ChainCatcher news, according to Hong Kong 01 report, the banking industry in Hong Kong holds a cautious attitude towards cryptocurrencies. According to the Hong Kong Employment Ordinance, Bitcoin cannot be used as a method of salary payment. In mortgage loan applications, Bitcoin is neither considered a fixed source of income nor accepted as a qualifying asset.Currently, banks only recognize traditional assets such as cash, stocks, foreign currencies, Hong Kong properties, funds, and bonds. Holders of cryptocurrencies must convert their digital currencies into fiat currency and keep them for more than 3 months before applying for a mortgage loan of up to 70%. If banks discover that the applicant's funds come from cryptocurrency transactions, they may reject the mortgage application due to money laundering risk considerations, and even freeze the bank account.

ChainCatcher news, according to the People's Bank of China official account, the People's Bank of China work conference will be held from January 3 to 4, 2025. The conference pointed out that in 2024, the financial management and service capabilities will continue to improve, and the research and application of the digital renminbi will be steadily advanced.In 2025, further optimization of the central bank's financial management and services will be carried out, strengthening the legal protection of the central bank's duties. A multi-level and diversified payment service system will be improved. The integration of information technology systems will be promoted in an orderly manner. The multi-level credit reporting market will be vigorously developed. The central bank's financial services in rural areas will be continuously optimized. Solid work will be done in economic and financial research, comprehensive statistics of the financial industry, currency issuance, digital renminbi research and development, treasury management, and international assessments of anti-money laundering, among other tasks.

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, based on the latest declassified documents obtained by Coinbase through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) had explicitly opposed its member banks using public blockchain networks to provide services.The documents reveal that the FDIC's New York office sent a letter to a member bank in March 2022, expressing concerns about the bank's plan to launch a "bank digital deposit" project on a public chain, and required a new detailed review before launching any public chain-based products. Additionally, the documents also show that the FDIC had requested member banks to suspend all services related to Bitcoin trading and cryptocurrency activities.Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal believes that these documents further confirm the existence of the Biden administration's "Operation Chokepoint 2.0," which aims to suppress the cryptocurrency industry through bank regulation.

ChainCatcher news, according to the Mobile Payment Network, on January 4, 2025, the digital renminbi App, led by the Digital Currency Research Institute of the People's Bank of China and co-built by operating institutions, will celebrate its 3rd anniversary.Since its launch 3 years ago, the digital renminbi App has undergone approximately 38 updates, including 16 times in 2022, 12 times in 2023, and 10 times in 2024. It is currently at version 1.1.14.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi Data, the reserves in the U.S. banking system fell to about $2.89 trillion for the week ending January 1, below the $3 trillion mark, reaching the lowest point since October 2020. According to data released by the Federal Reserve on Thursday, this is the largest weekly decline in over two and a half years.

ChainCatcher news, a California resident has sued three Asia-based banks, accusing them of failing to perform basic checks that led to his loss of nearly $1 million in a cryptocurrency scam.According to a complaint filed on December 31, 2024, Ken Liem's attorney claims that his client was contacted about a cryptocurrency investment opportunity via LinkedIn in June 2023 and was persuaded to transfer funds to the scammers. The funds were then deposited into the three Asian banks and ultimately transferred to a third-party account.The attorney alleges that these banks failed to conduct compliance checks such as "know your customer" (KYC) and anti-money laundering, failing to identify the fraudulent activity, thereby allowing the scammers to open accounts and carry out the scam.

ChainCatcher news, the cryptocurrency custody platform under the Spanish bank BBVA will launch cryptocurrency trading services.Garanti BBVA Kripto is a cryptocurrency custody platform operated by Garanti BBVA, which holds 86% of its shares as of December 2023. The platform will soon provide cryptocurrency trading services to the public, with Bit2Me, a cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2014 and headquartered in Spain, being used as the bank's trading execution center.Abel Peña, Chief Sales Officer of Bit2Me, stated that the current cryptocurrency asset market (MiCA) regulations have come into full effect across the EU, and the collaboration between BBVA and the cryptocurrency exchange strongly indicates that more developments will occur in the future.

ChainCatcher news, a bill has been submitted to the State Duma of Russia, aimed at mandating banks and merchants to use the digital ruble while implementing a universal QR code payment system. The bill is spearheaded by a group of senators and deputies, including Anatoly Aksakov, the chairman of the Duma's Financial Market Committee, and has been officially submitted to the lower house's electronic database.The proposal outlines a phased rollout plan for the digital ruble, starting on July 1, 2025, initially launching in systemically important banks (banks critical to the stability of the national economy) and expanding to all banks by 2027. Merchants will also be required to accept the digital ruble to encourage public usage. By July 2025, businesses with annual revenues exceeding 30 million rubles must enable digital ruble payments, with the threshold dropping to 20 million rubles by July 2026. Businesses in areas without mobile or internet access are exempt from this requirement.The bill, in conjunction with the universal QR code system, simplifies the payment process to facilitate seamless use of the digital ruble. Amendments to consumer protection laws require merchants to comply with regulations to ensure broader adoption. Additionally, credit institutions and foreign bank branches participating in the platform are obligated to support these transactions.

ChainCatcher news reports that the delinquency rate for credit loans on cryptocurrency accounts at K Bank, a South Korean bank, has reached an all-time high. K Bank is the affiliated bank for the Korean won accounts of Upbit, the leading cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea, which accounts for over 70% of the country's cryptocurrency trading volume.After two consecutive failed listings, K Bank is preparing for an IPO next year. It has been pointed out that its over-reliance on Upbit and poor stability indicators may become obstacles to its listing.Data submitted today by the office of Kim Jae-seop, a member of the National Assembly's Political Committee and a member of the People Power Party, to the Financial Supervisory Service shows that as of the third quarter of this year, the delinquency rate for personal credit loans utilizing cryptocurrency-related accounts at K Bank is 1.28%, with a delinquent balance of 47.4 billion won. Since the bank launched cryptocurrency-linked accounts in June 2020, both the delinquency rate and delinquent balance have continuously reached new highs.It is reported that K Bank will restart its listing process next month. The effectiveness of the preliminary review for listing obtained in August this year will remain valid until February next year, leading the industry to believe that K Bank may attempt to list again before then. Some analysts believe that the recent activity in the cryptocurrency market is beneficial for K Bank, as it can generate additional income by managing the assets of investors deposited on Upbit.

ChainCatcher 消息，中国人民银行近日发布《中国金融稳定报告（2024）》，其中提到全球加密货币监管动态，包括香港的加密货币合规进展。 报告指出，鉴于加密资产对金融体系稳定可能产生外溢风险，各国监管部门不断加大对加密资产的监管力度。目前全球已有 51 个国家和地区对加密资产出台禁止规定，部分经济体已调整原有法律或重新立法规范。 其中，中国香港积极探索加密资产牌照管理，将虚拟资产分为两类进行监管，即证券化金融资产和非证券化金融资产，对虚拟资产交易平台运营者执行特色“双牌照”制度，分别适用于《证券及期货条例》和《打击洗钱条例》监管和牌照制度，从事虚拟资产业务的机构需向有关监管部门申请注册牌照方可运营。同时，香港要求汇丰银行、渣打银行等大型金融机构将加密资产交易所纳入日常客户监管范畴。

ChainCatcher 消息，据《财富》杂志报道，Tether 有望在今年年底实现超过 100 亿美元的净利润，“刺激”全球多家银行加入稳定币市场并从中分一杯羹，包括： 法国兴业银行旗下 Societe Generale-Forge 推出欧元支持的稳定币； Oddo BHF SCA 也在开发以欧元计价的稳定币； 伦敦 Revolut 正在考虑发行自己的稳定币； 德意志银行旗下 DWS 计划明年推出稳定币； BBVA 也计划进入稳定币市场，已与 Visa 合作推出供银行发行稳定币的代币化网络并将在 2025 年试点； 渣打银行和 Animoca Brands 及香港电讯已被香港金融管理局选为实验项目中首批发行港元稳定币的银行之一。

ChainCatcher 消息，据中国国家外汇管理局网站显示，为了更好统筹发展和安全，保障跨境贸易和投融资便利化，预防和遏制外汇违法违规活动，维护外汇市场秩序，国家外汇管理局根据《银行外汇展业管理办法（试行）》（以下简称《展业办法》）及相关法律法规，制定了《银行外汇风险交易报告管理办法（试行）》（以下简称《办法》）。 根据《办法》，银行发现或者有合理理由怀疑本行境内、境外机构和个人客户（以下统称交易主体）存在外汇风险交易行为的，应当监测外汇风险交易信息，报送外汇风险交易报告。 外汇风险交易行为，是指涉及涉嫌虚假贸易、虚假投融资、地下钱庄、跨境赌博、骗取出口退税、虚拟货币非法跨境金融活动，以及其他涉嫌违法违规跨境资金流动行为；外汇风险交易信息，是指与外汇风险交易行为相关的信息。银行应当及时通过其总部或总部指定的机构向国家外汇管理局报送外汇风险交易报告。

ChainCatcher 消息，俄罗斯联邦储蓄银行（Sberbank）、TBank 和 Tochka Bank已成为使用数字卢布进行交易的试点计划参与者。 此前共有 12 家金融机构参与了试点：Alfa-Bank、DOM.RF Bank、Ingosstrakh Bank、VTB、Gazprombank、Ak Bars Bank、MTS Bank、Promsvyazbank、Sovcombank、Sinara Bank、TKB Bank 和俄罗斯农业银行。 他们已与俄罗斯央行签署协议，并正在配置系统以参与该项目，据悉数字卢布的广泛使用预计将从 2025 年 7 月 1 日起逐步开始。

ChainCatcher news, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has approved commercial banks and payment institutions to provide services related to stablecoins or collateralized cryptocurrencies. This is the first time NBC has approved such services, with relevant instructions issued on December 26 and announced on December 27. However, Bitcoin remains prohibited.According to the new regulations, institutions must obtain prior approval from NBC to conduct cryptocurrency asset exchanges, inter-account transfers, and custody services.

ChainCatcher news, according to the announcement from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the "Measures for the Administration of Bank Foreign Exchange Risk Transaction Reporting (Trial)" have been issued and will take effect immediately. The "Measures" are a supporting document to the "Measures for the Administration of Bank Foreign Exchange Business (Trial)", aimed at strengthening banks' foreign exchange risk management, and early identification, early warning, and early handling of high-risk transactions such as suspected false trade, underground banks, and illegal cross-border financial activities involving virtual currencies.The main contents include: clarifying the responsibility for bank foreign exchange risk transaction reporting, requiring the establishment of a monitoring system and submission of reports; specifying the scope of information reporting, including activities suspected of illegal cross-border capital flows; clarifying the report content, such as basic information and proposed measures; and strengthening internal management measures, including internal control systems and data confidentiality management, etc.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com, Citibank analysts predict that cryptocurrency will experience strong growth in 2025 driven by Trump’s policies, increased ETF inflows, and innovations in stablecoins. Bitcoin breaking through $100,000 may just be the beginning.Citibank analysts expect a shift in regulation and explain that this is more about removing obstacles than a story of deregulation, meaning that policies may reduce previously existing barriers to growth rather than relaxing regulations. Widespread adoption remains key to the long-term success of cryptocurrency.

ChainCatcher news, according to Financial界, WeBank has applied for a patent related to blockchain node consensus, aiming to improve the consensus efficiency of blockchain systems. The patent is titled "Node Consensus Method, Device, Equipment and Medium in Blockchain System," with publication number CN 119172383 A, and the application date is September 2024.The patent abstract shows that each node locally stores the corresponding node transaction chain list, and the batch package in any node's transaction chain list is packaged after meeting preset requirements based on voting information. Thus, the consensus master node only needs to determine the last batch package that meets the requirements, significantly improving packaging efficiency without the need for consensus on each transaction, thereby optimizing the node consensus process.

ChainCatcher news, Forbes published an article discussing the most noteworthy trends in cryptocurrency for 2025:Regenerative Finance (ReFi) and green crypto projects that utilize blockchain technology to aid ecological restoration.Blockchain-based dispute resolution mechanisms that provide automated and transparent solutions.The rise of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) promoting financial inclusion.Decentralized Identity (DID) systems that allow users to control their personal data.Decentralized Artificial Intelligence (deAI).