ChainCatcher news, according to cryptonews, a new survey conducted by financial service provider Vyberu shows that over one-fifth of Russian respondents have traded or held Meme coins. The survey included 3,000 Russians aged between 18 and 60.The survey also found that 15% of respondents stated that they purchased Meme coins due to "hype." Additionally, 4% of respondents indicated that they bought Meme coins for "quick profits." Furthermore, 2% of respondents mentioned that they invested in these coins to "support the project creators."Most of those who reported having purchased Meme coins believe that Meme coins have good "growth potential," with 23% of token buyers stating they were attracted by the "cultural or ironic aspects" of Meme coins.6% of respondents were drawn to Meme coins because of their active communities and "fan groups." Moreover, a quarter of respondents believe that the issuance of Meme coins is an "effective marketing initiative." However, nearly half of the respondents consider Meme coins to be a "temporary phenomenon" and a social media trend.

ChainCatcher news, according to Crowdfund Insider, U.S. House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill and Digital Assets, Fintech, and Artificial Intelligence Subcommittee Chairman Bryan Steil issued a joint statement expressing support for President Trump's signing of an executive order related to digital assets. The two chairmen stated that the President's Digital Asset Market Working Group will strengthen the United States' leadership position on the international stage.It is noteworthy that they also emphasized their stance against the issuance of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in the U.S., believing that this aligns with the goal of protecting the financial privacy of Americans.

ChainCatcher news, the New York Department of Financial Services has issued a consumer alert warning to be cautious of "emotion-based virtual currencies," or Meme coins, emphasizing their extreme volatility, lack of regulation, and high risk of fraud, including sudden price surges and "rug pull" schemes.The department warns that these tokens are typically controlled by a small group of insiders, created on unlicensed platforms, and are susceptible to severe price manipulation. The New York Department of Financial Services also stated that it has begun closely monitoring Meme coins, as part of scams where creators or insiders may engage in manipulative "wash trading" to create the illusion of market activity and price increases.The public often finds it difficult to discern which Meme coins are being manipulated, and consumers should be particularly wary of the recent surge in emotion-based currencies created through unlicensed platforms that allow individuals without technical expertise to create currencies with just a few clicks. Even on regulated platforms, the prices of Meme coins are unstable and unpredictable, and they can drop significantly in a short period.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, Allianz CEO stated that we expect the "extortion" of regulatory fines to significantly decrease under the Trump administration, and compared to the Biden administration, Trump will have a positive impact on the financial services industry.

ChainCatcher news, according to the WeChat public account of the China Financial Forty Forum, Liu Xiaochun, Vice President of the Shanghai Institute of New Finance (SFI), and Xiao Lei, a young researcher at the Shanghai Jiao Tong University China Financial Research Institute and head of investment at Kaitai Vision Fund (Hong Kong), co-authored an article titled "Reconsidering the Modern Monetary System in the Wave of Cryptocurrencies."The article points out that there have been various analyses and expectations regarding cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin in the current market. The 2024 U.S. election has further brought cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to the forefront. However, for cryptocurrencies to truly replace existing sovereign currencies, they still face institutional realities and challenges. The vast majority of innovative applications of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin essentially belong to financial services.In dealing with cryptocurrencies, a more valuable approach is to explore their more feasible application paths in the financial sector based on the functions and systems of modern money, combined with the technical characteristics of cryptocurrencies. This can mainly be approached from two directions: first, exploring the financial assetization path that is not linked to fiat currencies; second, developing payment and settlement tools that are linked to fiat currencies.

ChainCatcher news, according to Blockspace, Tether is suing financial services company Swan Bitcoin due to a contractual dispute over the two companies' Bitcoin mining joint venture.A Tether spokesperson wrote in an email: "Tether and its co-plaintiff 2040 Energy Limited have recently filed a lawsuit against Swan in the High Court of England and Wales." Tether stated: "Throughout our collaboration with Swan, Tether has always acted in good faith, supported our shared business objectives, and adhered to all relevant agreements.In contrast, Swan's actions have been reckless, leading them to seriously breach the agreement between us. Therefore, we are compelled to take necessary measures to protect our investment." Swan confirmed receipt of the lawsuit but declined to comment further. "Swan will vigorously defend its rights," the spokesperson added.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Adrienne Harris, the head of the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), announced the "Transatlantic Regulatory Exchange" (TRE) program to help regulators better understand how foreign institutions handle emerging payment and digital asset issues.In a notice on January 13, Harris stated that the program will begin with the exchange of senior officials with digital asset experience between NYDFS and the Bank of England, which is "crucial for regulatory coordination." The TRE program's exchanges will start in February with the Bank of England and will last for at least six months.It is understood that NYDFS is responsible for overseeing cryptocurrency regulation in New York State, where many companies take advantage of the region's business and regulatory environment. The financial regulatory agency implemented the BitLicense program in 2015 and approved projects such as Ripple Labs' RLUSD stablecoin last December.

ChainCatcher news, Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett disclosed on social media that U.S. Congressman French Hill announced that the Financial Services Committee has identified several key positions, including:Vice Chair of the Committee: Bill Huizenga (MI-04)Chair of the Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Artificial Intelligence Subcommittee: Bryan Steil (WI-01)Chair of the National Security and Illicit Finance Subcommittee: Warren Davidson (OH-08)

ChainCatcher news, the Financial Services Commission of South Korea has announced that it will promote the legalization of Security Token Offerings (STO) and fractional investment platforms as one of the core economic tasks for this year. STO converts assets such as real estate and artworks into digital tokens through blockchain technology, supporting small investors to participate in high-value asset investments. Financial authorities have begun revising the Capital Markets Act and the Electronic Securities Act, and are preparing the relevant infrastructure for this purpose.The industry expects that the legislation of STO will significantly boost the growth of South Korea's digital asset market, with the STO market size in South Korea projected to reach 119 trillion won by 2026 and increase to 367 trillion won by 2030, nearly quadrupling.

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, Bitcoin financial services company Fold announced that it has completed a $20 million convertible bond financing provided by ATW Partners, and both parties have reached an agreement to potentially provide an additional $10 million in financing after merging with FTAC Emerald.This financing is secured by the company's assets (including a portion of Bitcoin), and the bonds will mature three years after Fold becomes a publicly traded company, converting into common stock of the merged company at a fixed conversion price of $11.50 per share.Fold stated that the initial $20 million will be used to support growth plans and accelerate product development, while the remaining $10 million financing will provide more capital flexibility after the business combination with FTAC Emerald is completed.

According to ChainCatcher news, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, proposed the second reading of the "Stablecoin Bill" at the Legislative Council meeting today and hopes to pass it as soon as possible. The regulatory framework focuses on the following three points:Licensees must maintain a robust reserve stabilization mechanism to ensure that the reserve assets of stablecoins consist of high-quality and highly liquid assets, with a total value at all times at least equal to the face value of the circulating fiat currency stablecoins, and properly segregated and safeguarded;Holders of stablecoins should have the right to redeem stablecoins from the issuer at face value, with redemption requests processed without unreasonable fees and within a reasonable timeframe;A series of requirements must be specified to combat money laundering, risk management, disclosure regulations, auditing, and appropriate candidates, among others.

ChainCatcher news, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued a warning, stating that the Solana ecosystem Meme coin project Retardio is suspected of providing financial services without authorization. The FCA emphasizes that users of this project will not have access to the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protections.The regulator advises investors to avoid interacting with this project and warns of the scam risks associated with its social media accounts.

ChainCatcher news, previously, cryptocurrency supporter and U.S. Representative from Arkansas, French Hill, defeated three other competitors to win the position of Chairman of the Financial Services Committee.Hill currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the committee and heads the subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Inclusion. He emphasized that he is very grateful for the opportunity to serve as the chairman of the committee.Outgoing Chairman Patrick McHenry praised Hill's leadership skills, particularly his expertise in financial technology and innovation. McHenry stated, "French's experience in the private sector, the Treasury Department, and as Vice Chairman has prepared him well for this role." He emphasized, "Under French Hill's leadership, the Republicans will ultimately establish a clear regulatory framework and strong consumer protections for the digital asset ecosystem based on this Congress." McHenry also highlighted Hill's contributions to advancing key legislation, including the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21). Hill's appointment has garnered support from leaders in the cryptocurrency industry and lawmakers. Former Acting Comptroller of the Currency and former Chief Legal Officer of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, Brian Brooks, praised Hill's "intellect, growth mindset, and innovative outlook."

ChainCatcher News, the new chairman of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee, French Hill, stated that he will focus on easing bank regulations, promoting capital formation to encourage more companies to go public, and addressing issues related to the structure of the cryptocurrency market.In an interview with CNBC, Hill also mentioned that he has not yet decided whether the U.S. should establish a Bitcoin reserve.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, crypto supporter and U.S. Congressman French Hill from Arkansas defeated three other competitors to win the position of Chairman of the Financial Services Committee.It is reported that French Hill stated in July's Unchained podcast that stablecoin and market structure legislation would be the two bills he most wants to pass after becoming chairman.

ChainCatcher news, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced on the X platform that the stablecoin RLUSD has been approved by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), and the list of exchanges and partners will be launched soon.

ChainCatcher news, according to the official website, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued a warning to Pump.fun, stating that "the company may be offering or promoting financial services or products without our permission. You should avoid dealing with this company to prevent being scammed."Previous report, according to market news, the UK has banned access to the pump.fun website. According to screenshots of relevant notifications, if accessed from the UK, a message will appear stating that the website is currently not open to UK users under UK laws and regulations, and it also reminds users to withdraw tokens stored in private wallets.