1. Putin Signs Russia’s Law on Digital Currencies and Digital Rights link
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed Federal Law №282‑FZ “On Digital Currency and Digital Rights”, with its provisions entering into force in phases starting September 1. Non‑qualified investors may purchase crypto‑assets worth no more than 300 000 rubles per year via a single licensed intermediary upon passing a risk‑assessment test. Exchanges, brokers, custodians and exchangers will fall under the supervision of the Central Bank of Russia. A transition period is set until July 1 2027, after which crypto‑asset transactions must in principle be conducted through licensed institutions or banks.
2. Moscow Exchange Prepares Independent Digital‑Asset Custody Platform link
Citing multiple brokerage‑sector sources, Russian media RBC reports that Moscow Exchange is preparing to launch a standalone digital‑asset custody platform (digital depository institution) for the safekeeping and registration of crypto‑assets, targeted for roll‑out in late 2026 or early 2027. The platform will operate as independent infrastructure and will not be integrated into Moscow Exchange’s existing trading systems or Russia’s National Settlement Depository (NSD). Under Russia’s newly‑adopted Law on Digital Currency and Digital Rights, regulatory requirements governing digital depository institutions will enter into force on September 1. Russia’s future legal crypto market may see multiple liquidity hubs emerge, including Moscow Exchange and Sberbank of Russia.
3. Japan’s FSA Establishes New Crypto‑Asset & Stablecoin Division with Three Sub‑Units link
Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) announced on August 5 that an organizational restructuring will take effect on August 7, formally establishing the dedicated Crypto‑Assets and Stablecoins Division. Previously, related responsibilities were handled by counselor offices and monitoring offices under the General Policy Bureau. Following the overhaul, the unit will sit within the newly‑created Asset Management and Insurance Supervision Bureau, upgraded from an office‑level setup to a standalone division. The new Crypto‑Assets and Stablecoins Division will house the Crypto‑Assets Monitoring Office for overseeing crypto‑asset exchanges, alongside the Innovation Promotion Office and Digital Payment Planning Office, to address administrative priorities including financial digitalization and improved regulatory oversight.
4. TSE to Re‑Review Listed Firms Undergoing Major Transformations, Impacting Crypto‑Treasury Entities link
The Tokyo Stock Exchange plans to introduce a re‑examination regime modelled on initial listing reviews for listed companies that undergo material business transformations raising substantial doubts over their listing eligibility. Companies failing the review may face delisting, and their stocks could receive special designations to alert investors during the assessment period. The framework may also cover firms that launch new businesses following major shifts in control or management. While the Tokyo Stock Exchange has not named specific crypto‑treasury corporations, such entities could fall within the scope of the new review rules.
5. Taiwan’s FSC Announces Phased Implementation of Virtual‑Asset Transfer Rules link
Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) announced the phased implementation of the virtual‑asset Travel Rule. Starting October 2026, for transfers exceeding NT$30,000 between VASPs (Virtual Asset Service Providers), the sending party must furnish additional identity information for both the originator and the beneficiary. Natural persons are required to provide date of birth and residential address, while legal entities must submit official identification numbers and registered addresses. The receiving VASP shall verify consistency between beneficiary details and its customer records. Cross‑border VASP transfers are scheduled to take effect by the end of 2027. The rule is intended to enforce FATF anti‑money‑laundering standards and enhance traceability for virtual‑asset transactions.
6. India Expands Cross‑Border Tax Reporting to Cover Selected Crypto‑Assets and CBDCs link
India’s Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has updated its implementation guidelines for FATCA and the Common Reporting Standard (CRS), bringing specified crypto‑assets, central‑bank digital currencies and digital‑currency products within the cross‑border tax‑information reporting framework. Banks, mutual funds, insurance companies, custodian institutions and other investment entities must identify reportable accounts, verify customers’ tax‑resident status, and submit relevant data under the automatic exchange‑of‑financial‑account‑information mechanism. Enhanced due‑diligence procedures shall also apply to high‑value accounts with balances exceeding USD 1 million.
7. South Korea’s Second‑Largest Crypto Exchange Bithumb Targets 2028 IPO link
South Korea’s second‑largest crypto exchange Bithumb plans to complete its IPO in 2028. The firm will finish upgrading its internal‑control system and preparations for K‑IFRS conversion in 2026, and submit a preliminary listing application for review in 2027. To pave the way for the offering, Bithumb is strengthening compliance and risk management, reorganizing its business structure, improving liquidity and financial stability, and expanding disclosures covering financial conditions, material operational events and crypto‑asset holdings. The timeline is subject to change depending on market conditions and regulatory‑review progress.
8. Upbit Operator Dunamu Wins Bid for South Korean Police Seized‑Crypto Custody Project link
Dunamu, operator of South‑Korean crypto exchange Upbit, has been selected as the final bid winner for the National Police Agency’s “Seized Digital‑Asset Safekeeping and Management Project” under a one‑year contract. Crypto‑assets seized by police will be held and managed via Upbit Custody, utilizing 100 % cold‑wallet storage alongside security mechanisms including MPC, DKG and multi‑signature. Dunamu previously obtained the highest technical‑evaluation score of 94.14 points and was named the preferred negotiating party on July 8.
9. Shenzhen Employee Blackmails Employer for 630,000 Worth of BTC and USDT by Posing as Overseas Hacker link
An employee in Shenzhen, burdened with over RMB 400,000 in online‑loan debt, stole confidential R&D data contained in 43 corporate folders. Posing as an overseas hacker, he demanded ransoms of 0.88 BTC, 0.8 BTC and 90 000 USDT in sequence. Prosecutors calculated the case value at approximately RMB 630 000 based on the lowest exchange rate on the day of the incident. As the company never made any payment, the court convicted him of attempted extortion, sentencing him to three years and three months in prison plus a fine of RMB 10 000.
10. Wallet Cluster Allegedly Linked to Qian Zhimin Case Holds 28,555 BTC, Valued at ~$1.8 Billion link
On‑chain analyst Specter posted that after tracking a wallet dormant since 2017 which recently transferred out 1,020 BTC (approximately USD 60 million), he identified a cluster of addresses suspected to be linked to the Qian Zhimin case, holding a combined 28,555 BTC worth around USD 1.8 billion. Most of these wallets have shown no notable activity since June 2021. The Metropolitan Police Service of London previously stated it seized roughly 61,000 BTC during its investigation into Qian Zhimin, who is accused of defrauding more than 128,000 investors via the Lantian Gerui investment scam between 2014 and 2017. Specter notes that available on‑chain evidence cannot confirm who currently controls these addresses, nor whether they have been identified or seized by law‑enforcement authorities.
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