ChainCatcher news, according to News.bitcoin, the South African financial regulator------Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has issued a total of 248 crypto asset service provider (CASP) licenses from 420 applications received. According to local reports, 56 applications are still under review, while 9 applications have been rejected, and 106 entities withdrew their applications after the FSCA expressed concerns about their business models.

ChainCatcher news, cryptocurrency exchange BitOasis has obtained a new license in its home jurisdiction after being acquired by Indian cryptocurrency exchange CoinDCX.BitOasis announced on December 9 that it has received a full Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license issued by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). The acquisition of the VASP license marks the final step in the BitOasis VARA licensing process, covering a range of crypto trading services, including buying, selling, and trading.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the cryptocurrency landscape in Turkey is undergoing a significant shift as major companies like Coinbase and KuCoin join the competition for the country's operating licenses. Following an update to the regulatory framework by the Capital Markets Board of Turkey (CMB), the number of applications has surged. Initially, 47 crypto companies applied for licenses under the new regulatory framework, which has now expanded to 76, including new entrants like Coinbase, KuCoin, and Gate.io.Previously recognized entities such as Binance, Bitfinex, and OKX have also participated in the application process. Despite these advancements, the CMB clarified that being listed on the "operating companies list" does not equate to obtaining official authorization. Each company still needs to receive formal approval from the board, which depends on the issuance of secondary legislation. The list will be updated as companies address regulatory deficiencies or as the CMB concludes its investigations.Turkey's Minister of Finance and Treasury, Mehmet Simsek, stated in January that local cryptocurrency legislation is nearing completion, but the anticipated draft has yet to be submitted to parliament. This regulatory uncertainty has not deterred businesses from seeking licenses, reflecting the industry's optimism and the country's strategic importance in the global cryptocurrency market. This wave of applications emerged following the implementation of the Capital Markets Law Amendment, which took effect on July 2. The law aims to provide a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency service providers in Turkey.According to data from Chainalysis, Turkey is the fourth-largest cryptocurrency market in the world, with an estimated trading volume of $170 billion. This trading volume positions Turkey ahead of significant markets such as Russia, Canada, Vietnam, Thailand, and Germany.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, with the implementation of new regulations, the Turkish cryptocurrency market is experiencing growth opportunities, attracting significant attention from local and international companies. According to the announcement from the Turkish Capital Markets Board (CMB), 47 cryptocurrency companies have applied for licenses, including well-known exchanges Bitfinex, Binance TR, and OKX TR. However, exchanges such as Coinbase, Bybit, KuCoin, MEXC, and Gate have not yet submitted applications.

ChainCatcher news, HashKey Exchange CEO Livio Weng stated that the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission may have considered the user base from "sensitive areas" when reviewing the license applications of certain international cryptocurrency exchanges.In an interview on Monday, Weng mentioned that he could not elaborate on what "sensitive areas" are, but it seems to be a major focus of the negotiations between the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission and the exchanges, which have now withdrawn their license applications.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, South Africa has begun issuing licenses to cryptocurrency companies, with trading platform Luno and decentralized social investment market Zignaly being among the first approved companies.The country's regulators stated that approximately 60 companies will be approved in April.

ChainCatcher news, the enforcement head of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) of South Africa stated that he expects the organization to decide on the approval of 50 cryptocurrency companies' license applicants in the coming weeks. The regulator mentioned that out of more than 100 entities applying for licenses, 20 have already withdrawn their respective applications.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has granted a license to the climate-friendly Web3 company Enjinstarter's AYA platform to provide crypto asset and investment services, but certain conditions must be met before the services can commence.It is reported that AYA is a Launchpad platform focused on climate, supporting innovations around sustainability, such as reforestation, natural credits, mangrove conservation, and sustainable agriculture. In addition to serving as a financing platform for green initiatives, AYA also helps projects dedicated to climate action through blockchain and Web3 infrastructure.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, Nomura's digital asset subsidiary Laser Digital, based in Dubai, has obtained a cryptocurrency license in Dubai, allowing it to provide virtual asset brokerage and investment management services locally. Laser Digital stated that it plans to launch over-the-counter trading services and digital asset investment products for institutional investors in the coming months.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, Binance has stated that it has withdrawn its license application submitted to the German financial regulator BaFin.A Binance spokesperson stated that there have been significant changes in the global market and regulatory environment, and Binance still plans to apply for a license in Germany, but the submitted content must accurately reflect these changes.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jin10, the cryptocurrency exchange Gemini will seek a cryptocurrency license in the UAE. (Source link)

ChainCatcher news, Bitget exchange officially stated that it is currently applying for a cryptocurrency business license in Bermuda to enhance its compliance level in the global market. It is reported that, to date, Bitget has obtained MSB licenses in the United States, Canada, and Australia, and has completed cryptocurrency business registrations in Italy, Poland, and Lithuania. In addition, Bitget is also advancing its compliance expansion in places such as Hong Kong, the Czech Republic, Turkey, and Dubai.

According to ChainCatcher, citing informed sources from Bloomberg, in the weeks following the bankruptcy of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX last year, officials from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) have recently requested Binance to provide more information about its ownership structure, governance, and audit procedures. The sources spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. Three of the informed sources stated that VARA is asking all international companies seeking licenses to provide similar information. (Source link)

ChainCatcher news, Gate.io's parent company Gate Group will apply for a new cryptocurrency license in Hong Kong and launch a new platform designed for the Hong Kong market, Gate HK.Gate.io previously tweeted that Gate has obtained a Trust and Company Service Provider (TCSP) license in Hong Kong, allowing it to provide custody solutions covering a range of digital assets. (Source link)

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, the world's largest brokerage TP ICAP has registered as a digital asset provider with the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, as the company attempts to enter the cryptocurrency space through its Fusion digital asset market.It is reported that TP ICAP, officially known as Tullett Prebon (Europe) Ltd., is an infrastructure giant in the traditional financial wholesale market and is collaborating with custodian Fidelity Digital Assets to provide a platform for matching orders and executing spot cryptocurrency trades. The company has been on the FCA's cryptocurrency company register since November 21, which certifies compliance with anti-money laundering regulations. (CoinDesk)