Nomura’s Crypto Arm Gains Operating License Approval in Dubai

Laser Digital will start its trading and asset management business in the coming months.

• 2023-08-01
• Laser Digital Middle East Laser Digital digital asset investment services Virtual Asset Dubai trading services VA Nomura

Crypto Exchange Rain Obtains License to Operate Virtual Asset Brokerage, Custody Service in UAE

Rain's Abu Dhabi-based entity can now offer institutional clients and some retail clients in the UAE the ability to buy, sell and store virtual assets, Reuters reported.

• 2023-07-25
• Rain UAE institutional clients Abu Dhabi Global Market retail clients Joseph Dallago virtual asset

Hong Kong Securities Regulator to Accept License Applications for Crypto Exchanges Starting June 1

The Securities and Futures Commission's guidelines explicitly ban crypto gifts to incentivize retail investments, which likely includes airdrops.

• 2023-05-23
• Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission due diligence SFC virtual assets virtual asset accepting applications retail investors public feedback trading platforms

Hong Kong Regulator Reminds Local Banks There Is No Ban on Crypto Firms

Crypto companies have complained that opening bank accounts in the jurisdiction is difficult.

• 2023-04-28
• Hong Kong Hong Kong Monetary Authority virtual asset banking services opening bank accounts account opening

Bank of Korea Edges Closer to Being Able to Investigate Crypto Firms: Report

Korean regulators said they worry it will signal "virtual asset markets and businesses are treated the same as financial markets and institutions."

• 2023-04-28
• Bank of Korea Financial Services Commission BOK Herald Business South Korea digital asset Virtual Asset central bank government’s Political Affairs Committee

OKX cryptocurrency exchange to apply for virtual asset license in Hong Kong

Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange OKX said it will apply for virtual asset licenses to operate digital asset services in Hong Kong.

• 2023-03-29
• Hong Kong OKX virtual asset

Banking challenges grow for Hong Kong's crypto firms after Silvergate, Signature closures, despite city's push to become hub

Cryptocurrency firms in Hong Kong have a headache: after the closure of the world's two biggest crypto-friendly banks, Silvergate Bank and Signature Bank, they are finding it even harder to open local accounts given that banks in the city are not keen to serve them, industry insiders said. Opening local bank accounts still remains a daunting task for many crypto firms in Hong Kong despite the government's push to make the city a virtual asset hub. The US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FD

• 2023-03-17
• Hong Kong Silvergate Bank Signature Bank virtual asset open bank accounts

Hong Kong Mulls Reopening Crypto Trading for Retail Investors

A new consultation paper from Hong Kong's financial regulator outlined several new criteria for letting retail investors back into crypto.

• 2023-02-20
• Hong Kong retail investors retail traders Trading platforms trading platform virtual asset crypto trading

Hong Kong Proposes Rules for Crypto Trading Platforms

Service platforms that do not plan to apply for a license should start preparing for closure in the jurisdiction, Hong Kong's securities regulator said.

• 2023-02-20
• Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission retail investors virtual asset crypto trading platforms trading services

South Korea Blacklists North Korean Crypto Thieves, Flags Wallet Addresses

The government sanctions targeted four individuals and seven institutions – some with alleged ties to the elite North Korean hacking group "Lazarus."

• 2023-02-10
• South Korean government North Korean South Korea cyber activities Ministry of Foreign Affairs virtual asset