Internet users in the Philippines began losing access to major global cryptocurrency exchanges this week after local internet service providers moved to block dozens of online trading platforms following orders from regulators. Among the platforms affected were Coinbase and Gemini, two of the largest U.S.-based crypto exchanges, which users reported became inaccessible across multiple Philippine ISPs as of Tuesday. Independent checks confirmed the disruptions. Philippine Crackdown Leaves Traders Scrambl ...

Russia’s central bank laid out a proposed framework that would legalize and regulate cryptocurrency trading for both individuals and institutions, continuing its softening stance toward cryptocurrencies. However, it continues to caution that investing in crypto carries risks, including potential losses. “They are not issued or guaranteed by any jurisdiction and are subject to increased volatility and sanctions risks,” the central bank’s press release said. “When deciding to invest in crypto assets, inves ...

Ghana has legalized cryptocurrency trading after passing the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, 2025. The Bank of Ghana confirmed that the law is in force. Crypto activity is no longer a legal gray area, and individuals and firms can trade without fear of arrest. The bill sets a single rule set for digital assets. The goal is control, not a ban and now, the central bank has complete authority over the sector. What Changes for the Market Before this law, crypto use was widespread but unregulated. Th ...

Core Viewpoint - A coalition of over 125 cryptocurrency companies and advocacy groups is actively opposing US banking lobbyists regarding the rights to pay interest on stablecoin deposits, highlighting a significant conflict between traditional banking and the crypto industry [1][5]. Group 1: Banking Lobby's Position - The GENIUS Act currently prohibits stablecoin issuers from paying dividends, but a loophole allows third-party platforms to pass stablecoin yields to users, prompting banks to lobby for closing this loophole [2]. - Banking groups argue that allowing unregulated fintech platforms to offer high yields on cash-equivalent tokens poses systemic risks, potentially leading to a capital flight of up to $6.6 trillion from commercial banks to digital asset platforms [3]. - They contend that such a shift would undermine the capital base necessary for banks to underwrite mortgages and business loans, resulting in increased borrowing costs for American households [4]. Group 2: Crypto Coalition's Response - The crypto coalition has urged lawmakers to reject attempts to expand the scope of the GENIUS Act, arguing that reopening this issue would undermine the predictability of regulatory frameworks and introduce unnecessary risks [5][6]. - They dismiss the banks' concerns as a protectionist effort to maintain a monopoly on low-interest deposits, claiming that banks are trying to protect their profit margins by preventing consumers from accessing higher yields available in the Treasury market [6]. - The coalition argues that stablecoin reward programs allow platforms to share value directly with users, enabling households to benefit from higher rates rather than suffering losses due to inflation [7].

But investigators are often working with incomplete information and under time pressure, and this can result in mistakes about whether particular transactions reflect money laundering or perfectly legal activity. That is unfortunate, because while potential paths exist to remedy an improper crypto seizure , the recovery process can be expensive, time-consuming and stressful.First, the DOJ’s heightened focus on crypto seizures increases the odds that innocent users will see their coins wrongly caught in the ...

In a definitive statement, Anatoly Aksakov, Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on Financial Markets, maintained a strict ban on payments using crypto within Russia. Addressing a TASS press conference, he emphasized that payments in Russia must only be conducted in rubles. He dismissed the possibility of cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum becoming legal tender. “We must understand that cryptocurrencies will never become money within our country,” he noted. “They can only be used as an investment ...

The U.K. government plans to extend existing financial regulation to cover crypto companies from 2027, the Treasury said Monday. The finance ministry published draft legislation in April, which laid out the proposed rules for crypto exchanges and stablecoin issuance. In extending existing financial services rules to crypto, the U.K. would be emulating the approach of the U.S., in contrast to the European Union (EU), which introduced a regime, the Markets in Crypto Assets regulations, specifically for the ...

Core Viewpoint - Beijing has intensified its crackdown on cryptocurrencies, particularly focusing on the illegal activities surrounding real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, which has now been explicitly prohibited alongside other crypto activities [1][3]. Group 1: Regulatory Actions - The People's Bank of China (PBoC) has reiterated that virtual currencies do not hold legal status and cannot be used as currency in the market [1]. - In December, seven major financial associations in China declared all RWA tokenization activities illegal, marking a significant regulatory step against this emerging sector [3]. - The coalition of financial associations last mobilized in September 2021 to enforce a ban on exchanges and mining, which drastically reduced China's Bitcoin hashrate from approximately 75% to nearly zero [4]. Group 2: Risks and Concerns - Authorities have expressed concerns that RWA tokenization could lead to serious risks, including the potential for fake assets, project failures, and speculative trading [5]. - There is apprehension that tokenized assets might facilitate capital flight, allowing domestic holders to convert traditional assets into digital tokens and transfer them offshore, circumventing banking and foreign-exchange controls [5]. Group 3: Legal Status of Virtual Currencies - The December notice emphasized that all virtual currencies, including stablecoins, lack legal status and are prohibited from circulation within mainland China [6]. - Individuals and organizations are banned from issuing, exchanging, or raising funds using tokens or stablecoins, even if the issuing company is based offshore but employs staff in China [6].

Binance just secured three fresh licenses from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) in ADGM (Abu Dhabi Global Markets). The largest crypto exchange is now the first crypto exchange to secure a global license under its framework. FSRA, for those who don’t know, is the financial watchdog that oversees financial activities within ADGM, Abu Dhabi’s international financial hub. The announcement came through a press release shared by ADGM on 8 December 2025. It confirms FSRA’s approval of license ...

Tether’s ability to maintain its dollar peg was downgraded by the S&P Global Ratings agency, citing a dangerous shift toward riskier assets in the world’s largest stablecoin’s reserves. On Tuesday, the rating agency reassessed Tether to 5, labeled “weak,” from 4, labeled “constrained.” The Stablecoin Stability Assessment now puts Tether in the same category as TrueUSD, which has lost access to nearly all its reserves. Meanwhile, Tether’s largest competitor, Circle’s USDC, holds an S&P rating of 2, labele ...