Hong Kong crypto rules attract global banks as AMINA wins new approval

  • The licence covers 13 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ether, USD,C and Tether.
  • AMINA reported a 233% increase in Hong Kong trading volumes in early 2025.
  • Hong Kong launched new stablecoin rules and approved a Solana ETF this year.

Hong Kong’s push to build a regulated digital asset market is drawing more interest from global financial institutions, and the latest example is Swiss crypto bank AMINA Bank AG securing approval to expand its services in the city.

The bank received a Type 1 licence uplift from the Securities and Futures Commission, which makes it the first international bank allowed to offer regulated crypto trading and custody to institutional clients in Hong Kong.

The move strengthens the city’s position as a regional digital asset hub and highlights rising demand for bank-grade crypto services among professional traders.

AMINA plans to use the approval to provide institutional users with a regulated route into cryptocurrencies at a time when clients are looking for stronger safeguards and clearer rules.

Hong Kong’s compliance standards have often limited the number of foreign institutions able to offer these services, which has left a gap in the market for firms with established banking frameworks.

AMINA’s entry aims to fill that gap while giving clients a regulated platform backed by traditional financial infrastructure.

AMINA expands in a fast growing market

The licence uplift allows AMINA’s Hong Kong subsidiary to offer trading and custody for 13 cryptocurrencies.

These include Bitcoin, Ether, USDC, Tether, and several leading decentralised finance tokens that are widely used across global exchanges.

The approval creates new opportunities for institutional clients looking for a single regulated venue with access to a curated list of major digital assets.

AMINA also reported a sharp rise in market activity.

The bank recorded a 233% increase in trading volume on Hong Kong crypto exchanges in the first half of 2025.

The increase points to stronger engagement from both institutional and retail segments, which are becoming more active as Hong Kong’s regulatory environment evolves.

The bank expects the new approval to support a wider product range.

It plans to expand into private fund management, structured crypto products, derivatives, and tokenised real-world assets.

These additions would place AMINA among the firms offering institutional clients diversified exposure across multiple types of digital assets.

Local players face new global competition

While AMINA is the first international bank to receive this specific licence upgrade, it enters a competitive market.

Hong Kong already hosts regulated local firms such as Tiger Brokers and HashKey, which serve institutional and retail clients under earlier permissions.

AMINA’s approval signals that the market is open to more foreign institutions, which could change competitive dynamics for both global and local providers.

Hong Kong officials have said on multiple occasions that attracting global firms is central to the city’s digital asset strategy.

AMINA’s arrival may encourage more banks and brokerages abroad to consider similar applications as they assess opportunities in Asia’s regulated crypto markets.

Policy changes shape Hong Kong’s crypto framework

AMINA’s approval arrives during a period of rapid policy development in the city.

Hong Kong introduced its new stablecoin rules in August, creating a formal licensing pathway for issuers.

Following this, major regional banks such as HSBC and ICBC indicated they were examining licence applications as part of their digital asset plans.

The city also approved its first Solana exchange-traded fund in late October.

The approval placed Hong Kong ahead of the US in allowing a regulated Solana ETF and added another product to its growing list of crypto-linked investment options.

Hong Kong tightened rules around self-custody of digital assets in August.

The change focused on improving cybersecurity protections and reducing risks tied to individual key management.

The decision was presented as a safety measure rather than a restriction on user access.

The combination of new rules and rising institutional interest has created an environment that is now attracting more global firms.

AMINA’s regulatory progress adds momentum to Hong Kong’s strategy of balancing strong compliance with market expansion.

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Crypto loopholes across Canada enable silent cash transfers

  • A Toronto outlet handed over $1,900.00 in cash using only a $5 bill for verification.
  • Ukraine-based exchange 001k offered to deliver $1,000,000.00 in cash in Montreal.
  • Over 20 crypto-to-cash services were found operating unregistered across Canada.

A report by CBC has revealed how Canada is witnessing the rise of unregulated crypto-to-cash services that enable large-scale anonymous financial transfers.

These operations not only bypass anti-money laundering laws but also establish an untraceable money trail that financial intelligence agencies are unable to track.

Across cities from Toronto to Montreal, crypto platforms are facilitating discreet cash handovers worth thousands and even millions, without requiring any identification from users.

Despite rules that demand full verification for transactions over $1,000.00, services continue to hand over cash using only minimal confirmation.

Experts have raised alarm over the role of these services in enabling potential money laundering, illicit trade, and financial crime.

Investigative efforts have now revealed how this silent financial movement is escaping oversight in plain sight.

Crypto-for-cash deals avoid ID checks

In one midtown Toronto branch of a registered money transfer business, a $1,900.00 cash pickup was arranged through encrypted messages using the Telegram app.

The only verification required was a photo of a Canadian $5 bill.

The customer, who had earlier transferred 2,000 tether tokens to Ukraine-based crypto exchange 001k, showed the physical bill and received $100 notes from the teller with no further questions.

Such transactions breach Canada’s anti-money laundering regulations, which require personal identification and transaction documentation for any transfer exceeding $1,000.

The company later claimed that the arrangement had been made by a rogue manager using personal funds off the official books.

The teller involved, they said, acted without knowledge of the transaction’s real nature.

001k is not registered with FINTRAC, the Canadian financial intelligence agency, and therefore is not legally permitted to conduct business with Canadians.

Yet the transaction went ahead and passed under the regulatory radar.

Platforms offer million-dollar handovers

The same pattern was uncovered in Montreal.

Journalists engaged in anonymous conversations with crypto services, including 001k and another unnamed provider.

Both offered to deliver $1,000,000.00 and $890,000.00 in cash, respectively, in exchange for tether sent to designated wallets.

No identification was asked for at any stage.

These platforms operate online, contactable via web directories and Telegram channels.

Many advertise in plain sight and offer face-to-face cash deals in locations ranging from Halifax to Vancouver.

According to experts, more than 20 such services were found in Canada, most operating without proper registration or regulatory checks.

Despite Canada’s attempt to regulate the sector through FINTRAC, enforcement remains limited.

The agency oversees over 2,600 registered money service businesses, but lacks the resources to track unregistered and underground operators.

A growing global laundering channel

Crypto analysis firm Crystal revealed to CBC that crypto-to-cash services in Hong Kong alone processed $2.5 billion in 2024.

Canada’s rapidly growing market could mirror that figure if enforcement continues to lag.

With the rise of digital tokens like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether, it has become easier for money to move across borders and be converted into untraceable cash.

Law enforcement depends on access to user identity at the point where crypto enters or exits the system.

When transactions are carried out without registration, those points vanish, and the blockchain’s transparency becomes meaningless.

Investigators lose visibility once digital assets are converted into physical currency anonymously.

The flexibility of these services creates risk.

Anyone can now move large sums in or out of Canada without detection, including organised crime networks and individuals involved in illegal activity.

Without active compliance monitoring, these transactions take place without leaving any traceable connection.

Canada struggles to enforce crypto regulations

Canadian regulators are under-equipped to deal with the scale of the problem.

Crypto platforms can connect users in seconds, bypassing traditional financial systems and enabling instant access to large volumes of cash.

FINTRAC’s oversight is stretched, and its inability to track foreign operators or monitor encrypted platforms like Telegram leaves a major gap in financial security.

The use of small signals, like a $5 bill serial number, to validate multi-thousand-dollar exchanges highlights just how far removed these services are from compliance.

Unless significant regulatory action is taken, Canada could continue to serve as a silent hub for crypto cash transfers that avoid scrutiny, recordkeeping, and legal obligations.

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Kiyosaki defends Bitcoin and warns Wall Street as crypto volatility returns

  • Kiyosaki accused Wall Street of promoting paper assets that benefit insiders.
  • He said gold, silver, and Bitcoin provide value outside institutional control.
  • His Bitcoin forecast puts the price at $250,000 by 2026.

As volatility grips the crypto market again, Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki has stepped up in defence of Bitcoin and decentralised assets.

Amid renewed price swings and public doubt over digital currencies, Kiyosaki argued that Bitcoin remains a hedge against centralised financial systems and inflation.

He described it as “people’s money,” contrasting it with what he calls “fake money” issued by the US Federal Reserve and Treasury.

While Warren Buffett’s past criticisms labelling Bitcoin as “gambling” resurfaced online, it was Kiyosaki’s response that reignited debate across financial communities.

His message was clear: the fault lies not with crypto, but with a broken fiat system that he believes Wall Street continues to uphold.

Fiat risks and distrust in institutions

Kiyosaki has long rejected the idea that centralised institutions should be the backbone of wealth.

In his view, the real danger to investors is not Bitcoin’s volatility, but the ongoing reliance on a system driven by inflation and debt.

He warned that assets like stocks and bonds, frequently promoted by institutional investors, are just as vulnerable to collapse.

According to him, the core issue is trust. While traditional markets claim to offer safety, Kiyosaki sees them as tools that enrich the powerful while exposing regular people to risk.

This, he argues, is why decentralised assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum are gaining ground—they provide financial autonomy in an unstable environment.

He classifies gold and silver as “God’s money” and Bitcoin as “people’s money,” highlighting their independence from government control and printing presses.

With Bitcoin capped at 21 million coins, Kiyosaki says it offers protection that fiat currencies simply cannot match.

Kiyosaki’s challenge to the financial establishment

As Wall Street continues to sell institutional products, Kiyosaki is urging people to reconsider what really holds value.

He questioned how long investors can trust paper-based assets in a world where central banks can print currency without limits.

He emphasised that real-world necessities cannot be replaced with financial abstractions.

“You cannot live in a paper house, drive using paper fuel, or eat paper food,” he wrote, pointing to the artificial nature of fiat-based wealth.

By comparison, assets like Bitcoin offer a limited-supply, decentralised alternative that he believes is better suited to survive economic instability.

Bitcoin prediction and market direction

Amid the broader market uncertainty, Kiyosaki has also made a bold forecast. He predicts Bitcoin could reach $250,000 by 2026, a significant rise from its current level around $95,600.

While this projection is speculative, it aligns with his belief that decentralised assets will outperform as trust in fiat continues to erode.

Though Warren Buffett’s view of Bitcoin as speculative persists, Kiyosaki’s message offers a pointed challenge to the financial status quo.

His comments reflect a growing shift in investor sentiment, where control, transparency, and scarcity are seen as more valuable than institutional assurance.

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Bitcoin Cash price prediction: eyes on the $460 demand zone if support gives way

  • Bitcoin Cash price is under selling pressure, testing support near $470.8 and $460.3.
  • Bitcoin pullback and market fear amplify downside risks for the BCH price.
  • Key resistance sits at $528.85, with potential upside if support holds.

Bitcoin Cash price has come under significant pressure in the past 24 hours, with BCH slipping to $491.09 following a series of technical setbacks and broader market weakness.

After failing to hold above the $530 resistance level, Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has seen selling momentum intensify, as a result of technical profit-taking and the influence of the Bitcoin price pullback.

Eyes are now on whether BCH can stabilise above critical support levels or if the selling pressure will push the cryptocurrency toward lower demand zones.

BCH struggles under resistance amid bear pressures

On November 13, Bitcoin Cash surged to $532 but faced rejection at the $530–$532 zone, failing to sustain a breakout.

The cryptocurrency’s inability to remain above the 200-day EMA at $510.56 led to a break below the crucial $515 support, triggering algorithmic sell orders.

Technical indicators such as the MACD, which remains below its signal line, have reinforced bearish momentum, while a close below the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement at $500.23 has invalidated the short-term bullish structure.

Traders should now watch closely for a reclaim of $515 to stabilise prices, although a drop below $480 could open the door to deeper corrections.

Bitcoin price pullback drags BCH lower

BCH had not been immune to the broader weakness in the crypto market.

However, Bitcoin’s rejection near $107,000 caused capital rotation away from riskier altcoins, with Bitcoin Cash (BCH) showing a 30-day correlation of 0.89 to Bitcoin (BTC).

This strong correlation amplified the downside, contributing to a 24-hour trading volume surge of 10.58% to $523 million as traders exited positions amid panic selling.

Market-wide risk aversion has further fueled the decline, with derivatives data showing a 4.58% drop in BCH futures open interest and overall spot volumes falling by more than 21%, reflecting low conviction across the market.

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index, sitting at 22, indicating “Extreme Fear,” has also intensified the bearish sentiment.

Bitcoin Cash price short-term outlook

On shorter timeframes, the 6-hour chart highlights heavy selling momentum as BCH nears critical support.

The immediate support around $470.8 is under pressure, with a notable demand zone at $460.3 potentially acting as a floor for buyers.

Resistance is positioned near $528.85, though the price has shown limited strength to test it.

A confirmed reversal pattern above 470.8 could prompt a retracement toward $528.85, but without clear bullish signals, further decline toward the 460.3 demand zone is likely.

Bitcoin price analysis
Bitcoin price chart | Source: CoinMarketCap

Traders are advised to watch for momentum shifts before entering new positions, as failure to hold support could result in accelerated downside movement.

Longer-term resistance levels also frame the narrative for the BCH price.

According to market analysis, holding above $473.62 is crucial for any upward movement toward $493.23, and surpassing that could pave the way to $528.85, with $544.23 marking the third resistance target.

Conversely, if $473.62 fails to hold, BCH may slide toward the next support at $444.75, underscoring the importance of this critical level in guiding near-term market behaviour.

Traders and investors should keep a close eye on momentum shifts, as failure to hold key support could lead BCH toward lower levels, while maintaining stability could allow for a measured rebound.

For those tracking market dynamics, understanding the interplay between Bitcoin Cash price and broader crypto movements remains critical in anticipating potential swings and making informed decisions.

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UAE makes Bitcoin wallets a crime risk in global tech crackdown

  • The UAE’s Federal-Decree Law No. 6 of 2025 came into effect on 16 September.
  • Article 62 places APIs, explorers, and decentralised platforms under Central Bank control.
  • Article 61 regulates all marketing, emails, and online posts about crypto services.

In a sharp pivot from its crypto-friendly image, the United Arab Emirates has enacted sweeping new legislation that classifies basic cryptocurrency infrastructure, including Bitcoin wallets, as potentially criminal unless licensed by the Central Bank.

Legal experts from Gibson Dunn have flagged the law’s scope as unusually broad, warning that its language introduces significant risk for global technology providers.

This shift, embedded in Federal-Decree Law No. 6 of 2025, comes into force from 16 September and carries global consequences for developers and platforms offering crypto access.

The law replaces the 2018 banking statute and significantly widens the definition of financial activity. What sets this legislation apart is not only its scope but also its enforcement teeth.

Penalties for non-compliance range from fines of AED 50,000 to AED 500,000,000 (up to $136,000,000) and may include imprisonment.

Importantly, this applies not just to entities operating within the UAE but also to those whose products are accessible from within the country.

Licensing now applies to wallets, APIs and even analytics

The most consequential element of the new law is found in Article 62. It grants the Central Bank control over any technology that “engages in, offers, issues, or facilitates” financial activity.

The wording is broad enough to encompass self-custodial wallets, API services, blockchain explorers, analytics platforms, and even decentralised protocols.

This marks a fundamental change in how crypto infrastructure is regulated in the UAE.

Previously, licensing obligations focused on traditional financial entities, but the updated framework shifts this focus to include software and data tools.

According to developer analysis, even public-facing tools such as CoinMarketCap and open-source Bitcoin wallets may now require licensing to remain accessible within the UAE.

For the first time, developers may face criminal penalties for offering unlicensed crypto tools, even if they are based abroad.

This extension of jurisdiction signals a new regulatory posture that treats access to crypto as tightly as its ownership or exchange.

Communications and marketing now fall under regulation

The crackdown does not stop at financial infrastructure. Article 61 of the same law defines the marketing, promotion, or advertising of financial services as a licensable activity.

In practice, this means that simply hosting a website, publishing an article, or sharing a tweet about an unlicensed crypto service could be considered a legal violation if that content reaches UAE residents.

This change dramatically expands the compliance footprint for companies and developers.

Gibson Dunn highlights that these provisions materially broaden the enforcement perimeter, especially for firms with no formal presence in the UAE.

The law applies to communications that originate outside the country but are accessible inside it.

The result is a regulatory landscape where developers, content creators, and infrastructure providers must weigh whether their platforms are indirectly accessible by users in the UAE.

In many cases, avoiding legal exposure may require disabling access or halting service altogether.

Dubai’s free zones no longer shield crypto services

Over recent years, the UAE has positioned itself as a hub for blockchain innovation.

Jurisdictions such as Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) attracted global attention with purpose-built crypto licensing frameworks.

However, the new federal law overrides these free-zone arrangements, asserting Central Bank control nationwide.

Federal law supersedes any rules introduced by the UAE’s free zones, effectively dissolving the regulatory arbitrage that once drew companies to Dubai.

The broader context includes the country’s history of digital restrictions.

For instance, WhatsApp voice calls remain blocked across the UAE, reinforcing a consistent policy approach to centralised control over communications and digital tools.

While this may bring the UAE in closer alignment with international pressure from groups like the Financial Action Task Force, it also puts crypto service providers in a difficult position.

In other jurisdictions facing similar pressure, firms have withdrawn entirely to avoid enforcement risk.

Enforcement begins in 2026, with further rules expected

Entities have a one-year window from 16 September 2025 to come into compliance. This grace period may be extended at the discretion of the Central Bank.

During this time, further regulations are expected to clarify how these broad rules will be applied in practice.

Despite this, the scope of the law is already causing concern.

The language around facilitation and communication, combined with the severe penalties under Article 170, suggests that firms offering crypto tools globally must now consider the risk of incidental exposure to UAE users.

For software developers and platform operators, this marks a significant departure from the norms of decentralised access and open-source innovation.

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