ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com News, the Cayman Islands has updated its cryptocurrency regulatory framework and established new licensing regulations that will take effect on April 1, 2025.According to the 2025 Virtual Assets (Service Providers) (Amendment) Regulations, all entities providing virtual asset custody and trading platform services are required to obtain a license issued by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA). Existing virtual asset service providers (VASPs) must submit their license applications within 90 days after the effective date.As part of the application process, crypto asset custodians must disclose the types and amounts of virtual assets they intend to hold for clients, while trading platform operators need to provide details about expected revenue and the location of their physical hardware.

ChainCatcher news, Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett revealed that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) cryptocurrency working group is documenting all its meetings with industry participants.So far, the working group has met with the Blockchain Association, Jito Labs, Multicoin Capital, Nasdaq, and Colin Lloyd, a partner in the Commodity Futures Derivatives and Capital Markets team at Sullivan & Cromwell.The discussions mainly focused on regulatory issues and how new institutional proposals will impact specific markets and products.

ChainCatcher news, Grayscale CEO Peter Mintzberg stated that the SEC's attention to new cryptocurrency ETP applications is a first for the industry, further confirming the commission's new stance on crypto assets.As Commissioner Hester Peirce said this week, "the journey has just begun." Mintzberg expressed that Grayscale looks forward to constructive dialogue with the SEC regarding the launch of products that investors are eager for.

ChainCatcher news, according to a report by Reuters, Franklin Templeton Investments announced on Thursday that the company is seeking regulatory approval to launch a new cryptocurrency index ETF, as the asset management firm hopes to profit from the cryptocurrency boom following a potential Trump victory in the U.S. presidential election.Franklin Templeton stated in a filing submitted to regulators on Thursday: "The fund may currently hold no digital assets other than Bitcoin and Ethereum. It is uncertain whether any digital assets other than Bitcoin and Ethereum will be added to the underlying index in the future." This provides Franklin Templeton with the flexibility to modify its ETF after obtaining SEC approval for other cryptocurrencies.

ChainCatcher News, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce introduced the tasks and goals of the newly established crypto working group, stating that the current 10 tasks of the working group include:Examining the status of different types of crypto assets under securities law,Helping to identify areas that fall outside the commission's jurisdiction,Considering recommending the commission take action to provide temporary forward-looking and retroactive relief for tokens or token offerings that provide certain specific information for issuing entities or other willing responsible entities,Suggesting the commission amend existing registration pathways,Exploring potential updates to no-action letters for special purpose broker-dealers,Collaborating with investment advisors to provide an appropriate regulatory framework,Clarifying whether securities law covers crypto lending and staking programs,Providing clear statements on the methods for approving or disapproving crypto ETFs,Planning to work at the intersection of cryptocurrency and clearinghouse and transfer agent rules,Promoting methods for cross-border sandboxes for crypto projects.

ChainCatcher News, the U.S. SEC has launched a new cryptocurrency working group website. According to the webpage, the cryptocurrency working group aims to clarify the application of federal securities laws in the cryptocurrency market and propose practical policy measures designed to promote innovation and protect investors. The working group collaborates with committee staff and the public to help develop new approaches to the regulation of cryptocurrency assets.The cryptocurrency working group will undertake a series of priority tasks, led by Republican Commissioner Hester Peirce, and will focus on distinguishing which "cryptocurrency assets" are considered securities, potentially changing the way companies register, and providing clear statements when approving or disapproving exchange-traded products.The working group will help delineate clear regulatory boundaries, appropriately distinguish between securities and non-securities, develop a tailored disclosure framework, provide practical registration pathways for cryptocurrency assets and market intermediaries, ensure that investors have the information needed to make investment decisions, and ensure that enforcement resources are deployed wisely.

ChainCatcher news, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan stated that with the appointment of AI and cryptocurrency "czar" David Sacks by Trump to advance reasonable regulatory policies, fraud and bad actors in the crypto industry will significantly decrease over the next four years. Hougan believes that the previously enforcement-oriented regulatory approach has actually increased risks for investors.Previously, Sacks indicated that the Digital Asset Working Group would focus on establishing market structure norms, a regulatory framework for stablecoins, and assessing national digital asset reserves.

ChainCatcher news, QCP released its daily market observation stating that the new leadership of the SEC has established a dedicated task force aimed at developing a regulatory framework for crypto assets. Led by "Crypto Mom" Hester Peirce, this is expected to be a turning point in the digital asset space.After the initial disappointment following Trump's inauguration gradually faded, Bitcoin has rebounded by 3.8%, stabilizing in the range of approximately $105,000. However, due to cautious market sentiment, concerns remain that Trump tends to overcommit and underdeliver on any crypto-related executive orders, limiting its upside potential. Meanwhile, Bitcoin futures continue to rise, with the current bullish bets being about 20 times the bearish ones.MicroStrategy shareholders have approved a significant increase in the authorized number of Class A common stock and preferred stock, raising the total authorized shares from 330 million to an astonishing 10.3 billion shares. This expansion greatly enhances the company's equity base, allowing MicroStrategy to surpass nearly all leading companies in the Nasdaq 100 index, excluding Nvidia, Apple, Alphabet, and Amazon.Planning to raise $42 billion through stock and convertible bond issuances by 2027, MicroStrategy still has $5.42 billion in equity issuance capacity, further increasing its investment in Bitcoin.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Coinbase CEO stated at the Davos Forum that during Trump's presidency, the U.S. Congress may introduce new cryptocurrency legislation that would help unlock significant investments in the industry.

ChainCatcher news, according to TheBlock, the South Korean Financial Services Commission (FSC) has begun discussions on formulating a second phase of cryptocurrency regulatory framework, with plans to draft relevant legislation in the second half of this year.FSC Vice Chairman Kim So-young stated in the meeting that major global economies are accelerating the establishment of cryptocurrency regulations to enhance investor protection and eliminate regulatory uncertainty. The new regulatory framework will take a comprehensive and systematic approach, covering service providers, cryptocurrency users, and the market. Topics discussed in the meeting included increasing transparency for new listings on exchanges, requiring cryptocurrency entities to implement the same information disclosure requirements as traditional financial companies, and regulatory matters such as reserve asset management for stablecoin issuers and user redemption rights.It is worth noting that South Korea's first cryptocurrency regulatory framework came into effect last July, which requires service providers to store at least 80% of users' cryptocurrency deposits in cold wallets, kept separate from their own funds.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, Nomura Holdings' digital asset subsidiary Laser Digital has released a report stating that the United States may approve more than 12 new cryptocurrency ETFs by 2025.Currently, several asset management firms have submitted applications to the SEC, including ProShares' Bitcoin-priced S&P 500 ETF, a Bitcoin/Ethereum combination ETF, and products based on Litecoin, XRP, and Solana. The report notes that under the leadership of the new SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, the cryptocurrency regulatory environment is expected to become more lenient.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, KuCoin has launched a peer-to-peer payment system called KuCoin Pay, allowing users to pay merchants directly from their exchange account balances. The tool supports payments in 54 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT), and USD Coin (USDC).

ChainCatcher news, according to an announcement from Cango Inc., the company's Bitcoin production reached 569.9 coins in December 2024, a 56% increase from 363.9 coins in November. The Bitcoin holdings at the end of the month rose to 933.8 coins, with no Bitcoin sold during the period. The company's average hash rate reached 30.4 EH/s, a month-on-month increase of 2%.Previous news, in December last year, Shanghai-based automotive trading service platform Cango announced the purchase of mining machines from Bitmain for $256 million as part of its transformation into Bitcoin mining, and reported a production of 393 coins in November.

ChainCatcher news, according to market news, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States has announced that the enforcement date for cryptocurrency tax reporting rules will be postponed to December 31, 2025. This move aims to give cryptocurrency brokers more time to address legal and regulatory challenges and improve relevant accounting methods.

ChainCatcher news, according to official sources, Ondo Finance announced a donation of $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund to support the new government's efforts to strengthen America's global financial leadership through digital asset innovation.Nathan Allman, the founder and CEO of Ondo Finance, stated: "As a leader in the realm of real-world assets, Ondo Finance is committed to making U.S. financial assets more accessible globally through innovative blockchain solutions. By supporting this vision, Ondo aims to become a policy-making partner, facilitating broader access to the U.S. financial markets and enhancing their competitiveness on the world stage."

ChainCatcher news, according to Morocco World News, the Governor of the Central Bank of Morocco (BAM), Abdellatif Jouahri, announced that the country is about to introduce a regulatory framework for crypto assets. This framework has been developed with technical support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, aiming to balance regulation and innovation.The new framework will align with the latest recommendations from the G20 and will focus on addressing financial risks associated with crypto assets. The bill is currently in the public consultation phase and will subsequently be submitted for government and parliamentary approval.According to a report by Chainanalysis, Morocco currently ranks 20th in the global cryptocurrency adoption index. Research by Insider Monkey in 2023 shows that Morocco ranks 13th among the countries with the highest Bitcoin usage.

ChainCatcher news, the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) of Taiwan will implement new anti-money laundering (AML) rules on November 30, a month earlier than initially planned, as the regulator accelerates its anti-fraud efforts.The new rules require crypto service providers, such as cryptocurrency exchanges, to complete AML compliance registration. Non-compliance may result in penalties, including up to two years of imprisonment and fines of up to 5 million New Taiwan Dollars (approximately 153,700 USD).In a statement on Wednesday, the FSC indicated that overseas "virtual asset service providers" (VASP) must establish a company or branch in accordance with Taiwanese company law and complete the necessary AML registration before conducting business in Taiwan. These new regulations were introduced following amendments to the law in July.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, with Trump's victory and the continued rise of the crypto market, venture capital firm a16z Crypto pointed out in a new post aimed at crypto founders: "The good news is that there is now a path for constructive engagement with regulators and legislators that can bring regulatory clarity, and you should all feel empowered to explore all the groundbreaking products and services supported by blockchain, including tokens." The article expresses optimistic expectations for a relaxation of regulation and governance in the cryptocurrency industry under the new government, although most current speculation about the details of this regime is merely "noise."The post specifically notes that token issuance is an activity that founders can feel more confident about: "For many of you, the fear of overregulation has led to a delay in using tokens to allocate project control and build community; now you should feel more confident about using tokens as legitimate, compliant tools for your projects."While the article is generally optimistic, the author also points out that some actions may still violate regulatory guidelines: "While we may have greater flexibility to experiment, we must not forget that the fundamental regulatory principles applicable to blockchain systems remain unchanged," and suggests that founders "continue to focus on eliminating centralization aspects or reliance on trust in their projects, as these areas will continue to face regulatory scrutiny."

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com, the Russian government released a document on Friday detailing a law signed by President Putin that expands the scope of digital currency regulation. This new law significantly increases government oversight of cryptocurrency mining activities and related infrastructure nationwide.The legislation will take effect on November 1, and includes several amendments aimed at strengthening oversight and imposing restrictions on crypto mining activities based on regional needs. The law enables the Russian government to implement mining restrictions based on location and defines specific procedures and circumstances under which mining operations are prohibited. A notable provision in the law grants the government the power to block digital currency mining pools from operating in certain areas. Additionally, the government now has the authority to regulate infrastructure providers that support mining operations.This legislation also authorizes multiple federal agencies, beyond the Federal Financial Monitoring Service (Rosfinmonitoring), to access digital currency identification addresses. This expansion includes federal administrative and law enforcement agencies, enhancing their ability to track transactions that may be related to money laundering or terrorist financing activities.Furthermore, the amendments transfer the responsibility for the national mining registry from the Ministry of Digital Development to the Federal Tax Service, which will now oversee the registration of mining businesses and remove companies that repeatedly violate regulations. While individual miners can continue to operate without registration if they comply with specific electricity consumption limits, companies and individual entrepreneurs must adhere to the new registration requirements.

ChainCatcher news, to better protect cryptocurrency users, Argentina is innovating its cryptocurrency framework. The Argentine securities regulator (CNV) recently announced a public consultation on a draft to regulate the operations of virtual asset service providers (VASP) in the country, imposing new compliance requirements on these entities. If Resolution 1025 is approved, it will force cryptocurrency companies to disclose agreements with third parties and clients. Additionally, it aims to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing by establishing policies and cybersecurity standards. This framework is a follow-up to the VASP registration launched earlier this year. (Bitcoin.com)