ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin News, Kenya is drafting a new regulatory bill for digital assets.It is reported that nearly 10% of the country's population is involved in cryptocurrency activities. The proposed bill will focus on the licensing management of cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets.

ChainCatcher news, according to the Bangkok Post, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced at the ASEAN Economic Forum that Thailand will launch a cryptocurrency regulatory sandbox program in Phuket in October 2025. The program will focus on the application of stablecoins to balance innovation and risk, and will initially be piloted in the tourism sector.Thaksin emphasized Thailand's leading advantage in the region, especially in the context of Trump's support for cryptocurrencies. Gulf Binance CEO Nirun Fuwattananukul stated that the sandbox model will provide a controllable environment for cryptocurrency applications for businesses and consumers while ensuring regulatory effectiveness.

ChainCatcher news, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommends that Kenya create a clear and predictable regulatory environment for the cryptocurrency market to protect consumers and address risks related to anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT).The IMF points out that Kenya currently relies on outdated regulations from traditional markets and lacks legally binding regulation for the crypto market, leading to an increase in crypto-related scams and criminal activities.The IMF suggests that Kenya develop a cryptocurrency regulatory environment that aligns with international frameworks and standards, while also considering the unique challenges and opportunities of the local market, ensuring that the regulatory framework protects consumers, maintains financial stability, and promotes innovation.

ChainCatcher news, Indonesia has not yet finalized the transfer of cryptocurrency regulation, supervision, and oversight from the Commodity Futures Trading Regulatory Agency (Bappebti) to the Financial Services Authority (OJK). Since 2018, Bappebti has been responsible for regulating crypto assets. The transition, originally scheduled to be completed by January 12, 2025, has been delayed due to a lack of supportive government regulations.The OJK is expected to create a more transparent regulatory environment that meets international standards. It plans to introduce clearer rules for trading, taxation, and the operation of cryptocurrency exchanges, areas that were previously managed by Bappebti with insufficient regulatory oversight.OJK Chairman Mahendra Siregar stated that discussions and preparations for the regulatory transition are actively underway.

ChainCatcher news, a report from CITIC Securities states that if Trump plans to relax regulations on the cryptocurrency industry after taking office as President of the United States in 2025, the primary task will be to clarify the regulatory responsibilities of the industry. Against this backdrop, the currently stalled "21st Century Financial Innovation and Technology Act" in the U.S. Senate is expected to gain new momentum. With the anticipated easing of the regulatory environment in the U.S., the cryptocurrency industry chain in the U.S. stock market is expected to receive a positive boost, and three directions are recommended for attention:The increase in trading activity in the U.S. cryptocurrency industry may benefit U.S. cryptocurrency exchanges;Favorable policies for the U.S. cryptocurrency industry are expected to promote the growth of mining machine demand;The development of the U.S. cryptocurrency industry may benefit the U.S. utility sector. (Jin Shi)

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptoslate, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a public consultation on cryptocurrency regulation on December 16, 2024. The new framework aims to balance innovation and risk control, focusing on issues such as market manipulation and financial fraud.The FCA proposed to authorize trading platforms to share information on suspicious market abuse and will restrict the operations of unregistered crypto businesses. The consultation period will last until March 14, 2025, with a draft regulatory framework expected to be released in 2025 and plans for full implementation in 2026, covering areas such as trading activities, stablecoin regulation, and asset custody.

ChainCatcher news, Jorge Tenreiro, who previously served as the acting head of the cryptocurrency and cybersecurity oversight division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has been appointed as the chief litigation counsel, expanding his responsibilities. Tenreiro played a significant role in several landmark cases, including the lawsuit against Ripple Labs.This promotion comes as the Trump administration is about to take office, indicating that the SEC will continue to enforce strict cryptocurrency regulations. The establishment of Tenreiro's new position is expected to drive crypto innovation while continuing to focus on areas such as ICOs, token sales, and market manipulation, further influencing the legal standards for cryptocurrencies.

ChainCatcher news, Zaye Capital Markets analyst Naeem Aslam stated in a report that concerns over the ongoing consolidation of Bitcoin persist, which may lead to further declines before a rebound occurs.According to LSEG data, Bitcoin fell 2.4% intraday to $95,144. Boosted by the prospect of a more crypto-friendly regulatory environment under President-elect Trump, Bitcoin previously reached an all-time high of $99,830. However, as the initial momentum from Trump's election victory faded, Bitcoin's price also retreated.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has released a cryptocurrency regulatory roadmap, planning to officially implement a comprehensive regulatory framework by 2026.The roadmap indicates that the FCA will publish discussion papers related to market abuse and disclosure by the end of this year, and plans to release policy documents on stablecoins, trading platforms, staking, exposure to crypto assets, and lending in early 2024.Data shows that the number of cryptocurrency holders in the UK has grown by 4% over the past two years, with approximately 7 million adults currently holding crypto assets. Previously, UK Economic Secretary Tulip Siddiq stated that regulatory drafts related to cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and staking would be introduced early next year.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, UK Economic Secretary Tulip Siddiq announced at the City & Financial Global Tokenization Summit in London on November 22, 2024, that the UK plans to launch a regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry in early 2025. The new framework will separate stablecoins from the existing payment system and establish specific regulations for staking services to prevent them from being classified as collective investment schemes.This move ends the uncertainty in the market regarding the direction of cryptocurrency regulation since the Labour government took office in July 2024. The previous Conservative government had already included cryptocurrencies in the scope of regulated activities under the Financial Services and Markets Bill.

ChainCatcher news, according to Coindesk, based on Bernstein's research report, Robinhood is expected to be the biggest beneficiary of the potential relaxation of cryptocurrency regulations in the United States.With the possible pro-cryptocurrency policies from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Robinhood's market potential is expected to increase significantly. Bernstein raised the target stock price for this trading platform from $30 to $51 and maintained an outperform rating on its stock.In addition, Robinhood recently acquired the cryptocurrency exchange Bitstamp, which will enhance its ability to offer value-added crypto services.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, JPMorgan analysts outlined six key regulatory and market changes for the cryptocurrency industry under the Trump administration that could reshape the landscape of cryptocurrency in the U.S. under the leadership of Trump and the Republican-led Congress.JPMorgan analysts indicated that several stalled cryptocurrency bills may quickly gain approval. These bills include the "Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act" (FIT21), which could provide much-needed regulatory clarity for the crypto industry by clearly defining the regulatory responsibilities of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).They also stated that as the regulatory framework becomes clearer, the SEC's strategy of increasing enforcement may evolve into a more collaborative approach. High-profile lawsuits against companies like Coinbase may be eased, settled, or even dismissed. Regulatory notices sent to companies like Robinhood and Uniswap could be reconsidered, thereby reducing the litigation risk for the broader crypto industry. The SEC's "Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 121" (SAB 121), which restricts banks from holding digital assets, may be repealed.Additionally, JPMorgan analysts noted that the SEC may seek to resolve lawsuits concerning unregistered securities and require the launch of futures-based ETFs for these assets before approving spot ETFs. These factors could delay the approval of new ETFs or require re-filing. Clearer regulations may increase venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, and initial public offerings in the cryptocurrency space. Although strategic Bitcoin reserves would significantly enhance Bitcoin's legitimacy and could potentially drive up its price, the likelihood of this passing is low.

ChainCatcher news, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse posted on X congratulating Trump on winning the 2024 election and listed the priorities for the first 100 days of the Trump administration, calling for a reshaping of the U.S. SEC and clarifying cryptocurrency regulation, specifically including:Dismiss SEC Chairman Gary Gensler and appoint Giancarlo, Brooks, or Gallagher to replace him;Push the Senate to pass the Digital Asset Market Structure Act;Clarify whether ETH is a non-security like XRP and BTC.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam claimed that as U.S. cryptocurrency regulatory negotiations have stalled, the agency is facing "constraints."Rostin Behnam stated that efforts to regulate the digital asset industry through a legislative framework have "stalled so far." However, he still believes that the new Congress and president can make more progress.Rostin Behnam said, "I don't think anything is necessarily going to happen by the end of this year, but I do believe that this election has had a unique impact on digital assets and technology." He added that without any legislation, the agency is "really constrained" in "regulating" the cryptocurrency market, which would put investors "at risk."

ChainCatcher news, according to Finance Magnates, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) defended its "overly strict" approach to the registration of cryptocurrency companies, stating that strong standards are crucial for establishing a sustainable and trustworthy digital asset industry.Val Smith, the FCA's Director of Payments and Digital Assets, responded today in a statement to criticisms that the regulator's stringent requirements could stifle innovation in the crypto industry and that the registration threshold is "too high." Smith warned, "Innovations built quickly on unsafe, unregulated, and untrustworthy foundations are like houses built on sand—likely to collapse. Instead, we want to work closely with the government, industry, and partners in other jurisdictions to develop a crypto industry built on reliable, solid foundations."The FCA has come under scrutiny for the relatively low number of cryptocurrency companies registered under the UK's Money Laundering Regulations (MLR). Some industry observers believe that the regulator's standards may be too high and could jeopardize the UK's position as a global financial leader. Smith countered these claims, emphasizing that the FCA never directly rejects applications and takes the risks of financial crime seriously. She mentioned concerns regarding terrorism, organized crime, sanctions evasion, and human trafficking.

ChainCatcher News, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially appealed the XRP ruling made by Judge Analisa Torres. On Thursday, the regulatory agency submitted Form C to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. This has reignited the legal dispute over whether the sale of XRP on cryptocurrency trading platforms meets the criteria for securities. The regulatory agency has raised questions about key aspects of the court's ruling, including the acquittal of Ripple executives and the distribution of XRP in non-cash forms. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for future cryptocurrency regulation.