Coinbit suspends operations, marking second crypto exchange shutdown this month

Singapore-based Marketnode has successfully completed its Series A investment round, receiving backing from global banking leader HSBC and its existing shareholder, Temasek. While the precise funding amount remains undisclosed, the firm plans to utilize the capital to expand its financial market infrastructure. Marketnode aims to develop neutral infrastructure for digital fixed-income and structured products, initially focusing on the Asia-Pacific region. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to create a comprehensive multi-asset ecosystem.Photo by Markus Winkler on UnsplashStrategic collaborations and future projectsRehan Ahmed, President of Marketnode, highlighted the strategic alliance with HSBC as a pivotal move towards establishing the next generation of trusted and neutral market infrastructure. The investment will also accelerate the launch of Fundnode, a new investment fund infrastructure powered by distributed ledger technology. Additionally, the collaboration will support future offerings of tokenized assets. Marketnode has been engaging with HSBC since 2020, including participation in Singapore's Project Guardian and various digital bond initiatives led by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Regulatory landscape in SingaporeSimultaneously, Singapore continues to tighten regulations within its crypto sector. Following its stringent licensing framework, the Singaporean authorities recently announced an expansion in the scope of companies regulated under its payment services rules. This measure aims to enhance supervision of digital asset firms, focusing on anti-money laundering efforts and user protection. 

1st-Generation, a leading firm in the blockchain sector based in Daegu, South Korea, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with global cryptocurrency exchange Tapbit, according to an article published by South Korean news outlet Tokenpost on Tuesday (KST). Through this MOU, 1st-Generation expects to further accelerate its growth through active participation and advancement into the global blockchain industry.Photo by Chris Liverani on Unsplash"As the global blockchain industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, we aim to create an ecosystem where we can make a positive impact through cooperation," said Lee Jun-hyuk, CEO of 1st-Generation. Pioneering the future of blockchainWith its advanced technology and outstanding expertise in the blockchain field, 1st-Generation has registered with the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) under the name "1st Generation Group". The company is focused on providing innovative solutions globally, effectively utilizing blockchain technology based on advanced IT experience. Tapbit’s statisticsFounded in 2021, Tapbit is a global exchange with a user base that exceeds six million users worldwide. In particular, it is currently ranked 38th on CoinMarketCap’s top cryptocurrency derivatives exchange list with a 24-hour derivative trading volume of about $8 billion as of this writing. In addition, it is also working on creating crypto Travel Rule solutions through cooperation with domestic exchanges.

Cross Trading of LUNA Tokens Uncovered on Three Korean Crypto ExchangesAccording to a report by the Maeil Business Newspaper on Wednesday, it was discovered that cross trading of LUNA tokens took place on three South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges: Bithumb, Coinone, and GoPax.Three crypto exchangesAn indictment by the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office against Terraform Labs co-founders Do Kwon and Daniel Shin, along with interviews conducted within the cryptocurrency industry, revealed that Bithumb, Coinone, and GoPax were involved in cross trading LUNA tokens with a combined value of $598 million. Specifically, Bithumb accounted for $224 million, Coinone for $299 billion, and GoPax for $74 billion.The prosecution has confirmed that cross trading continued until the end of February 2022, a period marked by significant demands for virtual asset legislation from both the market and academia. Despite widespread calls for regulations to curb unfair trading practices, these instances of cross trading went undetected.Classification of LUNAMoreover, it is reported that legal punishment for the $598 million worth of cross trading is challenging unless LUNA tokens are officially recognized as securities by the court. Under the Korean Capital Markets Act, only cross trading involving tokens identified as securities can be subject to penalties as a form of market manipulation.During a plenary session of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon made a statement suggesting that LUNA tokens could be considered securities due to their backing by real-world assets. However, he said that this distinction might not apply to other tokens.On April 25, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office indicted Shin and others as accomplices to Kwon, assuming that LUNA tokens were indeed securities. This case now revolves around whether the prosecution can successfully establish the classification of LUNA tokens as securities during the trial, making it the central issue in the case.Photo by Kanchanara on UnsplashCrypto investor protection legislationLast Thursday, the National Assembly’s National Policy Committee approved a bill known as the “Virtual Assets User Protection Act,” signaling an accelerated legislative process. However, there are arguments suggesting that the definition of cross trading should be further clarified in either the legislation or enforcement decree.A representative of a law firm specializing in virtual assets stated that the implementation of the User Protection Act would take another year even after its promulgation, making it challenging to retrospectively penalize cross trading practices that had already occurred.