license

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has listed Star Bridge Capital, Star Bridge Capital Group, SBCFX, Star Bridge Capital Group, Star Bridge Capital Pty Limited, and Topical Wealth International Ltd as unlicensed companies, prohibiting them from engaging in any regulated activities in Hong Kong or actively promoting their services to the public in Hong Kong (whether within or outside Hong Kong).Previously, it was reported that Star Bridge Capital experienced an abnormal liquidation incident in London gold trading, and after the incident, the Hong Kong office of the platform was empty. Due to some funds being deposited through USDT stablecoin, tracking the funds has become more difficult. The Hong Kong police have accepted the case and temporarily classified it as fraud, but no arrests have been made yet.

Cryptocurrency infrastructure provider Zerohash has resubmitted its national trust bank charter application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), marking its second attempt following the rejection of its application in July. Previously, on July 17, the OCC returned Zerohash's application, citing "insufficient materials."Zerohash stated that the return was part of an administrative process, allowing it to reapply this month, a practice coordinated with the OCC and not a judgment on the substantive content of the application, nor does it affect the company's existing operations. The company noted that the initial application covered "a wide range of digital assets and fiduciary services," and thus decided to adopt a "phased" approach, focusing on "national trust business that aligns more closely with the established launch timeline."Zerohash is a Chicago-based cryptocurrency infrastructure platform that provides backend operational support for cryptocurrency businesses to institutions such as E*Trade under Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, Stripe, Interactive Brokers, and DraftKings, and it already holds a state trust bank charter.

Jeonbuk Bank has partnered with blockchain payment company Ripple to deploy its cross-border payment system, providing faster and cheaper remittance services for business clients such as import and export companies, tech startups, and online content creators, replacing the traditional transfer method that takes several days via the SWIFT network.Meanwhile, the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) has opened the application portal for crypto licenses. Companies providing virtual asset services on or before March 5 must submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) application by September 5, or they will cease operations. PVARA stated that the licensing window is officially open, providing a clear path for businesses to enter Pakistan's regulated virtual asset market.In addition, Laser Digital, a digital asset subsidiary of Nomura Group in Japan, has received approval from the Financial Services Agency (FSA) to become the first platform to obtain a crypto exchange license in four years, the last being Binance Japan in October 2022.

According to BBX data, last weekend, global asset management giants, traditional financial groups, and listed treasury departments disclosed the latest official updates on cryptocurrency asset allocation, licensing access, and merger adjustments. The core information is as follows:BlackRock ETF increased its holdings of BTC and ETH by over $1.1 billion in two days: On-chain data tracking shows that the world's largest asset management giant BlackRock's ETF address has continuously accumulated large amounts over the past two days, purchasing a total of 11,098 Bitcoins (worth approximately $852 million) and 132,769 Ethereum (worth approximately $316 million), with the total net purchase amount of these two core cryptocurrency assets exceeding $1.168 billion in a single day.Nomura's Laser Digital Japan approved for cryptocurrency trading license in Japan: Laser Digital Japan, the digital asset subsidiary of Japan's top financial group Nomura Holdings, has officially completed the registration procedures for cryptocurrency trading operators, with registration number Kanto Financial Bureau No. 00032. This is the first new exchange to successfully obtain this registration in Japan since 2022, nearly four years ago. The cryptocurrencies supported for trading on the platform initially include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), and SHIB, totaling six assets.Adam Back's BSTR terminates business merger agreement with Cantor: BSTR Holdings, the Bitcoin treasury company founded by Adam Back, announced that it has amicably agreed with Cantor Equity Partners I (NASDAQ: $CEPO) to officially terminate the SPAC business merger agreement signed on July 16, 2025. BSTR's official statement pointed out that Bitcoin and publicly listed Bitcoin treasury tools currently face significant market pricing pressure, and macro misalignment has limited the effective implementation of leveraged strategy tools such as convertible bonds and perpetual preferred stocks; however, the company firmly believes that as the market stabilizes, opportunities for Bitcoin treasury allocation and leveraged investments in the public capital market will re-emerge.

According to CryptoSlate, the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) has required cryptocurrency exchanges and related service providers operating locally to enter a new licensing process by September 5, or they must cease relevant operations. PVARA opened the licensing application portal for virtual asset service providers on August 22 and released regulatory rules for virtual asset services.According to the regulations, service providers that have been conducting cryptocurrency business in Pakistan must submit a "No Objection Certificate" (NOC) application. During the application review period, as long as a complete application is submitted on time, they may continue to provide existing services. Businesses that do not submit applications by September 5 must stop relevant services within the regulatory scope, and continuing operations will be considered a violation. PVARA added that this policy does not constitute a comprehensive ban on cryptocurrency but establishes a "compliance or exit" regulatory mechanism applicable to exchanges, custodians, and other businesses providing virtual asset services to users in Pakistan.

According to The New York Times, in March 2022, Sylwester Suszek, the founder of the Polish cryptocurrency exchange Zondacrypto (formerly BitBay), went missing and left a desperate voice message for his sister, leading his family to suspect he may have been murdered. Przemyslaw Kral, the lawyer who took over the management of the company, has also been missing for four months.Kral had previously released a video to reassure clients, stating that the company held over $330 million worth of Bitcoin, but the only person who possessed the unlocking keys was the missing Suszek. About two months after the website closed around April (on June 29), the Estonian Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) revoked the license of its parent company.

Laser Digital Japan, a digital asset company under Nomura Holdings, announced this week that it has completed the registration as a cryptocurrency asset trading service provider under Japan's Payment Services Act, with registration number 00032. It has also joined the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association, ending nearly four years without new industry participants in Japan.The license covers six types of cryptocurrency assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Shiba Inu, all of which are included in the industry's "green list." Initially, Laser Digital Japan will provide liquidity for licensed cryptocurrency companies in Japan, while the launch date for trading services aimed at professional investors has not yet been announced. Japanese regulations require the separation of customer assets from company assets, with at least 95% of customer cryptocurrency assets stored in offline cold wallets, and related measures verified through annual audits. This license does not cover cryptocurrency derivatives, nor does it allow Laser Digital Japan to initiate exchange-traded funds; major adjustments to Japan's cryptocurrency regulatory framework are expected to be implemented in the fiscal year 2027.

Japan's financial regulatory agency has approved Laser Digital Japan to register as a cryptocurrency asset trading service provider, becoming the first new entrant to obtain this license in Japan in nearly four years, marking the acceleration of institutional-level digital asset services entering the Japanese market. Laser Digital stated that initially, it will provide liquidity services for local virtual asset service providers in Japan, with plans to further launch digital asset trading services aimed at institutional investors in the future, although the specific launch time and scope of services have not yet been announced.Laser Digital is supported by one of Japan's largest investment banks, Nomura Holdings. Co-founder and CEO Jez Mohideen stated that the Japanese digital asset market is entering a new stage of development, and as institutional investor interest increases, the market needs more reliable trading counterparts and infrastructure. Previously, a survey of institutional investors conducted by Nomura and Laser Digital showed that 79% of respondents plan to invest in cryptocurrency assets within the next three years. This regulatory approval comes at a time when Japan is advancing cryptocurrency asset regulatory reforms. Japan has previously reclassified cryptocurrencies as financial assets, establishing a legal basis for the future launch of cryptocurrency asset ETFs and the implementation of an independent tax system, with related new regulations expected to take effect in 2027. Laser Digital's Executive Chairman Steve Ashley stated that global institutional investors are increasingly focusing on the digital asset market and seeking professional infrastructure that meets institutional needs.

According to Cointelegraph, the affiliated company of the trading platform Capital.com, Capital Vault, has obtained a virtual asset license issued by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) of the UAE, allowing it to handle virtual assets as an agent or matching party and provide custody services.Capital Vault will operate as an independent regulated entity, having established an office in Abu Dhabi and formed a local virtual asset team. After the service goes live, UAE users will be able to directly purchase and hold crypto assets through the Capital.com app, unlike the previous offering which only provided price exposure through contracts for difference (CFD).

Blockworks research indicates that Hyperliquid is seeking a compliant path in the U.S. market through regulatory advocacy and technical adjustments. The report states that Hyperliquid's modular architecture (HyperCore is responsible for trading and clearing, Deployer is responsible for market creation, Builder is responsible for user access) naturally corresponds to the functional division of DCM, DCO, and FCM in traditional finance, but is implemented on-chain.Hyperliquid is currently blocked due to conflicts with U.S. market structure laws. The report believes that the licensed HIP-3 deployment (DEX for whitelisted users only) is key to the compliance path, where registered entities can assume KYC and compliance obligations while bridging liquidity through whitelisted market makers. Trump's recent announcement that the CFTC chairman intends to include Hyperliquid in the U.S. regulatory framework is seen as a positive signal. The Hyperliquid policy center has submitted recommendations to the CFTC and SEC, advocating for allowing registered institutions to use HyperCore while assuming compliance responsibilities.

According to a report by the Korean News Agency, global virtual asset infrastructure company BitGo announced that its Korean entity BitGo Korea has received acceptance of its VASP (Virtual Asset Service Provider) registration application from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Korea on August 18, becoming the first foreign cryptocurrency corporate entity to complete VASP registration directly in Korea.BitGo Korea was established in 2024, and this time chose to directly meet regulatory requirements to enter the market, rather than adopting the industry norm of acquiring existing VASP companies. Subsequently, it will use this as a foundation to officially launch virtual asset custody and transfer services in Korea, focusing on expanding business towards financial institutions and corporate clients.

According to Cointelegrath, Binance is planning to apply for a license from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and intends to relaunch some regulated services in the UK by 2027. Binance's UK subsidiary, Binance Markets Limited, has been prohibited by the FCA from conducting any regulated activities in the UK since June 2021. In 2023, Binance announced a suspension of new user registrations to comply with FCA financial promotion rules. A Binance spokesperson responded to the matter by stating, "We do not comment on speculation regarding potential license applications."The crypto regulatory framework published by the FCA in June requires crypto companies to submit applications between September 2026 and February 28, 2027, with the new system set to officially take effect on October 25, 2027. The FCA's Director of Payments and Digital Finance stated that the framework will impose "similar standards" on crypto companies as those required of other UK financial service providers.

Brian Armstrong posted on the X platform that Deribit has obtained a VARA brokerage license, allowing access to the market and liquidity of Coinbase Exchange. The UAE is embracing modern finance and digital assets.

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has published multiple websites impersonating the licensed virtual asset trading platform Hash Blockchain Limited on its official website. It is reported that the relevant websites have been reported by Hash Blockchain Limited as fraudulent sites. At the same time, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission clarified that the relevant websites have no connection with the virtual asset trading platforms licensed by the Commission.

The cryptocurrency market maker Flowdesk, supported by Coinbase, has obtained a full brokerage license issued by Dubai VARA, allowing it to provide compliant services to local institutional investors.

Coinbase posted on the X platform stating that the company has designated the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) as its international tokenization center. After obtaining the new FSRA license, the company can now offer global securities to any user with a wallet.Coinbase stated that the next frontier of global finance is the on-chain space, and the company is advancing related developments from the UAE.

The fintech company and crypto-friendly bank Revolut announced that it has obtained a banking license in France, becoming the second full banking license the company has acquired in the EU after Lithuania. The license was jointly reviewed by the French Prudential Supervision and Resolution Authority (ACPR) and the European Central Bank, and approved by the Governing Council of the European Central Bank. After obtaining the license, Revolut Bank S.A. will be able to offer a wider range of banking services in France, including loans, mortgages, and regulated savings products. France is one of Revolut's largest markets in Western Europe.Previously, the company primarily operated in France under its Lithuanian banking license, mainly providing payment and financial services. Following this licensing, Revolut will gradually migrate its French operations to the new French banking entity and plans to subsequently expand to Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain. Revolut stated that it has invested over 1 billion euros in the Western European market over the past few years and has created over 600 new jobs locally, with plans to establish its Western European headquarters in Paris by 2027. However, the license comes with regulatory conditions. Reports suggest that the European Central Bank may impose restrictions on new products for Revolut's French operations, similar to the regulatory measures previously implemented on its Lithuanian entity, which may affect the speed of launching loan and savings products.This year, Revolut has continued to advance its global regulatory expansion. The company obtained a full banking license in the UK in March 2026 and a full banking license in Australia in July. Currently, Revolut covers 40 markets, with its valuation rising to $115 billion after secondary stock trading in 2026.

According to Cointelegraph, cryptocurrency service company Blockchain.com has obtained a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) custody license issued by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), allowing it to provide regulated crypto custody services in the Cayman Islands. The license was approved on July 22, 2026, after CIMA granted conditional approval in December 2025.The license also allows Blockchain.com to offer cryptocurrency to fiat exchange and exchange services between cryptocurrencies. Blockchain.com has held VASP registration in the Cayman Islands since May 2022.Blockchain.com Co-CEO Lane Kasselman stated that the CIMA license continues the company's recent regulatory progress, including obtaining a license under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in Europe and completing registration with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK.

Circle Internet Group (NYSE: CRCL) announced its Q2 2026 financial report, with total revenue and reserve income of $701 million, a year-on-year increase of 7%; adjusted EBITDA of $143 million, a year-on-year increase of 8%; and net profit of $48 million, a year-on-year increase of $530 million (mainly affected by last year's IPO equity incentives). The circulation of USDC reached $73.3 billion, a year-on-year increase of 19%, with on-chain transaction volume of $14.8 trillion for the quarter, a year-on-year increase of 151%.In terms of business, Circle received approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish Circle National Trust, a federal trust bank, becoming one of the first stablecoin issuers to hold a federal banking license. The Arc public blockchain will launch its mainnet on September 16, with more than ten institutions including BlackRock, DTCC, Visa, Mastercard, and Standard Chartered serving as founding third-party verification nodes. BlackRock plans to deploy the BUIDL fund on Arc, while DTCC will promote the tokenization of DTC custodial assets. The Circle Payment Network (CPN) achieved an annualized transaction volume of $14.7 billion in the past 30 days, a quarterly increase of 76%, with 175 institutions onboarded, a quarterly increase of 29%. The Agent Stack now offers over 900 paid services.