consultation

The Monetary Authority of Singapore is publicly soliciting opinions on the proposed legislative amendments to the Payment Services Act 2019, aimed at establishing a regulatory framework for stablecoins in Singapore. At the same time, it is seeking public feedback on related proposals for further regulatory requirements, which reference the developments in the stablecoin industry since 2023.This consultation also seeks opinions on policy positions regarding the issuance of stablecoins across multiple jurisdictions and the recognition of overseas-issued stablecoins. The deadline for submitting opinions is October 16.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued a notice seeking public comments on the listing of computing power derivative contracts and related market regulation issues to further understand and improve the regulation of the computing power derivatives market.CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig stated, "Without a robust computing power derivatives market, the U.S. cannot win the AI race." He noted that just as the U.S. market established trading standards for commodities that propelled the industrial economy, it will also establish corresponding rules for computing power commodities to drive the "smart economy." This public comment period is the first step in establishing clear rules for the U.S. computing power market.The notice seeks comments on the scale, liquidity, and other market characteristics of the computing power spot market, while also covering topics such as market regulation, manipulation risks, customer protection, and computing power perpetual futures, and invites market participants to submit comments on other aspects of the computing power market. The comment period will last for 60 days following the publication of the relevant notice in the Federal Register.

According to The Block, Samsung Electronics, Dunamu (the parent company of Upbit), and several other South Korean companies have been listed as members of the Open Standard's OUSD stablecoin alliance, but many companies stated that they have not formally agreed to participate.A relevant person from Samsung Electronics told South Korean media that they have not received a formal inquiry and do not know what role they will play. Shinhan Financial Group, Dunamu, and Kbank stated that they only replied "we will look into this matter," and then their names were listed. Other companies claimed they simply responded casually with "we will consider it if things go smoothly," only to find themselves listed, feeling confused.Open Standard announced this week the formation of an alliance consisting of over 140 institutions, including Visa, Mastercard, and BlackRock, with plans to launch the OUSD stablecoin within the year.

The Financial Secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Paul Chan, stated in a blog that the HKSAR Government will launch the first public consultation for Hong Kong's five-year plan on June 15 next week, lasting for two months. This plan aims not only to enhance economic development momentum and promote better application of technology but also hopes to achieve a more inclusive society, where citizens enjoy more quality job opportunities and a better life."AI+" and "Finance+" are two strategic directions worth exploring in depth. AI is no longer just about the innovation and technology industry itself; it plays a key role in enhancing the competitiveness of various sectors. For finance, it can strengthen data analysis, risk management, and customer service. "Finance+" means making good use of Hong Kong's full chain of fundraising functions, including building a more comprehensive patient capital system to inject development momentum into cutting-edge technology enterprises.

According to PYMNTS, the comment period for the implementation rules of the GENIUS Act by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) ended on June 9. The proposal clearly states that payment stablecoins themselves do not qualify as deposits insured by the FDIC, and stablecoin holders do not enjoy pass-through deposit insurance. Industry feedback indicates significant disagreements in the payment sector.Traditional institutions such as banks strongly oppose incentives like yields, rewards, or cashback offered by stablecoins, arguing that this would attract deposits away from banks, harming local lending capacity, and calling for a clear prohibition on any form of compensation within the stablecoin ecosystem; the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) technical committee suggested that the FDIC require the adoption of machine-readable reporting formats and Legal Entity Identifiers (LEI) to enhance transparency, regulatory information sharing, and data quality.

According to the official announcement, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority have published a joint consultation summary regarding the amendments to the over-the-counter derivatives trading regulations under the Clearing Rules. In light of the broad market support, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority will proceed with the legislative process to introduce the proposed amendments to the Clearing Rules, with plans to implement the relevant amendments starting from March 1, 2027 (the proposed start date for the new calculation period).

According to Jinshi News, the Hong Kong Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission have released a consultation summary regarding the regulatory framework for virtual asset provision and management services. The proposed licensing system for virtual asset provision and management received broad support from the market during the consultation period.The new licensing system will follow the principle of "same business, same risk, same rules," and its scope will be consistent with the regulated activities under the Securities and Futures Ordinance. This series of new systems will enhance participation in Hong Kong's digital asset market and help build a robust and secure ecosystem.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Bank of England (BOE) jointly launched a public consultation on Monday, seeking industry input on the regulation, infrastructure, and market practices of tokenized wholesale financial markets in the UK. This consultation is part of the UK's digital finance market strategy, focusing on tokenized securities and post-trade infrastructure, covering areas such as prudential regulation, tokenized collateral, and settlement tools. Regulators stated that there are significant opportunities in the post-trade processes and collateral management areas for tokenization. The consultation targets banks, investment firms, asset management institutions, central securities depositories (CSD), central counterparty clearing houses (CCP), trading platforms, fintech companies, and others. The current scope mainly involves tokenized bonds, stocks, and fund shares, with potential future expansion. Market participants can submit feedback by July 3. The FCA and the Bank of England plan to publish a feedback document in the summer of 2026 and launch a roadmap for the development of the digital wholesale market within the year.Meanwhile, UK regulators are advancing the "digital securities sandbox" program, with 16 companies having passed the first phase of review and currently testing the issuance, trading, and settlement of tokenized securities. Additionally, the Bank of England has separately released a consultation document on extending the operating hours of the RTGS and CHAPS systems, planning to gradually move towards a near 7×24 hour operating model, with the goal of launching synchronized settlement services by 2028 to support tokenized assets as collateral for central bank operations and central counterparty use.

According to Caixin, the one-month public consultation for the "Financial Law of the People's Republic of China (Draft)" ended today (April 19). This is the first overarching law in China and the world with "finance" in its name. The expansion of "quasi-judicial powers" for financial regulation is a topic of great concern in the market.According to Article 55 and related provisions, financial regulatory authorities have the right to access and copy property rights information, communication records, and transaction records of relevant entities and individuals when investigating financial violations. They can directly freeze or seal assets if there is evidence suggesting the transfer or concealment of illegal funds and securities. They can even decide that individuals suspected of violations cannot leave the country during the investigation.In addition, Zeng Gang, chief expert and director of the Shanghai Financial and Development Laboratory, believes that the "Financial Law" should also strengthen its focus and coverage on emerging financial formats. Topics such as AI-driven financial decision-making, the legal status of digital currencies, and the regulatory boundaries of crypto assets have sparked widespread controversy globally, but the draft addresses them very little. How to maintain a dynamic balance between lawful regulation and inclusive innovation is a problem left to be solved by legislation.

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange today published a consultation document regarding the shortening of the settlement cycle for the Hong Kong stock cash market (the "Consultation Document"), proposing to shorten the settlement cycle from the current T+2 to T+1, and seeking market opinions on the proposal.

Simon Gerovich, CEO of the Japanese Bitcoin listed company Metaplanet, posted on the X platform in response to the Japan Exchange Group (JPX) announcing the postponement of including companies with major assets in cryptocurrency into the index, stating that he respects the relevant procedures and will actively participate, which will not affect the advancement of Bitcoin strategy and ecological layout.He added that Metaplanet was established to provide Japanese investors with a compliant channel to access Bitcoin through companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, but the company's strategy goes beyond asset allocation and will promote the development of the Japanese Bitcoin ecosystem through "Project Nova," including the layout of operational businesses and investment in industry partners. So far, more than 216,000 Japanese shareholders have participated in this strategy, and Metaplanet will continue to maintain constructive communication with all parties, including JPX, to enhance the market's understanding of Bitcoin and the company's role in the Japanese financial system.

The spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hua Chunying, hosted a regular press conference. The new round of China-U.S. economic and trade consultations will be held this weekend in Paris. A reporter asked what topics will be discussed and what expectations does the Chinese side have for this consultation?In response, Hua Chunying stated: "The Chinese side has already released information about the sixth round of China-U.S. economic and trade consultations, which you can refer to. For specific issues, it is recommended to inquire with the relevant Chinese authorities."

According to market news, Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman stated that U.S. regulators will propose rules for implementing the final phase of the Basel III framework in the coming weeks, expected to be released during the week of March 17 to 21, followed by a 90-day public comment period.The proposal is being coordinated by the Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. According to the global crypto framework finalized by the Basel Committee in 2022, Bitcoin is classified as a Group 2b asset, which regulators consider difficult to hedge and inherently volatile, facing a risk weight of 1250%. This means that a bank holding $100 million in Bitcoin exposure will be viewed as having $1.25 billion in risk-weighted assets, requiring approximately $100 million in capital.Compared to the zero risk weight for cash, gold, and U.S. Treasury securities, as well as the 20%-100% range for corporate loans, the capital treatment of Bitcoin is extremely harsh. Crypto industry institutions criticize the framework for misclassifying Bitcoin, hindering banks from providing related services.

According to the CFTC official website, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued a consultation opinion on the trading of event contracts in the prediction market. In light of the rapid development of prediction markets, the agency aims to encourage the growth and innovation of these markets while reminding designated contract markets (DCM) to fulfill their regulatory obligations under the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and the Commission's regulations.The consultation opinion emphasizes the regulatory responsibilities of DCM in complying with CEA Section 5(d), Part 38, DCM Core Principle 3, and Appendix C guidelines, as well as product submission requirements. It also discusses some details that may be particularly applicable to sports event contracts.The Market Oversight Division believes that, as the frontline regulatory agency, DCM should proactively take measures to ensure that its markets continue to comply with the requirements of the CEA and the Commission's regulations during their development.

Cryptocurrency journalist Eleanor Terrett posted on X that insiders revealed the next round of discussions between the White House and cryptocurrency institutions regarding stablecoin yield issues is scheduled for next Tuesday.This meeting will still involve bank staff, but in addition to representatives from the banks themselves, representatives from various industry associations will also attend. The specific list of attendees will be disclosed later.

According to market news, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has entered the final consultation phase for key cryptocurrency rule-making and is seeking final feedback on 10 regulatory proposals. These proposals aim to apply traditional financial standards to the crypto market, covering various aspects such as codes of conduct, credit purchases of crypto assets, regulatory reporting, asset protection, and retail collateral handling.As part of the UK government's crypto roadmap, the FCA plans to open licensing applications for crypto asset service providers in September 2026 (yet to be confirmed). This licensing regime will impose stricter oversight on crypto companies, requiring them to obtain FCA authorization to operate in the UK.

The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has entered the final stage of its regulatory consultation for cryptocurrency companies and is seeking feedback on how its consumer duty rules apply to crypto asset firms, with a deadline of March 12. The FCA plans to open the application process for crypto asset licenses in September 2026.Consumer duty is a regulation from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) aimed at setting high standards for how financial firms treat retail customers. The regulation requires firms to act with integrity, avoid causing foreseeable harm, and help people achieve their financial goals. Companies must provide clear information, fair pricing, and support throughout the entire customer journey (not just at the point of transaction).

According to Reuters, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) launched a wide-ranging consultation on Tuesday regarding a series of proposed rules for the cryptocurrency industry.The day before, the UK government announced that it would implement regulations for the industry starting in October 2027. Alongside the announcement of related proposals, the FCA also released a research report indicating that the proportion of UK adults holding cryptocurrencies has decreased by one-third over the past year, from 12% to 8%. The FCA stated on Tuesday that its rules will cover the listing of crypto assets, measures to prevent insider trading and manipulation, standards for cryptocurrency trading platforms, and broker regulations.The agency is also consulting on matters such as prudential requirements, regulatory provisions to clarify the risks of cryptocurrency staking, enhanced protections for both parties in cryptocurrency lending, and potential financial safeguards for managing risks in crypto companies. The FCA is seeking feedback on its proposals, with a deadline of February 12, 2026. The regulatory body has committed to finalizing the regulatory framework by the end of next year.

According to a report by Sina Finance, recently, seven financial industry associations jointly issued a risk warning, clearly prohibiting domestic participation in virtual currency and real-world asset (RWA) token issuance and trading activities. After the regulatory clarification, mainland companies' RWA business in Hong Kong has encountered a comprehensive downturn, with industry insiders revealing that the consultation volume has plummeted by more than 90%, and many projects have been asked to pause their progress. Related concept stocks have responded by falling back, with companies like Longxin Group and Xiexin Energy Technology seeing their high points cut in half. Some enterprises have begun to explore RDA (Real Data Assets) as an alternative direction.

Michael Saylor posted on the X platform that Strategy has submitted a response to MSCI regarding the consultation on digital asset financial companies. Index standards should remain neutral, consistent, and reflect the development trends of the global market.