The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is preparing to bring traditional financial markets on-chain.Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the NYSE, announced on Monday that it is developing a blockchain-based trading platform for tokenized stocks and exchange-traded funds, designed to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week with instant settlement.The move marks one of the most significant steps yet by a major global exchange toward integrating blockchain technology directly into regulated market infrastructure.NYSE Targets Always-On Trading With On-Chain SettlementAccording to ICE, the new platform will combine the NYSE’s existing trading technology with blockchain-based post-trade systems, enabling real-time clearing and settlement outside traditional market hours.The system is expected to support settlement across multiple blockchains, though ICE did not disclose which networks will be used.“For more than two centuries, the NYSE has transformed the way markets operate,” said NYSE Group President Lynn Martin. “We are now leading the industry toward fully on-chain solutions that combine trusted market protections with state-of-the-art technology.”The platform would allow markets to function continuously — a major departure from traditional U.S. equity trading, which remains constrained by fixed trading sessions and delayed settlement cycles.Tokenized Stocks, ETFs and Native Digital SecuritiesThe planned system will support:Tokenized versions of traditional stocks and ETFsNative tokenized securities issued directly on-chainParticipation in shareholder voting and dividend distributionsBy bringing securities onto blockchain rails, ICE aims to improve capital efficiency, reduce settlement risk, and enable global access across time zones.“Supporting tokenized securities is a pivotal step in our strategy to operate on-chain market infrastructure for trading, settlement, custody, and capital formation,” said ICE Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Michael Blaugrund.Major Banks Join Tokenization InfrastructureICE confirmed it is working with BNY Mellon and Citi to support tokenized deposits, fund transfers, and liquidity management across its clearinghouses.The partnerships are intended to allow secure movement of funds outside traditional banking hours, addressing one of the biggest limitations of existing financial market infrastructure.Regulatory Approval Still RequiredNo official launch timeline has been provided, and the platform remains subject to regulatory approval.ICE did not immediately respond to requests for further technical or operational details.Tokenization Accelerates Across Global FinanceThe NYSE announcement adds momentum to the growing institutional push toward asset tokenization — a trend widely viewed as one of blockchain’s most transformative use cases.BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has repeatedly described tokenization as “the next evolution of market infrastructure.”Over the past year:Robinhood launched tokenized equities for European usersCoinbase announced plans to support tokenized stock trading in early 2026Major banks have expanded tokenized deposit pilotsAsset managers have increased issuance of tokenized fundsIf approved, NYSE’s blockchain trading platform would represent one of the most significant integrations of traditional finance and blockchain to date — bringing the world’s largest equity market closer to an always-on, on-chain financial system.

What else does the word "legitimate" mean when the person who is legitimate and the person who benefits from it are the same person?

LINE NEXT has announced a partnership with JPYC Inc. to incorporate the Japanese yen stablecoin, JPYC, into its platform. According to NS3.AI, this collaboration is set to introduce a stablecoin wallet within the LINE Messenger app, enhancing user experience with new payment functionalities and reward systems. The integration aims to streamline transactions and offer users more versatile financial options within the app. Both companies are committed to exploring innovative solutions to improve digital payment capabilities and expand reward offerings for LINE users.

To date, JustLend DAO has completed the burning of 1,084,890,753 JST tokens through a two-phase systemic buyback and burn mechanism, permanently reducing the total supply by 10.96% and burning a total value of approximately $38.7 million. The first phase burned $17.73 million worth of JST, while the second phase further expanded the scale, burning approximately $21 million worth of JST. JustLend DAO will continue to implement a transparent and sustainable deflationary economic strategy, continuously strengthening the long-term value foundation of the JST token model.

Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Practitioners Association (HKSFPA) has submitted feedback to regulatory authorities regarding the proposed digital asset management framework, expressing opposition to several restrictive measures. According to Odaily, the HKSFPA primarily objects to the removal of the current 'de minimis' arrangement. Under existing rules, institutions holding a Type 9 license (asset management) can allocate up to 10% of total fund assets to crypto assets without needing an additional virtual asset management license, provided they report to the regulatory body. The proposed framework seeks to eliminate this limit, requiring a full virtual asset management license even for a 1% allocation to Bitcoin. The HKSFPA argues that this 'all-or-nothing' regulatory approach is disproportionate and could lead to significant compliance costs despite limited risk exposure, potentially deterring traditional asset management firms from entering the crypto asset sector. Additionally, the HKSFPA has raised concerns about the proposed custody requirements. The proposal mandates that virtual asset managers use only Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) licensed custodians for asset custody. The association contends that this requirement is impractical for early-stage token investments and Web3 venture capital, possibly restricting local institutions from engaging in related activities. The HKSFPA supports the direction of allowing self-custody and using qualified overseas custodians when serving professional investors. Reports indicate that these regulatory suggestions are advancing. Hong Kong authorities have previously released a consultation summary on the related framework and are conducting a new round of consultations on the licensing system for crypto asset trading, advisory, and management services.

Bitcoin drops 3% to $92,000 as 90% of liquidated positions unwind longs amid emergency EU summits and transatlantic trade war fears.

null source: https://x.com/cointelegraph/status/2013506982292959311

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Practitioners Association (HKSFPA), a Hong Kong securities industry association, submitted its comments to regulators regarding the proposed regulatory framework for digital asset management in Hong Kong, opposing several tightening measures. The HKSFPA primarily opposes the removal of the current "de minimis" arrangement. Under current rules, institutions holding a Type 9 license (asset management) can allocate no more than 10% of their total fund assets to crypto assets after reporting to regulators, without needing to apply for a separate virtual asset management license. The proposed scheme aims to remove this limit, requiring a full virtual asset management license even for a mere 1% allocation to Bitcoin. The HKSFPA argues that this "all or nothing" regulatory approach is disproportionate and could lead to significant compliance costs with limited risk exposure, thereby discouraging traditional asset management institutions from entering the crypto asset space. Furthermore, the HKSFPA also objects to the proposed custody requirements. The proposal mandates that virtual asset managers can only use SFC-licensed custodians for asset custody. The association stated that this requirement is impractical in early-stage token investment and Web3 venture capital, potentially limiting the scope of related business for Hong Kong-based institutions. Meanwhile, the HKSFPA expressed support for allowing self-custody and the use of qualified overseas custodians when serving professional investors. The report states that the aforementioned regulatory recommendations are already in the implementation phase. Hong Kong authorities had previously released a consultation summary on the relevant proposals and launched a new round of consultations on the licensing regime for crypto asset trading, advisory, and management services. (The Block)

Bermuda plans to become the first fully on-chain national economy, using stablecoins like USDC for payments and partnering with Coinbase and Circle to build the infrastructure. Government offices, banks, and businesses will adopt digital wallets and tokenised systems to lower costs and improve financial access for residents.

null source: https://x.com/wublockchain/status/2013505678376345937

The authorities have launched consultations on introducing new licensing regimes for crypto asset dealing, advisory, and management services. source: https://www.theblock.co/post/386189/hong-kong-industry-group-challenges-proposal?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Binance Alpha will be the first platform to feature HeyElsa (ELSA), with Alpha trading scheduled to open on January 20, 2026, at 08:00 (UTC).Following the trading launch, eligible users will be able to participate in an ELSA token airdrop through the Binance Alpha Events page.ELSA Airdrop RulesEligibility: At least 235 Binance Alpha PointsAirdrop amount: 200 ELSA tokensDistribution method: First-come, first-servedDynamic threshold: If the reward pool is not fully claimed, the required Alpha Points will decrease by 5 points every 5 minutesCost to claim: 15 Binance Alpha PointsConfirmation window: Users must confirm their claim within 24 hours, or the reward will be forfeitedBinance advised users to follow its official channels for further updates regarding Alpha listings and event details. 

Citigroup’s Akira Hoshino said the Bank of Japan may raise interest rates three times this year if the yen stays weak. source: https://www.cryptopolitan.com/citigroup-flags-risk-of-boj-rate-hikes/

贝莱德2026年展望给出一个明确判断：世界已进入“非常态”时代。持续十余年的“低通胀、低利率、央行兜底、分散即安全”的投资范式已系统性终结。

On the eve of the explosion of agent applications, an ecosystem serving AI is taking shape, and "selling shovels" to agents contains enormous innovative potential.

The debate over stablecoin yields is a modern version of the money market fund debate.

In 2026, the field of artificial intelligence will undergo a structural leap from "generative capabilities" to "Agent action capabilities," marking the formal establishment of the "AI Agent Economy."

Cardano fell below key support levels as selling pressure stayed strong, with weak demand and cautious traders limiting any rebound. Rising US–EU trade tensions also pushed investors away from risky assets, adding to the price drop.

South Korean authorities has uncovered one of the largest underground money pipelines in years, exposing how crypto are often misused by bad actors to launder illicit funds while staying under the radar.

Alibaba's integration of Qianwen into the Taobao ecosystem is not just a product upgrade, but a redefinition of the ancient human behaviors of "shopping" and "consumption," and a reconstruction of the era of APP applications.