Gate Group secures MiCA license in Malta

Gate Group’s Malta-based subsidiary, Gate Technology Ltd, has secured a MiCA license from the Malta Financial Services Authority. The license authorises crypto asset trading and custody services.

Founder Dr. Han underscored compliance as central to operations, praising Malta’s progressive regulatory framework. The move aligns with Gate Group’s focus on transparency and user safety across Europe.

Securing the MiCA license enables Gate Europe to initiate EU passporting for broader regional expansion. CEO Giovanni Cunti outlined plans to strengthen compliance while offering secure, professional services.

Gate Group holds regulatory approvals in jurisdictions like Italy, Hong Kong, and Dubai. Malta’s transparent regulations and innovative environment make it an ideal European base. The company seeks to foster sustainable growth in the region’s crypto ecosystem.

Establishing a foothold in Malta positions Gate Group to leverage the country’s role as a crypto hub. Continued investment will support the local digital economy, ensuring long-term development and regulatory adherence in Europe’s crypto market.

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Deutsche Börse and Circle join forces for stablecoins

Deutsche Börse and Circle signed an MoU at SIBOS 2025 to integrate EURC and USDC stablecoins into Europe’s financial markets. The partnership links digital payments with traditional systems, delivering innovative, regulated solutions.

The partnership leverages the MiCAR with Circle being the first major global issuer to comply. Stablecoins will trade on Deutsche Börse’s 360T 3DX exchange and Crypto Finance, boosting efficiency and cutting settlement risks for banks and asset managers.

Clearstream, Deutsche Börse’s post-trade business, will provide institutional-grade digital asset custody, with Crypto Finance’s German entity acting as sub-custodian. The setup securely manages stablecoins, streamlining trading, settlement, and custody for market participants.

The collaboration aims to transform financial markets by offering faster, cost-effective, and transparent solutions. Bridging traditional and digital finance, the initiative creates a unified ecosystem for seamless, regulated access to both asset types.

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Visa unveils stablecoin pilot for faster payments

Visa unveiled a stablecoin prefunding pilot for Visa Direct at SIBOS 2025, enabling faster, more flexible global payments. By integrating stablecoins, the pilot aims to modernise treasury operations, offering a solution tailored for the digital-first economy.

Traditional cross-border payments often rely on slow, costly systems that require businesses to hold large fiat balances in advance. The pilot lets companies pre-fund Visa Direct with stablecoins, cutting friction and boosting liquidity for active, efficient capital.

Financial institutions, banks, and remitters benefit from this approach, as stablecoins provide a consistent settlement layer, minimising exposure to currency volatility. Funds move in minutes, not days, enabling dynamic liquidity and predictable treasury for high-volume payouts.

Set to expand in 2026, the pilot builds on Visa’s global network and blockchain programmability, transforming how businesses handle cross-border transactions. Recipients still receive payments in local currency, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems.

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Kazakhstan launches Alem Crypto Fund for digital assets

Kazakhstan has launched the Alem Crypto Fund to strengthen its presence in digital finance. The state-backed fund, created by the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, will focus on long-term investments in digital assets and forming strategic reserves.

The initiative is managed by Qazaqstan Venture Group and registered within the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), a hub for financial innovation. Officials have suggested the fund could evolve into a tool for state-level savings, enhancing the country’s economic resilience.

Binance Kazakhstan, a locally licensed arm of the global exchange, has been named the fund’s strategic partner. They made their first investment in BNB, the native token of BNB Chain, which holds a market capitalisation of over $138 billion.

Government representatives and Binance Kazakhstan described the collaboration as a milestone for institutional recognition of cryptocurrencies in Kazakhstan. It signals a move toward a more transparent and secure digital asset market integrated with global technologies.

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China opens digital RMB centre in Shanghai

China has launched its international operation centre for the digital RMB in Shanghai, a move seen as a significant step towards the currency’s global expansion, according to the People’s Bank of China (PBOC).

The centre will promote digital RMB internationalisation, support digital finance innovation, and enhance financial market services. It forms part of eight measures announced earlier this year by PBOC governor Pan Gongsheng at the Lujiazui Forum.

Three major platforms have been unveiled alongside the launch: a digital payment system for international use, a blockchain service platform, and a digital asset platform.

These platforms aim to broaden the application of digital technologies in finance and improve transaction efficiency.

Experts, including Tian Xuan of Tsinghua University, describe the initiative as a milestone for China’s role in global finance, strengthening its influence in shaping the future of digital payments.

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Banks join forces to create MiCAR-compliant digital currency

A group of European banks has launched plans for a MiCAR-compliant euro-denominated stablecoin. Founding members include ING, Banca Sella, KBC, Danske Bank, DekaBank, UniCredit, SEB, CaixaBank and Raiffeisen Bank International.

The stablecoin will leverage blockchain technology to provide a trusted digital payment standard across Europe. The digital currency will enable fast, low-cost, 24/7 payments, cross-border settlements, and more efficient digital asset and supply chain management.

Its introduction is expected in the second half of 2026, with regulatory oversight from the Dutch Central Bank as an e-money institution.

The initiative aims to create a European alternative to US-dominated stablecoins, strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy in payments. Banks can offer services like stablecoin wallets and custody, boosting adoption and innovation in financial services.

Floris Lugt, Digital Assets lead at ING, highlighted the importance of collaboration: ‘Digital payments can bring transparency and efficiency through blockchain’s programmability and instant settlement. An industry-wide approach is essential, and banks must adopt common standards to succeed.’

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CFTC launches tokenised collateral initiative for derivatives

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has announced a new initiative to allow tokenised collateral, including stablecoins, in derivatives markets.

Acting Chairman Pham said the move follows the February 2025 Crypto CEO Forum and advances the President’s Working Group report. The aim is to modernise collateral management, improve capital efficiency, and strengthen blockchain’s role in US financial markets.

Industry leaders said stablecoins like USDC can lower costs, unlock liquidity, and offer round-the-clock market access. Circle, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Ripple, and Tether praised the CFTC for providing clear rules on valuation, custody, and settlement for tokenised collateral.

Stablecoins are seen as a key part of modern finance, offering faster settlement, deeper liquidity, and greater market resilience. Experts said the initiative will strengthen US leadership in financial innovation and improve institutional efficiency and transparency.

The CFTC is inviting public feedback on the use of tokenised collateral, including stablecoins, in derivatives markets. Submissions will help shape regulations, pilot programmes, and advisory committee recommendations.

Comments can be submitted through the CFTC website until 20 October 2025, with all contributions published online.

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European action targets major cryptocurrency investment scam

Eurojust has coordinated a large-scale operation to dismantle a cryptocurrency fraud scheme worth more than €100 million across Europe. The action, requested by Spanish and Portuguese authorities, resulted in the arrest of five suspects, including the alleged mastermind.

Victims from Germany, France, Italy, Spain and other countries were lured into false investment platforms promising high returns.

Investigations revealed that funds were funnelled mainly through Lithuanian bank accounts to launder the illicit proceeds. Victims were later asked to pay additional fees to recover their money, after which the fraudulent websites vanished, leaving many with severe losses.

The scheme has been running since 2018, affecting people in 23 countries.

Authorities in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Romania and Bulgaria conducted searches and froze bank accounts and financial assets. Eurojust backed a Spain-Lithuania investigation team, while Europol sent a cryptocurrency expert to support operations in Portugal.

The coordinated action also relied on European Arrest Warrants, Investigation Orders and freezing orders. National agencies and prosecutors across Europe united in one of the most significant efforts against cryptocurrency fraud.

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UAE commits to global crypto tax transparency

The United Arab Emirates has signed the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement on the Automatic Exchange of Information under the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF). The move follows the Ministry of Finance’s earlier commitment to strengthen oversight of digital assets.

Implementation of CARF in the UAE is scheduled for 2027, with the first exchange of information expected in 2028. The framework will enable automatic sharing of crypto tax data, providing greater certainty for the sector and reinforcing global transparency.

Authorities are calling on stakeholders across the crypto-asset ecosystem, including intermediaries, exchanges, custodians and traders, to contribute to a public consultation on the implementation of CARF.

The consultation, which opened on 15 September 2025 and runs until 8 November 2025, seeks expert input to help shape regulatory rules aligned with market needs.

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Fiji enforces strict ban on cryptocurrency services

Fiji, renowned for its pristine beaches and coral reefs, may lose its appeal for cryptocurrency investors after authorities reaffirmed a ban on virtual asset service providers. The National Anti-Money Laundering Council cited financial stability and national security concerns in maintaining the restriction.

The Reserve Bank of Fiji has prohibited crypto exchanges, transfers, and custody services, while residents are barred from purchasing cryptocurrency using local funds. The move reinforces the country’s strict stance on digital assets and limits crypto activity within its borders.

Across Oceania, regulatory approaches vary widely. Vanuatu and Nauru now licence crypto companies, while the Marshall Islands launched its own digital currency in 2018. In contrast, Papua New Guinea and Samoa still lack formal crypto regulations.

Australia and New Zealand, the region’s largest economies, are steadily developing comprehensive frameworks to govern digital assets, signalling a more structured approach to cryptocurrency regulation in Oceania.

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