North Korea Using DeFi for Money Laundering

Coinone, one of the five fiat-to-crypto trading platforms in South Korea, unveiled an upgraded version of its mobile app charts for a better user experience. According to local news source Bizwatch, the update introduces an array of indicators at the bottom of the charts to facilitate more comprehensive analysis. Additionally, the app now includes three new chart features: a display of best orders, the capability to see price alert lines and access to a 90-day transaction history. Since last year, Coinone has rolled out 20 updates aimed at enhancing the trading experience and bolstering security for its users. This year also saw several new features. Among these are the integration of TradingView charts and the addition of share buttons for announcements. Additionally, Coinone recently started providing the functionality to print statements for crypto accounts.Photo by Kanchanara on UnsplashHiring more developersThese enhancements are part of Coinone's continuous efforts to elevate customer satisfaction and refine its services. Despite the downturn that the cryptocurrency industry faced last year, Coinone took a noteworthy step by bringing on board 20 new developers this year. This move underscores Coinone's proactive stance in improving its platform and offerings amidst challenging market conditions. Coinone's focus on meeting customer demands has led to a notable reduction in inquiries. Last year, the exchange reported that its efforts to enhance customer service resulted in a decrease of more than 45% in the number of customer inquiries. Compliance amid changing regulatory environmentMarking its 10th anniversary last month, Coinone has set its sights on emphasizing investor protection and regulatory compliance in anticipation of the upcoming implementation of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act, which is slated to take effect in July.  Cha Myung-hun, the CEO of Coinone, commented on the recent updates, noting that the surge in public interest towards virtual asset investment has prompted the decade-old exchange to enhance its chart functionalities, specifically catering to novice investors. 

Thailand's government has recently secured approval for a $14 billion digital handout program as part of its economic recovery strategy. The program hasn’t come about without considerable debate and a backdrop of concerns expressed about the Southeast Asian nation's sluggish economic growth. According to Reuters, the decision was confirmed by Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat, who stated that the Office of the Council of State, an advisory panel, found no legal obstacles to utilizing state budget funds for the initiative.Photo by Oleksandr P on PexelsDigital handout programThe digital handout program, a key policy of the ruling Pheu Thai party, involves distributing 10,000 baht (approximately $300) to digital wallets set up for each of the 50 million Thai citizens. This financial injection aims to stimulate spending within local communities, providing a much-needed boost to the economy. While the program has faced concerns about potential inflation risks due to Thailand's slow economic growth, the government has argued that it will ultimately benefit the economy. Julapun emphasized that the government plans to proceed with the scheme in May, funded through borrowing. Council of State and opposition party concernsEarlier reports had indicated that the Council of State had initially advised against the government's plan to enact a loan bill for the digital wallet scheme. Concerns were raised about potential violations of constitutional articles, including Article 140, which requires the government to offset any loans outside the budget bill in the next fiscal budget. In addition to inflation worries, the opposition expressed concerns about a potential breach of Article 53 of the 2018 State Fiscal and Financial Discipline Act, which permits off-budget borrowing only in urgent situations. Despite these concerns, the Office of the Council of State ultimately found no reason to prohibit the cabinet from borrowing to fund the program. Thailand's move towards a $14.3 billion cash handout program, termed the "digital wallet" program, is expected to commence by May. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin affirmed this timeline after the Council of State's approval. The program, allowing Thais to receive funds via a mobile app, aims to spur consumption and overall economic growth. Election campaign giveawayThe idea of the digital asset giveaway was first floated by the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) in April of last year as part of its election manifesto. Subsequently, the party won the election in August, with Srettha being installed as Prime Minister. That appointment was interpreted as being a positive one by crypto advocates, given that Srettha had worked with crypto and blockchain-related technologies in his previous business dealings. Critics, including some economists and former central bank governors, argue that the handout plan could be fiscally irresponsible and fuel inflation. Prime Minister Srettha, who is also the finance minister, plans to discuss the stimulus plan and related matters with the central bank governor. The Thai Chamber of Commerce anticipates a 3% year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2024, with an annual growth rate of 3.2%, driven by tourism and exports. The digital wallet scheme, if implemented as planned, could potentially add 1.0-1.5 percentage points to this year's growth, according to the chamber. 

At Hong Kong FinTech Week 2025, Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) Chief Executive Julia Leung outlined plans to link Hong Kong’s crypto market with global liquidity. She announced that licensed virtual asset trading platforms (VATPs) will be allowed to share a global order book with their overseas counterparts. According to a statement published on the SFC’s website, this step will enable local investors to access international markets more efficiently, improving price discovery and competitiveness. Leung added that more initiatives are on the way to connect local brokers directly to global liquidity networks. This latest connectivity push comes as Hong Kong considers new guardrails for crypto holding companies such as digital asset treasuries (DATs), which hold cryptocurrencies as strategic assets.Photo by Manson Yim on UnsplashSFC points to regulatory gaps for digital asset treasuriesThe state-owned newspaper Wen Wei Po reported that Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) Chairman Kelvin Wong noted the current lack of regulations governing listed companies operating as DATs and the limited understanding of such entities. Chairman Wong added that firms seeking to list in Hong Kong as DATs would need to persuade both the SFC and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) of their suitability. For companies already listed, he urged investors to remain alert to the potential risks involved. This regulatory concern over crypto investing companies emerges as Hong Kong simultaneously presses ahead with its ambition to become a leading hub for digital finance. City advances on e-HKD and tokenizationIn line with that ambition, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) unveiled its e-HKD Pilot Programme Phase 2 Report in an Oct. 28 press release. The report outlines the potential benefits of its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the e-HKD, and tokenized deposits, noting that public feedback on both concepts has been broadly positive. The program's second phase involved 11 pilot projects led by various consortiums. These projects explored retail use cases, emphasizing the e-HKD’s commercial viability and scalability. Key focus areas included the settlement of tokenized assets, programmability, and offline payments. Participants in the program included Aptos Labs, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Hang Seng Bank, Standard Chartered, and BlackRock. Based on the report's findings, the HKMA stated it would initially prioritize the e-HKD’s application in wholesale or large-value payments, leveraging its credit risk–free nature as a central bank liability. Concurrently, the authority plans to continue studying potential retail and corporate applications, aiming to lay the groundwork for broader implementation by the first half of 2026. Survey shows strong investor appetiteAmong the program’s participants, Aptos Labs, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Hang Seng Bank reported accelerating interest in tokenized funds. A survey they conducted found that 61% of retail investors in Hong Kong and mainland China planned to double their exposure. Held between May and June 2025 among more than 500 retail fund investors, the survey tracked sentiment and appetite for tokenized products. Mainland participants showed particularly strong demand for cross-border access. The findings also detailed differing motivations among Hong Kong investors. Active traders expect to lift tokenized fund allocations from 10% to 26%, attracted by round-the-clock trading and greater flexibility. Wealth transfer planners indicated an expected expansion from 5% to 16%, highlighting programmable fund structures for tailored trusts and transparent oversight. Long-term investors aim to raise exposure from 8% to 25%, citing instant liquidity and the ability to use tokenized assets as loan collateral. Mainland investors projected their allocations would climb from 11% to 24%, reportedly viewing tokenized funds as a practical route around capital restrictions. The survey noted that programmable features could support dynamic allocation across Hong Kong products, the onshore use of profits, and smoother cross-border transfers. BCG commented that the survey outcomes align with Hong Kong's measured advance in crypto oversight, pointing to the city’s stablecoin regime that came into force in August. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has signaled, however, that licensing under that regime will not begin until early next year. The ongoing development of the e-HKD and the prospective regulation of digital-asset treasuries point to Hong Kong’s broader strategy of integrating digital finance into its mainstream economy. Together, these initiatives underscore a cautious yet steady effort to position the city as a global center for digital finance.