News linked to both this project and an event.
Odaily News: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Philippines' central bank, is proposing a 12-month suspension on accepting and processing new registration applications from Payment System Operators (OPS) to conduct a comprehensive review of relevant classifications and licensing frameworks.Applications submitted prior to the suspension will continue to be evaluated but will not be approved or denied until the suspension period ends. Unless otherwise authorized by regulators, entities must not engage in business activities that require OPS registration.Merchant acquirers regulated by the BSP that serve regulated Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) must collaborate through direct merchant arrangements and implement risk-based controls such as enhanced due diligence, ongoing monitoring, and transaction and settlement limits. Relevant VASPs must be licensed, registered, or authorized by the BSP, the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission, or other agencies.If approved, the draft will take effect 15 days after publication. The BSP is currently soliciting feedback. (Cointelegraph)
Odaily News: Prediction market platform Kalshi recorded 15.4 million U.S. visits in July, up approximately 1,520% from fewer than 1 million visits in August 2025; U.S. visits accounted for nearly 80% of its total traffic, higher than the 72.8% recorded during the same period.Kalshi's August monthly notional trading volume reached approximately $40 billion, up roughly 4,500% from $874 million in the same period last year. During the same timeframe, the prediction market industry's monthly notional trading volume rose from approximately $2 billion to $50.7 billion, with Kalshi accounting for nearly 79% of the latest total.Sports contracts accounted for 83% of Kalshi's July trading volume. Whether Kalshi's sports contracts fall under federal regulation or state gambling laws is subject to legal dispute, and New Jersey has brought the matter before the U.S. Supreme Court.Canada recorded approximately 450,000 visits in July, and the U.K. around 296,000 visits, both higher than the roughly 50,000 and 31,000 visits in August 2025, respectively. Users in both regions are currently prohibited from directly accessing or trading on Kalshi under its membership agreement. Kalshi has partnered with Canadian financial services firm Wealthsimple to offer nearly 4,000 eligible contracts through a standalone application. (Cointelegraph)
: Ethereum Layer 2 network Mantle has launched USDG, a stablecoin issued by Paxos, and joined the Global Dollar Network as a partner. USDG has become one of the first stablecoins natively minted on Mantle, with Mantle eligible to receive a portion of the rewards generated by USDG activity.USDG has a market capitalization of approximately $3.18 billion, ranking as the seventh-largest stablecoin by DefiLlama data. The stablecoin is issued by Paxos and complies with regulatory frameworks in Singapore and the European Union, with Paxos publishing monthly reserve reports.The Mantle ecosystem also offers Agora's AUSD, Ethena's USDe, and Tether's USDT0. Mantle stated that USDG will be used for DeFi applications within the ecosystem and institutional capital allocation.As of Wednesday, Mantle's distributed real-world asset value stood at $234.2 million, up 19% over the past 30 days. (Cointelegraph)
According to Cointelegraph, Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and BlackRock-backed tokenization platform Securitize have officially signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU), establishing a cooperation framework to support the implementation of regulated tokenization projects, attract institutional participation, and strengthen Dubai’s digital asset ecosystem. Carlos Domingo, co-founder and CEO of Securitize, stated that Dubai has become one of the most forward-thinking jurisdictions globally for digital asset innovation, and their collaboration aims to advance tokenization from a "concept into mainstream financial infrastructure." VARA noted that the MoU currently focuses on establishing a cooperative framework, with no specific projects announced at this time.
Odaily News: The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has stated that crypto firms relying on temporary regulatory relief must apply for an Australian Financial Services License by September 30, or apply to vary their existing license. Those that fail to do so in time may face fines of up to 10% of their annual turnover.ASIC noted that firms requiring a market license or clearing and settlement facility license must also notify the regulator and attend a pre-application meeting. From October 1, firms that do not meet the conditions of ASIC's "no-action" position but still require authorization may be in breach of financial services laws and face civil and criminal penalties.ASIC disclosed that it has recorded more than 45 digital asset-related license applications since updating its guidance in October 2025. On June 25, ASIC extended the temporary regulatory relief period from June 30 to September 30, and broadened its scope of application. (Cointelegraph)
According to Cointelegraph, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) stated that crypto firms relying on temporary regulatory exemptions must apply for an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) or seek to vary an existing licence by September 30. From October 1 onwards, businesses that do not meet the conditions of ASIC’s non-action stance and still require authorization may breach financial services law and face civil or criminal penalties, with fines of up to 10% of annual turnover. ASIC noted that since updating the relevant guidance in October 2025, it has received over 45 applications for digital asset-related licences.
Odaily News: New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and acting director of the state's Division of Gaming Enforcement, Mary Jo Flaherty, have filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court, requesting review of the state's enforcement action against prediction market platform Kalshi over its sports event contracts.The petition cites civil cases brought by at least 20 state gaming regulators and asks the Supreme Court to rule on whether prediction market companies may still violate state laws while complying with regulations set by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The petition also addresses whether the Dodd-Frank Act precludes state regulatory authority over sports betting within their jurisdictions.The filing challenges a 2-1 ruling issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in April. Kalshi spokesperson Dani Lever stated that the company disagrees with New Jersey's appeal to the Supreme Court, adding that Kalshi cannot operate under separate oversight from 50 regulators, and that the company remains confident in the lower court's ruling. (Cointelegraph)
Odaily News: Stablecoin payment company Kast has launched the KAST Business platform, integrating corporate accounts, payment cards, cross-border transfers, and stablecoin yield-bearing balances. The platform provides services through stablecoin infrastructure.Kast stated that businesses can receive funds through fiat virtual accounts provided by regulated partners, deposit supported stablecoins and crypto assets, issue virtual cards, and make local payments in more than 20 currencies. The platform's services cover over 170 countries and regions, though specific availability varies by jurisdiction. Idle balances earn up to 8% annualized yield, with up to 3% cashback on spending also available.Kast is a fintech company rather than a bank, and regulated services are provided by licensed partner institutions. In March, Kast completed an $80 million fundraise at a $600 million valuation, which will be used for product development, license acquisition, and expanding into North America, Latin America, and the Middle East. The company claims to have over 1 million users and plans to attract 1,000 to 5,000 active businesses by the end of 2026. (Cointelegraph)
According to Cointelegraph, Bitfinex Securities has announced the launch of five tokenized notes tracking the equity performance of Strategy, Metaplanet, Swedish H100 Group, French Capital B, as well as Strategy's variable-rate perpetual preferred shares, STRC. The notes are issued through the Luxembourg-based ORO II fund, backed by underlying securities held in custody by regulated financial institutions, but do not grant investors direct ownership of the corresponding company shares. The products support trading priced in USD, USDT, and BTC, with a minimum investment of approximately $1, and are exclusively available to qualified non-U.S. investors. Bitfinex Securities stated that this marks the first time such products have been traded on the secondary market within a regulated tokenized securities exchange, with the total value of listed assets on the platform now exceeding $500 million.
Odaily News - Bitfinex Securities, the tokenized investment platform under crypto exchange Bitfinex, has listed 5 tokenized notes, providing eligible investors with economic exposure to bitcoin treasury companies such as Strategy, Metaplanet, H100 Group, and Capital B. The platform has also listed Strategy's floating-rate perpetual preferred stock, STRC.The aforementioned notes are issued through the Luxembourg-based ORO (II) fund and managed by SICOS Securities. The underlying securities are held in custody by regulated financial institutions but do not grant investors direct ownership of shares in the corresponding companies. The products allow fractional investments starting from approximately $1 and support trading in USD, USDT, and Bitcoin, and are only available to eligible non-US investors.Bitfinex Securities stated that this marks the first time such products are available for secondary trading on a regulated tokenized securities exchange. Following the completion of a $50 million tokenized fundraising round for metals company Alkemya in August this year, the platform's total listed assets have surpassed $500 million. (Cointelegraph)
According to Cointelegraph, Thailand's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has released a proposal to allow intermediaries to provide retail investors with access to overseas cryptocurrency derivatives. Compliant products must feature a structure similar to domestic Thai crypto derivatives (including underlying assets, expiration dates, leverage, and settlement methods) and must be traded on exchanges that utilize central counterparty clearing mechanisms and operate under international regulatory supervision. Non-compliant products will be restricted to institutional investors only. Previously, Thailand's SEC officially added cryptocurrencies and digital tokens to the pool of eligible underlying assets for derivatives on March 5, and is currently discussing contract specifications with the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX). The public consultation period ends on September 30, while the exact implementation date remains to be announced.
Odaily News - The Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand (SEC) has proposed allowing intermediaries to offer retail investors access to certain overseas digital asset derivatives trading services. The relevant products must be similar to crypto derivatives traded within Thailand, covering elements such as underlying assets, expiration times, leverage levels, and settlement methods.The proposed products must also be traded on exchanges that adopt a central counterparty clearing mechanism, and such exchanges should be subject to supervision by designated international regulatory or trading organization members. The Thai SEC officially listed cryptocurrencies and digital tokens as permitted derivative underlyings on March 5, and is currently discussing contract details with the Thailand Futures Exchange.Overseas crypto derivatives that do not meet the proposed conditions may only be offered to institutional investors. The public consultation period will remain open until September 30, and the Thai SEC has not yet announced an implementation date for the amendments. (Cointelegraph)
According to Cointelegraph, Polish Minister of Justice and Attorney General Waldemar Żurek stated that Polish prosecutors have brought charges against Radosław Piesiewicz, Chairman of the Polish Olympic Committee, in connection with an investigation into the defunct cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto. The charges involve trading in influence and favoring certain creditors while insolvent.
Odaily News - Financial services firm Virtu Financial, M1X Global, and electronic trading platform Tradeweb have completed an on-chain repo transaction using the Republic of the Marshall Islands' USDM1 sovereign digital bond as collateral. The entire transaction was executed on the Canton Network and settled in under 10 minutes.USDM1 is a U.S. dollar-denominated, on-chain issued sovereign bond, backed 1:1 by short-term U.S. Treasuries. It pays a coupon while serving as collateral and constitutes a fully collateralized sovereign obligation under New York State law. The parties involved stated that this is the first repo transaction combining natively issued sovereign collateral with fully on-chain atomic settlement.USDM1 is available for electronic trading via Tradeweb, with institutional custody services provided by Anchorage Digital, BitGo, and tZERO. The Canton Network is designed for institutional finance, featuring privacy and permissioning mechanisms for regulated transactions and tokenized assets. (Cointelegraph)
Odaily News - U.S. President Donald Trump and his family have caused investors at least $4.7 billion in losses through digital asset projects since 2022. Consumer rights advocacy nonprofit Public Citizen stated that the related projects include the World Liberty Financial governance token, NFT trading cards, Official Trump (TRUMP), and Trump Media's digital asset reserve.Among these, TRUMP investors lost approximately $3.2 billion, while USD1 stablecoin investors did not suffer significant losses. Public Citizen noted that the losses from TRUMP primarily reflect a transfer of wealth to a small number of early buyers, rather than funds disappearing outright. Donald Trump also earned $7.2 million from NFT licensing fees and royalties, as well as over $600 million from World Liberty token sales and equity sales.Public Citizen also called for adding ethical standards to the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act), requiring the U.S. President and his family to withdraw from related industry projects. Trump met with crypto company executives last week and called for passing a "fair version" of the bill. The Senate is scheduled to vote on a procedural motion on September 15, and advancing the bill requires support from at least 60 senators. (Cointelegraph)
Odaily News: A survey by the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) shows that 77% of Americans believe allocating cryptocurrency in workplace retirement plans carries risk, with 46% viewing it as highly risky; 53% oppose employers offering crypto investment options.The survey also reveals that 80% of respondents think the U.S. is facing a retirement crisis, up from 67% in 2020; 61% worry about achieving financial security after retirement. Additionally, 68% say preparing for retirement is becoming increasingly difficult, and 77% report that debt hinders their ability to save adequately.Conducted by Greenwald Research from October 24 to November 14, 2025, the survey covered 1,203 Americans aged 25 and older, with results weighted by age, gender, and income.U.S. policymakers are pushing to include alternative assets in retirement plans such as 401(k)s. The U.S. Department of Labor withdrew related fiduciary guidance in May 2025; on August 7, Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring expanded access to alternative assets in defined contribution retirement plans and directing the Department of Labor and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to study related regulatory adjustments. In March 2026, the Department of Labor proposed rules for including alternative assets, and Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Bobby Scott called for the proposal to be withdrawn in June. (Cointelegraph)
Odaily News Cryptocurrency exchange OKX's latest survey this month shows that 90% of US college students and 87% of parents support universities offering cryptocurrency and blockchain courses, with 27% of students and 32% of parents believing such courses should be mandatory.A 2025 review of 533 US universities with accredited business schools found that approximately 28% offer blockchain courses. Among surveyed students, 33% cited social media or influencers as their most important source of cryptocurrency information—nearly five times the number who chose schools, teachers, or professors; parents' primary source of information was cryptocurrency platforms and applications, accounting for 21%.OKX surveyed 500 students and 500 parents via the online survey platform Pollfish, with respondents not recruited from OKX's customer base. OKX did not disclose the survey's weighting methodology, margin of error, or the proportion of respondents holding cryptocurrencies. (Cointelegraph)
Odaily News: Standard Chartered has become the first authorized bank to support the circulation of HKDAP. HKDAP is Hong Kong's first regulated, HKD-backed stablecoin. (Cointelegraph)
Odaily News – Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a U.S. soldier, has been accused of using non-public information to trade event contracts on the prediction market platform Polymarket related to the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, earning over $400,000 in profits. U.S. authorities filed fraud charges against him in April.The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) previously filed a civil lawsuit against Van Dyke, but a federal judge has ruled to stay the proceedings pending the outcome of the criminal case. The CFTC has filed a motion to submit an amicus brief, seeking to express its views on defense arguments such as whether event contracts qualify as "swaps" under its regulatory purview.Van Dyke's attorneys filed documents with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Monday opposing the CFTC's intervention in the criminal case, arguing that the agency should directly confront its own case. Van Dyke has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and the criminal trial could begin as early as late 2026 or early 2027. (Cointelegraph)
Odaily News: Digital asset advocacy groups Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI) and the Blockchain Association (BA) have filed a lawsuit against Illinois officials, opposing the state's 0.2% cryptocurrency tax. The tax, expected to take effect in January 2027, is levied on transaction volume rather than income.The two organizations filed the complaint in the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Sangamon County, arguing that the tax violates the U.S. Constitution, the Illinois Constitution, federal and state due process laws, and the Internet Tax Freedom Act, and could result in double taxation. The complaint also states that the tax rules are overly vague, placing compliance burdens on residents and brokers while exposing them to civil and criminal penalties.Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger stated that Illinois cannot implement a tax system that discriminates against digital commerce and increases uncertainty for consumers and businesses. The Digital Chamber filed a similar lawsuit in July over the same tax, claiming it discriminates against digital asset traders. (Cointelegraph)