The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), one of the largest free zones of the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, has enacted a new Digital Assets Law, revamping its whole legislative system to include these tools. The law changes previous contracts, insolvency, damages, obligations, securities, and personal property laws, amending them to account…
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The Nigerian Securities Regulator has proposed a rule requiring virtual asset service providers to be incorporated and maintain an office within Nigeria. The regulator has also suggested a fivefold increase in the registration fee, which must be submitted alongside license applications from prospective crypto exchanges. Proposed Regulations to Foreign Operators Targeting Nigerian Users According to…
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Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has stated that it is the position of the Indian government that crypto assets cannot be currencies, which are issued by central banks. She clarified that crypto assets can be used for trading, speculation, profit-making, and various other purposes. Moreover, she noted that India has raised the issue of crypto…
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Two U.S. senators have urged U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Gary Gensler to refrain from approving additional crypto exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications. The lawmakers cautioned: “However vulnerable bitcoin may be to fraud and manipulation, markets for other cryptocurrencies are far more exposed to misconduct.” Lawmakers Say SEC Should Not Approve Spot Crypto ETFs…
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The Hong Kong securities regulator has labelled the crypto platform Bybit an unlicensed virtual asset trading platform (VATP). The regulator has also added Bybit’s products to its alert list of suspicious investment products. The Hong Kong regulator also advised the public to stop patronizing unlicensed entities. Regulator Threatens Enforcement Action The Hong Kong Securities and…
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Russia has integrated the use of digital assets as payment for international transactions in its legislation. President Vladimir Putin signed into law a document that describes using these assets as payment for international settlements, a use case not contemplated in any law, appointing the Central Bank of Russia as the overseer of these transactions. Russia…
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A South African regulator has said it plans to issue licenses to 60 crypto platforms by the end of March. The Financial Sector Conduct Authority has said it is still processing the more than 300 applications it received late last year. South African regulators plan to oversee the activities of cryptocurrency entities through the Financial…
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Thailand-based asset management funds can now launch private funds for investing in U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), according to the country’s securities regulator. The approval of bitcoin ETFs by U.S. regulators has opened opportunities for Thai asset management firms to gain exposure to the premier crypto asset. Only Institutional Investors and Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals Are…
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On March 12, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) launched what is known as the stablecoin issuer sandbox arrangement. The HKMA stated that applicants interested in establishing a stablecoin business in Hong Kong should have a sound business plan. The regulator also clarified that admission into the sandbox does not imply endorsement or support for…
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The National Tax Service in South Korea is preparing to launch a virtual asset tax system to help analyze the information received from cryptocurrency holders to avoid cryptocurrency tax evasion. Local sources reported that the agency had contracted the services of a third-party company to help in this task, and it is scheduled to be…
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