Tagged: virtual assets

March 9, 2026 @ 8:23 am By Michael Wong  |  

Pakistan has approved a new law regulating digital assets, creating a dedicated authority to oversee the sector as the country seeks to bring its fast-growing cryptocurrency market under a formal regulatory framework. Parliament has passed the Virtual Assets Act, 2026, establishing the Pakistan Virtual Assets… Read More

December 29, 2024 @ 1:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of ADGM (FSRA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the UAE Ministry of Interior, to enhance coordination in combating financial crime related to virtual assets. The agreement aims to facilitate the exchange of information, strengthen risk mitigation frameworks,… Read More

July 20, 2024 @ 9:22 am By Michael Wong  |  

South Kora’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced early this week that new stringent regulations targeting illegal transactions involving virtual assets will be enforced. The new legislation, known as the Virtual Asset Users Protection Act, mandates virtual asset exchanges to report illegal activities to the financial… Read More

July 5, 2024 @ 4:04 pm By JD Alois  |  

FATF [Financial Action Task Force ] met last month and provided a brief update on the global association’s attempt to reign in the cryptosphere. FATFA established the “Travel Rule” while the US held the chair of the group. This rule requires buyers and sellers of… Read More

December 23, 2023 @ 3:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong warned the public to beware of entities operating under the names of “LonShiX” and “Bitbank (Global) Financial Holding Group,” suspected of “engaging in fraudulent activities purporting to be related to virtual assets.” The SFC notes that… Read More

November 23, 2023 @ 10:02 am By Michael Wong  |  

GC Exchange FZE (GCEX), a subsidiary of the GCEX Group, has been granted an Operational VASP Licence by Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) for VA Broker-Dealer services. This developmens comes after GCEX opened its Dubai office in July 2022 and received a Minimal Viable… Read More

November 10, 2023 @ 3:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Binance, which is being sued by US regulatory authorities for a wide range of issues while also facing major operational challenges globally, says that it is pleased to be promoting the safety of the virtual-asset ecosystem. Following a law enforcement training workshop in collaboration with… Read More

November 2, 2023 @ 10:13 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary, Paul Chan Mo-po, has asserted that stringent regulation of virtual assets is crucial for market development, defending the region’s new licensing regime in the wake of JPEX‘s collapse earlier this year. The unlicensed cryptocurrency exchange is currently under investigation, but Chan… Read More

September 20, 2023 @ 10:04 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

HTX (previously known as Huobi), the virtual assets exchange, announced a partnership with CertiK, which is focused on blockchain security. This partnership aims “to improve HTX’s existing security infrastructure with asset and data protection by integrating CertiK’s specialized expertise.” Both HTX and CertiK will continue… Read More

September 3, 2023 @ 5:08 am By Michael Wong  |  

As part of its commitment to promoting financial literacy, Gulf Bank is advising its customers on the risks associated with virtual assets like cryptocurrency. The initiative is part of the Let’s Be Aware “Diraya” campaign, now in its third consecutive year, which is spearheaded by… Read More

July 29, 2023 @ 11:20 am By Omar Faridi  |  

eToro, the multi-asset investing platform, has announced that on 29 June 2023 the Bank of Spain has “approved the registration of eToro as a service provider of exchange of virtual currency for fiat currency and electronic wallet custody services.” Tali Salomon, eToro’s Regional Manager for… Read More

June 25, 2023 @ 7:25 pm By JD Alois  |  

The FATF (Financial Action Task Force) has just concluded its third Plenary under the Presidency of T. Raja Kumar of Singapore and has posted an update on the gathering. Amongst other hot topics, the group has bemoaned the slow pace of adoption of the FATF… Read More

February 21, 2023 @ 10:55 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) launched a consultation on the proposed requirements “for operators of virtual asset trading platforms.” Under a new licensing regime to take effect on 1 June 2023, all centralized virtual asset trading platforms “carrying on business in Hong Kong or… Read More

July 31, 2022 @ 8:38 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

FTX Exchange FZE announced that it has received approval “to enter Dubai’s ‘Minimum Viable Product’ (MVP) program for Virtual Assets under the world’s only specialist regime for this sector operated by the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA).” As a subsidiary of FTX Europe, FTX Exchange… Read More

October 21, 2021 @ 4:40 pm By JD Alois  |  

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has “advanced its core work on virtual assets, beneficial ownership transparency, and illicit finance risks,” according to a public statement. The FATF has approved for publication an updated version of its Guidance on a Risk-Based Approach to Virtual Assets… Read More

May 17, 2021 @ 10:52 am By Samantha Hurst  |  

  Samsung Electronics recently announced blockchain users may now manage and trade virtual assets from third-party wallets on the Samsung Galaxy smartphones. According to Samsung, the new update makes it easier for blockchain users to access and process transactions by importing virtual assets stored on… Read More

April 26, 2021 @ 11:06 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Uppsala Security, a provider of tools for Crypto AML, Risk Management, Regulatory Compliance, and Cybersecurity revealed on Monday (April 26, 2021) that with assistance from Bithumb, one of South Korea’s leading digital asset exchanges, it has helped a victim to “recover approximately 20 million KRW”… Read More

April 22, 2021 @ 10:47 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Huobi Asset Management (Hong Kong) Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huobi Technology Holdings Limited, has introduced virtual asset-related funds for professional investors. The new product offering includes three digital asset funds and a private equity fund for blockchain mining-related businesses, according to a release shared… Read More

March 21, 2021 @ 11:19 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Blockchain security firm CipherTrace has provided an analysis on the proposed Financial Action Task Force (FATF) guidance for digital assets and virtual asset service providers (VASPs). On March 19, 2021, global anti-money laundering watchdog, the FATF, released a public consultation for its latest Draft Guidance… Read More

February 25, 2021 @ 10:14 pm By JD Alois  |  

The US Department of Treasury has issued a statement on the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) second plenary meeting during the German Presidency of the global regulatory agency. According to Treasury, FATF advanced its work on several issues, including finalizing a non-public report on terrorist… Read More