Hong Kong is set to issue its first stablecoin licences in March 2026, following the new Stablecoins Ordinance. The city is also expanding crypto market rules and tokenisation projects while China remains cautious about cryptocurrency activity.
AnaisA US court fined Paxful US$4 million after finding the crypto exchange helped criminals move money and allowed illegal prostitution and other crimes to run through its platform for years. Regulators said the company ignored basic anti-money laundering rules and failed to report suspicious activity.
AnaisCoinbase has launched Agentic Wallets, crypto wallets that let AI agents trade, pay, and earn on the blockchain without human approval. The wallets use the x402 protocol, support multiple networks including Ethereum and Solana, and include built-in security controls to manage spending and protect private keys.
WeatherlyT-Mobile is launching a beta live phone call translation service that uses AI built directly into its mobile network to translate more than 50 languages in real time, without apps or new devices. The free test opens on 12 January 2026, with selected users getting access this spring before a wider rollout later this year.
AnaisThe UAE Central Bank has approved the dirham-backed stablecoin DDSC, which is now live on ADI Chain for institutional and government use. It will be used for payments, settlements, trade, and programmable financial services, and will be available to FAB customers through approved platforms.
WeatherlyThe UK Treasury has chosen HSBC’s Orion platform to pilot tokenised government bonds, making Britain the first G7 country to test blockchain for sovereign debt. The DIGIT pilot will explore faster, on-chain settlement and aim to boost digital infrastructure across UK financial markets.
AnaisBlockFills has temporarily stopped customers from depositing and withdrawing funds after a sharp fall in bitcoin prices and wider market stress. Some clients can still trade, but transfers in and out of the platform remain on hold while the firm works to restore liquidity.
WeatherlyCoinbase reported a surprise quarterly loss of US$667 million as trading revenue fell sharply due to a broad drop in crypto prices and weaker market activity. Growth in stablecoin operations provided some relief, but regulatory uncertainty and ongoing market weakness continue to pressure the company.
AnaisOpenAI has told US lawmakers that Chinese AI company DeepSeek is using advanced methods to copy outputs from American AI models to train its own systems. The company warned this could weaken US AI leadership and create safety and business risks by bypassing safeguards and replicating capabilities without permission.
WeatherlyHuman trafficking operations using cryptocurrency surged 85% in 2025, reaching hundreds of millions of dollars, with stablecoins like Tether and USDC widely used for large international payments. Traffickers use platforms like Telegram and scam compounds to coordinate forced labour and online scams, while blockchain transparency is helping authorities track and disrupt these networks.
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