Major crypto exchange OKX has joined hands with Deltix to expand institutional trading capabilities for clients across the U.S. Per the announcement, the companies in this country will be able to access, for the first time, regulated digital-asset liquidity via the same infrastructure they use for equities and FX. Deltix is a division of EPAM Systems, which provides digital development, software engineering, and product design services among others. Moreover, this particular division offers institutional ...

Core Viewpoint - Australia's securities regulator, ASIC, has introduced temporary exemptions for digital asset businesses, facilitating their operations while a comprehensive overhaul of the country's crypto framework is underway [1][2]. Group 1: Exemptions and Regulatory Changes - ASIC has finalized class relief for intermediaries involved in the secondary distribution of certain stablecoins and wrapped tokens, allowing them to operate without separate Australian financial services licenses [2][3]. - The relief extends to custody, permitting providers to hold tokenized financial products in omnibus accounts, a practice previously restricted in the crypto sector [2][4]. - The exemption is contingent upon firms maintaining proper records and reconciliation procedures, as outlined in ASIC's updated digital-asset guidance [3][5]. Group 2: Industry Feedback and Consultation - ASIC's decision follows a consultation process that began on October 29, which included feedback from five non-confidential submissions, with industry groups generally supporting the plan but seeking clearer definitions and broader eligibility [4][6]. - In response to industry feedback, ASIC expanded the scope of the exemptions to include tokens issued by entities that have applied for licenses [4]. Group 3: Transition Period and Future Legislation - ASIC has adopted a sector-wide no-action stance until June 30, 2026, allowing companies time to review the new guidance, submit license applications, or adjust their operations [6]. - The temporary relief is expected to last until mid-2028, by which time the government aims to implement legislation addressing tokenized payments and custody structures [7].

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. A new bill introduced in the House of Representatives would allow people to pay federal taxes with Bitcoin. The Bitcoin for America Act by Rep. Warren Davidson (R-UT) would also protect the U.S. from financial instability by diversifying its national wealth and keeping up with countries that have already built up Bitcoin reserves, Davidson said in a statement. "By allowing taxpayers to pay federal taxes i ...

On Tuesday, HashKey’s parent company announced it would seek a public listing on the Hong Kong stock exchange. HashKey Holdings Ltd., which operates the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the region, hopes to raise as much as $215 million from the listing, potentially vaulting its valuation to more than $2 billion, according to a filing. JP Morgan and the Chinese securities firm Guotai Junan are joint sponsors of the listing. At just $96 million in trading volume over the last day, HashKey Exchange is f ...

As bitcoin cracked, liquidations mounted and short-term holders capitulated. - Getty Images/iStockphoto They came in by the tens of thousands: young, internet-native, mostly male, lured by the promise of lightning gains and financial freedom. For many, crypto wasn’t just an asset class — it was a storyline; a chance to get rich quickly and grab outsized returns before the mainstream figured out what was happening. That story was sold to them constantly through late-night livestreams, hyped Twitter threads ...

Core Insights - Retirees are advised to be cautious with investments, particularly in cryptocurrency, due to the risks associated with volatile assets [1][3] - Financial experts recommend that if retirees choose to invest in crypto, they should focus on established cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, while avoiding most altcoins [2][3] Investment Recommendations - Experts suggest that retirees should completely avoid investing in cryptocurrencies, citing a lack of valid reasons for such investments [3] - Vince Stanzione, a financial expert, emphasizes that retirees should not invest in crypto, despite having previously made significant profits from it [3] Cryptocurrencies to Avoid - **Solana (SOL)**: Once considered a leading cryptocurrency, it has faced numerous network outages, making it unsuitable for risk-averse investors [4][5] - **Dogecoin (DOGE)**: Described as a manipulated asset with no real use case, its value is highly dependent on social media sentiment, posing significant risks for retirees [5]

Core Viewpoint - The debate on regulating tokenized equities in the U.S. is intensifying, with traditional finance firms and crypto executives clashing over the treatment of decentralized trading infrastructure compared to traditional exchanges [1][2]. Group 1: Tokenization and Regulation - Tokenization involves converting ownership of real-world assets into digital tokens on a blockchain, encompassing various asset types such as stocks, bonds, and real estate [2]. - The SEC's Investor Advisory Committee has seen diverging opinions on the supervision of on-chain equities trading [2]. Group 2: Industry Perspectives - Citadel Securities has faced criticism from the crypto sector for advocating a stricter regulatory approach towards decentralized finance (DeFi) [3]. - Coinbase's regulatory policy vice president has called for rules specifically designed for decentralized exchange models [3]. Group 3: Regulatory Stance - SEC Chair Paul Atkins emphasized the need for compliant pathways that foster innovation, while Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw raised concerns about risks associated with tokenized equities [4]. - Citadel's letter to the SEC argued that many DeFi protocols should be classified as exchanges and regulated accordingly, highlighting the ongoing regulatory debate [4][5]. Group 4: Regulatory Tools and Future Outlook - A potential regulatory tool could be a "sandbox" approach, allowing tokenized equity platforms to operate under specific conditions while regulators assess the landscape [6]. - HSBC anticipates that regulatory pressure may lead to the growth of tokenized equities trading on fully regulated blockchains [6]. Group 5: Industry Consensus - There is a general agreement among TradFi, DeFi, and regulators that tokenization is expected to expand from a small base, with the current regulatory debate indicating rising stakes in the market [7].

PNC Bank is now offering direct bitcoin (BTC) trading to its private banking clients, becoming the first major U.S. bank to embed spot bitcoin access inside its digital banking platform. The new feature, which went live Monday, caps off a partnership with Coinbase (COIN) that’s been in development since 2021 and was formally announced in July this year. The feature is available to eligible clients of PNC Private Bank and is powered by Coinbase’s Crypto-as-a-Service (CaaS) platform. The integration, whic ...

The Digital Chamber, which is among the most prominent crypto lobbying groups, is incorporating one of the leading U.K. digital assets groups, CryptoUK, as an affiliate under its widening umbrella. At a time of upheaval in the industry's advocacy space, in which leaders have turned over and several new groups have been established with major funding, the Digital Chamber — primarily focused on the busy U.S. policy effort — announced a new formal agreement with the U.K. organization to unify their operation ...

Crypto analysts are watching today’s Federal Reserve meeting closely, but according to Nansen’s Principal Research Analyst Aurelie Barthere, the rate cut itself is no longer the main story. Key Takeaways: Markets have already priced in today’s 25bps rate cut, making Powell’s tone and forward guidance the key drivers for crypto. Nansen’s Aurelie Barthere says the 2026 leadership shift toward Kevin Hassett could be bullish for digital assets. Bitcoin faces major resistance near $91,000, with Barthere e ...