Japan

Metaplanet’s executive stock pool draws shareholder criticism

Japanese Bitcoin treasury company Metaplanet continues to face shareholder criticism over concerns that its executive stock pool could dilute existing holdings. Multiple shareholders objected on social media to the company’s 10th Series executive option pool, which was structured to represent 20% of fully diluted shares and automatically expanded as Metaplanet issued new shares to finance its Bitcoin (BTC) accumulation.

Some shareholders are asking Metaplanet to cancel the additional 273 million shares created by the changes and to provide greater transparency about future decisions. Cointelegraph reported on the shareholder backlash.

Bitcoin Magazine CEO David Bailey defended Metaplanet, saying that giving the team 20% of the cap table over five years “isn’t some crazy number.” Many shareholders, however, disagree.

Citi plans blockchain-based cross-border payments

Citi plans to offer Japanese companies near-instant international payments through blockchain-based infrastructure, including outside standard banking hours. The proposal would extend blockchain-based payment infrastructure into cross-border corporate banking, where the bank says availability would not be limited to standard banking hours.

Southeast Asia

Regional crypto funding doubles to $680 million as Singapore leads

Investment in Southeast Asian crypto firms doubled between 2025 and 2026, with the region recording 25 funding rounds worth $680 million in 2026. That compared with $319 million in 2025, according to private market data platform Tracxn. The higher total came alongside a decline in the number of rounds: 46 funding rounds were recorded the previous year, indicating that more capital went to fewer companies.

The figures therefore show an increase in aggregate funding alongside a reduction in deal volume, rather than broad-based growth in the number of funded companies.

Singapore took the top position as Asia’s leading crypto hub. The country is home to 2,285 of the region’s 3,957 blockchain companies and has accounted for 82.5% of all-time blockchain equity funding tracked across the region. Additional data on Singapore’s share of regional blockchain funding is available from SBR.

US authorities sanction Xinbi scam marketplace

United States authorities restrained more than $52 million in cryptocurrency linked to the Xinbi Guarantee scam marketplace and its vendor network in a coordinated operation.

The US Justice Department said its Scam Center Strike Force seized two wallets used by Xinbi to collect vendor payments. The wallets held about $12 million. Law enforcement also sought restraints against 47 additional wallets believed to be connected to money laundering across Xinbi’s network. The Justice Department published details of the operation in its announcement.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Xinbi as a significant transnational criminal organization. OFAC also sanctioned Singapore-based SafeW Technology and Cambodia-based Anwen Technology for allegedly providing technological and financial support to Xinbi. The Treasury Department’s notice is available here.

Gemini receives payment license for crypto services

Crypto exchange Gemini received a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), completing its transition from an in-principle approval granted nearly two years earlier. Cointelegraph reported on Gemini’s license.

MPI license holders can provide regulated payment services without the transaction-volume limits that apply to standard payment institutions. The license consequently removes those limits for the regulated payment services Gemini provides under the MPI framework.

Gemini President and co-founder Cameron Winklevoss said the exchange had served customers in Singapore since 2020. CEO Tyler Winklevoss described Singapore as a strategic hub for serving retail and institutional clients.

Circle agrees to buy Tazapay for $400 million

USDC issuer Circle agreed to pay $400 million to acquire Singapore-based cross-border payments company Tazapay. Tazapay has more than 60 bank and fintech partners across 100 markets.

South Korea

Regulators publish tokenized-securities roadmap

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (SFC) introduced a three-phase roadmap for developing infrastructure to issue tokenized securities, including stocks, bonds and funds. Cointelegraph reported on the roadmap.

Beginning Feb. 4, 2027, tokenized securities are scheduled to receive legal recognition as digitized forms of securities after an update to the Act on Electronic Registration of Stocks and Bonds takes effect.

The first phase would provide legal recognition for tokenized securities, including institutional money market funds, bonds, unlisted stocks and fractional investment securities. The second phase would expand tokenization to all publicly offered securities. The third phase aims to introduce onchain payments linked to stablecoins. The phased structure sets out a progression from legal recognition to broader asset coverage and then payment infrastructure.

Won stablecoins could reduce merchant fees by up to $3.8 billion

South Korea’s National Assembly Budget Office said won-denominated stablecoins could reduce annual payment fees for South Korean merchants by between $275 million and $3.8 billion.

India

Arya.ag tests tokenized grain ownership records on Avalanche

Indian agricultural warehousing and lending company Arya.ag is testing a system to tokenize warehouse receipts for stored grain on a dedicated Avalanche layer-1 blockchain. Arya.ag is working with Finternet to connect grain deposits, warehouse receipts, collateral commitments and loan status through the network.

Devika Mittal, Ava Labs’ head of India, told Cointelegraph that testing was underway and said each tokenized receipt would represent ownership of the stored commodity. Cointelegraph’s report is available here.

The companies did not disclose an expected launch date or the amount of grain or lending that the initial deployment would cover, leaving those details as the main items to watch as testing continues.

Financial Intelligence Unit issues notices to 15 offshore providers

India’s Financial Intelligence Unit issued non-compliance notices to 15 offshore virtual digital-asset service providers over alleged anti-money laundering (AML) failures. The agency also sought the takedown of related applications and URLs, accusing the providers of serving Indian customers without appropriate controls.

Parliamentary panel to discuss crypto regulation

India’s Finance Ministry is expected to appear before a parliamentary panel on September 16. The discussion is scheduled to focus on the taxation and regulation of virtual digital assets.

Thailand

Webull completes $100 million Pi Securities acquisition

Thailand’s Webull Securities completed its $100 million acquisition of Pi Securities, a long-established traditional finance securities and investment services firm.

Philippines

Central bank considers 12-month freeze on new payment-operator registrations

The Philippines’ central bank proposed freezing new registrations for payment-system operators for 12 months while imposing tighter controls on payment arrangements involving virtual asset service providers (VASPs).

Under a draft circular, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it would suspend the acceptance and processing of applications from operators of payment systems (OPS) to conduct a “holistic review” of its taxonomy and licensing framework. The BSP draft circular outlines the proposed measures. Cointelegraph also reported on the proposal.

Because the measures are set out in a draft circular, the proposed registration freeze and tighter controls remain subject to the central bank’s review and final action.

Hong Kong

Chelsea USDC jersey sponsorship creates difficulties in Hong Kong

Circle’s USDC jersey sponsorship deal with Chelsea Football Club has created difficulties in Hong Kong, where unlicensed crypto promotions are penalized and local merchants have been hesitant to sell the jersey.

Boyaa Interactive purchases another 115 Bitcoin

Hong Kong-listed gaming company Boyaa Interactive purchased another 115 Bitcoin, adding to its treasury holdings.