By Shikha Singh
Standard Chartered Taps Into EU Crypto Demand With New Luxembourg Hub.
Standard Chartered has obtained a crypto custody license in Luxembourg, allowing the bank to offer regulated crypto and digital asset services across the European Union (EU).
Luxembourg was chosen for its stable financial system and favorable regulatory environment, particularly in light of the EU’s new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations.
These regulations, effective from December 2024, create a comprehensive framework for crypto operations in the EU, requiring companies to obtain a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license to operate bloc-wide.
This move follows Standard Chartered’s expansion into the UAE in late 2024 and highlights the bank’s commitment to secure digital asset custody services.
Bitcoin, XRP, Cardano, and Dogecoin See Massive Growth in Wallets Amid Market Dip.
Despite bearish price movements for major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, XRP, Cardano, and Dogecoin, on-chain activity shows growing interest in these assets.
Since the start of 2025, Ethereum has added 645,000 wallets, which is a 0.5% increase, followed by Bitcoin with 102,000 new wallets.
XRP also saw a rise, gaining 58,000 new wallets (1.0% increase), likely due to hopes for favorable regulation and institutional adoption.
Dogecoin and Cardano showed modest growth, with 29,000 and 2,800 new wallets, respectively. However, Chainlink saw a decline of 3,300 wallets, reflecting potential FUD around the project.
AI16Z Leads Market Gains with 8% Jump.
AI16Z, a leading AI agent token, has emerged as the top performer in the market over the past 24 hours, with an 8% price increase and a 34% rise in trading volume, reaching $452 million.
However, speculative trading rather than strong buyer demand appears to be driving the token’s recent rally.
This raises concerns about the sustainability of the price surge. If actual demand for AI16Z increases, it could see a rally to its all-time high of $2.50, but if bearish pressure persists, the price may drop below $1.
K-pop’s Cube Entertainment CEO Accused Of Crypto Investment Scam.
Kang Seung-kon, the CEO of Cube Entertainment, has been implicated in a crypto scam involving Nestree, a cryptocurrency developed by Nestree Media Group.
Kang allegedly encouraged acquaintances to invest in Nestree, promising guaranteed returns. Cube Entertainment had also invested 100 million Korean won in the company.
However, the value of Nestree plummeted, leaving investors with significant losses. Despite the allegations, Kang denied making any guarantees, stating that the investment was part of Cube’s expansion into the blockchain business.
Circle gives $1 mn in USDC to the Inaugural Committee of Trump.
Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, donated $1 million to the inaugural committee of President-elect Donald Trump, marking a significant moment for the adoption of virtual currencies in mainstream finance.
With USDC pegged to the U.S. dollar, CEO Jeremy Allaire emphasized the growing recognition of digital dollars.
This donation is part of a broader trend, as other crypto firms like Coinbase, Kraken, and Ripple have also contributed substantial funds to Trump’s campaign.
Ripple’s RLUSD Listing Gains Momentum.
Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD has generated significant buzz in the crypto market, particularly after receiving approval from the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Both Ethereum and the XRP Ledger hosted its launch. RLUSD is gaining attention due to its association with Ripple and the company’s ongoing legal battles with U.S. regulators.
Bitstamp is one of the first exchanges to list RLUSD, and Ripple’s senior VP, Jack McDonald, is optimistic about its expansion to major exchanges like Coinbase and Binance in 2025.
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