SuperCryptoNews

In a landmark move for Southeast Asian financial markets, the Thai government has officially recognized cryptocurrencies as underlying assets under the Derivatives Trading Act. Following a proposal from the Ministry of Finance approved on February 10, 2026, digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum are now classified as “permissible goods and variables.” This legal reclassification allows for the creation and trading of regulated futures and options contracts, effectively shifting cryptocurrency from a speculative standalone product to a foundational pillar of Thailand’s regulated capital markets.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is now tasked with drafting the specific regulatory requirements to govern this new market segment. SEC Secretary-General Pornanong Budsaratragoon noted that the agency will amend existing derivatives business licenses to allow digital asset operators to offer these advanced financial instruments. To safeguard investors against the sector’s inherent volatility, the SEC will establish rigorous contract specifications and review the frameworks for brokers and clearinghouses to ensure they meet institutional-grade standards.

Beyond derivatives, Thailand is aggressively pursuing a broader digital asset roadmap for 2026. The SEC has confirmed plans to launch crypto Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) earlier this year, aiming to provide retail and institutional investors with a regulated vehicle to gain exposure to digital assets without the complexities of wallet management. Under current proposals, investors may be permitted to allocate up to 5% of their diversified portfolios to these digital asset products. Furthermore, the SEC is collaborating with the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX) to facilitate the debut of Bitcoin futures, reinforcing the nation’s goal to become a regional “crypto trading powerhouse.”

Innovation is also extending into the real economy through the tourism sector. The “TouristDigiPay” initiative, launched as a regulatory sandbox, now allows travelers to convert their digital assets into Thai Baht for use at local merchants via the country’s national QR payment infrastructure. While direct crypto payments remain restricted, this system ensures that merchants receive local currency while offering travelers a seamless way to utilize their digital wealth. Simultaneously, the government is modernizing environmental finance by reclassifying carbon credits as “goods,” paving the way for physically delivered carbon credit futures as Thailand aligns its financial innovation with global sustainability goals.

Coinbase has officially launched Agentic Wallets, a first-of-its-kind infrastructure specifically engineered for autonomous AI agents. Announced by the Coinbase Developer Platform on February 11, 2026, this new tool allows AI bots to move beyond their traditional roles as digital assistants and emerge as independent economic actors. By providing agents with the ability to hold funds, execute trades, and manage on-chain transactions autonomously, Coinbase is addressing a significant technical hurdle: the “financial wall” that currently prevents AI from completing tasks that require capital.

The development of Agentic Wallets is a strategic expansion of Coinbase’s existing technology, building upon the previously released AgentKit framework. While AgentKit allowed developers to embed wallets during the creation of an agent, Agentic Wallets provides a more “plug-and-play” solution designed for seamless integration. The system relies on the x402 protocol – a machine-to-machine payment standard co-developed with internet stakeholders – which has already processed over 50 million transactions. This protocol enables AI agents to bypass traditional human-centric payment systems, facilitating direct, programmatic access to digital resources like API keys, compute power, and premium data streams.

Security remains a primary focus of the new infrastructure, as autonomous financial software introduces unique risks such as prompt injection and unauthorized spending. To mitigate these threats, Coinbase has integrated “Smart Security Guardrails” that allow users to program specific constraints, including spending limits, session caps, and transaction controls. Furthermore, the system utilizes “enclave isolation,” a security architecture that keeps private keys within Coinbase’s secure infrastructure. This ensures that the agent’s underlying large language model (LLM) never has direct exposure to the keys, effectively preventing the AI from accidentally or maliciously compromising the wallet’s security.

The operational scope of Agentic Wallets is broad, with initial support for Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible chains and Solana. A key highlight for developers is the ability to perform gasless transactions on Base, the Coinbase-incubated Layer 2 network, which prevents agents from becoming “stuck” due to a lack of network fees. This capability allows for continuous, 24/7 operations, such as an agent automatically rebalancing a DeFi portfolio at 3:00 AM to capitalize on yield opportunities. By providing a native financial layer for code, Coinbase is laying the groundwork for a burgeoning “machine economy” where AI systems operate independently within trusted boundaries.

Market analysts are pointing directly to the nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chair as the primary catalyst for the decline. According to Andri Fauzan Adziima, research lead at Bitrue, the move lower follows a hawkish shift in Fed expectations, which signals tighter liquidity and fewer rate cuts ahead. Traders are now closely watching for price stabilization around the $60,000 to $65,000 support levels, noting that a renewed spark in macro easing would likely be required to trigger a meaningful rebound, The Block reported. 

Despite the sharp price drop, some experts believe the correction has served to stabilize market mechanics. Vincent Liu, CIO of Kronos Research, observed that derivatives data suggests much of the excess leverage has been flushed out of the system. He noted that Bitcoin and Ethereum dipped as exchanges underwent deep deleveraging, with funding rates now signaling that most over-leveraged positions have been cleared. However, Liu added that institutional capital appears to be holding back, waiting for sustained ETF momentum or fresh macro signals before re-entering the market in size.

Investment activity through exchange-traded funds remained positive despite the volatility. On Tuesday, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $166.56 million in net inflows, an increase from the $145 million seen the previous day. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw more modest participation, bringing in $13.82 million compared to Monday’s $57 million. This continued inflow suggests that while the spot price is struggling, there is still underlying demand from fund investors.

In traditional markets, the backdrop was mixed as Asian equities moved higher on Wednesday morning. South Korea’s Kospi rose 1.24% by midday and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index edged up 0.42%, while Japanese markets remained closed for a public holiday. This contrasted with the U.S. markets on Tuesday, where the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite declined following weaker-than-expected retail sales data for December. Analysts believe the next major indicator for risk appetite will be Thursday’s U.S. labor market report, which will offer clearer signs on the future path of interest rates.

Recent blockchain data has sparked intense debate across the digital asset industry as it reveals that Binance now controls the vast majority of the circulating supply of USD1, a stablecoin closely associated with World Liberty Financial (WLFI). According to a report from Forbes on Monday, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange holds approximately $4.7 billion in USD1, representing nearly 87% of the token’s $5.4 billion total supply. This level of concentration is considered an anomaly in the stablecoin market, where leading assets like USDT and USDC are typically distributed across a wide network of independent wallets and global exchanges.

The rapid consolidation of USD1 on Binance appears to be the result of a series of strategic integrations and high-value corporate deals occurring over the past year. In early 2025, the Abu Dhabi-backed fund MGX utilized $2 billion worth of USD1 to acquire a minority stake in Binance, immediately placing a significant portion of the stablecoin’s reserves under the exchange’s custody. More recently, in December 2025, Binance further integrated the asset by converting the remaining collateral from its defunct BUSD stablecoin into USD1. Aggressive promotional campaigns have also played a role; in late January, Binance launched a $40 million reward program, distributing WLFI governance tokens to users who hold USD1 on the platform, which significantly boosted on-chain activity.

The ties between the stablecoin and the current U.S. administration have added a layer of political scrutiny to these financial developments. USD1 is issued by World Liberty Financial, a venture founded by the Trump family, with an affiliated LLC owning a 38% stake in the company. Financial disclosures indicate the project has already contributed roughly $1 billion to President Donald Trump’s net worth. The relationship between the exchange and the project has faced additional questioning following President Trump’s October 2025 pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. While both Binance and World Liberty Financial maintain that their partnerships follow standard industry practices, the SEC recently dropped a long-standing lawsuit against the exchange shortly after it listed USD1.

Market analysts and security researchers warn that such extreme concentration creates significant systemic and governance risks. If a single entity controls nearly 90% of an asset, any technical failure, legal dispute, or financial stress at that exchange could effectively freeze the entire USD1 ecosystem. Furthermore, transparency remains a primary concern, as it is currently unclear what portion of the $4.7 billion held by Binance belongs to the exchange itself versus its individual customers. As USD1 continues to expand into decentralized lending and prediction markets, the industry remains focused on whether this centralized influence will hinder the stablecoin’s long-term stability and regulatory standing.

Backpack, the cryptocurrency exchange established by former FTX and Alameda Research executives, has officially achieved unicorn status, Axios reported on Monday. The firm is reportedly in discussions to secure $50 million in fresh financing, which would place its pre-money valuation at $1 billion. This surge in valuation highlights a significant recovery and growth trajectory for the team, which transitioned from a Solana-based wallet project into a comprehensive global trading platform.

The announcement of this funding round coincides with the introduction of Backpack’s innovative tokenization scheme, which aims to redefine how exchange tokens are distributed and managed. Under this plan, 37.5% of the total 1 billion token supply is reserved for a “post-IPO” company treasury. Co-founder Armani Ferrante explained that this structure is specifically designed to prevent the common practice of “dumping” tokens on retail investors. By tying the team’s financial rewards to an eventual public listing or equity exit, the firm intends to ensure long-term alignment between the developers and the community.

In the interim, the distribution strategy focuses on rewarding early supporters and hitting measurable growth targets. Another 37.5% of the supply will be circulated “pre-IPO” based on the company’s success in expanding into new geographic regions and launching new products. While a specific date for the token generation event has not yet been set, the exchange has committed to airdropping 250 million tokens to early backers, including participants in the Backpack Points program and holders of the Mad Lads NFT collection.

Backpack’s rapid ascent is rooted in its evolution from a specialized wallet to a regulated spot and derivatives exchange headquartered in Dubai. The founding team, which includes Armani Ferrante and former FTX general counsel Can Sun, has leveraged deep industry experience to navigate the regulatory landscape, notably obtaining a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license. Following the acquisition of FTX EU last year, the platform has continued to expand its offerings to include lending and prediction markets, positioning itself as a major institutional player in the digital asset ecosystem.

Binance has accelerated its strategic shift toward Bitcoin by purchasing an additional 3,600 BTC for its Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU). This acquisition, executed using approximately $250 million in stablecoins, brings the emergency fund’s total Bitcoin holdings to 6,230 BTC. The move is a key part of an aggressive plan announced on January 29 to convert the exchange’s $1 billion user-protection reserve from dollar-pegged tokens into Bitcoin within a 30-day window.

The exchange has framed this transition as a statement of long-term conviction, describing Bitcoin as the foundational asset of the crypto ecosystem. By moving the SAFU reserves into Bitcoin, Binance aims to ensure the backstop remains transparent, auditable, and resilient to inflation. To maintain the fund’s efficacy, Binance has pledged to keep the reserve value at $1 billion, promising to top it back up if market volatility ever drives the total valuation below the $800 million mark.

This significant accumulation is taking place against a backdrop of broader market turbulence and a “risk-off” sentiment among investors. While Binance is effectively buying the dip for its insurance chest, major digital assets have struggled to maintain their footing. Bitcoin has recently traded near $66,600, down roughly 5% in a single day, while Ethereum and Solana have seen even sharper drawdowns. Despite this immediate volatility, Binance remains committed to completing the full $1 billion conversion by the end of February.

Industry analysts view the move as both a defensive safeguard and a strategic bet on the future of digital reserves. Market trackers indicate that Binance has already deployed nearly $430 million toward Bitcoin purchases for the SAFU wallet in just a few days. However, the broader market remains cautious, with some technical indicators suggesting that if current support levels fail, the price of Bitcoin could potentially slide toward the low-$40,000 range despite high-volume institutional buying.

The Royal Government of Bhutan, operating through its sovereign investment arm, Druk Holding & Investments (DHI), has mobilized more than 284 Bitcoin – valued at approximately $22.3 million – over the past week,  

According to on-chain analytics from Arkham Intelligence, the movement included a notable transfer of 184 BTC worth $14.1 million on Wednesday, following a previous transaction of 100 BTC worth $8.3 million last Friday. These funds were directed to Singapore-based market maker QCP Capital, a destination typically associated with institutional liquidity management and asset repositioning.

While these transfers do not confirm an outright sale, they follow a documented pattern of “structured clips” where Bhutan offloads assets in batches of approximately $50 million. Market analysts are watching the activity closely as Bitcoin faces significant price pressure, having tumbled roughly 40% from its October 2025 all-time high of $126,000 to levels near $70,000. 

The kingdom’s total reserves have notably declined from a peak of 13,295 BTC in late 2024 to roughly 5,700 BTC at present, a shift that has seen Bhutan slip to the seventh-largest sovereign holder globally.

Bhutan’s approach to digital assets remains unique because its holdings are generated through state-backed mining operations rather than legal seizures. By leveraging its vast hydroelectric resources, the nation effectively converts surplus renewable energy into liquid foreign currency reserves. 

This strategic mining initiative, which began as early as 2019, has reportedly funded national priorities such as civil servant salary increases and infrastructure development, even as the cost of production has nearly doubled following the most recent halving event.

Beyond Bitcoin, the nation’s treasury activity suggests a sophisticated and active management style rather than passive holding. On-chain data recently flagged $1.5 million in USDT moving between exchange-linked wallets and DHI addresses, alongside various Ethereum transactions. 

As the Himalayan kingdom continues to integrate digital assets into its macroeconomic strategy -including plans to fund the “Gelephu Mindfulness City” initiative – its on-chain movements have become a critical psychological bellwether for institutional and sovereign sentiment in the crypto market.

 

Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, announced a $100 million strategic equity investment in Anchorage Digital on Thursday, signaling a deepened commitment to regulated U.S. digital asset infrastructure. The investment values Anchorage Digital—the first federally chartered digital asset bank in the United States – at $4.2 billion. The move comes as Tether pivots toward a more compliant posture in the wake of the GENIUS Act, the landmark stablecoin legislation signed into law last summer.

While the investment is primarily financial, both firms framed the deal as a “strategic alignment” aimed at scaling digital assets within established legal frameworks. Tether has recently focused on transparency and institutional oversight, a shift underscored by its partnership with Anchorage to issue USA₮, a “Made in America” stablecoin designed specifically for the new federal regulatory regime.

“Tether exists to challenge the status quo and build global infrastructure for freedom,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. He noted that the investment reflects a shared belief in secure, resilient financial systems.

Nathan McCauley, co-founder and CEO of Anchorage Digital, stated that the capital infusion validates years of effort in building regulated rails. “This adds momentum as we continue developing services for stablecoin issuance and broader market adoption,” McCauley said.

In a notable departure from typical high-growth funding rounds, Anchorage Digital confirmed it is using this moment to launch its first-ever employee tender offer. This allows long-tenured staff to sell a portion of their equity at the new $4.2 billion valuation.

The company stated it “prioritized employee liquidity over raising additional primary capital,” suggesting a strong balance sheet and a desire to reward the team that navigated the firm through several years of market volatility.

CME Group is currently exploring the development of its own digital token as part of a strategic shift to modernize its digital infrastructure. Chief Executive Officer Terry Duffy disclosed the initiative during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call on February 4, explaining that the exchange is evaluating new ways to handle collateral and margin for crypto derivatives. The project, often referred to as “CME Coin,” aims to facilitate more efficient trading in a market that operates 24/7, contrasting with the traditional banking hours that often limit settlement speeds.

The proposed token is envisioned as a tool for institutional settlement and collateral rather than a cryptocurrency for the general public. Duffy noted that CME is prioritizing security by looking at tokenized cash and instruments issued by systemically important financial institutions. By utilizing its own token, CME could significantly reduce friction in high-volume trading and improve capital efficiency for its clients. This initiative is being developed alongside a “tokenized cash” project with Google Cloud, which is expected to provide the technical foundation for these digital products starting in late 2026.

This push toward digital tokens aligns with CME’s broader plan to transition to full 24/7 trading for cryptocurrency derivatives by the second quarter of 2026. Currently, the exchange is seeing a massive surge in institutional interest, with average daily volumes reaching $12 billion in 2025. By expanding its trading hours to match the non-stop nature of the crypto spot market, CME hopes to provide better hedging opportunities for market makers and hedge funds during weekends and holidays.

While the “CME Coin” project is still in its exploratory phase without a confirmed launch date or formal regulatory filings, the exchange continues to expand its product lineup. Following the successful introduction of Solana and XRP futures in late 2025, CME is scheduled to launch Cardano, Chainlink, and Stellar futures on February 9.

Binance has secured the top spot in the January 2026 Major Crypto Exchange Reserves Ranking Report, maintaining a commanding lead over the global digital asset market. According to the latest data from CoinMarketCap, Binance’s total reserves have reached approximately $155.64 billion. This figure significantly surpasses all other major trading platforms, reinforcing Binance’s role as the market’s clear Tier 1 leader. The report highlights Binance’s dominant scale in proof-of-reserve holdings, which reflects the exchange’s position as the largest liquidity venue in the global crypto market. CoinMarketCap notes that Binance’s reserves dwarf the combined totals of many competitors, serving as a primary indicator of platform scale and market dominance.

Behind the market leader, the report outlines a sharply tiered market structure where other exchanges follow at a considerable distance. OKX ranked second in the January report with total reserves of roughly $31.29 billion, while Bybit placed third with around $14.17 billion. Other exchanges included in the ranking were Gate with $7.86 billion, HTX with $6.92 billion, Bitget with $5.33 billion, MEXC with $2.97 billion, and KuCoin with $2.16 billion. This data illustrates a clear gap between the top-tier dominance of Binance and the Tier 2 challengers such as OKX and Bybit, while smaller regional platforms comprise a third tier of reserve holders.

A detailed breakdown of Binance’s reserve mix shows a heavy concentration in major crypto-assets and stablecoins, reflecting a strategic focus on deep liquidity and user withdrawal readiness. Binance held approximately $47.47 billion in stablecoins, accounting for 30.5% of its total reserves. Bitcoin-related assets, including BTC and derivatives exposure, represented another $49.84 billion, or 32.03% of holdings. The exchange also reported $34.20 billion in exchange-owned tokens, largely driven by BNB, alongside $14.16 billion in other altcoin reserves and nearly $10 billion in ETH-related assets. CoinMarketCap notes that this stablecoin reliance remains a critical component of exchange reserves, functioning as a cash-like buffer for withdrawals and general market operations.

The report further observes that reserve composition varies significantly across different platforms. For example, OKX held around $12.49 billion in stablecoins and over $10.4 billion in Bitcoin-related assets, while Bybit’s reserve mix showed a heavier weighting toward stablecoins and BTC. Some exchanges disclosed limited information regarding their exchange-owned token holdings or specific altcoin breakdowns, focusing primarily on core assets such as BTC, ETH, and stablecoins. Across the industry, assets like DOGE, XRP, and SOL were cited as notable altcoin holdings appearing on multiple platforms. These differences in allocation highlight the various risk management and liquidity strategies employed by major global exchanges.

Tether, the company behind the world’s most widely used stablecoin, has officially released MiningOS (MOS), an open-source operating system designed to overhaul how Bitcoin mining operations are managed. The launch represents a direct challenge to the proprietary, vendor-controlled software that has long dominated the sector. By open-sourcing the software under an Apache 2.0 license, Tether aims to provide a transparent alternative for miners, ranging from small-scale home enthusiasts to massive industrial operators, as it continues to expand its footprint in global crypto infrastructure.

Built on a modular, peer-to-peer architecture, MiningOS allows operators to monitor and automate their hardware, energy consumption, and site-level infrastructure within a single, unified layer. Unlike existing fragmented software stacks that often rely on centralized services, MOS is designed to be hardware-agnostic, meaning it can function across various types of mining rigs without locking users into specific manufacturers. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino noted that the system is built to make mining infrastructure more accessible and scalable across different geographies, ensuring that new entrants can compete without the burden of expensive, closed-source management tools.

This strategic move aligns Tether with other industry advocates for open infrastructure, such as Jack Dorsey’s Block, and marks a significant evolution for the company beyond its core stablecoin business. Tether reported a staggering net profit of over $10 billion in 2025, largely fueled by interest income on its reserves. This financial strength has allowed the firm to diversify aggressively into tokenized commodities like gold, energy production, and various payment infrastructures. Along with the operating system, Tether also unveiled a Mining SDK, which will serve as the underlying framework for future community-led development.

The release of MOS comes at a time when the mining industry is increasingly focused on efficiency and transparency. By providing a free, customizable toolset, Tether is positioning itself as a foundational player in the physical security of the Bitcoin network. As the company rolls out new products like the U.S.-focused USAT stablecoin, the launch of MiningOS signals Tether’s intent to move away from being just a financial intermediary and toward becoming a central architect of the decentralized digital economy.

Singapore Gulf Bank (SGB), a fully licensed digital wholesale bank backed by the Whampoa Group and Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund, Mumtalakat, has officially announced a new stablecoin interoperability service designed to streamline institutional finance. The platform, which is expected to go live by the first quarter of 2026, will allow corporate clients to mint, trade, and convert stablecoins into fiat currency within a single, regulated environment. This new offering extends the capabilities of SGB Net, the bank’s proprietary real-time clearing network that currently processes more than $2 billion in monthly fiat transaction volume for digital asset firms across the Asia-GCC corridor, a report by Crypto News said.

The service will support major stablecoins, including USDC and USDT, across the Solana, Ethereum, and Arbitrum blockchains. By integrating these assets directly into a banking infrastructure, SGB aims to eliminate the operational fragmentation that currently plagues corporate treasury departments. Chief Executive Officer Shawn Chan noted that while stablecoins have become the essential “working capital” of the digital economy, the tools for managing them remain unnecessarily complex. The bank’s goal is to serve as a bridge between traditional and digital finance, offering near real-time settlement for high-volume cross-border transactions that were previously slow and expensive.

Security and regulatory compliance are central to the new platform, which includes built-in safeguards such as rigorous Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Business (KYB), and anti-money laundering (AML) controls. To ensure the safety of digital assets, SGB has continued its strategic partnership with Fireblocks, a leading crypto infrastructure provider, to handle institutional-grade custody. This partnership, established in late 2025, utilizes multi-party computation (MPC) cryptography to protect funds and automate treasury operations, allowing the bank to scale its services while mitigating operational risks.

The launch comes at a time of significant maturation for the global stablecoin market, which has seen the total market capitalization surpass $300 billion. The regulatory landscape has shifted rapidly with the enactment of the GENIUS Act in the United States and the introduction of central bank-approved stablecoins like USDU in the UAE. By positioning itself at the intersection of these regulated frameworks, Singapore Gulf Bank is moving to capture the increasing demand for dollar-backed liquidity and efficient global settlement solutions for institutional users.

The cryptocurrency market suffered a violent sell-off late Thursday, with Bitcoin (BTC) plunging to a low of $81,000 before staging a tepid recovery to the $82,000 level. The sudden crash has wiped nearly $10,000 off the flagship asset’s value in just 24 hours.

The carnage was not limited to Bitcoin. Major altcoins saw sweeping declines of 7% to 9%, with Ether (ETH) struggling to hold $2,700, while BNB and XRP slid to $843 and $1.74, respectively.

According to data from CoinGlass, the volatility triggered a massive liquidation event. Over $777 million in leveraged “long” positions were forcibly closed in a single hour as the price floor dropped. Over the full 24-hour period, total liquidations surged to $1.75 billion, marking one of the most significant deleveraging events of 2026.

Analysts warn that the technical outlook remains grim. A CoinDesk analysis notes that Bitcoin is currently clinging to its November lows. Should support at the $81,000 mark fail to hold, the next major “safety net” is not expected until the $75,000 range—a level established during the tariff-induced volatility of April 2025.

The primary catalyst for the rout appears to be political rather than technical. Markets reacted sharply to reports that President Donald Trump is poised to nominate former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh to succeed current Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

Trump intensified the speculation late Thursday, telling reporters he would officially name his nominee on Friday morning. The announcement comes on the heels of the President’s latest public broadside against Powell, whom he lambasted for refusing to aggressively slash interest rates.

As the industry awaits the Friday morning announcement, all eyes remain on the $81,000 support level. If that line in the sand breaks, the “crypto spring” of early 2026 could be headed for a deep freeze.

 

New York-based Talos, the provider of institutional digital asset infrastructure, technology, and data supporting the full trading and portfolio management lifecycle, announced a $45 million Series B extension on January 29, 2026. This strategic injection of capital brings the company’s total Series B funding to $150 million and elevates its post-money valuation to approximately $1.5 billion. The round featured a high-profile roster of new strategic investors, including Robinhood Markets, Sony Innovation Fund, IMC, QCP, and Karatage, who joined returning heavyweights such as a16z crypto, BNY, and Fidelity Investments.

According to Talos CEO and Co-Founder Anton Katz, the extension was driven by intense interest from strategic partners who view Talos as the core institutional infrastructure for the digital asset era. Katz noted that as traditional asset classes increasingly migrate to digital rails, these partners—many of whom are existing clients—sought a closer alignment with the company’s growth. The round underscores a broader industry trend where digital assets are no longer viewed as a standalone market but as the future foundation for global capital markets.

The investment itself showcased the practical utility of the technology Talos supports, as a portion of the funding was settled using stablecoins. This reflects the growing institutional adoption of blockchain-based payment rails for high-value transactions. Talos plans to use the proceeds to expand its product suite across the entire investment lifecycle, specifically focusing on portfolio construction, risk management, treasury, and settlement tools. A primary goal for the next phase of development is ensuring the platform can support traditional asset classes as they transition into digital formats.

This funding milestone follows a period of rapid scaling for the firm, which has seen its revenue and client base roughly double every year for the past two years. Recent highlights include the launch of an RFQ platform with BlackRock’s traders on the Aladdin® platform and the strategic acquisitions of four specialized firms: Coin Metrics, Cloudwall, Skolem, and D3X Systems. These moves have significantly enhanced Talos’s capabilities in data analytics, DeFi infrastructure, and portfolio engineering, positioning it as a dominant player in the institutional landscape.

Industry leaders backing the round emphasized the necessity of Talos’s “institutional-grade” approach. Johann Kerbrat of Robinhood Crypto highlighted how the platform’s flexibility allows for deeper liquidity and advanced features for their customers, while Kazuhito Hadano of Sony Ventures Corporation praised the company’s evolution into a comprehensive front-, middle-, and back-office solution. Collectively, the investors expressed a shared vision of Talos as the essential gateway for institutions entering the digital market, providing the performance and safety required for the next generation of financial infrastructure.

Russia is preparing to launch a comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies this July, marking a significant shift toward legalizing retail participation in the local digital asset market. 

Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market, recently informed the Parliamentary Gazette that the upcoming set of rules will be finalized for a vote by the end of June. While the legislation is expected to be approved shortly thereafter, the framework will not take full effect until one year later, meaning both qualified and non-qualified investors will officially be permitted to trade crypto assets starting July 1, 2027.

The new rules establish a tiered system for investors, with state news agency TASS reporting that non-qualified traders will have limited access to the retail market. Under this framework, amateur investors will be restricted to purchasing only the “most liquid” cryptocurrencies, with an annual purchase cap of 300,000 rubles (approximately $3,900). 

Professional or “qualified” traders, however, will be allowed to purchase a wider variety of assets in unlimited amounts. The only major exception for professionals will be privacy tokens, such as Monero and Zcash, which are designed to keep transaction participants anonymous and will remain restricted under the new law.

To help define these boundaries, the Central Bank is expected to compile a “white list” of approved cryptocurrencies for the general public. Legal experts anticipate this list will feature the top-5 or top-10 most traded assets globally, certainly including Bitcoin and Ethereum, and potentially adding popular tokens like Solana or Toncoin. 

Additionally, the framework will permit Russian citizens to purchase cryptocurrency on foreign exchanges using offshore accounts, provided the assets are transferred back to domestic platforms and all transactions are properly reported to tax authorities for transparency.

Beyond simple trading, the legislation seeks to provide clarity on the creation, mining, and distribution of digital assets while strictly reaffirming the existing ban on using cryptocurrency for domestic payments. 

Lawmakers are also planning to introduce specific administrative and criminal liabilities for entities that operate in the market without the proper legal standing. 

While existing licensed brokers and exchanges can continue their work, storage providers and platforms currently operating in a legal “gray area” will be required to obtain new, specialized licenses to comply with the updated standards.

 

In a move that bridges Old World security with New World finance, Tether Holdings SA has transformed a Cold War-era Swiss nuclear bunker into the world’s largest non-sovereign gold reserve.

The stablecoin giant is reportedly acquiring more than a ton of bullion per week, a pace of accumulation that has turned the crypto-native firm into a systemic force in the global precious metals market. The high-security vault, carved into the Swiss Alps, now houses a stash that exceeds the holdings of many mid-sized nation-states.

Industry analysts confirm that Tether’s relentless buying spree—totaling roughly $1 billion in physical metal every month—has made it the largest known private bullion hoard on Earth.

This aggressive accumulation strategy is forcing traditional bullion desks to recalibrate their models, as Tether’s price-insensitive buying is large enough to tighten the available float and skew market spreads.

Tether executives are positioning these massive gold reserves as a hard-asset hedge against the debasement of fiat currencies and traditional counterparty risks. This strategy aligns the company with the same macroeconomic shifts that have recently propelled gold prices above the $5,000 mark.

While the logistics of sourcing and transporting 1,000 kilograms of gold weekly from Swiss refiners are immense, Tether leadership argues the physical bunker provides a level of resilience that digital-only assets cannot match, suggesting that in an era of synthetic dollars, physical metal still buys 21st-century trust.

The news arrives as the broader crypto market continues to hold firm near cycle highs, with Bitcoin trading near $88,900 and Ethereum hovering around $3,000. While the gold provides a physical anchor for USDT and Tether Gold (XAUT), the sheer volume of assets controlled by a single private player has raised concerns among some market analysts.

Critics argue that this creates a new form of concentration risk, adding another layer to the long-standing questions regarding transparency and audit standards in the stablecoin sector. For now, however, the vault serves as a powerful symbol for crypto-native investors, offering a concrete answer to the perennial question of what exactly backs the world’s most-used digital dollar.

The Ethereum ecosystem is currently preparing for a significant infrastructure shift as the official ERC-8004 standard is confirmed for mainnet deployment this week. Initially teased by the Ethereum Foundation on January 27, this new protocol marks a pivotal moment in the 2026 roadmap to transform the network into a foundational layer for the global agentic economy. Often referred to as the “Trustless Agents” standard, ERC-8004 introduces a comprehensive framework designed to solve the growing identity crisis faced by autonomous AI systems.

As AI-to-AI interactions begin to surpass human transactions in volume, the standard establishes three critical on-chain pillars to facilitate secure communication. The first is an Identity Registry, which assigns a unique and portable AgentID to every autonomous system, utilizing a specialized architecture to ensure each bot is distinguishable. This is followed by a Reputation Registry, an immutable audit trail of performance that allows agents to carry their credibility across different decentralized platforms. Finally, a Validation Registry provides a verification layer supporting cryptographic proofs to ensure an agent’s code is executing exactly as promised without human interference.

The primary goal of ERC-8004 is to move toward a truly decentralized AI landscape, moving away from centralized gatekeepers that currently control machine interactions. By treating the blockchain as a neutral reference point, the standard allows agents to find, verify, and transact with one another trustlessly. To keep costs manageable for high-frequency machine tasks, the protocol pushes heavy computation and complex data interactions off-chain while anchoring the essential identity and trust markers on the Ethereum mainnet. This design allows for a scalable environment where AI can manage value and exchange data without the bottleneck of traditional verification methods.

The timing of this launch is strategically significant for the broader crypto landscape. In 2026, data suggests that non-human identities are handling a vast majority of automated financial services, yet much of this activity had previously migrated to faster, alternative networks. ERC-8004 represents Ethereum’s evolutionary response, aiming to recapture its status as the primary hub for high-value machine-to-machine commerce. If the rollout proceeds as expected by Thursday, January 29, the standard will likely expand Ethereum’s influence far beyond finance and deep into the core infrastructure of artificial intelligence.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has officially moved to solidify the nation’s digital asset framework by launching a public consultation on stringent new draft rules governing stablecoin reserve assets. This move marks a critical step in the practical implementation of the 2025 Payment Services Act overhaul, a legislative package enacted last June designed to formalize the country’s electronic payment landscape and provide a secure environment for digital innovation.

At the heart of the new proposal are strict limitations on how stablecoin issuers manage the “specified trust beneficiary interests” that back their tokens. Under the draft notices, issuers using trust structures will be restricted to a narrow pool of high-quality collateral to ensure stability and liquidity. To qualify as a reserve asset, foreign-issued bonds must meet two primary benchmarks: they must maintain a top-tier credit risk rating of 1–2 or higher from designated agencies, and the foreign issuer must have a total outstanding bond volume of at least 100 trillion yen, which is approximately $648 billion.

The FSA is also targeting the potential for consumer confusion regarding traditional financial institutions. New supervisory guidelines will now apply to banks and insurance companies whose subsidiaries offer cryptocurrency intermediation. Under the draft, these subsidiaries are required to provide explicit explanations to customers to ensure they do not underestimate the risks involved simply because a product is being offered by a recognizable or “safe” financial group. Furthermore, businesses seeking to handle foreign-issued stablecoins must now provide a formal check showing that the overseas issuer will not engage in direct issuance or solicitation toward general users within Japan.

This regulatory push arrives as Japan’s stablecoin market shifts from theoretical pilots to live infrastructure. Following the recent launch of the country’s first legally recognized yen-backed stablecoin by fintech firm JPYC, the nation’s three “megabanks”—MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho—have continued to advance their own stablecoin and tokenized deposit projects. These interbank settlement pilots received formal backing from the FSA in December, signaling a coordinated effort to build a regulated ecosystem. The public consultation on these specific draft rules is set to remain open until February 27, 2026.

The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has officially entered the final stage of consultations for a sweeping new regulatory framework designed to bring digital assets under the same rigorous standards as traditional financial markets. This move represents the “final step” in the government’s ambitious roadmap to establish the UK as a global hub for regulated cryptoasset activity while prioritizing consumer protection and market integrity.

The latest consultation package introduces ten proposed rules aimed at fostering a more transparent and competitive market. Key areas of focus include new standards for business conduct, restrictions on the use of credit to purchase cryptoassets, and stricter requirements for asset safeguarding. The regulator also aims to clarify how retail collateral should be treated in crypto borrowing arrangements. While the FCA noted that these rules are designed to build public trust, it issued a firm reminder to investors that regulation cannot eliminate the inherent volatility and risk associated with the crypto market.

A critical milestone in this roadmap is the introduction of a formal licensing regime. The FCA has indicated that the application gateway for cryptoasset service providers is expected to open in September 2026. Under this new system, firms will be required to obtain full authorization under the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) to operate legally within the UK. This regime will replace the current limited registration system, imposing tighter oversight on governance, operational resilience, and anti-money laundering controls. Stakeholders and industry participants have until March 12 to provide feedback on these final proposals before the rules are codified.

Beyond market conduct, the UK government is also moving to tighten the intersection of digital assets and political activity. Ministers are currently weighing a ban on cryptocurrency donations to political parties, citing concerns over anonymity and potential foreign interference in the electoral process. The proposal, which may be included in the upcoming Elections Bill, follows a high-profile move by Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party to become the first major political organization in the country to accept digital asset contributions.

Simultaneously, the government is advancing a significant overhaul of the tax treatment for decentralized finance (DeFi). Under a newly backed framework, the government plans to implement “No Gain, No Loss” (NGNL) rules for liquidity provision and lending. This change would ensure that users do not trigger a capital gains tax event simply by depositing tokens into a protocol or smart contract, provided they maintain economic ownership. While capital gains would only be realized upon an actual economic disposal, staking rewards and yields will continue to be treated as miscellaneous income. This tax reform is seen as a major step in removing administrative barriers for UK-based DeFi users.

 

South Korea’s third-largest cryptocurrency exchange, Coinone, is reportedly exploring a major ownership restructuring that could redefine its position in the domestic market. According to an initial report by the Seoul Economic Daily, the exchange is actively considering various options to sell a significant portion of shares held by its Chairman and largest shareholder, Cha Myung-hoon. Currently, Chairman Cha controls a dominant 53.4% stake in the company, which includes his personal 19.14% holding and an additional 34.3% stake held through his company, The One Group. The potential deal may also involve shares held by the firm’s second-largest shareholder, local gaming giant Com2uS, which originally acquired a 38.42% stake between 2021 and 2022.

A representative from Coinone has confirmed that the company is currently in high-level talks with major overseas exchanges and local financial institutions regarding potential equity investments. While the company has been careful to note that no specific decisions have been finalized, the discussions appear to be gaining momentum. Industry sources have specifically pointed toward U.S.-based Coinbase as a potential participant in the sale. Executives from the American exchange are reportedly scheduled to visit South Korea this week to meet with Coinone leadership and other local firms, signaling a heightened interest from global players in the South Korean digital asset ecosystem.

The move toward a sale comes as Coinone faces mounting financial pressure following a period of sustained losses. Internal reports indicate that the exchange’s book value sat at approximately 75.2 billion won ($52.2 million) at the end of the third quarter, representing a significant decline from its previous valuation of 94.4 billion won. Analysts believe that the recent return of Chairman Cha – a white-hat hacker turned businessman – to active management after a four-month hiatus was a strategic move specifically intended to oversee the stake sale or a larger M&A deal.

This development follows a broader trend of consolidation and ownership shakeups among South Korea’s top cryptocurrency exchanges. In a recent high-profile shift, Dunamu, the parent company of the nation’s largest exchange, Upbit, became a subsidiary of the internet giant Naver following a merger with Naver Financial in November. Simultaneously, Binance finally completed its acquisition of Gopax, the country’s fifth-largest exchange, after navigating nearly two years of regulatory delays. As Coinone continues its preliminary negotiations, the outcome could mark the next major chapter in the rapid transformation of the South Korean exchange landscape.