News linked to both this project and an event.
According to The Block, Japanese financial group SBI Holdings has recently made a series of aggressive moves, completing multiple major crypto investments in succession: exclusively investing $125 million in Gauntlet's Series C, $76 million in EDX Markets' Series C, spending approximately $289 million to acquire Japanese crypto exchange Bitbank, and taking a stake in Singaporean exchange Coinhako. In addition, SBI also participated in Digital Asset's $355 million financing, Morpho's $175 million token round, and Circle's $222 million token presale, and launched Japan's first trust bank-backed yen stablecoin, JPYSC. SBI stated that the company is driving the group's overall on-chain transformation, aiming to provide end-to-end services across exchanges, asset tokenization, market platforms, and other segments, to position itself ahead of the upcoming "token economy" era. Analysts point out that SBI is building Asia's first scaled on-chain asset management business; its strategic core is not purchasing crypto exposure, but controlling the infrastructure of the next-generation financial system. On the regulatory front, the Japanese parliament is advancing legislation to include cryptocurrencies as regulated financial instruments, and plans to significantly reduce the capital gains tax on crypto assets from 55% to 20% by 2028, aligning it with stocks and bonds, providing policy support for institutional entry.
: Following a meeting with Islamic scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani, Bilal bin Saqib, Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, stated that stablecoins, tokenized RWAs, and other blockchain products should undergo separate technical and Sharia assessments and should not be treated as a single category. Previously, scholars including Usmani issued a fatwa determining that USDT and other cryptocurrencies do not constitute wealth recognized under Islamic Sharia law, rendering transactions involving the purchase of physical goods or digital services with them invalid. In March of this year, Pakistan passed the Virtual Assets Act, which requires exchanges, custodians, and token issuers to ensure their operations comply with Sharia law under the guidance of an Islamic finance scholars committee. Meanwhile, the country is advancing plans for a sovereign stablecoin, the tokenization of national assets, and the licensing of crypto trading platforms.
multiple sources familiar with discussions on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act indicate that U.S. lawmakers plan to release an updated version of the crypto market structure bill this week. The new text incorporates content from bills previously passed by the U.S. Senate Banking Committee and the Agriculture Committee, with consultations between the two committees on multiple provisions. (CoinDesk)
According to CoinDesk, informed sources revealed that the latest consolidated draft of the U.S. "Digital Asset Market Transparency Act" (Clarity Act) may be released as early as next week, and the Senate is expected to advance deliberations during the week of July 20. The consolidated draft was jointly negotiated by the Senate Banking Committee and the Agriculture Committee, adding over 70 pages of content and strengthening consumer protection provisions. However, the bill still faces multiple obstacles: Democrats insist on restricting business ties between senior government officials (including the President) and the crypto industry, and the parties have not yet reached a compromise on this ethics provision; additionally, issues such as federal preemption and SEC and CFTC commissioner nominations remain unresolved, and the White House has not participated in the latest negotiations. For the bill to pass in the Senate, it must reach the 60-vote threshold, and the time window is extremely limited—with only about four weeks of agenda remaining for the Senate in July and early August, and continued infighting among House Republicans further increases legislative uncertainty.
Odaily News: U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, urging that any version of the "Digital Asset Market Clarity Act" considered by the Senate retain Section 604 to protect non-custodial blockchain developers who do not control user assets. Ron Wyden stated that developers should not be considered money transmitters simply because they create or publish software that allows users to manage their own digital assets. Coin Center Executive Director Peter Van Valkenburgh, the DeFi Education Fund, and Galaxy Digital Head of Research Alex Thorn have expressed support for this stance. Alex Thorn also noted that supporting developer protections does not mean Ron Wyden will endorse the entire CLARITY Act. Ron Wyden further stated that the provision does not protect developers involved in illegal activities and can direct law enforcement resources toward criminals and unlicensed money transmission businesses, rather than neutral software developers. (Bitcoin.com News).
According to the official website of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan, the President of Kazakhstan signed the Decree "On Measures to Stimulate and Develop the Digital Asset Industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan" on July 8, 2026, aiming to build a modern, transparent digital financial services ecosystem. The core content of the decree covers four main directions: first, promoting the modernization of payment infrastructure and developing mechanisms to support digital assets and stablecoins for cross-border settlement; second, encouraging crypto asset trading to be incorporated into a regulated legal framework, allowing digital assets previously held on unregulated platforms abroad to be voluntarily disclosed and transferred to domestic licensed service providers; third, introducing tax incentive policies, whereby income from digital asset transactions conducted through Kazakhstan's regulated infrastructure will be exempt from personal income tax; fourth, allowing associated gas from oil and gas fields to be used for independent power generation and allocated to digital mining to promote regional investment and efficient energy utilization. In addition, the decree also clarifies the development direction of tokenized financial instruments and national trading infrastructure.
According to The Block, South Korea's Upbit parent company Dunamu and Naver Financial announced that their stock swap transaction has been delayed again, with the latest deadline extended to December 31, 2026. This is the second delay for the transaction; previously, in March this year, it was postponed from June 30 to September 30. The two companies stated that the "Digital Asset Basic Act" currently being drafted in South Korea may affect the transaction's progress or even the final outcome. The bill contains controversial clauses proposing to cap the shareholding ratio of major shareholders in domestic crypto exchanges at 20%, which would directly impact Upbit's existing equity structure if implemented. Previously, the transaction plan involved Naver Financial issuing approximately 87.56 million new shares, with a total value of about 15.13 trillion Korean won (approximately 9.9 billion USD), to promote synergistic development between both parties in the fields of digital assets and the integration of AI and blockchain.
Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, plans to launch a cryptocurrency wallet and digital custody services, with the earliest launch expected in December. The services will be integrated into the "Sberbank Online" and "SberInvestments" platforms, pending the official implementation of Russia's forthcoming "Digital Currency and Digital Rights Law" in September.The bill is expected to establish a licensing framework for transactions, custody, fiat exchange, and cross-border settlements involving crypto assets, while also allowing eligible investors to participate in trading within set limits.Sberbank stated that users will be able to access authorized crypto assets directly within the bank's application, and a digital asset custody system will also be launched for token storage and ledger management.Against the backdrop of advancing regulations, financial institutions including the Moscow Exchange and VTB are also accelerating their deployment in digital asset-related businesses, as Russia's financial system gradually opens up to the compliant crypto market. (CoinDesk)
: New Hampshire's House Bill HB639 has completed the filing process. The bill clarifies that state and local governments cannot restrict individuals from using digital assets for payments or holding assets through self-custody wallets, nor impose additional taxes solely based on the use of digital assets. Meanwhile, individuals or enterprises operating nodes, mining, or staking activities are not required to obtain a money transmission license, and such activities shall not be considered as issuing or selling securities.The bill also authorizes the state Supreme Court to establish a "Blockchain Dispute Tribunal" to hear related civil disputes. It is reported that the bill will take effect 60 days after its passage.
US New Hampshire House Bill HB639 completed the registration process on July 1. The bill specifies that state and local governments shall not restrict individuals from using digital assets for payment or holding assets through self-custody wallets, nor shall they impose additional taxes solely due to the use of digital assets. Meanwhile, individuals or enterprises operating nodes, conducting mining or staking activities are not required to obtain money transmitter licenses, and such activities are not considered issuing or selling securities.
U.S. CFTC Chairman Michael Selig has criticized Illinois for passing a 0.2% tax on cryptocurrency transactions, stating that the state's lawmakers have "hit the brakes on technological progress" and put local residents at a disadvantage in future digital asset innovation.Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the "Digital Asset Tax Act" last month as part of the state's fiscal year 2027 budget plan. The act imposes a 0.2% tax on crypto transactions and is scheduled to take effect in January 2027.Selig stated that just as the internet changed the way information is transferred, blockchain will change the way value is transferred. He believes that in the future, almost all assets, from commodities and currencies to stocks and bonds, could be tokenized. He argued that Illinois' move diverges from Washington's direction of promoting digital asset innovation and could lead to capital, businesses, and tech talent flowing to other jurisdictions.Previously, industry organizations such as the Crypto Council for Innovation, the Digital Chamber, and the Illinois Blockchain Association also strongly opposed the tax, warning that it could become one of the most stringent and anti-crypto state-level tax systems in the United States. (The Block)
According to Digital Asset, the Korea Exchange (KRX) announced revisions to listing rules, stipulating that if technology special listing companies change their main business purpose within 5 years after listing, they will be included in the scope of substantive delisting review. This move primarily targets cases where some biotechnology and other enterprises, after listing on KOSDAQ via technology special exemption, transform their main business into digital asset investment or virtual asset treasury (Crypto Treasury). KRX clearly pointed out that such changes indicate that the original technological capability and growth potential are no longer valid, necessitating a delisting review. In addition, special listing companies must mandatorily disclose corporate value enhancement plans during the listing exemption period to protect investors' right to know. This revision also covers the expansion of quality inspection standards for innovative enterprises, the establishment of a disclosure system for low PBR companies, and the improvement of systems related to multiple voting rights stocks.
The French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) announced that, effective from June 30, 2026, it will revoke the Digital Asset Service Provider (PSAN) registration of AUTOMATA France SAS (operating Vancelian.com). The regulator noted that the company engaged in crowdfunding activities without obtaining the necessary authorization, reflecting that its management and significant shareholders failed to meet integrity and competence requirements.
the core US crypto regulatory bill, the "Digital Asset Market Clarity Act" (Clarity Act), has entered a critical two-week negotiation cycle for legislation. The Senate will be in recess until July 13. During the recess, bipartisan staff, the White House, and representatives from the crypto industry will continue to negotiate outstanding differences in the bill, focusing on resolving disputes over topics such as the integration of the two bill versions from the Senate Banking Committee and the Agriculture Committee, ethics clauses, and anti-money laundering rules.If all parties successfully reach a unified compromise version, the bill could be submitted for a full Senate vote as early as late July to early August. The market generally believes that the period before the August congressional recess is the only window for the bill to be passed this year. If the vote is not completed during this phase, the probability of the bill being enacted into law within 2026 will significantly decrease. (Crypto in America)
that, according to the latest social media news from CoinGecko, Gate, along with platforms such as Coinbase and OKX, is competing for new users in the EU. Gate continues to advance its European compliance process. Its Malta-based entity, Gate Europe, has obtained the European MiCA and PI licenses under the supervision of the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), strengthening its global compliance framework.Furthermore, leveraging its rich trading products, robust platform services, and global operational capabilities, Gate is actively addressing the growing demand for digital asset trading in the European market. This strategic deployment not only enhances Gate's localized service capabilities in Europe but also provides solid support for the platform in terms of user trust, fund security, compliant operations, and long-term market expansion, underscoring its competitive compliance advantage among global crypto trading platforms.
the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has announced an extension of the "no-action" position for digital asset enterprises under the new licensing framework, overall extended to September 30, 2026. During this period, digital asset companies providing financial services can continue to apply for or modify Australian Financial Services (AFS) licenses, and a new operating model is permitted, allowing operations through authorized representatives or intermediary authorization arrangements of AFS licensees. The extension also applies to institutions that need to apply for a market license or a Clearing and Settlement (CS) license. Relevant entities must notify ASIC in writing of their intention to apply and conduct pre-meeting communications. ASIC stated that since the update of INFO 225 guidance in October 2025, it has received approximately 30 license applications from digital asset enterprises.
According to Cointelegraph, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) announced it has extended the temporary regulatory relief period for digital asset businesses applying for an Australian Financial Services (AFS) license to 30 September 2026—three months beyond the previous deadline of 30 June. This extension also broadens the scope of the relief, now covering digital asset businesses operating via authorized representatives or through intermediary arrangements with licensed firms. ASIC stated that since updating its digital asset regulatory guidance in October 2025, it has received approximately 30 license applications. Notably, this extension is independent of Australia’s Digital Asset Framework, which passed Parliament in April this year and is scheduled to take effect on 9 April 2027. ASIC warned that businesses licensed under the current guidance may still require additional authorizations once the new framework comes into force.
According to Digital Asset, South Korea’s Tax Tribunal recently decided to conduct a new investigation into a case where Bitcoin transferred from a spouse’s overseas exchange account to the taxpayer’s domestic account was classified as a “gift” and taxed accordingly. In the case, the taxpayer argued that the Bitcoin in question originally belonged to them and was merely routed through their spouse’s account due to travel-related regulatory restrictions; furthermore, the Bitcoin remained in the spouse’s account for only a short period and thus should not be considered a gift.
According to Forbes, as the 2026 U.S. primaries advance, political donations from the crypto industry have surged significantly. Protect Progress—a Democratic super PAC backed by the Fairshake network—is continuously channeling funds into candidates across several key districts, sparking controversy over “political narrative packaging.” Disclosures show that in the Maryland House of Delegates race alone, Protect Progress has contributed over $4.9 million to candidate Adrian Boafo; similar funding has also flowed to multiple Democratic candidates in Texas and Georgia. Meanwhile, Congress is advancing the Digital Asset Market Structure Act (the CLARITY Act), and the progress of this legislation further elevates the importance of primary election outcomes. Analysts contend that the crypto industry’s influence within the U.S. political system continues to expand, with several senators and candidates publicly endorsing regulatory frameworks for the crypto industry.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed the "Digital Asset Tax Act" on Tuesday, imposing a 0.2% tax on the transaction value of digital asset transactions or services provided to customers in Illinois. The Act will take effect on January 1, 2027.The tax primarily targets crypto service providers, including exchanges, custodians, and brokers, requiring them to collect and remit the tax, with a mechanism similar to sales tax.Industry organizations such as the Crypto Council for Innovation, Digital Chamber, and Illinois Blockchain Association have strongly opposed the Act, stating that it could become one of the most stringent digital asset tax systems in the country.Critics argue that the tax will impose additional costs on Illinois residents solely for using digital assets and may drive crypto enterprises, developers, and innovation activities out of the state.