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Pakistan has signed an MOU with SC Financial Technologies, affiliated with the Trump family’s World Liberty Financial, to pilot the USD1 stablecoin, pegged one-to-one to the U.S. dollar, within its payment system. The central bank aims to accelerate $30 billion in annual remittances while cutting high fees. Set for an official announcement in Islamabad, this is one of the first sovereign partnerships for the DeFi platform, launched in September 2024 by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, advancing Pakistan’s digital finance initiatives.

Ex-New York City Mayor Eric Adams, known as the pro-crypto “Bitcoin Mayor,” launched the $NYC token on January 12, 2026, in Times Square via X. He pledged 70 percent of the token supply to a reserve wallet to support causes like fighting antisemitism, anti-Americanism, HBCUs, and youth scholarships. The memecoin quickly reached a $600 million market cap before plummeting over 80 percent to around $108 million, amid liquidity withdrawals and top wallets taking $1 to $2.5 million in profits. On-chain analysis revealed heavy concentration among early holders and red flags for potential rug pulls. Fake clones also appeared on Pump.fun, and Adams has remained silent since the crash, highlighting the risks of memecoins even with celebrity backing.

After months of negotiation, Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott released the text of the nearly 280‑page Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025, a bipartisan proposal to bring clarity to U.S. crypto regulation. The bill draws a clearer line between SEC oversight for early‑stage tokens and CFTC control for ‘digital commodities’, aiming to resolve long‑standing regulatory uncertainty. It also includes DeFi exemptions and self‑custody protections to support innovation. Supporters like Sen. Cynthia Lummis and former CFTC Chair Atkins back the approach, while Democrats, including Sens. Jack Reed and Elizabeth Warren, express concerns about the timeline and possible loopholes ahead of the upcoming markup.

Standard Chartered’s SC Ventures is planning a crypto prime brokerage for institutional clients, offering custody, financing, trading, and clearing for Bitcoin, Ether, and other digital assets while avoiding Basel III 1250 percent capital charges. The move builds on the bank’s July 2025 debut in spot Bitcoin and Ether trading, its Zodia Custody expansion, Coinbase partnerships, and the 140 billion dollar spot ETF surge amid the UK’s 2026 crypto regulations. Talks are at an early stage with no confirmed launch date, reflecting growing Wall Street interest in institutional crypto.

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) will ban privacy tokens, including Zcash and Monero, in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) from January 12, 2026, citing money laundering and sanctions evasion risks linked to anonymized transactions. Regulated firms will be prohibited from trading, holding, promoting, or using mixers and tumblers. Stablecoins will now be restricted to fiat-pegged assets backed by high-quality, liquid reserves able to meet redemption requirements under stress. Firms must self-assess token suitability using updated criteria, replacing previous approved lists to enhance compliance and investor protection.

India’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has rolled out stricter anti‑money‑laundering and KYC rules for cryptocurrency exchanges to strengthen user verification and combat illicit activity. New onboarding requirements include live selfie verification using liveness detection, geolocation tracking (latitude, longitude, IP, timestamp), bank account confirmation via a small test transfer, and multiple government‑issued ID checks. Exchanges must also verify email and mobile numbers. These measures aim to improve transparency and traceability without banning crypto trading, though enhanced verification may slow onboarding.

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission has ended a nine-year ban on corporate crypto investments, originally imposed over money laundering concerns. Around 3,500 listed companies and professional investors can now allocate up to 5% of their equity annually to the top 20 cryptocurrencies on major exchanges like Upbit. Exchanges must apply staggered trades and size limits to reduce volatility. Stablecoin inclusion, such as USDT, remains under review. Critics argue the 5% cap is tighter than rules in the U.S. or Japan, while the move aligns with South Korea’s 2026 growth strategy and spot ETF plans.

Crypto YouTube viewership has plunged sharply over the past three months to its lowest level since January 2021, highlighting weak retail interest amid prolonged bear‑market conditions. Data shared by Benjamin Cowen shows a broad drop in 30‑day average views across channels, while creator Tom Crown says engagement has fallen across platforms since October. Analysts link the decline to retail fatigue from scams and poor returns, with some investors shifting focus to traditional assets as institutions dominate the current cycle.

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority will open a crypto licensing gateway in September 2026, giving firms time to prepare for a new regulatory regime launching on 25 October 2027. All crypto businesses will need fresh FCA approval under the Financial Services and Markets Act, as existing AML or payments registrations will not carry over. Companies that miss the deadline may continue offering current services under a transitional regime, but will be blocked from launching new products. The changes aim to improve oversight, raise standards, and strengthen consumer protection across the UK crypto market.

Grayscale Investments has filed for new trusts in Delaware to pave the way for BNB and HYPE exchange-traded funds, registering entities 10465871 and 10465863 with CSC Delaware Trust Company. This move follows the massive inflows seen in spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. BNB supports Binance’s ecosystem, while HYPE powers Hyperliquid’s high-speed futures trading, which captured up to 80% of on-chain activity at its peak. While no SEC filings have been submitted yet, the step highlights Grayscale’s confidence in altcoins like Solana and XRP and their long-term revenue potential.

Morgan Stanley filed an S-1 with the SEC for its Ethereum Trust, following recent Bitcoin and Solana ETF submissions. The $1.8 trillion firm will hold ETH directly, stake portions for yield through third parties, and enable in-kind redemptions to simplify client access. Building on its October 2025 crypto rollout via wealth management, this move eyes massive inflows as Ethereum’s staking and smart contracts draw institutional interest. 

Barclays, which manages $2.2 trillion in assets, has made its first move into stablecoins by backing Ubyx Inc., a U.S.-based clearing system for tokenized deposits and regulated stablecoins. Announced on January 7, 2026, the investment aims to improve connectivity across tokens, blockchains, and digital wallets as adoption of digital money accelerates. Ubyx CEO Tony McLaughlin says banks will increasingly offer digital wallets alongside traditional accounts, with Barclays joining Galaxy and Coinbase Ventures in Ubyx’s $10 million seed round.

Nike has quietly sold its digital products subsidiary RTFKT, which it acquired in 2021 as part of a push into NFTs and virtual sneakers, marking the end of its Web3 services announced earlier in 2025. The buyer and terms were not disclosed, but the move comes amid broader strategic shifts at Nike. Reports of the sale triggered a 195% surge in RTFKT’s market activity. Following news of the sale, Clone X NFT floor prices jumped significantly, sparking renewed optimism among holders and traders.