By Kapil Rajyaguru
Hong Kong SFC Grants First Crypto Licenses of 2025.
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong issued the first set of operational licenses of 2025 to two crypto trading platforms. The regulator has issued seven crypto licenses in total since it started a licensing drive in mid-2024.
On Jan. 27, the SFC awarded operational licenses to two Hong Kong-based crypto exchanges—PantherTrade and YAX. The Hong Kong government’s public records show that both entities registered under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO).
Czech National Bank Governor To Propose $7bn Bitcoin Reserve Plan.
The Czech National Bank (CNB) may become the first European central bank to invest in Bitcoin as part of its diversification strategy for the country’s foreign exchange reserves. CNB Governor Aleš Michl is set to present his Bitcoin acquisition plan to the bank’s board meeting on Jan. 30, he told the Financial Times.
If approved, the investment may amount to over $7.3 billion in Bitcoin purchases, given the CNB’s total reserves of more than $146 billion, according to André Dragosch, head of research at Bitwise. The news comes three weeks after Michl said he was looking at Bitcoin as a potential reserve asset and was considering acquiring “a few Bitcoin” for diversification.
Crypto.com To Delist Tether USDT, 9 Other Tokens In Europe On Jan. 31.
Cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com is among the first platforms to announce the delisting of Tether’s USDt and nine other tokens in Europe following the implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework. Crypto.com will suspend purchases of Tether USDt along with nine other tokens in line with Europe’s MiCA regulations on Jan. 31.
After disabling deposits, the exchange will continue to support withdrawals for the affected tokens until the end of the first quarter of 2025, with full delisting scheduled for March 31.
Apart from USDT, Crypto.com will also delist Wrapped Bitcoin, Dai, Pax Dollar, Pax Gold, PayPal USD, Crypto.com Stake ETH, Crypto.com Stake SOL, Liquid CRO, and XSGD.
Cboe BZX Refiles For Solana ETFs On Behalf of 4 Issuers.
The Cboe BZX Exchange has resubmitted filings on behalf of four asset managers looking to list a spot in the Solana exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the US this year. The exchange refiled 19b-4 filings for spot Solana ETFs from Bitwise, VanEck, 21Shares, and Canary Capital on Jan. 28 after the Securities and Exchange Commission reportedly rejected the applications late last year.
The refreshed filings effectively restart the SEC’s review process under the regulator’s new, more crypto-friendly acting chair, Mark Uyeda. They also better position Solana to become the third cryptocurrency available through a spot ETF listed on US stock exchanges, following products tracking Bitcoin and Ether launched last year.
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