News linked to both this project and an event.
As reported by Bitcoin.com, New Zealand's fourth-largest party, the ACT Party (Consumers and Taxpayers Association), has formally proposed a digital asset tax reform plan. The proposal seeks to exempt compliant crypto assets held by individual retail investors for over a year from capital gains tax and waive tax reporting obligations for small-value crypto payments. Additionally, the plan introduces clear regulatory frameworks for stablecoins and tokenized securities, alongside a regulatory sandbox mechanism tailored for startups. ACT Party Deputy Leader Nicole McKee stated that this initiative aims to establish New Zealand as a trusted hub for digital finance, driving local high-value employment and economic growth.
Odaily News: Prediction market platform Polymarket US withdrew two NFL player participation contract filings on August 26. The platform had completed certification with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) the previous day and planned to launch the related products no earlier than August 27.On the same day, Polymarket US certified Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana price contracts. All three contract types were submitted in paired form and classified as swaps under the binary options subcategory. Both the NFL contracts and the cryptocurrency contracts fall under the relevant classification.Polymarket US separately filed a confidential treatment request for the NFL compliance analysis documents, seeking permanent non-disclosure on the grounds that public release would reveal trade secrets and give competitors an unfair advantage. As of the time of record, another NFL American football starting eligibility contract remained in certified status. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: The Tennessee Sports Wagering Council issued cease-and-desist letters on January 9 to prediction market platforms Kalshi, Polymarket, and Crypto.com, demanding they stop offering sports-related prediction market products to Tennessee residents, void unsettled contracts, and return customer funds. The Council considers these products to constitute sports betting, requiring platforms to comply with state licensing, taxation, age restrictions, and consumer protection requirements.Kalshi stated that its event contracts are financial instruments regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and are not subject to state sports betting regulations. Users buy and sell contracts, with contract prices reflecting the market's implied probability; when an event occurs, winning contracts settle at $1, while others settle at zero.Traditional betting companies typically accept user wagers and manage risk by setting odds, whereas Kalshi facilitates trading between users, with the platform acting as a matchmaker and prices formed by buyers and sellers. This dispute centers on whether sports prediction markets should be subject to a unified federal regulatory framework or individual state betting licensing regimes. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News - Hardware wallet maker BitBox reports that credit card sales in August grew roughly 10x compared to the baseline of previous weeks, with the increase primarily driven by North America. Trezor and OneKey also confirmed rising sales during the same period, though neither disclosed specific figures.Trezor, BitBox, and OneKey have all re-reviewed their seed phrase generation, random number generator, entropy, and firmware verification processes. Trezor plans to conduct penetration testing on core firmware functions and publish related security audit reports. OneKey will strengthen reviews of security-critical code paths and transaction signing processes.Ledger CTO Charles Guillemet stated that AI-assisted attacks mean patch releases, vulnerability disclosures, and user education need to accelerate. Blockstream Jade has released a firmware update containing multiple fixes and recommends users simultaneously update their apps, operating systems, devices, routers, and home appliances. (Bitcoin.com News)
According to Bitcoin.com, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis announced the results of Operation Lighthouse on August 25. This transnational operation targeted criminal networks associated with child sexual abuse material (CSAM), investigating 29,120 cryptocurrency addresses and digital identifiers across more than 100 clearnet and darknet platforms, forums, and distribution networks. The effort generated 14,300 investigation leads and uncovered over 7,700 suspicious accounts and linked suspects spanning 125 countries. Coordinated in New York by the National Cyber Forensics & Training Alliance (NCFTA), the initiative involved at least nine law enforcement agencies, along with more than 13 private organizations and non-profits, including Europol, the Australian Federal Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the UK’s National Crime Agency. Chainalysis stated that the discovered leads could subsequently result in account restrictions, arrests, and prosecutions. Law enforcement outcomes are expected to continue through 2027, and the company plans to extend this collaborative model to other types of crypto-related crime.
Odaily News: Tomáš Jiříkovský, the main defendant in a Czech cryptocurrency money laundering case and a programmer linked to dark web operations, has signaled for the first time that he may cooperate with the investigation. The Brno City Court ruled to keep him in detention, citing flight risk and the possibility that he still controls undisclosed crypto assets.Prosecutors stated that Jiříkovský has shifted his stance regarding the operation of dark web markets and the laundering of criminal proceeds, but has not yet provided detailed testimony. Prosecutors are seeking a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison along with asset forfeiture. The case involves his donation of Bitcoin valued at $44 million to the Czech Ministry of Justice. (Bitcoin.com News)
According to Bitcoin.com, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan stated that the bullish thesis for 2026 is more fundamentally grounded than the crypto market cycles of 2014, 2018, and 2022, primarily driven by five structural changes: the advancement of regulatory frameworks, the scaling of stablecoin adoption, the tokenization of real-world assets, protocol tokens generating genuine revenue supported by buyback and burn mechanisms, and the demand for currency debasement triggered by expanding sovereign debt. Hougan noted that the total stablecoin market capitalization surpassed $300 billion by mid-2026, with steady usage across trading, payments, cross-border remittances, and settlements; meanwhile, asset tokenization is progressively transitioning from experimental phases into regulated financial infrastructure. He also highlighted Hyperliquid as a prime example, noting that the protocol generated over $800 million in revenue last year, allocating roughly 99% of it toward buybacks and burns of the HYPE token. On Bitcoin, Hougan suggested that rising government borrowing levels could further cement its role as a hedge against currency debasement, though he emphasized that the associated valuation models represent scenario analyses rather than definitive price forecasts.
Odaily News - Investment manager Lawrence Lepard, author of The Big Print, stated that even if the CLARITY Act (Digital Asset Market Clarity Act) passes the Senate with 60 votes, stablecoin demand will not be sufficient to improve the current state of the U.S. Treasury market.He noted that the current stablecoin market cap stands at approximately $255 billion, primarily backed by U.S. Treasuries purchased by Circle and Tether, down from $263 billion in January. The U.S. Treasury needs to roll over more than $8 trillion in debt annually, with stablecoins covering only about 3% of that amount.In 2025, the share of U.S. debt held by foreign entities has dropped to 32%, down from 57% after the financial crisis. Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad stated that dollar-backed stablecoins could convert overseas demand for digital dollars into demand for U.S. Treasuries. (Bitcoin.com News)
According to Bitcoin.com News, a UK court has shut down the cryptocurrency company Key Coin Assets Ltd. after nine investors who filed complaints with Action Fraud paid a combined total of over £300,000. Investigators stated that no evidence of real transactions was found, and determined that the company's operations exhibited characteristics of a Ponzi scheme.
Odaily News – The Bank of Russia has announced that individuals who pass a financial and banking knowledge test and obtain a Qualifin Certificate issued by the National Finance Association (NFA) or an Investor Certificate from the Moscow Exchange (MOEX) may be recognized as qualified investors by brokers or management companies.The new rules will take effect on August 31. Previously, the Bank of Russia only recognized international certifications in fields such as financial analysis, investment advisory, asset management, and risk management.Under recently adopted cryptocurrency regulations, non-qualified investors are subject to an annual cap of 300,000 rubles (approximately $3,800) for purchasing cryptocurrencies through a single licensed intermediary, while qualified investors have a limit ten times higher. Bank of Russia Deputy Governor Mikhail Mamuta stated that the test focuses on enhancing investors' financial knowledge, enabling them to understand and manage associated risks before trading complex instruments. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: The Bank Policy Institute (BPI), an organization representing major banks including JPMorgan, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Citi, has proposed that the U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) expand Customer Identification Program (CIP) requirements to stablecoin secondary markets, covering exchanges and other platforms that establish direct account relationships with retail customers.BPI stated that relevant exchanges and platforms handle a substantial volume of purchasing and selling activity within the payment stablecoin ecosystem, and that the majority of stablecoin-related illicit activity occurs in this space. Should the proposal be incorporated into the rules, affected platforms would be required to collect customer information under the Bank Secrecy Act, and decentralized exchanges could also fall within the regulatory scope.FinCEN's proposed rule notes that secondary market transactions of stablecoins on the blockchain typically involve anonymous or pseudonymous identities, with no centralized node collecting identity information, and that issuers have limited ability to gather customer data from secondary markets. BPI has also joined other banking organizations in opposing the current version of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: Zach Pandl, Head of Research at digital asset management firm Grayscale, stated that Bitcoin's structural adoption trend continues, the current bear market has entered a deeper stage, and the macro outlook is generally favorable. These three factors may provide a basis for long-term investors to enter, though prices could still decline.Grayscale noted that Bitcoin's adoption growth is primarily driven by government deficits, the expanding application of blockchain technology in the financial services sector, and generational shifts in investor asset allocation. The current bear market has lasted 10 months, approaching the average and median duration of 11 to 12 months observed across the previous four cyclical bear markets.Macro risks mainly depend on real interest rates and Federal Reserve policy. The Federal Open Market Committee held the federal funds rate at 3.5% to 3.75% in July, and future rate hikes could push Bitcoin lower. Bitcoin briefly rose to $79,461 on August 21 before pulling back to around $77,000. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News - Nomura Holdings' digital asset company Laser Digital Japan announced this week that it has completed registration as a crypto asset trading service provider under Japan's Payment Services Act, with registration number 00032, and has joined the Japan Virtual and Crypto asset Trading Association, bringing an end to Japan's nearly 4-year period without new industry participants.The license covers six crypto assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Shiba Inu, all of which are listed on the industry association's "green list." Laser Digital Japan will initially provide liquidity to licensed crypto asset companies in Japan, while the launch date for trading services targeting professional investors has not yet been announced.Japanese regulators require the segregation of customer assets from company assets, with at least 95% of customer crypto assets stored in offline cold wallets, subject to verification through annual audits. The license does not cover crypto asset derivatives, nor does it permit Laser Digital Japan to launch exchange-traded funds; major adjustments to Japan's crypto asset regulatory framework are expected to be implemented in fiscal year 2027. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News – HYPE reached an intraday high of $82 yesterday, rising 38% over the past week, with 24-hour trading volume exceeding $2 billion and a market cap of approximately $17.17 billion. Hyperliquid's 30-day trading volume surpassed $176 billion, with open interest exceeding $8 billion.On August 19, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is pushing to bring Hyperliquid into the U.S. market in a compliant and lawful manner. On August 20, a wallet associated with venture capital firm Multicoin Capital transferred 308,884 HYPE tokens, valued at approximately $19.8 million, to institutional custody and trading platform Coinbase Prime within seven hours.During the same period, the wallet also transferred 172,710 and 62,700 HYPE tokens, valued at approximately $10.15 million and $4.37 million, respectively. Since February 2026, Multicoin Capital has transferred over $100 million worth of HYPE to Coinbase Prime. Meanwhile, Hyperliquid has been using approximately 99% of its perpetual and spot market fee revenue to continuously buy back HYPE through the Assistance Fund. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News – Andrew Park, CEO of Factblock and organizer of Korea Blockchain Week, stated that Korea's crypto market is shifting from retail-trading-driven dynamics toward institutional digital finance. The focus of global financial institutions and enterprises has moved from tokens, exchanges, and prices to custody, tokenization, stablecoins, payment and settlement infrastructure, and regulatory compliance.The Financial Services Commission of Korea has proposed a framework to open corporate virtual asset accounts to approximately 3,500 listed companies and registered professional investors. The National Assembly has officially passed amendments to the Electronic Securities Act and the Capital Markets Act, bringing tokenized real-world assets and security tokens under a unified legal framework.The Bank of Korea has completed the initial trial of Project Hangang, a real-world deposit token initiative, and plans to conduct second-phase institutional testing in late 2026. Related technical experiments have used wholesale deposit tokens to enable AI agents to execute automated conditional transactions. (Bitcoin.com News)
According to Bitcoin.com, Zach Pandl, Head of Research at Grayscale, stated that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) proposed regulations on crypto assets could increase network activity on Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain by reducing compliance uncertainties surrounding token financing, driving more U.S. issuers and investors to go on-chain, and potentially creating value for their native tokens ETH, SOL, and BNB.
Odaily News: Duquesne Family Office founder Stanley Druckenmiller purchased 4.1 million shares of high-performance computing company Bitdeer Technologies Group (BTDR) in the second quarter, with a position value exceeding $64.7 million and an average purchase price of $12.26. The company produces cryptocurrency mining hardware and operates data centers in the United States and other regions.Additionally, Druckenmiller bought 2.9 million shares of Hyperliquid Strategies (PURR), a digital asset treasury company in the HYPE sector, with a position value of $23.1 million, gaining indirect exposure to HYPE. Hyperliquid Strategies aims to provide U.S. and institutional investors with investment channels related to the HYPE token.Druckenmiller's moves are similar to concurrent increases in BTDR positions by Jane Street and Citadel, with Jane Street currently holding over $112 million worth of BTDR shares. BlackRock, State Street, and Citadel also increased their PURR holdings in the second quarter; HYPE previously hit an all-time high following related compliance progress news. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has issued 81,000 warning letters to cryptocurrency investors suspected of unpaid taxes over the past 12 months, a 25% increase from approximately 65,000 in the previous year. These letters are intended to prompt recipients to disclose unpaid taxes before HMRC launches formal investigations.Cryptocurrency exchanges, using tokens to purchase goods or services, and gifting tokens to others may all constitute taxable disposals. Income generated from activities such as lending and staking may be subject to income tax rules, and UK residents are generally required to pay taxes on relevant income and gains from worldwide sources.Rules scheduled to take effect in April 2027 will apply no gain, no loss treatment to qualifying crypto lending and automated market-making arrangements until an economic disposal occurs, with an estimated impact on approximately 700,000 individuals.The Crypto Asset Reporting Framework requires service providers to submit 2026 transaction data, with the reporting period running from January 1 to May 31, 2027. It is expected that 52 jurisdictions will exchange relevant data in 2027, with an additional 15 added in 2028. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: Brian Armstrong, CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, stated that crypto regulatory clarity will be advanced either through a Senate vote on September 15 or new federal regulatory rules on September 16, with both paths expected to move forward. The procedural vote on the CLARITY Act requires at least 60 votes of support.The digital asset market structure bill, the CLARITY Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives on July 17, 2025, with 294 votes in favor and 134 against, but has since stalled in the Senate. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Mike Selig has instructed staff to establish a registration category for "crypto asset markets," which may apply to digital asset trading platforms.Armstrong also stated that Bitcoin's price could likely reach $300,000 to $400,000 by 2030. He cited increased institutional adoption, Bitcoin's fixed supply, and improved crypto regulatory clarity in the U.S. as contributing factors. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: Injective, a Layer 1 blockchain, has had its institutional services division register as a securities transfer agent with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Injective states that this marks the first time a Layer 1 blockchain has obtained this type of registration, enabling regulated ownership records, transfers, distributions, and shareholder management services for securities.The registration covers four types of tokenized assets already launched—institutional funds, publicly listed company stocks, private company shares, and corporate accounts receivable—and allows related processes to utilize distributed ledger infrastructure while remaining compliant with U.S. securities regulatory rules.Injective has launched markets tied to digital asset treasury companies, publicly listed stocks, and shares of private companies such as SpaceX and OpenAI, and has introduced its tokenized asset issuance platform, Injective Mint Alpha.In July, South Korea's largest trading firm, POSCO International, and LG CNS, a technology company under the LG Group, selected Injective for a trade finance pilot. The plan involves tokenizing accounts receivable arising from international trade and completing their transfer, management, and settlement. (Bitcoin.com News)