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Bybit Leans on Innovative Tech by Launching AI-Powered Trading AssistantDubai-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has introduced TradeGPT, an AI-powered educational tool aimed at changing the way in which traders interact with the cryptocurrency market.A ToolsGPT follow-upThe move follows on from the firm’s launch of ToolsGPT in June, an AI-based tool that aids platform users to generate technical analysis and takes a ChatGPT-like approach in providing responses to user queries. Vivien Fang, Head of Financial Products at Bybit, explained: “Our analysts and tech team created ToolsGPT to provide the financial education and mentorship that is sorely needed in our hyper-financialized world. Essentially, we built the tool that we all wished we had when we began our careers in financial engineering and trading.”Photo by Wance Paleri on UnsplashAI mentor and guideFor Bybit users, TradeGPT offers a multitude of benefits, including real-time market analysis, multilingual support, and personalized guidance. It functions as a mentor and guide, empowering users to comprehend market trends, formulate strategies, and select the most suitable investment products to achieve their financial goals.This offering addresses the limitations of traditional AI systems and provides real-time market data. TradeGPT leverages Bybit’s extensive market data, trading analytics, and technical analysis tools, making it a resource for traders navigating the complexities of the cryptocurrency landscape.Following industry trendBybit’s TradeGPT follows in the footsteps of Singapore-based platform Crypto.com, which unveiled its AI-enabled platform, Amy, in May. Amy leverages the technology of OpenAI’s ChatGPT to deliver real-time information about specific tokens, projects, price listings, and historical events to Crypto.com platform users.At the time Kris Marszalek, CEO of Crypto.com, highlighted the platform’s significance, stating: “Amy is the latest example of our incredible momentum.” The company added that it followed a series of notable product launches, including CFTC-regulated options trading, on-chain staking solutions, and the GEN 3.0 Crypto.com Exchange.Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, introduced Binance Sensei in April. The company has integrated the AI-powered learning tool into Binance Academy and offers users of all skill levels an interactive chat window for guidance.As an increasing number of cryptocurrency companies launch AI-enabled platforms, the synergy between AI and the industry becomes more apparent. AI’s data processing capabilities could address scalability issues and expedite transaction processing for cryptocurrencies.Conversely, cryptocurrencies could incentivize research and development in the field of AI. Tokenized economies may reward contributors to AI projects, fostering collaboration and innovation. Furthermore, cryptocurrency-enabled decentralized networks could provide secure and transparent platforms for exchanging AI-generated insights without the need for intermediaries.Digital assets are developing in real-time alongside other technologies. The introduction of Bybit’s TradeGPT, alongside Crypto.com’s Amy and Binance’s Sensei, offers a step forward in harnessing the power of AI to empower cryptocurrency traders. As these AI-driven tools continue to evolve and gain traction, they’re likely to reshape how individuals and institutions engage with the cryptocurrency market.

Taiwan police uncover $320M crypto money laundering operationTaiwan police have recently exposed the largest cryptocurrency money laundering case in the nation’s history, involving 320 million USDT (approximately 10.5 billion New Taiwan dollars).Photo by DrawKit Illustrations on UnsplashCross-border laundering operationIt emerged on Tuesday that the Electronic Investigation Team of the Criminal Bureau initiated their probe after uncovering a fraudulent scheme related to a counterfeit Taishin Securities mobile software last year. This led them to a merchant with the surname Qiu, the alleged mastermind behind this operation who was suspected of laundering substantial sums through virtual currency.Qiu is believed to have maintained connections with overseas gambling and fraud groups, engaging in cross-border communication with illicit organizations in countries including Hong Kong, Malaysia and the Philippines.Their investigation revealed that Qiu had been conducting transactions involving 320 million Tether US dollar stablecoins since February of the previous year. In June, law enforcement apprehended Qiu during one of his visits to Taiwan, along with four alleged accomplices.High value goodsDuring the operation, authorities seized high-value assets from Qiu, including a Lamborghini Urus, a Lexus LM and three Audemars Piguet watches, with a combined market value exceeding TWD 13 million. The lavish lifestyle maintained by Qiu, evident from his luxury cars and high-end watches, serves as a stark reminder of the extensive underground economy driven by money laundering.Evidence from the operation suggested Qiu’s involvement in handling illicitly obtained Tether coins worth approximately TWD 70 million. Further investigations uncovered that Qiu regularly sold virtual currency and converted it into cash to effectively obscure the money’s origins, accomplishing the goal of laundering.In piecing the activities of the group together, police determined that victims were instructed to transfer their funds to fictitious accounts. In that way, the money found its way to crypto exchanges and individual crypto traders under the direction and control of the group.Qiu would also retain a 1% profit margin from the laundered amount. Several other individuals were implicated in this extensive operation, including a foreign affairs officer named Liao and two other individuals named Chen and Huang. Each of these individuals is presently under investigation, with varying levels of bail and restrictions imposed.The intricate web of transactions and the substantial amount laundered by Qiu have surpassed previous records held by the Electronic Investigation Team. As investigations continue, law enforcement is determined to uncover the full extent of this operation and trace the entirety of the money flow.Taiwan’s legislators are currently working on producing a regulatory framework for crypto in the country. The only regulatory aspect that is covered right now is oversight relative to anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulation. In 2018 Yang Chin-long, Taiwan’s central bank Governor, called for a need to regulate crypto on the basis of existing AML rules, with the authorities subsequently following through on that measure.In July 2022, the country’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) penned a letter to the banking sector, banning the purchase of digital assets via credit cards.

Andreessen Horowitz is deepening its bet on Asia’s retail crypto boom, even as trading on South Korea’s largest exchanges has cooled from last year’s peaks. The firm’s crypto arm, a16z crypto, said in a press release that it has opened its first Asia office in Seoul, citing South Korea’s high level of retail participation. Nearly one in three South Korean adults owns cryptocurrency, exceeding the share of stock investors, according to the firm. The move comes as the broader Asia-Pacific region cements its role as a hub of grassroots crypto activity, a trend highlighted in Chainalysis’ 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index.Photo by Brady Bellini on UnsplashAltcoin-heavy retail marketSouth Korea has been a major contributor to that growth. Bloomberg reported in October that digital assets have increasingly become a long-term savings vehicle for many South Koreans, particularly those trying to purchase homes. Trading on local platforms remains heavily skewed toward higher-risk altcoins, which account for more than 80% of total volume across domestic exchanges. Still, overall activity has dropped sharply over the past year. A November report from Wu Blockchain said trading on Upbit, the country’s largest exchange, is down about 80% from a year earlier. The platform averaged $1.78 billion in daily volume in November 2025, compared with roughly $9 billion in December 2024. Bithumb, the second-largest exchange, saw a similar pullback, with average daily volume falling from $2.45 billion last December to about $890 million this November. Some of that retail liquidity appears to have rotated into equities, with the benchmark KOSPI index up more than 72% year-to-date. Asia’s wealthy to increase crypto exposureEven as spot volumes recede, higher–net–worth investors across the region are signaling longer-term interest. Sygnum’s APAC HNWI Report 2025, cited by Cointelegraph, found that 60% of surveyed high-net-worth individuals plan to increase their crypto exposure over the next two to five years. The report said 87% of respondents already hold digital assets; about half allocate more than 10% of their portfolios, and the average allocation is around 17%. The survey included 270 participants with more than $1 million in investable assets or extensive professional investing experience, drawn from ten Asia-Pacific markets led by Singapore and including Hong Kong, Indonesia, South Korea, and Thailand. Overall, 90% of respondents said they view digital assets as important for long-term wealth preservation and legacy planning, rather than primarily as a speculative trade. Anchored by the new Seoul office, a16z crypto said it plans to provide go-to-market support for portfolio companies seeking to expand in Asia, including help with distribution, partnerships and community building. The effort will be led by Park Sung-mo, whose previous roles include positions at Monad Foundation and Polygon Labs, as Head of APAC go-to-market. Pakistan looks to crypto for financial modernizationPolicy debates elsewhere in Asia also reflect growing interest in digital assets' economic role. At the Bitcoin MENA Conference on Dec. 9, Pakistan’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority chairman Bilal Bin Saqib said the country needs to move beyond conventional economic structures and leverage digital assets as a new source of momentum, according to Cointelegraph. He argued that digital assets and blockchain could form part of a new financial architecture for the Global South, not merely serve speculative use cases. The country’s youth-heavy population, about 70% under age 30, was central to his view that it could take a leading position in crypto adoption. Chainalysis’ 2025 index placed Pakistan third worldwide, pointing to how policymakers in emerging markets are increasingly factoring digital assets into long-term economic strategies.