Crypto Regulation

Japan’s incoming prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is set to break more than one barrier. Not only will she be the first woman to lead the nation, but she may also become the first leader to steer Japan out of its post–Mt. Gox regulatory paralysis — and toward a new era of crypto innovation.

Roger Ver, known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” has reportedly reached a $48 million settlement with the US Department of Justice to resolve tax fraud charges linked to undeclared crypto holdings. If approved, the deal would drop the charges after payment, ending a high-profile case that has drawn political attention in Washington.

Gemini’s newly launched Australian exchange signals the Winklevoss twins’ shifting global strategy — one that embraces regulatory clarity abroad while taking a cautious stance at home.

South Korea’s tax agency can now visit homes to seize cryptocurrency stored in cold wallets from taxpayers who haven’t paid. The agency has already confiscated over 146 billion won ($103 million) in crypto from more than 14,000 people in the past four years.

Coinbase has launched decentralized trading directly in its mobile app, letting U.S. users trade millions of tokens instantly, though New York residents are excluded. The app integrates DEX aggregators 1inch and 0x for non-custodial trading and also offers staking in states where it is allowed.

Kazakhstan is on a mission to cleanse its markets of illicit operations to position itself as Central Asia’s blockchain powerhouse.

Gemini has registered a local entity with AUSTRAC, allowing it to operate fully in Australia and integrate local payment systems for faster, cheaper transfers. The exchange plans to apply for an Australian Financial Services License and expand its offerings, marking a major step in its Asia-Pacific growth.

The Bank of England is planning to ease limits on corporate stablecoin holdings, allowing exemptions for firms like crypto exchanges and testing their use in a Digital Securities Sandbox. The move comes as the UK faces global competition and aims to support innovation while keeping financial risks under control.

Fasset has received a provisional license from Malaysia’s Labuan Financial Services Authority (FSA), marking the creation of the world’s first Islamic fintech sandbox designed to test and scale stablecoin-powered, Shariah-compliant digital banking services.

As Bitcoin surges past $126,000, India is quietly signaling that the path to digital finance should run through government control.