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POLICY & REGULATIONPVARA takes tokenisation pitch to World Bank, IFC meetings
Pakistan's virtual assets regulator discussed tokenised bonds, sukuk and digital market infrastructure with World Bank Group and IFC officials at the IMF-World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok.
POLICY & REGULATIONThailand's SEC opens its stock exchange to bitcoin and ether ETFs
Thailand's securities regulator has issued rules letting local asset managers launch bitcoin and ether ETFs on the Stock Exchange of Thailand from 16 October, subject to custody and suitability safeguards.
POLICY & REGULATIONSEC proposes crypto custody rules for advisers and funds
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed rules for how investment advisers and regulated funds hold crypto, allowing self-custody only where no permitted custodian is available.
POLICY & REGULATIONPakistan moving towards regulated virtual-assets framework, finance minister says
Finance minister Muhammad Aurangzeb told a United Nations digital cooperation event that Pakistan is moving to a regulated virtual-assets framework, citing tokenisation for remittances and SME financing.
MARKETSInstitutional Inflows Surge on Local Exchanges Ahead of Regulatory Clarity
Desks report the heaviest sustained buying in eighteen months as licensed venues prepare for the incoming virtual asset framework.
POLICY & REGULATIONMiCA Goes Live Across the EU: What It Means for Pakistani VASPs
Passporting rights reshape the calculus for local service providers weighing a European entity.
POLICY & REGULATIONEU Tightens Stablecoin Compliance Checks Ahead of Full Enforcement
Reserve attestation moves from quarterly to monthly, and issuers must disclose custodial concentration.
POLICY & REGULATIONSEBI plans Demat 2.0 with tokenised corporate bonds open to secondary trading
India's markets regulator is developing a framework for secondary-market trading in tokenised corporate bonds and graded compliance for brokers, chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said.
- POLICY & REGULATION
Bank of Thailand seeks feedback on draft rules for baht stablecoins
The Bank of Thailand has released a consultation paper proposing 1:1 deposit backing for baht-denominated stablecoins and a ban on issuers paying interest or offering returns.
- NEWS
Raffles Family Office builds wealth services for Asia's stablecoin fortunes
Raffles Family Office, headquartered in Singapore and Hong Kong, is expanding its digital assets arm Revo, which won Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission licences in February, to serve younger Asian billionaires holding wealth in stablecoins.
NEWSHSBC launches Hong Kong dollar stablecoin on PayMe app
HSBC has rolled out RedCoin, its first stablecoin, to PayMe users in Hong Kong, letting them send money and pay merchants, following its April licence from the HKMA.
NEWSBank of Russia registers 17 crypto exchangers as Sberbank and VTB prepare retail trading
Russia's central bank has widened its register of crypto exchange providers to 17 firms, with Sberbank and VTB holding both exchange and depository licences ahead of planned retail crypto services.
POLICY & REGULATIONUS Senate rejects CLARITY Act, leaving crypto market structure unresolved
The CLARITY Act fell 11 votes short of the 60 needed to advance in the Senate, leaving US digital asset oversight split between the SEC and CFTC unsettled and pushing bitcoin and crypto stocks lower.
POLICY & REGULATIONCentral Bank of Ireland fines Coinbase unit €3.25m over safeguarding failures
Coinbase Ireland was penalised for underfunding customer safeguarding accounts and relying excessively on its US parent, the regulator said. Coinbase says it self-reported the issues and no customer lost funds.
NEWSSquare Tech and GOAT Network sign MOU on AI agent stablecoin payments
Square Tech will explore AI agent-powered stablecoin payments for foreign tourists with GOAT Network and DAC Labs, subject to Korean legal and regulatory review.
- NEWS
China court moves to seize 61,800 bitcoin tied to $5.7 billion fraud case
Tianjin prosecutors are seeking confiscation of more than 61,800 bitcoin held in the UK and linked to an alleged 40.378 billion yuan scheme, as a British court weighs which law governs victims' claims.
POLICY AND REGULATIONSThe future of money, AI and the state
The article, “The Future of Money, AI and the State” by Bilal Bin Saqib, argues that Pakistan’s economic future depends on integrating financial innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), and strong state institutions. It highlights the potential of asset tokenization, digital bonds and sukuk to improve capital markets, while stressing that enforceable ownership rights, effective regulation, cybersecurity, and investor protection must come first. The article also advocates using blockchain to improve transparency in public spending and AI to strengthen regulatory oversight, while cautioning that technology alone cannot eliminate fraud, corruption, or economic weaknesses. For Pakistan, the priority should be practical, locally relevant AI applications, credible digital-asset use cases, and collaboration among regulators and financial institutions rather than simply acquiring new technology. Ultimately, technology should strengthen public trust, mobilize investment, improve institutional performance, and create economic value—not replace sound governance and accountability.
POLICY & REGULATIONThailand finalises rules for domestic Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs
Thailand's SEC says 11 regulatory notifications take effect on Oct. 16, allowing crypto ETFs listed only on the Stock Exchange of Thailand while curbing retail access to overseas funds.
BLOCKCHAINCardano launches token standard with built-in freeze and seizure powers
The Cardano Foundation says CIP-0113 is live after independent audits, letting issuers of stablecoins and tokenised funds block, freeze or seize holdings to meet regulatory rules.
POLICY & REGULATIONCFTC proposes rules letting US crypto exchanges opt into federal regime
US regulator proposes letting crypto exchanges opt into federal oversight, as the stalled Clarity Act leaves lawmakers yet to formally divide digital asset supervision.
