Atomic Wallet Hacker Uses Lazarus Crypto Mixer

Hana Securities to Accelerate Security Token Platform DevelopmentHana Securities, the securities arm of South Korean financial holding company Hana Financial Group, said Monday it will build a security token platform starting next month to expand its network and capabilities in digital assets in line with the ever-changing financial landscape.Photo by Shubham Dhage on UnsplashPursuing market dominanceThe company revealed that it will choose an external firm by this month to commission the construction of the platform. It also plans to dominate the market by applying to get the platform approved as an innovative financial service by the end of this year. The Innovative Financial Services system, operated by the Fintech Center Korea, is a system that offers special exemptions from regulation for unique and innovative financial services.This strategic move is poised to position Hana Securities as a pioneering force in offering financial services that circumvent conventional regulations, exemplifying its dedication to fostering innovation and originality.Cultivating collaborative synergiesHana Securities is also pursuing partnerships with digital asset enterprises to work on security token projects and platforms that allow for fractional investment in underlying assets. The firm has already entered into business agreements with key companies such as art gallery Print Bakery, tech solution provider ITCEN, and content distributor DANAL Entertainment to collaborate in various sectors, including art, precious metals like gold and silver, and mobile content.This multifaceted approach not only underscores Hana Securities’ versatility but also its commitment to fusing traditional and modern assets in the realm of security tokens.It will also expand collaboration models with companies running new asset platforms, such as those related to real estate funding for small businesses and digital content distribution.“Companies with various underlying assets are showing high interest in the issuance and distribution markets for security tokens,” said Choi Won-young, Head of Hana Securities’ Digital Division.“Through the enhancement of our business model and rapid platform development, we aim to connect various assets to security token products, supply them to the market, and provide customers with new investment experiences.”

Japanese Exchanges Canvas Regulator to Permit 10x LeverageJapan’s cryptocurrency exchanges are advocating for looser regulations on margin trading, despite the global digital asset market crash experienced last year.According to a report published by Bloomberg on Monday, The Japan Virtual & Crypto Assets Exchange Association has revealed that many industry insiders are seeking leverage limits of four to 10 times for retail investors.Currently, customers are limited to doubling their exposure through borrowing. Genki Oda, the Vice Chairman of the association, believes that relaxing the leverage rule could enhance Japan’s appeal to crypto and blockchain companies, thereby stimulating increased trading activity.Photo by Su San Lee on UnsplashOngoing discussionJapanese digital asset exchanges are currently engaged in discussions to establish a consensus on the recommended leverage limit. They are planning to present their proposal to the Financial Services Agency (FSA) as early as next month.While Japan has made some efforts to ease certain cryptocurrency regulations, such as token listing and taxation, the overall regulatory environment is considered strict. The FSA expects crypto firms to provide solid justifications for loosening margin trading caps, demonstrating how it would contribute to the government’s objective of expanding blockchain-based industries. However, the agency remains open to discussions with digital asset businesses on the matter.Plummeting trade volumesPreviously, Japanese crypto platforms offered leverage up to 25 times, resulting in annual margin trading volumes of approximately $500 billion in 2020 and 2021. However, after the FSA imposed a limit of two times to curb excessive speculation and protect investors from amplified losses, trading volumes plummeted by 75% in 2022.In other parts of the world, digital asset exchanges typically offer spot margin trading with leverage ranging from five to 10 times the initial deposit, depending on local regulations. Some platforms even offer more aggressive lending options, often associated with speculative behavior that can generate waves of greed and fear within the crypto market.Oda argues that digital asset volatility has decreased since 2020 and asserts that Japanese exchanges are well-prepared to assist investors in managing the risks associated with margin trading positions. However, any relaxation of leverage rules is not expected to occur before 2024.Leverage dangersLast year’s global cryptocurrency downturn exposed risky practices and resulted in numerous bankruptcies. Regulators worldwide have responded by implementing new rules and regulations that address the lessons learned. While leverage might be in the interests of the exchange operators, many industry commentators have warned that leverage brings about market weakness.Caitlin Long, Founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, has been one such commentator, warning that massive leverage “built an industry of insolvent intermediaries” on a “foundation of sand”. It’s commonly believed that leverage leads to unsustainable market bubbles rather than iterative organic market growth.In 2022, an index tracking the top 100 cryptocurrencies partially recovered, showing a 33% increase since the beginning of this year. However, the market still faces challenges, as institutional and individual investors have exited, leading to reduced liquidity and lower expectations for price volatility in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Crypto infrastructure, mining and investment firm Phoenix Group, a company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and publicly listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX), has established a $150 million crypto treasury.Photo by Jievani Weerasinghe on UnsplashFirst ADX-listed firm to establish crypto treasuryThe development emerged as the company released its results for Q2 2025. Phoenix Group explained in a press release that its activities in Q2 led to it becoming the first ADX-listed company to establish a strategic crypto treasury with Bitcoin (BTC) and Solana (SOL) holdings valued at $150 million. Phoenix asserted that unlike its competitors which are burdened by debt, it has a healthy balance sheet, with debt of just $16 million. This has enabled it to pursue the establishment of a strategic crypto reserve. The company is also expanding into AI-related activities, with plans to repurpose part of its U.S. infrastructure. That adjustment will allow the firm to establish a multi-use compute facility, enabling it to build out its AI vertical. Phoenix Group Co-Founder and CEO Munaf Ali said that Phoenix is working towards building out one gigawatt of hybrid infrastructure by 2027. Ali also commented on the pursuit of a crypto treasury, stating:“Holding Bitcoin and other strategic digital assets isn’t just about exposure. It’s about alignment. We believe in the long-term value these networks represent, and our treasury strategy reflects that belief.”DWF Ventures, the ventures arm of crypto market maker DWF Labs that relocated its headquarters from Singapore to Abu Dhabi earlier this year, released a report in June revealing that publicly-listed companies that have adopted a crypto treasury strategy have amassed holdings of $76 billion in crypto. Phoenix Group has disclosed that to date, it has accumulated 514 Bitcoin and over 630,000 Solana with a view towards holding these digital assets in the long term. Earlier this year, American digital asset investment firm Sarson Funds outlined that the UAE is playing a significant role in advancing Bitcoin adoption at a corporate level in the context of the ongoing trend towards the pursuit of a Bitcoin corporate treasury strategy. Miners accumulatingPhoenix Group isn’t the only company involved in crypto mining to establish a crypto corporate treasury recently. In June, American miner BitMine Immersion Technologies disclosed that it was raising $18 million through a public share offering to buy Bitcoin. Since then, it has been accumulating Ether (ETH). As of July 24, the firm held over 300,000 ETH, with plans to raise $4.5 billion to fuel further ETH purchases. MARA Holdings, a publicly-listed American Bitcoin miner, has also confirmed that its treasury now extends beyond Bitcoin that it mined itself. Phoenix Group confirmed that it mined 336 BTC in Q2, with 689 BTC mined over the course of H1 2025. Founded in 2017, the firm debuted on the ADX in December 2023 with its stock immediately surging by 50% from its initial public offering (IPO) launch price. The firm’s share price has also performed well in 2025, surging 72% from April to June.