The Central Bank (CBI) of Iran bought $507 million of Tether's USDT stablecoin with the primary purpose of manipulating foreign exchange markets and bolstering the value of the rial, which recently traded at 1.4 million for one U.S. dollar, according to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic. Elliptic said it uncovered the purchases through two leaked documents that allowed researchers to map out the central bank’s wallet infrastructure, "revealing a systematic accumulation of USDT totaling at least half a bi ...

Vietnam began accepting applications for crypto exchange licenses on Jan. 20 under a new pilot program. The move makes official a market that has operated in a legal gray area for years. The Ministry of Finance issued new procedures on Jan. 20 covering license issuance, amendment, and revocation, according to the State Securities Commission. Applications with complete documentation can be processed within 30 days. However, the full review includes IT security certification from the Ministry of Public Se ...

Central Bank of Iran bought $507m in USDT to support the value of the Iranian Rial.→ Paid in AED dirhams→ Received USDT on Tron→ Moved to Nobitex (Iran's biggest exchange)→ Bridge from Tron to Ethereum→ Sold for rials to support their fiat-shitcoinIt worked as Rial recovered. They should use Bitcoin, though:Tether had already frozen 37m USDT.And in June, pro-Israel hackers stole $90m in crypto by hacking Nobitex CEX. ...

Vietnam has begun moving cryptocurrency exchanges out of a long-standing legal gray area by piloting a formal licensing regime for crypto asset trading platforms. Key Takeaways: Vietnam has begun formally licensing crypto exchanges after years of legal uncertainty. Banks and securities firms are lining up to enter the market under strict requirements. The move follows rapid growth in crypto usage across the country. Under Decision No. 96/QD-BTC, issued this week by the Ministry of Finance, author ...

Ripple’s RLUSD, the 10th largest dollar-backed stablecoin, is set to begin spot trading on Binance, its most prominent exchange listing yet and a key step in expanding the token’s reach beyond Ripple’s native ecosystem. Binance said it will list RLUSD with support for Ethereum starting on Jan. 22 at 08:00 UTC, while integration with the XRP Ledger is expected to follow. Trading pairs will include RLUSD/USDT and XRP/RLUSD, giving traders direct access to the stablecoin alongside Ripple’s native token. Th ...

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Group 1 - Gold's price has surged 70% over the past year, marking its strongest performance in nearly 50 years, leading to increased demand for exposure to the metal, particularly in tokenized forms [1] - Tokenized gold trading reached $178 billion in 2025, with $126 billion occurring in the last quarter, surpassing most traditional gold ETFs except for SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) [2] - If tokenized gold were classified as an ETF, it would rank as the second-largest by trading volume [3] Group 2 - Tether's XAUT accounted for 75% of the fourth-quarter trading volume in the tokenized gold market, which saw a market capitalization increase of 177% to over $4.4 billion [4] - Retail demand is a significant driver for tokenized gold, allowing fractional ownership and no minimum investment, thus enabling broader participation, especially in emerging markets [5] - Gold's price recently hit $4,750, with expectations of reaching $5,000 as capital shifts towards defensive assets amid renewed tariff concerns [6]

Core Insights - Stablecoins emerged as a significant product in the crypto space in 2025, with the industry now focusing on tokenizing various assets for broader market integration in 2026 [1] - The tokenized asset market experienced substantial growth, nearly quadrupling to almost $20 billion by the end of 2025, indicating a shift from niche experimentation to mainstream adoption [2] - Legal clarity, interoperability, and shared identity frameworks are essential for the successful scaling of tokenized markets, preventing fragmentation [3] Market Projections - Tokenized assets are projected to exceed $400 billion by the end of 2026, a significant increase from $36 billion today, driven by user demand and capital flows [4] - The transition towards tokenization is characterized by a fundamental restructuring of value transfer, moving beyond speculation [4] Investment Dynamics - As cash becomes tokenized through stablecoins, there is an expectation for these funds to seek investment opportunities, bridging digital money with digital capital markets [5] - The foundational work required for scaling tokenized markets includes establishing legal clarity and interoperability between different blockchain networks [5] Institutional Adoption - 2026 is anticipated to mark a shift from pilot projects to actual implementation of tokenization by traditional financial institutions, as indicated by industry leaders [6] - Tokenization is becoming a mainstream tool for capital raising, with significant efficiency gains and broader access that cannot be overlooked [7] - Emerging markets are expected to lead in tokenization, allowing local issuers to bypass outdated infrastructure and provide global investors with access to new capital markets at reduced costs [7]

Group 1 - Anchorage Digital is preparing to raise between $200 million and $400 million in funding as it considers a potential IPO next year, indicating renewed interest in public markets for crypto firms [1][8] - The company’s affiliate, Anchorage Digital Bank National Association, is the first federally chartered crypto bank in the U.S., which enhances its competitive edge as regulations around stablecoins and digital assets evolve [2] - Following the GENIUS Act's passage, Anchorage aims to expand its stablecoin team, anticipating increased demand for dollar-backed digital tokens from various financial institutions [3] Group 2 - Anchorage has outlined its growth strategy for 2025, focusing on acquisitions, partnerships, and stablecoin issuance, with a notable collaboration with Tether to launch a U.S.-focused stablecoin [4] - The company offers a comprehensive range of services for institutional clients, including custody, trading, staking, and wealth management, having recently acquired Securitize for Advisors [5] - Anchorage previously raised $350 million in late 2021, valuing the company at over $3 billion, demonstrating its capability to attract significant investment [6] Group 3 - The company's IPO plans align with a broader trend of major crypto firms seeking public listings, reflecting a growing momentum in the crypto industry [7]

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