‍South Korean Police Indicted in $186M Crypto Laundering Scheme Two high-ranking South Korean police officers have been indicted for allegedly accepting bribes from operators of illegal cryptocurrency exchanges involved in a $186 million money laundering operation. The officers are accused of providing sensitive investigative information and requesting account unfreezing in exchange for bribes totaling over $66,500. The laundering network, disguised as gift-certificate stores, utilized Tether (USDT) to process funds from voice phishing scams. Authorities have frozen approximately $1.1 million in illicit assets. Experts warn that such corruption undermines AML efforts and highlights the need for strong ethical standards in law enforcement.
‍Bitget Pledges HK$12M for Hong Kong Fire Relief Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has announced a donation of HK$12 million (approx. US$1.54 million) to support relief and reconstruction efforts following a fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district. The funds will be distributed through local organizations: HK$5M to Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital for medical support, HK$3.5M to Hong Kong Salvation Army for immediate aid and housing, and HK$3.5M to Hong Kong Po Leung Kuk for community support and counseling.
‍Monad Token Drops 15% Amid Profit-Taking and Spoofing Concerns The native token of the new Layer-1 blockchain, Monad (MONAD), has seen a 15% price decrease in 24 hours. This correction follows early investor profit-taking and a recent network spoofing incident. Despite the dip, Monad has recorded nearly 150,000 active users and 4.7 million on-chain transactions. Stablecoin transfers to the platform have reached $711 million, boosted by collaborations with Solana and deBridge. Market sentiment remains cautiously optimistic, awaiting further evidence of the network's long-term potential and ecosystem growth.
‍SARB Delays Retail CBDC, Focuses on Payment Modernization The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has stated there is no "strong immediate need" for a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC). Instead, the bank will prioritize modernizing its payment systems and exploring wholesale CBDC applications. SARB will continue monitoring global retail CBDC developments. The SARB's assessment notes that while a retail CBDC is technically feasible, current initiatives to modernize the payments system and increase non-bank participation are more pressing. The bank also expressed caution regarding crypto assets and stablecoins, identifying them as potential risks, particularly concerning Exchange Control Regulations.
‍Switzerland Delays Crypto Tax Data Sharing to 2027 Switzerland will postpone the automatic exchange of crypto account information with foreign tax authorities until at least 2027. While the CARF rules will be enacted into Swiss law on January 1, 2026, the actual data sharing is delayed due to ongoing deliberations regarding partner states. This approach aims to ensure a deliberate integration into global tax cooperation efforts for digital assets.
‍Arthur Hayes Predicts Perpetual Futures Will Dominate US Stock Price Discovery BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes forecasts that perpetual futures markets will increasingly dictate the price discovery of major US tech stocks and indices. He notes that traditional finance institutions are working to maintain their dominance. Hayes anticipates robust infrastructure growth for stock perpetual contracts, with daily trading volumes expected to rise from over $100 million into the billions. This shift is predicted to initially impact offshore trading of US equity risk.
‍Interpol Declares Crypto Scam Compounds a Global Threat, Targets Billions in Fraud Interpol has formally recognized crypto-related fraud as a significant transnational criminal threat. Member countries unanimously approved a resolution highlighting that these networks exploit human trafficking and online fraud, impacting victims in over sixty countries. Individuals are lured with false job promises and forced into illicit schemes, including cryptocurrency scams. These groups use advanced technologies and demonstrate a highly adaptive nature. The scam center model, initially prominent in Southeast Asia, has spread globally. Interpol's designation signifies a broader international shift towards a coordinated approach to combatting digital asset fraud and human trafficking.
‍UK FCA Launches Stablecoin Sandbox The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has established a new regulatory sandbox for stablecoin firms, accepting applications until January 18, 2026. This initiative allows companies to test innovative stablecoin designs in a controlled environment. A large firm is already participating, testing a pound-denominated stablecoin. The FCA is also exploring links between stablecoin reserves and UK government bonds, which could expand the national debt market. The UK employs a dual regulatory framework: the Bank of England oversees systemically important stablecoins, while the FCA handles consumer protection and market integrity for others.
‍Amundi Launches First Tokenized Share Class for Euro Money Market Fund Amundi has introduced the first tokenized share class for its euro money market fund, enabling investors to choose between traditional and blockchain-based versions. The initial transaction was recorded on the Ethereum network on November 4th. This initiative, developed in collaboration with CACEIS, aims to streamline order handling, expand investor reach, and facilitate 24/7 trading. The underlying fund invests in short-term, high-quality euro-denominated debt.
‍Bhutan Boosts Digital Asset Commitment: Stakes $970K ETH via Figment The Royal Government of Bhutan has staked 320 ETH, valued at approximately $970,000, through institutional provider Figment. This move underscores Bhutan's growing involvement in digital assets and its commitment to proof-of-stake networks. This follows Bhutan's October migration of its self-sovereign digital ID system from Polygon to Ethereum, enabling residents to verify identities and access government services on-chain. A full migration is expected by early 2026. Bhutan has also accumulated 6,154 BTC since 2019 and plans to integrate cryptocurrency payments for tourism, supported by Binance.