We have specially compiled noteworthy activities in the crypto space in Hong Kong for January, which will open a window to the future of Web3 for you.

<div data-v-c679a437=)

Thailand Intensifies Crackdown on "Gray Funds" Tightening Regulations on Gold Trading and Digital Assets

The Thai government plans to include gold trading and digital assets under the same "gray funds" regulatory framework, tightening anti-money laundering and transaction reporting requirements. Regulatory authorities have been asked to lower the mandatory reporting threshold for gold bar purchases, which currently requires reporting for transactions exceeding 2 million baht; the new threshold is expected to be significantly reduced to prevent transaction splitting to evade regulation. For digital assets, the Thai securities regulator has been instructed to strictly enforce the Travel Rule, requiring identification of both parties in a transfer. Additionally, the government plans to establish a national data bureau to centralize financial data and is considering imposing a "specific business tax" on online gold trading platforms.

South Korean Crypto Exchange Alliance Opposes Government Proposal on Shareholding Limits

The South Korean Crypto Exchange Alliance issued a statement criticizing the government's proposal to limit the shareholding ratio of major shareholders in cryptocurrency platforms to between 15% and 20%. This proposed restriction could "seriously hinder" the development of South Korea's digital asset industry and market. Any attempt to artificially alter the ownership structure of private enterprises would undermine the foundation of the emerging industry.

Project/Company Updates

21Shares Bitcoin and Gold ETP "BOLD" Launches on London Stock Exchange

21Shares' Bitcoin and Gold exchange-traded product (ETP) BOLD began trading on the London Stock Exchange on January 13, aiming to achieve Bitcoin-like returns while reducing volatility by incorporating Bitcoin and gold into the same risk-weighted portfolio. The product uses a risk exposure-based allocation rather than equal capital weighting and undergoes monthly rebalancing, supporting intraday trading, with a total expense ratio of 0.65%. Reports indicate that BOLD was first launched in Switzerland in April 2022 and is currently traded on multiple exchanges in Europe, with related assets held by institutional-grade custodians.

Nigeria to Mandate Linking TIN and NIN for Cryptocurrency Transactions

Starting January 1, 2026, Nigeria will implement regulatory reforms requiring cryptocurrency transactions to be linked to real identities through Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) and National Identification Numbers (NIN). Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) must complete tax identity verification before opening accounts or providing services. The new guidelines require registered exchanges to submit monthly transaction reports to tax authorities, with a 10 million naira administrative fine for the first month of non-compliance, followed by an additional 1 million naira fine for each subsequent month of default. The securities regulator also warned that licenses for exchanges not meeting transparency standards may be revoked.

PeckShield: Cryptocurrency Asset Theft Losses Exceed $4.04 Billion in 2025, Setting a New Record

According to PeckShieldAlert monitoring, total losses from cryptocurrency-related thefts in 2025 exceeded $4.04 billion, an increase of approximately 34.2% from $3.01 billion in 2024, primarily influenced by systemic vulnerabilities in centralized infrastructure and an increase in targeted social engineering attacks. By type, hacking caused approximately $2.67 billion in losses (up about 24.2% year-on-year), while fraud losses amounted to about $1.37 billion (up about 64.2% year-on-year). Additionally, approximately $334.9 million in stolen cryptocurrency assets have been recovered or frozen, down from $488.5 million in 2024.

Kraken-Supported SPAC KRAKacquisition Files for IPO, Aiming to Raise $250 Million and List on NASDAQ

The special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) KRAKacquisition, supported by cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, Tribe Capital, and Natural Capital, has submitted an IPO application to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The filing indicates that the company plans to issue 25 million units at a price of $10 per unit, aiming to raise $250 million and list on the NASDAQ Global Market under the ticker symbol KRAQU.

U.S. Democratic Party Launches Cryptocurrency Fundraising Platform BlueVault

The U.S. Democratic Party's political committee has launched a cryptocurrency fundraising platform called BlueVault, allowing campaign teams to accept donations in Bitcoin and USDC, aiming to re-engage crypto voters and small donors ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The BlueVault cryptocurrency fundraising service went live on Monday, targeting Democratic political committees.

TON Treasury Company AlphaTON Signs $46 Million Computing Power Agreement with NVIDIA

NASDAQ-listed TON Treasury Company AlphaTON Capital has signed a $46 million computing infrastructure agreement to expand its decentralized AI network Cocoon based on Telegram. The agreement will add 576 NVIDIA B300 chips, expected to be delivered in February. AlphaTON has invested $4 million in cash and secured additional funding through $32.7 million in non-recourse closed debt financing and $9.3 million in equity financing (to be paid in installments until full deployment in March). Cocoon is a decentralized AI computing platform developed for Telegram based on the TON blockchain, and AlphaTON plans to deploy GPUs to expand new revenue sources.

Ukraine Blocks Prediction Platform Polymarket for Lack of Legal Gambling License

The Ukrainian National Commission for State Regulation of Communications has officially blocked the prediction market platform Polymarket, citing that the platform lacks a legal gambling activity license, and its domain has been added to the list of prohibited internet resources. Reports indicate that, according to relevant regulations, electronic communication service providers must restrict access to online gambling resources that do not hold appropriate licenses. Currently, some users are unable to access the site, while others can still open it, with the specific implementation depending on local operators.

Stablecoin Financial Infrastructure Provider VelaFi Completes $20 Million Series B Financing, Led by XVC and Ikuyo

Stablecoin financial infrastructure provider VelaFi has completed a $20 million Series B financing round, led by XVC and Ikuyo, with participation from Planetree, BAI Capital, and Alibaba's Alibaba Investment. Reports indicate that following this round, VelaFi's total financing amount has reached $40 million, and the funds will be used to expand its stablecoin payment infrastructure-related business.

Cryptocurrency Custodian BitGo Files for U.S. IPO, Aiming to Raise Up to $201 Million and List on NYSE

Cryptocurrency custodian BitGo has submitted an IPO application in the U.S., planning to issue 11.8 million shares at a price range of $15–17 per share, aiming to raise approximately $201 million at the upper limit. The company plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "BTGO," with underwriters including Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.

Standard Chartered Bank to Launch Cryptocurrency Brokerage Business to Enhance Market Competitiveness

Insiders reveal that Standard Chartered Bank plans to establish a cryptocurrency prime brokerage business through its venture capital arm SC Ventures to address the increasingly fierce competition among global banks in the cryptocurrency space. Insiders indicate that discussions are still in the preliminary stages, and it is unclear when services will be launched. A spokesperson for SC Ventures declined to comment on this. Additionally, SC Ventures is developing a cryptocurrency joint venture called Project37C, described as a lightweight financing and market platform.

In-Depth & Outlook

Galaxy Research: The Evolution of Prediction Markets—Impacting Markets and Decision-Making

Prediction markets achieved a "from 0 to 1" breakthrough by the end of 2024 to 2025, establishing their position as a mechanism that aggregates decentralized information into probabilistic signals. The upcoming application scenarios may extend this capability, not only answering whether events will occur but also further revealing what these events mean for asset prices and organizational decision-making.

When Sovereignty Becomes a Bad Asset

For decades, global capital has defaulted to living in a "rules-based world order." Sovereignty, property rights, contracts, and borders are considered to be jointly protected by international law, institutions, and alliance systems. The core premise of this order is simple: the United States will continue to operate within the rule system it has established.

Views

Over 1.34 Million ETH Staked in 18 Days, MAVAN Set to Launch in Q1, Will BitMine Transform into an Ethereum Infrastructure Provider?

From BitMine's initiatives, it is essentially utilizing institutional-level financial engineering to transform crypto assets from volatile speculative products into predictable, auditable, and financeable infrastructure assets.

BlackRock and Visa's Stablecoin Gamble, What Do Smart Money See?

The entry of traditional financial giants signifies that stablecoins are transitioning from "toys of the crypto circle" to "infrastructure of global finance." For those paying attention to this market, the important thing is not to predict the next hot trend but to understand the underlying logic of this transformation.

免责声明：本文章仅代表作者个人观点，不代表本平台的立场和观点。本文章仅供信息分享，不构成对任何人的任何投资建议。用户与作者之间的任何争议，与本平台无关。如网页中刊载的文章或图片涉及侵权，请提供相关的权利证明和身份证明发送邮件到support@aicoin.com，本平台相关工作人员将会进行核查。