Finance and Business News page 4

The approval comes as Kazakhstan moves to impose stricter oversight on digital asset trading. Payward, the parent company of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, has secured initial approval to operate in Kazakhstan. The development was reported by Bitcoin.com News and Fintech News Singapore on October 23, 2026.

The digital asset infrastructure firm pushed back on claims that Visa was in discussions to buy it for $2.5 billion. Fireblocks, a company that provides custody, wallet infrastructure and transfer technology for digital assets, has publicly denied reports of acquisition talks with Visa. The reports had put a potential deal value at approximately $2.5 billion.

Bank Negara Malaysia and the Bank of Thailand add their weight to a Monetary Authority of Singapore-led effort on cross-border stablecoin infrastructure. Bank Negara Malaysia and the Bank of Thailand have formally joined BLOOM, a cross-border initiative originated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

The Commodity Markets Council argues Kalshi's new product oversteps its regulatory lane and threatens established derivatives markets. The Commodity Markets Council has formally urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to block Kalshi from launching a perpetual oil futures contract.

Investors pulled money from US Bitcoin funds well before the asset reached levels that typically trigger heavier selling. Bitcoin slipped under $82,000 this week, extending a decline that has rattled holders of US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds.

The bank's first Hong Kong dollar stablecoin moves from pilot stage into retail payments through its PayMe app. HSBC has introduced RedCoin, a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin, to retail customers through its PayMe payment platform.

Corroboration arrived at very different speeds across Tuesday's slate, and the gap tells you more about each claim than the headline does. Corroboration arrived at very different speeds across Tuesday's slate, and the gap tells you more about each claim than the headline does.

The venture firm is rebranding its digital asset unit as it widens its focus to AI and other frontier technologies. Andreessen Horowitz, one of the most prominent venture capital firms backing digital asset startups, is dropping the word "crypto" from the name of its dedicated investment division.

The oracle network's tie-up with LG Group's IT arm targets institutional blockchain adoption in South Korea. Chainlink has entered a partnership with LG CNS, the information technology and digital services subsidiary of South Korea's LG Group, Bitcoin.com News reported.

The stablecoin issuer is backing Peso's push to bring USDT-based payments to four Latin American markets. Tether has made an investment in Peso, a fintech company based in Bolivia, according to reports from crypto.news and NewsBTC.

A draft consensus upgrade aims to shrink the wait for irreversible settlement, potentially lowering costs for moving crypto across the network. Ethereum researchers have outlined a plan to shorten the time it takes for transactions to become irreversible, according to reporting from Coindoo, CoinDesk, and Bankless.

The development arm behind Dogecoin says it is building economic infrastructure tied to the coin's long-running $1 price goal. Dogecoin Labs, the organization tied to development work on the Dogecoin network, has signaled an effort to expand the coin's purpose beyond its meme-driven reputation.

Lawmakers are reportedly close to finalizing a second-phase crypto law while disagreement over digital asset taxation grows louder. South Korea's crypto regulatory framework is reportedly entering its final stages, according to reports from The Block and CryptoBriefing. Both outlets describe a second-phase bill that would expand oversight of the digital asset sector as nearing completion.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs absorbed more than $1 billion in fresh capital, yet the asset failed to break key resistance and retreated instead. Bitcoin slipped below the $82,500 level this week, even as spot exchange-traded funds tracking the asset pulled in more than $1 billion in net inflows.

Fresh demand for spot Bitcoin funds extends a multi-day buying streak even as reports diverge on the token's recent price direction. US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded $528 million in net inflows on the latest trading day, according to data cited by multiple outlets.

The foundation argues regulators should fix existing gaps in crypto rules rather than pull staking and decentralized finance under MiCA's scope. The Cardano Foundation has called on European Union officials to prioritize fixing existing flaws in the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation.

Dubai's virtual asset regulator has cleared the exchange to operate spot trading services for retail and institutional clients. Bybit has secured a license from the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, Dubai's dedicated crypto oversight body, to offer spot trading services in the emirate.

The regulator is asking industry and public for input on how decentralized finance should fit into Britain's upcoming crypto framework. The UK Financial Conduct Authority has opened a public consultation on decentralized finance regulation. The move is part of broader preparations for a comprehensive crypto regulatory regime due to take effect in 2027.