Regulation news

15:56 Regulation

New York Files Lawsuit Against Polymarket Over Sports Event Contracts

New York sues Polymarket over sports event contracts New York Attorney General Letitia James sued Polymarket on Thursday, alleging its sports-related event contracts violate state gambling laws. The filing points to contracts offered through the platform’s mobile app launched in December 2025 and to advertising aimed at New Yorkers, and says the state could seek to block resident access. The case adds to a broader fight over whether states or the CFTC should regulate prediction markets.

08:41 Regulation

UK Finance Removes Coinbase After Review of Membership Standards

UK Finance expels Coinbase from membership UK Finance has removed Coinbase after a board review found that standalone crypto exchanges do not meet the trade body’s core membership standards. The move highlights rising friction between British banking institutions and digital asset platforms; Coinbase can appeal the decision.

05:42 Regulation

CFTC Staff Flags Manipulation Risks in Prediction Market ‘Mention’ Contracts

CFTC warns exchanges over manipulation risk in “mention markets” The CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight issued a staff advisory on Sept. 22 telling designated contract markets to scrutinize prediction contracts that settle on whether a person says, mentions or does something. The agency said these “mention markets” carry higher manipulation risk when the subject can influence the outcome or when settlement is not independently generated or externally verifiable, raising the compliance bar for listing them.

18:26 Regulation

OKX US CEO urges full shareholder parity as SEC tests tokenized stock trading

SEC starts 5-year pilot for tokenized U.S. stock trading OKX US CEO Roshan Robert said tokenized stocks must carry the same rights as traditional shares as the SEC opens a five-year exemption for blockchain-based U.S. stock trading. Under the test, tokenized shares must match conventional stock on ownership, dividends, voting and liquidation claims, while issuers can block third-party tokenization within 30 days of notice.

15:13 Regulation

Lewellen Tells Fifth Circuit DOJ Memo Does Not Remove Crypto Prosecution Risk

Lewellen asks Fifth Circuit to revive DOJ challenge over crypto software Michael Lewellen on Monday filed a reply brief in the Fifth Circuit, arguing a lower court wrongly dismissed his pre-enforcement challenge to the DOJ’s reading of 18 U.S.C. § 1960. Lewellen says publishing and operating his non-custodial crowdfunding software Pharos could still expose him to prosecution as an unlicensed money-transmitting business, and that a DOJ policy memo does not remove that threat because it reflects enforcement priorities, not a change in legal interpretation.

14:56 Regulation

Türkiye placed under FATF enhanced follow-up despite strong technical compliance scores

FATF puts Türkiye under enhanced follow-up despite strong AML scores Türkiye was rated compliant or largely compliant on 38 of 40 FATF anti-money-laundering recommendations, but the watchdog still placed it under enhanced follow-up and gave Ankara three years to fix major enforcement gaps. FATF cited a backlog of more than 7,000 financial crime cases pending prosecution, weak conversion of investigations into court outcomes, and limits on criminal liability for companies; crypto platforms are also part of the follow-up review.

14:10 Regulation

ESMA sets AI and tokenization as first EU-wide digital innovation supervisory priority for 2027

ESMA to make AI and tokenization a top EU supervisory focus from 2027 ESMA said AI and tokenization will be the first targets of a new EU-wide supervisory priority on digital innovation starting in 2027, with national regulators mapping client-facing uses, checking a subset of firms and working toward common oversight. The authority flagged risks including biased or misleading AI outputs, hard-to-understand products and reliance on a small number of third-party providers.

13:56 Regulation

Hong Kong Maps On-Chain Settlement Upgrade and New Digital-Asset Rules

Hong Kong regulators push core settlement on-chain and draft new crypto rules Hong Kong’s HKMA said its Central Moneymarkets Unit, the city’s debt-securities settlement platform, will add 24/7 real-time on-chain settlement services by year-end, with support for a digital Hong Kong dollar and CBDC. Separately, the SFC said it will introduce a new digital-asset licensing regime and later build rules for tokenized investment products, including tokenized gold and other RWAs.

10:41 Regulation

CFTC Chair Says US Markets Should Brace for ‘Mass Tokenization’

CFTC’s Selig says markets should prepare for ‘mass tokenization’ CFTC Chair Michael Selig said US financial markets should prepare for “mass tokenization,” arguing real-world assets onchain could enable near-instant settlement and real-time collateral movement under existing regulatory frameworks. His remarks come after the Senate failed on Sept. 15 to advance the CLARITY Act, with Selig saying the CFTC would keep moving under current authority and the SEC separately opening a temporary exemption for tokenized US stock trading on Sept. 17.

05:12 Regulation

US prosecutors examine Binance over possible Iran sanctions breaches

US prosecutors probe whether Binance knowingly violated Iran sanctions Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Binance knowingly allowed trading that breached US sanctions on Iran, Bloomberg reported Sept. 22, with Reuters separately confirming the probe. The SDNY and the Justice Department’s criminal division are examining the issue after Manhattan prosecutors alleged in a Sept. 14 forfeiture case that two Chinese firms used Binance accounts to launder more than $1.5 billion in Iranian oil proceeds. No charges have been filed.

03:12 Regulation

BSP Memo Sets Mandatory Token Listing and Delisting Rules for Philippine VASPs

BSP sets token listing rules for Philippine crypto platforms The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas signed Memorandum M-2026-023 on June 5, creating mandatory listing and delisting rules for VASPs offering digital assets under MORNBFI Section 161-M / Section 902-N. The memo requires due diligence across six assessment pillars, bans privacy virtual assets, and mandates immediate suspension or delisting after events such as lost liquidity support, security breaches, stablecoin de-pegging, misleading disclosures, or regulatory orders.

00:11 Regulation

CFTC says person-based prediction markets need tougher review over manipulation risks

CFTC warns prediction markets tied to individuals face higher manipulation risk The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission issued an advisory targeting “mention markets,” saying contracts based on what a named person might say or do are more vulnerable to manipulation than conventional outcome-based markets. The agency did not ban them, but said approval should face a higher bar, with independent verifiability, substantial public scrutiny, and monitoring for signs of gaming.

22:41 Regulation

SEC readies crypto custody rule for broker-dealers and investment advisers

SEC prepares crypto custody rule for broker-dealers and advisers The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing a rule to spell out how broker-dealers can custody non-security crypto assets without separate registration and which institutions investment advisers can use to hold client crypto, including state-chartered trust companies. The framework would cover both security and non-security tokens and is expected to be released after White House review and a public comment period.

18:40 Regulation

HMRC assigns compliance managers to all UK-linked billionaires as crypto reporting expands

HMRC assigns personal compliance managers to all UK-linked billionaires HM Revenue and Customs has assigned a personal compliance manager to every billionaire it can tie to the UK, extending the list beyond people who file a British tax return. HMRC rebuilt the list using its own records, rich lists and data from other governments, with each manager mapping an individual’s companies, trusts and other entities. Crypto is not named as a target, but UK exchange reporting data will start reaching HMRC in 2027 under the Cryptoasset Reporting Framework.

11:55 Regulation

ECB and EU Central Banks Seek MiCA Rewrite on Stablecoin Reserve Deposits

ECB and EU central banks push to scrap MiCA stablecoin deposit rule The ECB and other EU central banks want MiCA’s stablecoin reserve rules changed, arguing mandatory bank deposits could amplify stress on lenders during sudden redemptions. In a response to the European Commission’s MiCA review, the ESCB proposed replacing the 30% reserve deposit requirement, or 60% for significant stablecoins, with liquidity thresholds tied to assets maturing within one and five working days.

07:41 Regulation

South Korea FSC to Fast-Track Digital Asset Basic Act for November Assembly Talks

South Korea FSC to fast-track Digital Asset Basic Act for November talks South Korea’s Financial Services Commission said it will speed up submission of the Digital Asset Basic Act so substantive debate can begin at a National Assembly subcommittee in November. Speaking at a National Assembly seminar on Sept. 22, FSC Virtual Asset Division head Seo Na-yoon said the bill is meant to cover a broad framework for digital-asset issuance, distribution and market-entry rules, while stressing the regulator has not finalized the details.

06:57 Regulation

Agora receives conditional OCC approval for proposed national trust bank

Agora wins conditional OCC approval for national trust bank Agora has received preliminary conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to form Agora National Trust Bank, a New York-based unit that would bring its stablecoin issuance, custody and transaction infrastructure under federal supervision. Final approval depends on meeting OCC preopening conditions, including at least $10 million in Tier 1 capital and passing an OCC exam before launch.

04:11 Regulation

SEC Signals Tokenized Stock Platforms Could Emerge as Soon as Next Quarter

SEC opens path for tokenized stock platforms under five-year exemption The SEC said tokenized stock trading platforms could start taking shape as early as next quarter under its new five-year Innovation Exemption, which lets eligible operators trade tokenized U.S.-listed stocks on public blockchains using AMMs and liquidity pools. Firms must publicly disclose how the business works and notify the SEC within one business day, making those filings the first signal of who plans to enter the market.

03:56 Regulation

BSP Proposes Stricter E-Wallet Merchant Checks After Illegal Casinos Used Front Businesses

Philippine central bank tightens e-wallet merchant checks over illegal casino front firms The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has proposed stricter onboarding rules for e-wallet merchants after finding thousands of illegal online casinos posing as bakeries, beauty salons, and sari-sari stores on local payment platforms. Under the draft rules, e-wallet operators would be directly liable for merchant vetting, requiring verified owner IDs, business permits, and database registration checks, with repeat failures risking loss of their payment licenses.

03:55 Regulation

Abbott Orders Texas Permit Freeze for Data Centers Pending ERCOT Grid Audit

Texas halts data center permits pending ERCOT grid audit Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to stop issuing permits for data center projects until ERCOT completes its grid audit, expected by December. His Sept. 21 directive also bars other state agencies from approving projects until PUCT, ERCOT, and the Texas Water Development Board get more information, including developers’ power, water, cooling, subsidy, and ownership plans.

08:11 Regulation

South Korea Ruling Party Seeks to Delay 2027 Crypto Tax, While Favoring Repeal

South Korea ruling party pushes to delay crypto tax set for 2027 South Korea’s ruling People Power Party is moving to formally seek a delay in virtual-asset taxation due to start in January 2027, arguing systems for verifying acquisition costs, trading records and newer transaction types are still not ready. The party said it will hold a public hearing and ultimately favors abolishing the tax, but the government still plans to proceed and issue guidelines as early as October 2026.

07:55 Regulation

Bank of Russia Draft Rules Would Cap Banks’ Crypto Exposure at 1% of Capital

Bank of Russia proposes 1% crypto risk cap for banks The Bank of Russia has proposed limiting banks’ total exposure to cryptocurrencies and foreign digital instruments to 1% of capital under new prudential rules for the country’s regulated crypto market. The draft would apply to direct holdings as well as loans, derivatives, bonds, repo deals, guarantees and credit lines tied to crypto, with breaches punishable if they occur on six or more operating days within 30 days. Reporting is set to start in January 2027.

06:56 Regulation

Vietnam Aims to Launch First Licensed Crypto Service Providers in 2026

Vietnam targets 2026 launch for first licensed crypto platforms Vietnam expects its first licensed crypto asset service providers to begin operating in 2026 under a five-year market pilot, as regulators build supervision rules around risk management, investor asset protection and anti-money laundering controls. Five companies have passed an initial assessment, but no final exchange license had been issued as of Aug. 30, and passing the review does not allow trading operations.

05:57 Regulation

US Sanctions Bitbank Over Alleged Bitcoin Transfers to Iran’s IRGC

US sanctions Iranian crypto exchange Bitbank over alleged IRGC bitcoin transfers The US Treasury sanctioned Iranian crypto exchange Bitbank, its software developer Pishtaz Simorgh Electronic Trade Company, and three associates of Babak Zanjani’s network, alleging Zanjani used the platform in June and July to move hundreds of millions of dollars in bitcoin to the IRGC. The OFAC action expands US sanctions on Iran’s digital asset infrastructure and blocks dealings with the designated parties.

03:56 Regulation

House Committee Advances Bill to Put US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Into Federal Law

House panel advances bill to lock US Bitcoin reserve into law The House Financial Services Committee voted 28-21 on Sept. 16 to advance the American Reserve Modernization Act, which would put the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into federal law and bar sales of qualifying government-owned BTC for 20 years from enactment. The amended bill would also require Treasury to set up the reserve and a separate digital asset stockpile within 180 days, but it still needs full House and Senate approval and the president’s signature.

20:55 Regulation

US Treasury Sanctions Iranian Crypto Exchange BitBank Over Alleged IRGC Transfers

US sanctions BitBank over alleged Iran-linked crypto transfers The US Treasury’s OFAC sanctioned Iranian crypto exchange BitBank, saying it is controlled by already-sanctioned financier Babak Zanjani and was used to move funds linked to Iran. OFAC alleged the exchange transferred payments for Hormuz Safe Marine Services Authority and moved hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin to the IRGC between June and July. BitBank’s developer, Pishtaz Simorgh Electronic Trade Company, and three executives were also designated.

04:10 Regulation

South Korea Opens Criminal Cases Over $12.7 Million in Polymarket Wagers

South Korea opens criminal cases over $12.7M in Polymarket bets South Korean police have opened criminal cases against 26 Polymarket users and referred 18 to prosecutors over about 17.6 billion won ($12.7 million) in wagers, with one account allegedly betting 5.7 billion won ($4.1 million). Investigators traced public blockchain records to identify users and argue the trades amount to illegal gambling under Article 246, while the defendants are expected to argue Polymarket functions as a virtual-asset derivatives market, not gambling.

22:40 Regulation

Four Crypto Exchanges Still Await Brazil Approval Ahead of October Licensing Deadline

Only five crypto firms seek Brazil licenses before October deadline Just over a month before Brazil’s October 30 deadline under its new crypto regime, only five virtual asset service providers have applied for Central Bank authorization, Valor Economico reported; one was already rejected for failing to prove it operated in the country before February 2 and for missing minimum capital requirements. Firms already operating can keep running while applications are reviewed, but new entrants may wait up to three years for permits.

21:41 Regulation

Senate Stalls CLARITY Act, Leaving Crypto Firms Dependent on Temporary Agency Relief

Senate blocks CLARITY Act, leaving crypto rules in temporary limbo The Senate failed to advance the CLARITY Act on Sept. 15 after rejecting cloture on H.R. 3633 by 49-50, leaving crypto firms reliant on temporary agency relief instead of permanent law. Sen. Thom Tillis filed a motion to reconsider, keeping the bill stalled rather than dead, while the SEC offered a five-year conditional exemption for tokenized stock venues and the CFTC issued limited no-action relief for some software providers.

17:10 Regulation

FCA to Open UK Crypto Authorisation Gateway on September 30, 2026

FCA opens UK crypto authorisation gateway on September 30 The UK Financial Conduct Authority will open applications for its new cryptoasset regime on September 30, 2026, with the main window running until February 28, 2027. The regime itself starts on October 25, 2027, when firms carrying out newly regulated crypto activities will need FCA authorisation, shifting many businesses from the current AML registration framework into the standard Financial Services and Markets Act regime.

10:55 Regulation

Lemon to Close Brazil Unit as New Crypto Licensing Rules Raise Capital Demands

Lemon to shut Brazil business over new crypto licensing costs Lemon will close its Brazil operation and terminate about 15,000 local accounts, saying the capital required under the country’s new crypto licensing regime is too high relative to its revenue and customer base there. Users have until Oct. 16 to withdraw funds, while Lemon Card payments in Brazil will stop after Sep. 30 as the company redirects capital to Argentina, Peru and Colombia.

08:56 Regulation

Bastion gets conditional OCC approval to convert into a national trust company

OCC conditionally approves Bastion’s national trust conversion The OCC has conditionally approved Bastion’s plan to convert its New York trust company into Bastion Platforms National Trust Company, clearing the way for a federally regulated entity that can handle white-label stablecoin issuance, custody, fiat-USDC conversion and issuer services. The charter still requires final conditions to be met, and Bastion will not be allowed to take deposits or receive FDIC insurance.

07:10 Regulation

Han Dong-hoon urges South Korea to delay digital-asset tax and pass phase-two rules first

South Korea lawmaker calls for another delay to crypto tax Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon urged South Korea to postpone its digital-asset tax set for January, saying investor-protection rules and tax infrastructure are still not ready. In a Sept. 19 social media post, Han said the government should first establish asset classification, issuance requirements and supervisory standards, and argued the tax push is not about revenue because collections are already running above target.

05:10 Regulation

CFTC Sends Proposed Crypto Market Rules to White House Review After Senate Stall

CFTC sends crypto market rules to White House for review The CFTC has submitted proposed crypto market rules to the White House’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, moving them into federal review after the Senate stalled the CLARITY Act this week. The agency has not said which assets, exchanges or activities the proposal covers; once OIRA finishes, the CFTC can publish the rules for public comment before any final adoption.

22:10 Regulation

Argentina Joins OECD Crypto Reporting Framework With Data Sharing Set for 2029

Argentina commits to OECD crypto reporting framework by 2029 Argentina will implement the OECD’s Crypto Asset Reporting Framework by 2029, joining 77 jurisdictions that plan to automatically exchange crypto transaction data for tax purposes. The framework covers user ID data, fiat-to-crypto buys and sells, digital asset swaps, crypto payments, and transfers to and from external addresses, giving Argentine authorities visibility into transactions involving foreign-registered virtual asset service providers.

14:28 Regulation

Banks’ Share of ESMA’s MiCA Crypto Register Climbs to Nearly 23%

Banks take nearly a quarter of ESMA’s MiCA crypto provider register Banks now make up nearly 23% of providers on ESMA’s MiCA register, up from about 17% in late June, as their number doubled to around 80 by Sept. 16 while the total list grew to 349. Germany drove much of the expansion, with Deutsche Bank and dozens of cooperative lenders added, showing traditional banks are moving quickly into regulated crypto services under MiCA’s faster notification route.

06:27 Regulation

Bolivia Pledges Crypto Oversight Under IMF Program, but Key Rules Are Still Unclear

Bolivia commits to crypto regulation in IMF economic program Bolivia has pledged to build a regulatory and supervisory framework for cryptocurrencies under its economic program with the IMF, aiming to curb illicit capital outflows through digital asset markets and support financial stability. The plan does not yet specify licensing rules, reporting requirements, the lead regulator, or whether the framework will be introduced by law, decree, or administrative regulation.

03:26 Regulation

Crypto.com’s Nadex Secures SEC Notice Registration for U.S. Security Futures

Crypto.com’s Nadex gains SEC registration for security futures North American Derivatives Exchange, doing business as Crypto.com Derivatives North America, filed a Form 1-N with the SEC on Sept. 14, and the notice became effective the same day, opening a path to U.S. security futures. The filing outlines plans for 10 cash-settled single-stock futures tied to Apple, Amazon, Nvidia, Tesla and others, but it does not approve any contract for trading; Nadex still must file product-specific listing terms.

02:41 Regulation

CLARITY Act Stalls in Senate as Emmer and Waters Split Over Path Forward

CLARITY Act stalls in Senate as Emmer and Waters split on next steps The CLARITY Act failed to clear the 60 votes needed in the Senate, pausing a major US crypto market structure push. Rep. Tom Emmer said the setback “doesn’t spell doom” and predicted the bill will return after the midterms and pass before year-end, while Rep. Maxine Waters said advancing it now would condone President Trump’s “crypto profiteering” unless Congress first tightens ethics rules.

02:26 Regulation

Report: Lagarde pressed Greece to oppose Binance’s EU MiCA license bid

WSJ: Lagarde urged Greece to block Binance’s EU crypto license bid ECB President Christine Lagarde personally asked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to reject Binance’s MiCA license application in Greece, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the talks. The report says she pointed to Binance’s past US guilty plea over money-laundering and sanctions violations and warned wider dollar stablecoin use could undercut the ECB’s planned digital euro. Binance withdrew the bid in mid-June before a formal decision.

23:10 Regulation

US Treasury sanctions BitBank over alleged Iran-linked Bitcoin transfers

US Treasury sanctions BitBank over alleged IRGC bitcoin transfers The US Treasury on Sept. 17 sanctioned crypto exchange BitBank, saying it is owned by already-sanctioned Iranian financier Babak Zanjani and was used in June and July to send hundreds of millions of dollars in Bitcoin to the IRGC. OFAC also designated BitBank developer Pishtaz Simorgh Electronic Trade Company and several Zanjani associates, in a move Treasury said shows crypto infrastructure providers are also within sanctions reach.

22:12 Regulation

SEC opens five-year pilot for tokenized U.S. stock trading on public blockchains

SEC opens 5-year U.S. pilot for tokenized stock trading The SEC unveiled an “innovation exemption” that lets qualifying Tokenized Securities Venues trade real U.S. stocks on public blockchains for five years without registering as national securities exchanges. The pilot allows smart contracts and liquidity pools, but keeps access permissioned, caps volumes and listings, requires tokenized shares to preserve voting and dividend rights, and lets issuers block third-party tokenizations with 30 days’ notice.

21:26 Regulation

CFTC extends relief for passive crypto trading software after CLARITY Act setback

CFTC extends no-action relief for passive crypto trading software The CFTC’s Market Participants Division issued Staff Letter 26-25 extending no-action relief to eligible passive crypto-trading software providers, so they can connect users to regulated derivatives markets without registering as introducing brokers. The relief bars custody, order-routing discretion and trading signals, and can be changed or withdrawn because it reflects division staff, not the full Commission’s binding view.

20:11 Regulation

US Sanctions Iranian Exchange BitBank Over Alleged Bitcoin Transfers to IRGC

US sanctions Iranian crypto exchange BitBank over alleged IRGC transfers The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Iranian crypto exchange BitBank on Thursday, alleging it moved hundreds of millions of dollars in bitcoin to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps between June and July. OFAC also designated BitBank’s software developer, Pishtaz Simorgh Electronic Trade Company, and three associates of previously sanctioned financier Babak Zanjani, who Treasury said controlled the platform; it also said Hormuz Safe used BitBank since June to transfer collected payments.

19:13 Regulation

CFTC Broadens No-Action Relief for Passive Crypto Derivatives Software

CFTC widens no-action relief for passive derivatives software The CFTC’s Market Participants Division on Sept. 17 extended conditional no-action relief to “passive software” providers, letting some wallets, browser extensions and websites market derivatives, transmit orders to registered venues and collect transaction-based fees without registering as introducing brokers. The relief bars custody, trade-routing discretion and trading advice, and lasts until the Commission adopts formal rulemaking or guidance.

13:56 Regulation

UK to Add 500 Financial Crime Officers in £500 Million Enforcement Expansion

UK to add 500 financial crime officers with £500M anti-money laundering push The UK will recruit 500 officers and spend more than £500 million over three years to expand financial crime enforcement across police forces, the NCA and the CPS, with digital assets now named as part of the illicit finance threat. The program is not crypto-specific, but authorities say it will cover crypto fraud, laundering and asset recovery; in Operation Atlantic, investigators traced more than $45 million in stolen crypto but froze just over $12 million.

13:27 Regulation

SEC Approves Limited Pilot for Onchain Trading of Tokenized U.S. Stocks

SEC allows limited onchain trading of tokenized U.S. stocks The SEC on Sept. 17 approved a temporary exemption letting qualifying Tokenized Securities Venues trade tokenized NMS stocks through automated market makers and liquidity pools. The pilot imposes symbol and volume caps, plus disclosure, recordkeeping and tech-safeguard rules, as the agency gathers trading data to shape longer-term regulation for tokenized stock markets.

07:11 Regulation

Hong Kong maps 2026 expansion for stablecoins, tokenized assets and CBDC settlement

Hong Kong sets 2026 rollout for stablecoins, tokenized assets and CBDC settlement Hong Kong’s 2026 Policy Address maps out a wider regulated digital-asset market: regulated stablecoins would be allowed to trade on licensed virtual-asset platforms and settle tokenized money market funds, while the SFC plans rules for tokenized gold and other real-world assets. The HKMA also aims to launch 24-hour CBDC settlement under EnsembleTX around the end of 2026.

05:41 Regulation

FCA Sets UK Crypto Authorization Start for October 2027 as Bank Transfer Limits Remain

FCA sets Oct. 25, 2027 start for UK crypto authorization regime The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority published final guidance on which crypto firms will need authorization when the new regime starts on Oct. 25, 2027, covering stablecoin issuance, trading platforms, dealing and arranging, custody, and staking. Applications open Sept. 30, 2026 and existing registrations will not convert automatically, but banks will still be free to block or limit transfers to crypto platforms.

02:41 Regulation

South Korea Budget Office Calls for Crypto Exchange Incentives Before 2027 Tax Start

South Korea budget office urges crypto tax incentives for domestic exchanges South Korea should offer policy incentives to push crypto investors toward domestic exchanges before virtual-asset income taxes start on Jan. 1, 2027, the National Assembly Budget Office said in a Sept. 17 report. The office also called for an automated tax calculation and filing system linked to exchanges, saying authorities still face gaps in tracking taxable income, especially for OTC trades and overseas platforms outside CARF.