illegal crypto intermediary activities starting July 1, 2027, similar to those for illegal banking. Access to the digital financial assets (DFA) market will also be simplified starting in 2026.

RBK-crypto12/30 13:52

Bills on Cryptocurrency Market Regulation to Be Submitted to the State Duma Within Six Months

RBK-crypto12/30 13:52

South Korea Crypto Bill Stalls Amid Stablecoin Rule Disputes

South Korea's Digital Asset Basic Act, a key piece of cryptocurrency legislation, has been delayed into next year due to a policy deadlock among regulators. The primary disagreement centers on stablecoin regulations, specifically over which entities should be permitted to issue them. The Bank of Korea advocates for banks to be the primary, if not exclusive, issuers to protect monetary stability. In contrast, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) opposes rigid rules that could exclude non-bank fintech companies, arguing it would stifle competition and innovation. Further tensions exist over the oversight structure for these assets. Despite this regulatory slowdown, the country shows signs of a broader crypto thaw, including lifted investment restrictions for venture capital firms and Binance's re-entry into the market.

TheNewsCrypto12/30 13:24

South Korea Crypto Bill Stalls Amid Stablecoin Rule Disputes

TheNewsCrypto12/30 13:24

Rep. Waters Calls for SEC Hearing Over Crypto Enforcement Shift

US Representative Maxine Waters has called for an oversight hearing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), criticizing what she describes as a troubling shift in the agency’s enforcement approach toward the cryptocurrency industry. In a letter to the House Financial Services Committee, Waters expressed concern over the lack of congressional oversight and transparency under SEC Chair Paul Atkins, contrasting it with the more frequent testimonies given by former chairman Gary Gensler. Waters highlighted the SEC’s decision to drop several high-profile enforcement cases—including those involving Coinbase, Binance, and entrepreneur Justin Sun—as particularly alarming. She warned that these actions risk undermining investor confidence and the agency’s ability to combat fraud. Since Atkins took office in April, the SEC has adopted a more crypto-friendly stance, easing regulations and halting certain lawsuits. Waters questioned whether political influence may be affecting the SEC’s independence and urged the committee to demand greater clarity and accountability to protect investors in the digital asset market.

TheNewsCrypto12/30 11:39

Rep. Waters Calls for SEC Hearing Over Crypto Enforcement Shift

TheNewsCrypto12/30 11:39

South Korean stablecoin bill delayed Again, Here’s why

South Korea's Digital Asset Basic Act, which aims to regulate stablecoin issuance, has been delayed until 2026 due to a regulatory deadlock between the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Bank of Korea (BOK). The FSC favors a flexible approach to encourage innovation, while the BOK insists on stricter controls, including requiring stablecoin issuers to operate as consortia with banks holding at least 51% ownership. Disagreements also extend to reserve requirements, enforcement authority, and whether interest-bearing stablecoins should be permitted. The proposed bill mandates 100% reserves in safe assets and guarantees user redemptions. Despite the delay, major Korean banks are exploring won-pegged stablecoin consortia targeting 2026 launches. Currently, domestic stablecoin issuance remains illegal, leading to reliance on foreign tokens.

ccn.com12/30 10:24

South Korean stablecoin bill delayed Again, Here’s why

ccn.com12/30 10:24

Trump Family-Linked Crypto Company Faces More Scrutiny Over Auditor Controversy

Trump-linked crypto treasury company Alt5 Sigma faces intensified scrutiny and potential Nasdaq delisting after appointing an auditor with an expired license and regulatory violations. The firm, which rebranded to hold Donald Trump’s WLFI token, failed to file quarterly reports and has seen high-level departures, including Eric Trump. Its newly hired auditor, Victor Mokuolu CPA, had its license expired in Texas and previously failed a peer review. Alt5 Sigma has since replaced the auditor amid ongoing compliance issues and risks violating audit committee requirements.

bitcoinist12/30 10:15

Trump Family-Linked Crypto Company Faces More Scrutiny Over Auditor Controversy

bitcoinist12/30 10:15

Alt5 Sigma Faces Delisting Crisis as Auditors Change Three Times in Six Weeks, Financial Reports Delayed

Alt5 Sigma, a cryptocurrency firm linked to the Trump family through its association with World Liberty Financial, is facing severe financial and operational turmoil, including potential delisting from Nasdaq due to delayed quarterly reports. Within six weeks, the company cycled through three different auditing firms, with the most recent one, Victor Mokuolu CPA PLLC, being dismissed after its Texas license was found to have expired in August. This auditor had a history of regulatory penalties and a failed peer review in 2023. The company’s instability is further highlighted by a wave of executive departures, including its CEO and CFO, following a deal announced in August to hold a significant amount of World Liberty’s $WLFI tokens. Alt5 Sigma, which rebranded from JanOne in July 2024, also disclosed that its Canadian subsidiary and a former executive were convicted of financial crimes in Rwanda, though they deny wrongdoing and are appealing. Amid reporting delays and non-compliance with Nasdaq listing requirements, the firm continues to struggle with governance and financial transparency.

marsbit12/30 03:23

Alt5 Sigma Faces Delisting Crisis as Auditors Change Three Times in Six Weeks, Financial Reports Delayed

marsbit12/30 03:23

What Compliance Risks Lie Behind Trip.com's Overseas Version Accepting USDT Payments?

Trip.com's overseas platform has introduced USDT payments, allowing users to book flights and hotels using the stablecoin. While this offers benefits like potential exchange rate discounts and avoidance of cross-border payment fees and limits, it also carries significant compliance risks under Chinese regulations. For personal use, paying with legally sourced USDT for individual travel may still violate foreign exchange rules if done repetitively or in large amounts. There is also the risk of receiving "black USDT" linked to illegal activities like fraud, which could lead to frozen bank accounts and legal investigations. Acting as an agent to book for others for profit is riskier. Such activity may be classified as illegal foreign exchange operations or money laundering, potentially resulting in charges for illegal business operations or concealing criminal proceeds. To stay compliant, users should ensure the payer, account, and traveler names match exactly, retain proof of legitimate fund sources, and avoid any profit-seeking booking services for others. The key is to use USDT for genuine personal consumption only and avoid any grey-area transactions that may attract legal scrutiny.

marsbit12/30 02:38

What Compliance Risks Lie Behind Trip.com's Overseas Version Accepting USDT Payments?

marsbit12/30 02:38

What Compliance Risks Lie Behind Trip.com's Overseas Version's USDT Payment?

Trip.com's overseas platform has introduced USDT payment, allowing users to book flights and hotels using the stablecoin. While this offers benefits like potential discounts from exchange rate differences and bypassing traditional cross-border payment fees and limits, it also carries significant compliance risks under Chinese regulations. For personal use, if the USDT comes from legal sources (e.g., mining or legitimate exchange purchases), occasional small transactions may not be criminally prosecuted but could still violate foreign exchange rules. A major risk is unknowingly using "black USDT" linked to illegal activities like fraud, which could lead to frozen bank accounts and lengthy legal investigations. Helping others book travel for profit, however, constitutes illegal business activity under Chinese law. Repeated or large-scale operations may lead to charges like illegal business operations or money laundering, especially if the USDT sources are suspicious. To stay compliant, users should ensure payment, booking, and user identities match exactly, retain proof of legitimate fund sources, and avoid profiting from exchange rate arbitrage. Engaging in "U booking" services for others is strongly discouraged due to high criminal liabilities. Ultimately, while USDT payments offer convenience, users must prioritize legal compliance to avoid severe financial and legal consequences.

深潮12/30 02:33

What Compliance Risks Lie Behind Trip.com's Overseas Version's USDT Payment?

深潮12/30 02:33

The Rise, Peak, and Fall of Bitcoin: Top Events of the Crypto Market in 2025

In 2025, the cryptocurrency market experienced unprecedented growth and volatility under the new US administration of Donald Trump. Bitcoin set five new all-time highs, peaking above $126,000 in October, but also suffered its largest-ever single-day crash. The Trump administration introduced significant pro-crypto policies, including the GENIUS Act to regulate stablecoins, dissolved a Justice Department crypto unit, and dropped lawsuits against major exchanges like Coinbase and Binance. Trump's family reportedly earned over $1 billion from various crypto ventures. Institutional demand surged, with corporate digital asset treasuries (DATs) accumulating over $95.5 billion in Bitcoin and billions in Ethereum and Solana. Crypto ETFs saw massive inflows, managing over $130 billion combined. However, long-term "whale" investors sold record amounts of Bitcoin, with an estimated $50 billion in dormant coins moved. A major market crash occurred in October, triggered by Trump's trade policy comments, leading to a record $20 billion in liquidations. Meanwhile, Russia's Central Bank developed a new regulatory concept, unexpectedly allowing both qualified and non-qualified investors access to crypto markets, a significant shift from its previous stance.

RBK-crypto12/29 15:52

The Rise, Peak, and Fall of Bitcoin: Top Events of the Crypto Market in 2025