Dubai’s crypto regulator has initiated a crackdown on unregulated crypto companies and firms violating its marketing rules. On Oct. 9, Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) issued fines and cease-and-desist orders to seven businesses for breaching marketing regulations and operating without required licenses. VARA said it’s conducting further investigations in collaboration with other local authorities. The regulator…

Increasing regulatory clarity around spot Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States and Asia has encouraged almost half of traditional hedge funds to obtain exposure to digital assets. A survey conducted by the Alternative Investment Management Association and PwC revealed that 47% of hedge fund managers trading in traditional markets have exposure…

Binance Blockchain Week Dubai 2024 brings together leading figures in blockchain to discuss the future of Web3 and foster innovation through keynotes, interactive sessions and workshops. Innovation rarely happens in isolation in the fast-paced world of Web3. Instead, it emerges from conversations, collaborations and the exchange of bold visions. Conferences have increasingly become the breeding ground…

Options on Bitcoin BTC$61,113.46 exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are likely to launch in the United States by the first quarter of 2025, according to James Seyffart, a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst. “I think before the end of the year is possible for options, but more likely in Q1 2025,” Seyffart said during an Oct. 9 panel discussion at the…

Taiwan is looking to advance institutional cryptocurrency adoption as local regulators aim to pilot crypto storage services through local banks. The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) of Taiwan is preparing to launch an institutional trial of crypto custody services, local media Central News Agency reported on Oct. 8. While the FSC reportedly expects to start collecting applications in…

Minima introduces the embedded blockchain to the DePIN ecosystem, allowing nodes to work on any device thanks to its lightweight design. Proof-of-work (PoW) is the original blockchain consensus mechanism of the Bitcoin network and is widely praised for its security. However, the security of PoW chains is ensured by spending gigantic amounts of energy. The energy-intensive…

South Korea’s government plans to apply foreign exchange rules to cross-border transactions involving dollar-pegged stablecoins. On Oct. 8, the country’s Ministry of Economy and Finance reportedly announced that it was reviewing measures to ensure the soundness of stablecoin transactions. The government agency said that apart from being used to transact and exchange within the crypto ecosystem, stablecoins…

Another cryptocurrency payment method is coming to Samsung Pay, with Alchemy Pay integrating its virtual cards with Samsung’s contactless payment tool. Alchemy Pay — a major crypto payment provider with more than one million registered users — has updated its virtual card service with a new Samsung Pay integration on one of its virtual cards….

Major cryptocurrency exchange and service provider Crypto.com is launching a legal battle against the United States Securities and Exchange Commission with the goal of protecting the future of the crypto industry in the country. Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, took to X on Oct. 8 to officially announce that the company has filed…

The World Economic Forum (WEF) urged policymakers and regulators worldwide to conduct decentralized finance (DeFi)-related innovations and experiments within regulatory sandboxes, focusing on tailored risk mitigation and transparency. In its recent assessment of nine major economies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and the United Arab Emirates, the WEF identified the need for…