BANGKOK (AP) — U.S. futures dropped and Asian shares were mostly higher on Monday after the Supreme Court struck down most of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Bitcoin tumbled as much as 5% early Monday, dropping below $65,000. The sell-off has been driven by investors pulling out of speculative assets and concerns about future cryptocurrency regulation. The original cryptocurrency, pitched as “digital gold,” has lost nearly half of its value since Oct. 6, when it hit a record high of $126,210.5 ...

Russians are conducting crypto deals worth a total of around $648 million per day, the country’s finance ministry says. Cryptocurrency usage in Russia is “only continuing to grow,” Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeskov told media representatives this week, Russian media outlet RBC reported. “We’ve repeatedly said that millions of citizens are involved in crypto trading,” Chebeskov said. “That represents trillions of rubles’ worth of [purchases] and savings. The annual transaction volume in Russia is ove ...

Core Viewpoint - The Indian government has delayed discussions on a cryptocurrency bill, prompting criticism from the Supreme Court for the lack of clear guidelines in the crypto sector [1][5]. Group 1: Regulatory Framework - Lawmaker Raghav Chadha emphasized the necessity for a "clear domestic regulatory sandbox" to classify cryptocurrencies as an asset class, which could generate billions in annual tax revenue for the government [2]. - Chadha pointed out the paradox of imposing a 30% tax on cryptocurrency gains without providing legal recognition or investor protections, urging the establishment of a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and stablecoins [5]. Group 2: Current Taxation and Market Impact - India currently imposes a 30% flat tax on income from virtual digital assets, including cryptocurrencies, along with a 1% tax on all transfers, regardless of holding period or income level [4]. - An analysis revealed that 72.66% of India's cryptocurrency trading volume, approximately $5.60 billion, occurred on offshore platforms, indicating that unclear regulations have led to the migration of around 180 cryptocurrency startups abroad [3].

By Exec Edge Editorial Staff Blockchain.com has secured registration with the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to operate as a cryptoasset business. The February 2026 approval comes as competitor Gemini announces its departure from the UK market. “While Gemini announced they are ceasing operations in the UK last week, we are doubling down on our home turf and remain deep-rooted in the country,” said Peter Smith, CEO, Founder, and Executive Chairman at Blockchain.com, in an internal message to emplo ...

By Jihoon Lee SEOUL, Feb 9 (Reuters) - South Korea's financial market watchdog said on Monday local exchange Bithumb's unintentional giveaway of more than $40 billion in bitcoin to customers raises the ​need for tougher regulations to address the vulnerabilities of cryptocurrencies. The cryptocurrency exchange said on Saturday ‌it had accidentally given away the bitcoin to customers as promotional rewards, triggering a sharp selloff on the exchange. Lee Chan-jin, governor ‌of the Financial Supervisory ...

Core Insights - The files related to Jeffrey Epstein reveal significant connections to the cryptocurrency industry, including investments and relationships with key figures and companies in the sector [1][2][3] Investment Activities - Epstein was an early investor in Coinbase, investing $3 million in 2014 when the company's valuation was approximately $400 million; Coinbase is now valued at $44 billion [4] - In 2018, Epstein sold about half of his investment back to Blockchain Capital [5] Regulatory Interests - Epstein sought clarification on Bitcoin regulation and taxes as early as 2018, suggesting the creation of a voluntary disclosure form for crypto gains to combat illicit activities [6] - He compared the handling of cryptocurrency to the internet, advocating for coordinated international agreements [6] Relationships with Key Figures - Epstein maintained communication with Brock Pierce, co-founder of Tether, discussing cryptocurrency and other topics after Epstein's 2008 conviction [7]

Core Viewpoint - Russia is set to implement cryptocurrency market regulations by June 2027, allowing both qualified and unqualified investors to participate under different rules [1][2]. Group 1: Regulatory Framework - The regulations will impose a cap of 300,000 rubles ($4,000) on retail investors' cryptocurrency purchases [2]. - Qualified investors will need to pass mandatory testing to understand cryptocurrency transaction risks, but they can purchase unlimited quantities of crypto assets, excluding anonymous ones [2]. - The framework will include penalties for illegal activities by intermediaries, akin to sanctions for illegal banking activities [3]. Group 2: Central Bank's Role - The Central Bank of Russia proposed a framework in December to legalize and regulate cryptocurrency trading for individuals and institutions, indicating a shift towards a more favorable stance on cryptocurrencies [4]. - Digital currencies and stablecoins are recognized as monetary assets but are not permitted for domestic payments [4]. Group 3: Mining and Trading - Cryptocurrency miners will be encouraged to legalize their operations, with potential administrative, financial, and criminal liabilities for illegal activities [5]. - The Central Bank will compile a list of 5 to 10 cryptocurrencies allowed for trading, likely including BTC and ETH, with others available only to qualified investors [5]. Group 4: Anti-Money Laundering Measures - The Central Bank prohibits the purchase of cryptocurrencies that conceal transaction recipients, such as Monero (XMR), Zcash (ZEC), and Dash, to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations [6].

Core Viewpoint - Russia's State Duma is set to establish a two-tier cryptocurrency access system by July 1, 2026, which will limit non-qualified investors to an annual investment cap of 300,000 rubles ($4,000) while allowing qualified investors unlimited purchasing power [1]. Regulatory Framework - The framework, based on the Bank of Russia's December concept, categorizes digital currencies and stablecoins as tradable currency assets but prohibits their use for domestic payments [2]. Investor Classification and Restrictions - Non-qualified investors will face strict limitations, including mandatory testing and restrictions to approved liquid cryptocurrencies through licensed intermediaries, with penalties for illegal activities starting July 1, 2027 [3]. - Qualified investors will not have volume restrictions but must demonstrate risk understanding through testing and cannot acquire anonymous tokens [3]. Approved Cryptocurrency Lists - The Central Bank is expected to create approved cryptocurrency lists featuring the top 5-10 most traded assets, likely including BTC and ETH, with potential additions like SOL or TON [4][5]. - Privacy-focused cryptocurrencies will be explicitly excluded from the regulated market, as they cannot pass anti-money laundering checks [5][6]. Cross-Border Transactions - Russian residents will be allowed to purchase cryptocurrencies on foreign platforms using overseas accounts and transfer previously acquired assets abroad, provided they notify the tax service [6][7]. Infrastructure and Compliance - Crypto transactions will utilize existing licensed infrastructure, with exchanges, brokers, and trustees operating under current licenses, while specialized depositories and exchangers will face new regulatory requirements [8].

Core Viewpoint - The cryptocurrency industry is facing criticism for its resistance to the Senate's cryptocurrency market structure bill, with calls for compromise to avoid worse regulations in the future [1][4]. Group 1: Industry Reactions - Patrick Witt, executive director of the President's Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, emphasized that "no bill is better than a bad bill," reflecting concerns from industry leaders like Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong regarding the Senate's proposed legislation [2]. - Coinbase has withdrawn its support for the Senate's cryptocurrency market structure bill, citing issues with provisions related to tokenized equities, decentralized finance, and stablecoin rewards [2]. - Galaxy Digital has also criticized the bill, labeling it as "the single largest expansion to financial surveillance authorities since the USA PATRIOT Act" [3]. Group 2: Future Outlook - Witt predicts that a cryptocurrency market structure bill will eventually be enacted, stating, "It's a question of when, not if," and warns against the assumption that the industry can operate indefinitely without a regulatory framework [4]. - He urges the cryptocurrency industry to seek a compromise with the current pro-crypto administration, suggesting that future regulations could be more unfavorable under a different administration [4]. - Witt cautions that while the CLARITY Act may not be perfect, a future Democratic version could be significantly worse, advocating for continued efforts to improve the current proposal [5].

Core Viewpoint - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has agreed to dismiss a lawsuit against crypto exchange Gemini related to its Earn product, stating that the lawsuit is no longer warranted [1]. Group 1: Lawsuit Background - The SEC initially sued Gemini and Genesis Global Capital in 2023, alleging the sale of unregistered securities through Gemini's yield-bearing Earn product, which led to investor funds being loaned to Genesis [2]. - Following the 2022 FTX collapse and a downturn in the crypto market, Genesis halted withdrawals, prompting the SEC's lawsuit [2]. Group 2: Settlement and Dismissal - In a recent court filing, the SEC and Gemini reached a joint stipulation, confirming that Gemini had repaid 100% of its investors' funds through the bankruptcy process of Genesis [3]. - The SEC's filing indicated that the dismissal of claims against Gemini was appropriate due to the full return of investors' crypto assets [4]. Group 3: Related Developments - Genesis has settled with the SEC, agreeing to pay a $21 million fine, while Gemini has also settled with New York state regulators [5]. - The dismissal of this lawsuit is part of a broader trend, as the SEC has dropped over a dozen lawsuits in the past year, many initiated during the previous administration [5]. Group 4: Regulatory Context - Current SEC Chair Paul Atkins has indicated plans to publish new guidelines for crypto companies to determine whether their products qualify as securities, which is a key issue in ongoing legislative discussions in the Senate [6].