The EU regulator ESMA has criticised Malta’s fast approval of crypto licences under the MiCA rules. The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) granted licences quickly but overlooked key compliance and risk checks.
Since January 2025, Malta has issued five licences to crypto firms like OKX and Crypto.com. While MFSA has adequate resources, some areas—such as governance and AML controls—were not fully assessed before approval.
ESMA urges Malta to slow the process and improve oversight as licence applications grow. The report stresses that all EU states must ensure thorough checks to protect the evolving crypto market.
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As Indian equities plateau and fixed-income instruments underperform, the country’s wealthiest investors are increasingly turning to cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin’s recent surge past $123,000 and global institutional support have made digital assets a compelling addition to long-term portfolios.
Family offices, institutional players and high-net-worth individuals (HNIs) are shifting strategies, prioritising allocation plans and custody options over crypto’s legitimacy. Major Indian exchanges report rising volumes mainly from sophisticated investors, not retail traders seeking quick gains.
The trend is further fuelled by global signals, including the return of Donald Trump to the US presidency and bipartisan support for crypto regulation. International exposure and the rise of Bitcoin ETFs have also influenced Indian investor sentiment, particularly among those with cross-border holdings.
Despite the momentum, India’s 30% capital gains tax and 1% TDS continue to hinder broader participation. While the ultra-wealthy can absorb these costs, the crypto industry argues that friendlier tax rules are essential for innovation and mainstream adoption.
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Hungary has introduced strict penalties for individuals and companies involved in unauthorised cryptocurrency trading or services. Under the updated Criminal Code, using unauthorised crypto exchanges can lead to two years in prison, with longer terms for larger trades.
Crypto service providers operating without authorisation face even harsher penalties. Sentences can reach up to eight years for transactions exceeding 500 million forints (around $1.46 million).
The updated law defines new offences such as ‘abuse of crypto-assets’, aiming to impose stricter control over the sector.
The implementation has caused confusion among crypto companies, with Hungary’s Supervisory Authority for Regulatory Affairs (SZTFH) yet to publish compliance guidelines. Businesses now face a 60-day regulatory vacuum with no clear direction.
UK fintech firm Revolut responded by briefly halting crypto services in Hungary, citing the new legislation. It has since reinstated crypto withdrawals, while its EU entity works towards securing a regional crypto licence.
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Bitcoin surged to $118,245 early today, marking a 1.1% increase over 24 hours and an 8.7% rise over the past week. Both institutional and retail investors have maintained a strong interest, supporting Bitcoin’s steady upward trend.
Ethereum followed closely, trading near $3,160 with a 5.9% daily gain and a 20.1% weekly increase. Network activity and capital inflows contributed to Ethereum’s robust performance.
XRP stood out with a 26% weekly gain, reaching $2.93 amid high trading volumes exceeding $6 billion in 24 hours.
Other notable altcoins such as Cardano, Dogecoin, and Solana also posted solid weekly gains between 6.8% and 25.2%. Meanwhile, TRON showed steady growth, supported by consistent trading activity. The Lido Staked Ether token mirrored Ethereum’s rise, reflecting growing demand for liquid staking.
Among smaller tokens, Seraph led daily gains with a 53.3% increase, followed closely by Mamo and Renzo. The market showed broad strength, with major cryptocurrencies driving renewed investor confidence and speculative interest.
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El Salvador’s national Bitcoin stash has soared past $760 million following the latest price surge above $123,000, marking a major milestone in President Nayib Bukele’s crypto strategy. With more than 6,237 BTC in reserves, purchased at an average of $42,000, the country’s investment has nearly tripled in value.
President Bukele first made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021, enduring global backlash, internal debate, and a long bear market. Despite international pressure, including proposed US legislation and IMF disapproval, the country has continued adding to its Bitcoin reserves.
Some analysts view El Salvador’s gains as a potential model for other governments. Pranav Agarwal called El Salvador’s gains a strong case for sovereign crypto reserves, noting such strategies can pay off over several years.
Bitcoin’s continued climb is also attracting market attention, with analysts pointing to $124,000–$125,000 as the next target. For now, El Salvador’s bold move is reshaping the conversation around crypto and national finance.
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Mastercard’s Chief Product Officer, Jorn Lambert, has highlighted that stablecoins still face significant hurdles before becoming widely used for everyday payments.
While the technology offers advantages such as fast transactions, 24/7 availability, low fees, and programmability, these features alone do not ensure consumer adoption. A seamless user experience and broad accessibility remain essential.
Mastercard envisions itself as a crucial infrastructure provider connecting crypto and traditional finance. The company has partnered with Paxos to support USDG stablecoin operations and backs other stablecoins like USDC and PYUSD.
Mastercard’s goal is to enable stablecoins to scale by integrating them into existing payment networks, combining global acceptance with regulatory compliance.
Currently, about 90% of stablecoin transactions are linked to crypto trading rather than retail purchases. User adoption is hindered by friction at checkout and limited merchant acceptance. Lambert compares stablecoins to prepaid cards, usable with some merchants but lacking widespread utility.
Furthermore, converting between fiat and stablecoins adds costs related to foreign exchange, regulation, and settlement.
Regulatory clarity, particularly in the US, is encouraging banks and institutions to explore stablecoin offerings. The evolving legal landscape may also prompt governments to issue their own digital currencies or regulate private stablecoins to prevent risks like dollarisation.
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Gemini has significantly expanded its tokenised stock offerings for European investors, adding 14 new major US company shares to its platform. Notable additions include Nike, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Uber, and Yum! Brands.
The move brings the total tokenised equities available to 37, providing EU users with a diverse range of investment options.
Tokens are issued by Dinari and minted on the Arbitrum blockchain, ensuring efficient and secure trading. Gemini enables 24/7 access to these tokenised stocks, charging a 1.49% fee per transaction.
The latest launch follows recent additions such as Apple, Tesla, Amazon, and Microsoft, reflecting Gemini’s commitment to broadening market access.
Meanwhile, Robinhood’s tokenised stocks, offering 215 tokens to European users, face regulatory hurdles after OpenAI rejected its shares. The company says the product provides indirect retail investor exposure.
Other crypto exchanges like Kraken and Bybit have also entered the tokenised equities space. Kraken’s trading interface resembles traditional crypto pairs, while Bybit offers its xStocks on both centralized and decentralised platforms.
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Kazakhstan may soon join the list of nations incorporating crypto into their national reserves. The National Bank may convert part of its gold and currency reserves into digital assets under a broader alternative investment strategy.
Timur Suleimenov, head of the National Bank, stated that crypto remains a volatile but potentially high-return investment. Inspired by international trends, including the rise of crypto ETFs and treasury firms, Kazakhstan has not ruled out allocating funds to crypto in the near future.
Plans are also underway to establish a national crypto treasury, which would store digital assets seized by law enforcement. To support this, the country will develop secure infrastructure, possibly involving cold wallet storage.
Authorities are even considering state-led crypto mining, where a portion of mined coins would be directed into national reserves. However, the government still intends to impose strong regulations, particularly against grey market activity not subject to taxation or oversight.
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The Czech National Bank has taken a notable step towards digital asset exposure by acquiring over 51,000 shares in Coinbase. Details emerged in a recent US filing, which also showed a larger stake in Palantir, an AI firm with government data contracts.
Both assets now form part of the central bank’s evolving investment profile.
Coinbase has performed strongly in 2025, rising by more than 40% in the first half of the year. Market enthusiasm has been fuelled by renewed institutional confidence, as well as regulatory clarity in the United States following the approval of physically backed Bitcoin exchange-traded funds in 2024.
Palantir, meanwhile, has seen its shares soar by 80% over the same period, driven by investor interest in its AI capabilities and defence-sector contracts.
Despite the high-growth nature of these equities, analysts suggest the Czech National Bank’s positioning is less speculative and more aligned with index-tracking principles. Coinbase joined the S&P 500 in May 2025, while Palantir was added in late 2024.
The purchases may therefore reflect efforts to mirror benchmark indices rather than express bold investment convictions.
The presence of crypto and AI-linked firms within a conservative central bank’s portfolio underlines shifting attitudes towards emerging technologies. As institutions reassess growth and risk, previously fringe assets are becoming mainstream in central bank portfolios.
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Nigeria’s anti-fraud agency had 194 foreign nationals in custody in 2024, prosecuting 146 for their roles in cyber-enabled financial crimes, highlighting a robust response to a growing threat.
December alone saw nearly 800 arrests in Lagos, targeting romance and cryptocurrency investment scams featuring foreign ringleaders from China and the Philippines. In one case, 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino suspects were detained.
These groups established complex fraud operations in major Nigerian cities, using fake identities and training local recruits, often unaware of the ultimate scheme. Investigations also flagged cryptocurrency-fuelled money laundering and arms trafficking, pointing to wider national security risks.
EFCC chairman Ola Olukoyede warned that regulatory failures, such as visa oversight and unchecked office space leasing, facilitated foreign crime cells.
National and continental collaboration, tighter visa control, and strengthened cybercrime frameworks will be key to dismantling these networks and securing Nigeria’s digital economy.
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