digital

The digital asset advocacy organizations Crypto Council for Innovation (CCI) and Blockchain Association (BA) have filed a lawsuit against Illinois officials, opposing the state's 0.2% cryptocurrency tax. This tax is expected to take effect from January 2027, taxing based on transaction volume rather than income.The two organizations submitted the lawsuit in the Sangamon County Seventh Judicial Circuit Court, claiming that the tax violates the U.S. Constitution, the Illinois Constitution, federal and state due process laws, and the Internet Tax Freedom Act, and may result in double taxation. The lawsuit also states that the tax regulations are overly vague, placing compliance responsibilities on residents and brokers, and exposing them to civil and criminal penalties.Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger stated that Illinois cannot implement a tax system that discriminates against digital businesses and increases uncertainty for consumers and enterprises. The Digital Chamber filed a similar lawsuit in July regarding the same tax, claiming it discriminates against digital asset traders.

Bitcoin Magazine posted on the X platform that the publicly traded company Iconic Digital has increased its holdings by 21 bitcoins, bringing its total holdings to 2,882 bitcoins, valued at $168 million.

According to PRNewswire, Nasdaq-listed company BTC Digital Ltd. announced that its 10MW cryptocurrency computing power infrastructure project located in Georgia, USA has completed construction and is entering the deployment preparation stage.The company expects to deploy high-performance mining machines and start digital asset mining operations within approximately the next two months.

According to The Block, South Korea's top financial regulator has stated that it will accelerate discussions on cryptocurrency-related legislation and plans to launch the country's version of the "Basic Law on Digital Assets" this fall.The bill is expected to establish corresponding rules regarding stablecoin issuance, licensing for virtual asset service providers (VASP), Bitcoin ETFs, and other matters.

According to BBX data, last weekend, global asset management giants, traditional financial groups, and listed treasury departments disclosed the latest official updates on cryptocurrency asset allocation, licensing access, and merger adjustments. The core information is as follows:BlackRock ETF increased its holdings of BTC and ETH by over $1.1 billion in two days: On-chain data tracking shows that the world's largest asset management giant BlackRock's ETF address has continuously accumulated large amounts over the past two days, purchasing a total of 11,098 Bitcoins (worth approximately $852 million) and 132,769 Ethereum (worth approximately $316 million), with the total net purchase amount of these two core cryptocurrency assets exceeding $1.168 billion in a single day.Nomura's Laser Digital Japan approved for cryptocurrency trading license in Japan: Laser Digital Japan, the digital asset subsidiary of Japan's top financial group Nomura Holdings, has officially completed the registration procedures for cryptocurrency trading operators, with registration number Kanto Financial Bureau No. 00032. This is the first new exchange to successfully obtain this registration in Japan since 2022, nearly four years ago. The cryptocurrencies supported for trading on the platform initially include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), and SHIB, totaling six assets.Adam Back's BSTR terminates business merger agreement with Cantor: BSTR Holdings, the Bitcoin treasury company founded by Adam Back, announced that it has amicably agreed with Cantor Equity Partners I (NASDAQ: $CEPO) to officially terminate the SPAC business merger agreement signed on July 16, 2025. BSTR's official statement pointed out that Bitcoin and publicly listed Bitcoin treasury tools currently face significant market pricing pressure, and macro misalignment has limited the effective implementation of leveraged strategy tools such as convertible bonds and perpetual preferred stocks; however, the company firmly believes that as the market stabilizes, opportunities for Bitcoin treasury allocation and leveraged investments in the public capital market will re-emerge.

Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor posted on the X platform, stating that the most profound innovation of Bitcoin is its ability to convert economic energy into digital form and securely bind it to individuals, families, businesses, machines, and even nations.Michael Saylor pointed out that Bitcoin is not only a digital asset but also a brand new mechanism for value storage and economic coordination, allowing wealth to be preserved in digital form for the long term and verified and transferred globally. Bitcoin achieves secure control over digital value through decentralized networks and cryptographic technology, providing individuals and organizations with a form of economic asset that does not rely on traditional financial systems.

Laser Digital Japan, a digital asset company under Nomura Holdings, announced this week that it has completed the registration as a cryptocurrency asset trading service provider under Japan's Payment Services Act, with registration number 00032. It has also joined the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association, ending nearly four years without new industry participants in Japan.The license covers six types of cryptocurrency assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Shiba Inu, all of which are included in the industry's "green list." Initially, Laser Digital Japan will provide liquidity for licensed cryptocurrency companies in Japan, while the launch date for trading services aimed at professional investors has not yet been announced. Japanese regulations require the separation of customer assets from company assets, with at least 95% of customer cryptocurrency assets stored in offline cold wallets, and related measures verified through annual audits. This license does not cover cryptocurrency derivatives, nor does it allow Laser Digital Japan to initiate exchange-traded funds; major adjustments to Japan's cryptocurrency regulatory framework are expected to be implemented in the fiscal year 2027.

According to CoinDesk, the Crypto Innovation Council (CCI) and the Blockchain Association recently filed a civil lawsuit in Sangamon County, Illinois, officially joining the legal challenge against the state's digital asset tax policy. This move follows a lawsuit initiated by the Digital Chamber last month, marking a further escalation of the industry's coalition against the measures.The plaintiffs accuse the state’s new tax law of violating the U.S. Constitution, the Illinois Constitution, and the Internet Tax Freedom Act. The controversy stems from the tax law's stipulation that any entity conducting business or providing services to residents in the state with an annual income exceeding $100,000 must pay a 0.2% tax on digital asset transactions or storage. Although lawmakers expect this measure to raise $6 million annually for the state budget, the plaintiffs argue that the lack of corresponding taxes on traditional assets constitutes a 'unique punitive treatment' of digital assets, allegedly resulting in unfair resource allocation through the tax code.

According to The Block, STS Digital CEO Maxime Seiler stated that there is a divergence between cryptocurrency asset prices and institutional adoption. He said, "From a price perspective, we are still in a crypto winter, but from the institutional side, we have entered a summer."Seiler noted that institutions are more focused on adopting underlying technologies, and funds do not necessarily flow into tokens, so technological adoption has not yet been fully reflected in coin prices. He also pointed out that the Bitcoin futures basis has converged from an annualized 20%-30% during the 2021 cycle to close to the risk-free rate, and it is more stable than in the previous cycle, partly because the channels for dollars entering and exiting the crypto market are deeper.

On August 18, 2026, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a proposed Accounting Standards Update (ASU) aimed at clarifying how the current definition of "cash equivalents" applies to certain digital assets, such as stablecoins, and enhancing the transparency of disclosures regarding important components of cash equivalents. Stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments by November 19, 2026.In the 2025 FASB agenda consultation project and other feedback, stakeholders pointed out that there is uncertainty regarding whether certain digital assets, including stablecoins, meet the definition of cash equivalents under current Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), leading to differences in practical treatment. The proposed ASU will provide illustrative examples to promote a more consistent application of this definition and enhance comparability among entities choosing to report qualifying digital assets as cash equivalents, but it will not change the current definition of "cash equivalents."At the same time, the proposed rules require all entities reporting assets as cash equivalents, regardless of whether they include digital assets, to enhance disclosures regarding the important components of cash equivalents and related amounts, so that investors and other financial statement users can obtain more transparent information. The relevant proposed ASU and methods for submitting comments can be found on the FASB website.

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire stated that the new proposed accounting rules will provide a significant strategic boost to the adoption of digital dollars like USDC.He mentioned that, combined with the GENIUS Act, the FASB rules will enable USDC to be widely used by global enterprises and financial institutions, which is of great strategic importance.

The Central Cybersecurity and Informatization Commission issued the "Action Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of Internet and Information Enterprises (2026-2030)."It mentions strengthening the construction of cyber rule of law. Actively carry out forward-looking research on legislation in the field of internet and information. Accelerate the legislative process in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, anti-cyber violence, digital economy, online platforms, and blockchain.Promote the revision of the "Internet Information Service Management Measures," improve the legal system for internet information service management, "self-media" management, and algorithm governance. Advance the formulation of the Telecommunications Law, Cybercrime Prevention Law, and Cybersecurity Level Protection Regulations, and improve the supporting regulations for the "Regulations on the Protection of Minors Online" and "Regulations on the Management of Cyber Data Security."Standardize administrative inspections involving internet and information enterprises, minimizing interference with the normal production and operational activities of internet and information enterprises. Improve supervision and law enforcement measures that adapt to the new characteristics of internet development governance, and severely crack down on illegal and irregular activities online.

First Digital CEO Vincent Chok tweeted in response to Sun Yuchen's comments about FDUSD in a post related to the WLFI lawsuit, stating that the content is false. Especially since no evidence has been presented in court by Sun Yuchen in the 16 months since the relevant accusations were made.Previously, First Digital filed a defamation lawsuit against Sun Yuchen in Hong Kong in April 2025, and the case is still under review.

Japan's financial regulatory agency has approved Laser Digital Japan to register as a cryptocurrency asset trading service provider, becoming the first new entrant to obtain this license in Japan in nearly four years, marking the acceleration of institutional-level digital asset services entering the Japanese market. Laser Digital stated that initially, it will provide liquidity services for local virtual asset service providers in Japan, with plans to further launch digital asset trading services aimed at institutional investors in the future, although the specific launch time and scope of services have not yet been announced.Laser Digital is supported by one of Japan's largest investment banks, Nomura Holdings. Co-founder and CEO Jez Mohideen stated that the Japanese digital asset market is entering a new stage of development, and as institutional investor interest increases, the market needs more reliable trading counterparts and infrastructure. Previously, a survey of institutional investors conducted by Nomura and Laser Digital showed that 79% of respondents plan to invest in cryptocurrency assets within the next three years. This regulatory approval comes at a time when Japan is advancing cryptocurrency asset regulatory reforms. Japan has previously reclassified cryptocurrencies as financial assets, establishing a legal basis for the future launch of cryptocurrency asset ETFs and the implementation of an independent tax system, with related new regulations expected to take effect in 2027. Laser Digital's Executive Chairman Steve Ashley stated that global institutional investors are increasingly focusing on the digital asset market and seeking professional infrastructure that meets institutional needs.

According to BBX data, yesterday global US stock, Japanese stock listed companies, and mining companies disclosed the latest official accounts regarding digital asset treasury allocation, increases, and second-quarter financial data. The core updates are as follows:Solana treasury company Solmate increased its holdings by 1,000 SOL: Nasdaq-listed Solana treasury company Solmate Infrastructure PLC (NASDAQ: $SLMT) officially announced that the company increased its holdings by approximately 1,000 SOL on August 20, 2026. As of that day, the company had accumulated approximately 1.25 million SOL, with the total value of SOL holdings reaching approximately $102.2 million.Remixpoint increased its holdings by 9.96 bitcoins, total holdings surpassed 1,500: Japanese Bitcoin treasury listed company Remixpoint announced that it has again increased its holdings by 9.96 bitcoins in the secondary market. Following this increase, the company's total Bitcoin holdings have officially risen to 1,501.27 BTC.Ionic Digital (NASDAQ: $IOND) released Q2 financial report, AI computing revenue proportion surged to 90%: Nasdaq-listed company Ionic Digital announced its second-quarter financial report for 2026. The company's total revenue for Q2 reached $48.6 million (a year-on-year increase of 31%), with digital infrastructure leasing (AI/HPC) revenue accounting for as much as 90%, completely transforming the business structure that relied almost entirely on Bitcoin mining in the same period last year (mining revenue dropped from $37.2 million to $4.8 million). The net loss for the quarter was $35.3 million (mainly affected by a $28.2 million non-cash fair value change loss on Bitcoin and income tax provisions), and adjusted EBITDA was $37.6 million. As of the end of the quarter, the company held $415.7 million in cash and 2,882 bitcoins (worth approximately $168.7 million).DCG's Fortitude mined over 33,000 ZEC in Q2: Digital Currency Group's Zcash miner Fortitude announced its operational performance for the second quarter. The company's total revenue for the quarter was $20.9 million, adjusted EBITDA was $8.5 million, and net loss was $9.5 million. In terms of core mining operations, approximately 33,646 ZEC were mined during the quarter, with average operational hash rate stable at 4.0 GSol/s.

According to The Block, Nasdaq-listed company Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) announced that it has repurchased approximately 14 million shares of its stock in the past two weeks. Currently, the company's treasury assets are approximately $389 million.According to the company's disclosed data, Eightco's current treasury mainly includes approximately 302 million WLD (Worldcoin) tokens, 16,278 ETH, an indirect OpenAI equity exposure of about $90 million, and an equity investment in Beast Industries valued at approximately $18 million.Eightco previously stated that the company is building an asset allocation system around three major trends: artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy. Among them, the WLD holdings are an important part of its digital identity strategy, with the amount of WLD held by the company accounting for about 8% of the circulating supply, making it one of the larger holdings among publicly disclosed institutions.

Interstice Digital, a U.S. digital asset infrastructure company, announced a partnership with digital asset prime broker FalconX to launch a non-custodial cross-chain exchange engine, the Cross-Chain Swap Engine, connecting Solana, Robinhood Chain, and Ethereum to the public permissionless blockchain Canton Network built for capital markets, and listed as a Canton selected application. The engine aims to bridge the Canton institutional-grade market infrastructure with major liquidity pools on the retail side.Interstice Digital CEO Janine Yorio stated that the creation of this engine is to help connect Solana, Ethereum, and Robinhood Chain with the growing Canton ecosystem, mentioning that the ecosystem has over $90 trillion in tokenized RWA liquidity each month. FalconX's head of trading strategies, Hassan Bassiri, said that as institutional demand for digital assets rises, infrastructure that allows for frictionless capital movement across ecosystems is crucial. The engine is supported by compliance and infrastructure partners such as Trulioo, TRM Labs, CertiK, Canton Strategic Holdings, and MPCH. Interstice Digital is a subsidiary of Everyrealm Inc.