Hodlnaut to proceed to liquidation

The Japanese government and ruling coalition have begun coordinating plans to introduce a flat 20% separate tax on cryptocurrency gains, based on a Dec. 1 report by Nikkei cited by CoinDesk Japan. The change is expected to be reflected in the 2026 tax reform outline.Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on PexelsLower crypto taxes, aligned with stocksUnder the proposal, income from crypto trading would be taxed in line with traditional financial instruments such as stocks. This would mark a notable decrease from the current regime, under which cryptocurrency gains are treated in principle as miscellaneous income, combined with salary and other earnings, and taxed on a comprehensive basis at rates that can climb to around 55% including local taxes. Policymakers are reportedly treating the move toward separate taxation as contingent on the establishment of a stronger investor-protection framework through tighter regulation. The planned reforms are also seen as potentially laying the groundwork for the eventual domestic approval of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) backed by crypto assets. Market pullback deepens on policy signalsThe more favorable tax outlook for investors came against a weaker market backdrop. According to CoinMarketCap, the total crypto market capitalization declined about 1.73% over the past 24 hours, extending a pullback that followed recent communications from the central banks of Japan and China. In a Dec. 1 report by Reuters, Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda indicated that the central bank intended to consider the possibility of an interest-rate increase at its next policy meeting. His comments are interpreted as suggesting a potential shift toward higher rates in December, prompting concern that yen-funded carry trades could begin to be unwound. Such trades typically involve borrowing yen at low interest rates to invest in higher-yielding assets, and their reversal can create pressure on broader asset markets. In a separate weekend statement, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) restated that digital asset trading remains illegal in China and highlighted what it described as a renewed pickup in speculative crypto activity. The central bank also singled out stablecoins as a source of risk, pointing to concerns about fraud, money laundering, and unauthorized cross-border capital flows that could undermine Beijing’s efforts to maintain capital controls. Against this policy backdrop, major cryptocurrencies moved in mixed directions. Over the past 24 hours, Bitcoin inched up around 1.02%, Ethereum declined about 0.86%, and XRP fell roughly 0.9%. Analysts split amid weak market activityAnalysts and market commentators continued to diverge on the implications of the latest pullback. Veteran trader Peter Brandt suggested on X that Bitcoin may be entering a deeper corrective phase similar to those seen in past bull markets. He cited historical instances of “exponential decay” and suggested the price could retrace toward $50,000 before potentially advancing to the $200,000–$250,000 range in the next rally cycle. Author Robert Kiyosaki, known for “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” reiterated his preference for assets such as gold, silver, Bitcoin, and Ethereum in a Nov. 29 post on X, linking this stance to his view that the Japanese carry trade had effectively run its course. Roughly a week before that message, he had disclosed selling about $2.25 million worth of Bitcoin at around $90,000 per coin, noting that his initial purchase price had been close to $6,000. By contrast, long-time Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff continued to argue in favor of precious metals. He contended that gold derives inherent value from industrial and commercial uses tied to its physical properties, including conductivity, ease of shaping, and resistance to corrosion, while maintaining that Bitcoin lacks practical utility and instead depends on investor belief. SwanDesk CEO Jacob King, another skeptic of the asset, offered an even more pessimistic assessment. He said he did not expect Bitcoin to revisit its previous all-time high and characterized the current decline as the final bear market before the asset ultimately fades from relevance. Shorter-term indicators have reinforced expectations for muted trading conditions. According to CNBC, Grayscale Head of Research Zach Pandl pointed to a decline in open interest for perpetual futures, interpreting it as a sign of reduced speculative positioning and leverage. He also highlighted relatively subdued trading volumes on both centralized and decentralized exchanges, suggesting that near-term market activity is likely to remain restrained. 

Hong Kong regulator, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), which oversees Hong Kong’s securities and futures markets, is understood to be planning to give the go-ahead for crypto derivative products to be offered to professional investors within the Chinese autonomous territory. Chinese English-language newspaper China Daily reported on June 4 that the proposed move forms part of Hong Kong’s efforts to expand its digital assets-related product offering in order to further bolster its position as a leading regional hub for the sector. Christopher Hui, Hong Kong’s Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, told the publication that the SFC will open up crypto derivatives trading to professional investors in the city “in an orderly, transparent and secure manner.”Photo by Florian Wehde on UnsplashBoosting liquidity to spot marketsChina Daily claimed that the SFC outlined that the crypto derivatives product will enable efficient risk transfers, while boosting the liquidity of the underlying spot markets. TokenInsight data suggests that the global crypto derivatives market has reached $21 trillion in trading volume over the course of Q1 2025. By comparison, derivatives trading dwarfs spot trading, given that spot trading weighed in at just $4.6 trillion over the same period. Liquidity in the underlying spot markets can be enhanced by a broadening of crypto derivatives product offerings in instances where digital assets are traded for immediate payment and delivery. Their availability will also appeal to professional traders and investors who need access to derivatives as part of their overall strategies in order to hedge positions and add leverage when required. Industry interestReaction to news of the Hong Kong SFC’s plans has largely been positive. Back in February, Jean-David Péquignot, chief commercial officer (CCO) with the world’s largest crypto derivatives exchange Deribit, told the South China Morning Post that opening up availability of crypto derivatives products was the one item missing from Hong Kong’s push towards development as a hub for the digital assets sector. At the time, he stated:“Hong Kong is this central financial hub in the world and a big one in Asia. If regulators can solve the derivatives piece, it is a place where we love to be.” On that basis, Péquignot suggested that Deribit, headquartered in Dubai, would be interested in establishing itself in Hong Kong, suggesting that “Asia is a big market for derivatives.” He added:“We want to be in Asia. We just need to find the right place and time to engage with regulators and get a regulatory framework to work with.” The company’s acquisition by Coinbase was announced last month for $2.9 billion. Regulatory approach questionedWhile many see the move towards the approval of crypto derivatives in Hong Kong as bullish, not everyone perceives the regulator’s approach in this instance to be positive. Pseudonymous crypto trader “Pickle Cat” outlined on X that “opening crypto derivatives only to 'professional investors' isn’t progress.”  The trader points out that good regulation would concentrate on controlling issuance and not circulation. Suggesting that the SFC has missed the point in its approach, the trader claims that the regulator would serve the crypto derivatives market best by verifying what backs such products while not restricting how such tokens move. 

Parachain Fork Sees Transition to Enjin BlockchainEnjin, a Singapore-headquartered non-fungible token (NFT) platform, has announced its transition to a new mainnet named Enjin Blockchain, with the goal of further advancing Web3 adoption. As part of this transition, Enjin has forked its Polkadot parachain, Efinity, to the new blockchain.The project made the announcement via a blog post published to its website on Thursday.Photo by Shubham Dhage on UnsplashIntegrated functionalityAccording to the team at Enjin, the Enjin Blockchain distinguishes itself from other blockchain solutions by integrating functions such as NFT creation and transfer directly into the foundational code of the blockchain, eliminating the reliance on smart contracts. This integration aims to streamline and simplify the process of creating and transferring NFTs.In addition to this fundamental change, the Enjin Blockchain introduces several new features. One notable feature is “Fuel Tanks,” which enables developers to subsidize user transaction fees, making it more cost-effective for users to interact with the blockchain. Another feature is “Discrete Accounts,” which allows users to engage with blockchain-based projects without the need to download specific wallet software.Fork to Efinity MatrixchainAlongside the transition to the Enjin Blockchain, the team has also forked Efinity, the Polkadot parachain, to the new mainnet. This rebranded version will be known as the Efinity Matrixchain and will facilitate a smooth transition for existing users.Witek Radomski, the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of Enjin, emphasized that the launch of the Enjin Blockchain aims to support creativity by making the creation and distribution of NFTs more accessible and affordable. Radomski stated: “Enjin Blockchain makes the creation and mass distribution of NFTs affordable and accessible to everyone. Our aim is nothing short of revolutionizing gaming, ownership, and online identity.”Enjin’s chief financial officer, Oscar Franklin Tan, expressed his belief that NFTs and digital ownership will be pivotal in the future of gaming, particularly with advancements in artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality. Tan emphasized Enjin’s commitment to supporting this next wave of gaming and the resulting “explosion of content.”Enjin believes that it sets itself apart from the competition due to the fact that it’s built on top of the open-source Substrate framework, a mechanism that facilitates the development of customized blockchains that may be run on an entirely autonomous basis.Using this unique approach, Enjin Blockchain doesn’t depend upon the use of smart contracts. Instead, critical functions such as creating, using, and transferring NFTs are integrated directly into the core, foundational blockchain code.NFT lending stabilityIn related news, the stability of NFT lending has been aided by the use of blue-chip collateral. Paraspace, an NFT protocol, recently reported that despite facilitating NFT loans totaling over $280 million, it experienced no bad debt and only 16 NFT liquidations. This success can be attributed to the protocol’s requirement that only blue-chip NFTs can be used as collateral, ensuring the value and stability of the assets involved.As Enjin embraces its new mainnet and the Efinity Matrixchain, the platform positions itself as a key player in the evolving NFT and blockchain landscape. With a focus on accessibility, affordability, and the support of creative endeavors, Enjin aims to drive innovation in gaming, ownership, and online identity.