Animoca Brands wins Abu Dhabi approval to launch regulated fund

  • Animoca must meet capital, compliance, and operational conditions before final approval.
  • The firm already secured in-principle approval for a crypto brokerage licence in Dubai in October.
  • Animoca’s portfolio spans more than 600 companies in web3 gaming, infrastructure, and digital rights.

Animoca Brands is taking a major step in its regulated expansion strategy as it secures initial approval to set up a fund management business in Abu Dhabi.

The move signals a deeper shift in how the company wants to operate across the Middle East, with a focus on building a structured, compliant base for its growing investment activities.

Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority granted the in-principle approval on November 24, giving the company a clear path toward full permission once it completes the required capital, compliance, and operational processes.

This early approval adds new direction to Animoca’s efforts to formalise its presence in a region that is fast becoming a centre for digital asset companies.

The firm sees the UAE as a growing market where regulated structures can attract both traditional investors and digital-native participants.

With operations already established in Dubai, the company is now tying its regional strategy to a framework that supports managed funds and institutional-grade products.

Investment expansion

The approval allows Animoca Brands to move closer to managing collective investment funds from within the UAE.

This is important for the business because it positions the firm to support institutional clients under a regulated environment.

Animoca already works across several areas of the web3 economy, including advisory services and investment activity, and it maintains a portfolio of more than 600 companies across gaming, infrastructure, digital property rights, and tokenised platforms.

A fund manager licence would give the company a structured base of operations for these investments, creating a unified location for regulated activities across its global network.

It also supports Animoca’s intention to build a wider footprint in markets where regulatory clarity is improving quickly.

By anchoring its investment work in Abu Dhabi, the firm is preparing for a future where compliant digital asset services will become more central to institutional adoption.

Regional licensing progress

Animoca Brands has been steadily expanding its regulatory presence in the Middle East.

In October, the firm secured in-principle approval for a crypto brokerage licence from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, allowing it to offer regulated trading services in the emirate.

The combination of approvals in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai shows how the company is shaping its regional strategy through recognised frameworks rather than informal or unregulated operations.

Alongside regulatory progress, Animoca is also working on tokenisation initiatives involving real-world assets.

A recent project involves a limited partnership fund developed with Hong Kong-listed DL Holdings, using the XRP Ledger to structure on-chain vehicles.

The company continues to add new programmes across education finance, token distribution, and web3 gaming, expanding the network of projects connected to its broader ecosystem.

Growing UAE digital assets focus

The UAE has become a priority destination for companies operating in the digital economy, and Animoca Brands is using this momentum to anchor its regulated activities in the region.

With clearer rules, new licensing pathways, and rising interest from global investors, the Middle East offers a strategic opportunity for businesses seeking compliant growth.

Animoca’s latest approval places the company at the centre of this shift as institutions look for regulated access to digital assets.

The firm’s chairman, Yat Siu, is scheduled to speak at the Global Blockchain Show 2025 in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the company’s role in regional discussions on digital asset development.

The new approval supports this engagement by giving Animoca a recognised path to expand its fund management and investment work as demand for regulated services continues to increase.

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GHOST price outlook ahead of privacy layer GhostPay launch

  • The altcoin braces for a recovery as it awaits a key catalyst this week.
  • The first anonymous payment layer on Solana GhostPay launches on November 26.
  • The debut could catalyze potential GHOST price recovery.

The countdown to GhostPay’s rollout started after the team confirmed this week’s debut in an X post.

With the first privacy payment layers launching on Solana soon, traders’ attention has shifted to GHOST’s price performance, especially as the community braces for partnership and new utility announcements.

The official announcement read:

“GhostPay officially arrives November 26. The first anonymous payment layer of Solana goes live. We’ll reveal new partners and use cases leading up to launch.

Notably, the rollout will mark the arrival of Solana’s first native privacy-focused payment layers, a breakthrough that might transform how anonymous transactions move on-chain.

Most importantly, the team promised new collaboration and more use cases ahead of the launch.

Traders are closely watching for these updates as they could trigger bounce-backs for native GHOST.

The altcoin was among the top-performing cryptos in October, gaining over 100% for the month.

Indeed, projects offering privacy features have seen an increase in demand in recent months, with projects like Zcash outperforming gloomy broader markets.

GHOST’s utility will expand rapidly if GhostPay secures strategic partnerships with DeFi protocols, cross-chain bridges, payment processors, or digital wallets.

Notably, markets tend to reprice real-world use cases quicker, and that positions GHOST for remarkable recoveries amidst GhostPay’s potential success.

Commenting on the upcoming launch, self-proclaimed crypto multi-millionaire Gordon posted on X:

Privacy on Solana is getting loud, GhostPay is about to unlock real utility, and holders receive 100% of the fees. The flywheel is already spinning.

GHOST price outlook

The alt changed hands at $0.059 after an over 2% dip in the last 24 hours.

GHOST shed more than 5% of its value the previous week due to broader market turmoil and profit taking after its impressive October performance.

Meanwhile, the token is attempting a recovery after hitting the support around $0.0058.

GHOST has tested this zone several times, making it crucial for a possible bounce-back.

Amplified bullish actions (if GhostPay drives substantial optimism) could see the alt surging towards the obstacle at $0.0089.

That would translate to a roughly 33% uptick from Ghost’s current market price.

Broader sentiment shifts could see GHOST continue its rally to the obstacle at $0.012 and extend to $0.15.

Meanwhile, intensified selling pressure in the overall cryptocurrency market could mean subdued price actions for GHOST.

Failure to hold above $0.0058 might catalyze downtrends toward the support zone at $0.0045.

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Ripple price forecast: XRP bounces back above $2.0 as the $1.9 support holds

Key takeaways

  • XRP is up by less than 1% and is now trading above $2.
  • The cryptocurrency could rally towards the $2.2 level in the near term.

XRP recovers as selloff temporarily halts

Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Ripple (XRP) begin the new week positively as they slightly recover from last week’s massive correction. These top three cryptocurrencies are currently trading above their key support levels, suggesting recovery continuation. 

Despite that, the market sentiment remains fragile, and the bearish trend could continue. XRP has lost 10% of its value since last week as the broader crypto market liquidated over $1 billion worth of leveraged positions within hours. 

The massive liquidations came as Bitcoin dropped towards the $81k level, while XRP failed to hold its value above $2.0. Ether also dropped below $3k for the first time in months.

However, the market is showing signs of recovery, and XRP could rally higher in the near term. Currently, the market is inefficient on several timeframes, and this could result in a temporary rally.

XRP recovers as the $1.96 support level holds

The XRP/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and inefficient thanks to XRP’s sudden dump last week. XRP’s price faced rejection from the 50-day EMA at $2.38 on November 13 and lost 19% of its value in the following eight days, hitting a low of $1.82 on Friday. 

XRP/USD 4H Chart

The cryptocurrency has rebounded slightly after retesting its daily support level above $1.9 over the weekend. At press time, XRP is trading above $2.05 per coin.

The RSI of 47 is close to the neutral 50, suggesting that bearish pressure is easing and supporting a recovery view. The MACD lines are also closing in on the bullish crossover. 

If the recovery continues, XRP could rally towards the next major resistance around $2.35 over the next few hours or days. However, if XRP undergoes another correction, it could retest the Friday low of $1.82 in the near term.

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Thailand’s Bitkub said to eye Hong Kong listing

  • Thai market weakness is influencing the company’s shift.
  • The potential fundraising amount is about $200 million.
  • IPO activity in Hong Kong is heading for a four-year high.

Bitkub is considering a potential listing in Hong Kong, as per a Bloomberg report, signalling how crypto companies across Asia are reassessing where to raise capital as regulatory frameworks and market performance continue to diverge.

The discussions suggest that regional players are increasingly looking beyond their home markets to tap investor interest and align with the region’s shifting regulatory map.

Hong Kong IPO plans

Experts say Bitkub may pursue the Hong Kong route as early as next year, although the plans remain under evaluation.

The company is studying how a listing there could support expansion and strengthen its position in a region where crypto regulation is evolving.

The potential deal size, under review as discussions continue, notes Bloomberg, is expected to be around 200 million dollars, though the final structure could change as conditions develop.

Thai market pressures

Thailand’s stock market conditions appear to be a central factor behind the shift.

The domestic exchange has struggled this year, posting one of the weakest performances globally.

New listings have seen a weighted average decline of more than 12%, placing pressure on companies looking to attract stable demand.

The SET Index has also fallen by about 10%, prompting some firms to explore more resilient capital markets across Asia.

Bitkub had previously explored a local listing, but the prolonged downturn has encouraged a reassessment of regional options with stronger liquidity.

Hong Kong digital assets push

Hong Kong has been positioning itself as a regulated centre for digital assets, aiming to regain ground lost during earlier market retreats.

The city has introduced a licensing framework for crypto platforms to create a clearer regulatory environment and support investor confidence.

Bloomberg states that officials are also working on measures that may encourage more exchanges and institutions to operate within the market, although overall trading activity remains quiet for now.

A Bitkub listing would contribute to the city’s plan to draw more international companies and expand its role in the Asian digital assets landscape.

Regional competition for listings

A listing by Bitkub would support Hong Kong’s wider efforts to attract firms from outside mainland China.

The city is heading for its strongest year for first-time share sales in four years, with Bloomberg estimating potential proceeds of more than $40 billion by year’s end.

For now, the consideration of a Hong Kong listing highlights how regional players are adapting to a rapidly changing environment.

As Asian markets refine their regulatory approaches and compete to establish stronger positions in digital assets, companies such as Bitkub are reassessing where their future growth and investor access may be best supported.

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Bitcoin under pressure as ETF outflows and margin liquidations drive sharp selloff

  • Bitcoin ETF outflows and shrinking liquidity intensified the recent BTC price decline.
  • Margin liquidations accelerated the selloff as key support levels broke.
  • Correlation with tech stocks added pressure amid broader risk-off sentiment.

Bitcoin price has come under intense pressure in recent weeks, with the market enduring a deep pullback fueled by weakening demand, heavy ETF outflows, and a wave of forced liquidations.

The downturn has erased months of gains and pushed traders to question whether the latest slide marks a temporary setback or the start of a deeper cycle reset.

ETF outflows add fuel to the decline

Bitcoin’s slide has been sharp and persistent since its early October peak above $126,000.

Since the October peak, the cryptocurrency has shed almost $800 billion in value, sinking to levels last seen in the spring.

ETFs, once a stabilising force for Bitcoin (BTC), are now driving additional weakness.

BlackRock’s IBIT ETF, which previously absorbed sell-offs, has posted its largest monthly redemption on record, with $520 million leaving the fund.

This reversal marks a shift in institutional sentiment and has become a major source of downward pressure.

A recent NYDIG research highlights how ETF outflows, shrinking stablecoin supplies, and changing corporate treasury strategies are eroding the demand engine that supported Bitcoin earlier this year.

Greg Cipolaro of NYDIG describes the current cycle as a “negative feedback loop,” in which factors that once boosted the market are now accelerating the downturn.

This shift has placed Bitcoin under sustained selling pressure at a time when broader risk appetite is also weakening.

A key part of this shift can be seen in the stablecoin market, where supplies have declined for the first time in months, with some tokens losing significant value after liquidation events.

In addition, digital asset treasuries, once active Bitcoin buyers, are pulling back as they reduce liabilities through asset sales or share buybacks.

These moves have contributed to a steady drain of liquidity across the crypto sector.

Bitcoin price outlook

From a technical standpoint, Bitcoin has plunged into oversold territory and printed a hammer candle, hinting at a potential swing low.

Eyes are now on $88,500, which capped rallies earlier in the year and briefly halted last week’s selloff.

A sustained break above it could create conditions for a short-term recovery, with targets near $94,000 and $95,000.

However, that setup faces stiff resistance from broader market sentiment.

Bitcoin’s tight relationship with risk assets adds another layer of complexity.

The correlation between Bitcoin and Nasdaq 100 futures has climbed to unusually high levels, reaching near 0.96.

When tech stocks fall, Bitcoin tends to follow, and recent turbulence tied to concerns over an AI bubble has weighed heavily on both markets.

Bitcoin dominance has also slipped to multi-month lows, signalling that capital is drifting away from BTC and into either safer assets or high-risk alternatives.

The market is also seeing increased volatility from margin liquidations.

Leveraged positions, especially in perpetual futures, have magnified the recent moves.

As Bitcoin fell below $87,000, more than $900 million in positions were wiped out, with longs taking most of the damage.

Notably, liquidation cascades have become a recurring theme, deepening each leg lower.

Furthermore, oscillating indicators, including the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), remain bearish, hinting that previous bounces have been sold into quickly.

Bitcoin price analysis
Bitcoin price analysis | Source: TradingView

A drop below recent lows could open the door to a retest of the $76,000 region, where Bitcoin (BTC) stabilised during an earlier market shock linked to tariff fears.

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