KuCoin has officially registered with Australia’s financial intelligence agency, AUSTRAC, clearing the way for the global crypto exchange to operate legally under local oversight. The move comes at a crucial moment as regulators intensify scrutiny of offshore trading platforms and push more digital assets under existing financial laws.

Regulators, including ASIC, have recently warned that many tokens, stablecoins and tokenized products may fall under the Corporations Act, meaning platforms could require proper licensing. KuCoin’s registration positions the exchange to meet these rising standards while strengthening its presence in one of the region’s fastest-growing crypto markets.

To enhance its services, KuCoin is partnering with ASIC-licensed Echuca Trading to bring regulated crypto futures to Australian users. The exchange has also launched new fiat on-ramp support, allowing easier deposits of local currency for buying and trading crypto. KuCoin says it plans to pursue additional approvals as it expands its regulated offerings across Australia.

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Major momentum is building in the crypto world as VanEck prepares to debut its groundbreaking spot BNB ETF, trading under the ticker VBNB. The new fund will directly hold BNB tokens, giving investors a simple, transparent way to gain exposure to one of the market’s top digital assets—without managing wallets or private keys.

Set to reshape crypto investing, VBNB tracks the real-time performance of BNB through the MarketVector BNB Index, offering a regulated and familiar investment vehicle for both retail and institutional investors. The launch highlights the rapidly growing demand for digital-asset ETFs, signaling a major step forward as traditional finance continues merging with the crypto sector.

Analysts say the VBNB ETF could spark a new wave of mainstream adoption, giving investors a powerful diversification tool as interest in digital currencies accelerates. With VanEck’s reputation and the rising influence of BNB, this move marks a significant milestone for the broader crypto market.

SEC Filing

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is preparing new rules that would require domestic crypto exchanges to hold liability reserves, according to Nikkei Asia. The proposal aims to strengthen user protection by ensuring exchanges can compensate customers if losses occur from hacks or system breaches. Japan already mandates that customer assets be stored in cold wallets, but current law does not require dedicated reserves. The FSA expects to submit the bill to parliament next year.

Recent industry shocks continue to motivate tighter safeguards. In 2024, local platform DMM Bitcoin suffered a major breach worth roughly $312 million, traced to a trading management partner. Regulators are also pushing a registration system for third-party custodians and service providers, expected to be submitted during the 2026 Diet session.

Japan is simultaneously advancing crypto-friendly reforms. The FSA is considering reclassifying digital assets under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and lowering capital-gains tax on crypto to a flat 20%. Major banks are exploring yen-backed stablecoins, and leading asset managers, including MUFG and Daiwa, are preparing the country’s first crypto investment trusts.

Nikkei

TD Cowen analysts say Strategy’s stock could face continued pressure due to an impending MSCI review. 

The firm expects that PBTCs like Strategy will be removed from all MSCI indexes this February. A formal decision is expected around mid-January.

Cowen called the potential removal “capricious” but emphasized that investors should prepare for sustained selling pressure. The analysts note that Strategy is not a fund, trust, or holding company. Instead, it is a public operating company. Its $500 million software business generates all of its revenue. 

Meanwhile, its Bitcoin treasury operations are innovative and active, offering unique Bitcoin-backed…

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A Hong Kong man has been sentenced to seven years in a Canadian prison for participating in a violent home invasion that left a British Columbia family tortured and robbed of $1.6 million in Bitcoin.

Tsz Wing Boaz Chan, 35, flew from Hong Kong to Vancouver in early 2024 to take part in the meticulously planned attack, which authorities say involved extreme violence, sexual assault, and psychological torture over a 13.5-hour ordeal.

On the evening of April 27, 2024, four men, two dressed in Canada Post uniforms, gained entry to the Port Moody home of the targeted family. The attackers restrained the husband, wife, and young daughter, threatening their lives and forcing the…

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BitMine Immersion Technologies has announced that it now owns 3% of the entire Ethereum supply, marking a major step toward its bold goal of reaching 5%. The company’s total crypto, cash, and “moonshot” holdings have climbed to $11.2 billion, including 3.63 million ETH, $800 million in cash, and additional digital assets. Executives say the recent crypto price dip offers a strong risk-reward setup ahead of what they call an Ethereum “supercycle.”

The company continues to outpace its crypto-treasury peers, both in the rapid growth of net asset value per share and in trading activity. BMNR is now the 50th most traded stock in the U.S., moving an average of $1.6 billion daily, placing it ahead of many major tech names. BitMine remains backed by top institutional investors including ARK’s Cathie Wood, Founders Fund, Pantera, Kraken, and Galaxy Digital.

Leadership highlighted the upcoming launch of the Made in America Validator Network in early 2026 and confirmed that BitMine’s annual shareholder meeting will be held at the Wynn Las Vegas on January 15, 2026.

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Strike CEO Jack Mallers said JPMorgan Chase abruptly closed his personal bank accounts last month without providing a clear explanation, sparking fresh debate over the banking industry’s treatment of crypto executives.

“Last month, J.P. Morgan Chase threw me out of the bank. It was bizarre. My dad has been a private client there for 30+ years,” Mallers wrote on social media platform X. When he pressed the bank for details, he said the only response was, “We aren’t allowed to tell you.”

Mallers shared a letter from JPMorgan Chase, which cited unspecified “concerning activity” on his accounts. The letter, which Mallers jokingly said he had framed, noted the bank’s…

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