Korean Financial Authority Orders Suspension and Levies $1.4M Fine on Crypto Lender Delio

Seychelles-headquartered global crypto exchange OKX outlined on Nov. 18 that it will offer instant, zero-fee Singaporean dollar (SGD) deposits and withdrawals into and out of the exchange platform for customers resident in Singapore.Photo by Peter Nguyen on UnsplashDBS partnershipIn a press release published by GlobeNewswire on behalf of OKX, the company outlined that it has been in a position to enable this feature for its Singapore-based customers due to a collaboration with Singapore’s largest bank, DBS Bank. OKX Singapore CEO Gracie Lin said that “working with DBS to provide payment rail infrastructure in Singapore provides customers with secure and seamless access to digital assets.” As DBS is one of 27 banks that participate in PayNow, a real-time payment system that falls under the Fast and Secure Transfers (FAST) service in Singapore, OKX customers who are also customers of a bank that participates in the PayNow scheme, can effect those SGD deposits and withdrawals in real time. Lin added that OKX is working towards the addition of more features in an effort to further enhance the customer experience. The new offering takes OKX a step further towards integrating with the local traditional finance system (TradFi).  Singpass integrationAdditionally, the exchange has also integrated Singpass verification. Singpass is a digital identity system that enables Singaporean residents to access private sector and government services online. Back in March, the company acquired in-principle approval (IPA) from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) in respect of a Major Payments Institution (MPI) license. Continuing that shift towards regulatory compliance, it followed up with the acquisition of a full MPI license from MAS in September. The company is now one of 29 crypto sector firms to have been licensed by MAS in Singapore. While a particular effort has been made in Singapore, OKX has been making similar in-roads elsewhere. Last month, it launched its service in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), having received full licensing from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). Making further progress in October, OKX partnered with UK-headquartered multinational bank Standard Chartered for institutional crypto custody. Both Singapore and the UAE are seen by the company to be strategic crypto hubs. However, its efforts in expanding its offering globally has also taken it into other markets. In February OKX launched OKX TR, a specialized crypto exchange platform catering to the specific needs of the Turkish market. In an emailed response to Reuters, DBS Bank’s Head of Digital Assets, Evy Theunis, commented on its partnership with OKX:”DBS has been actively fostering a responsible and innovative digital asset ecosystem in Singapore for several years now. Working with OKX deepens the bank's wide-ranging involvement in this space." DBS has been following its own path as a pioneering TradFi entity getting further involved in cryptocurrency, blockchain and tokenization. Last month it launched DBS Token Services for institutions, integrating tokenization and smart contracting capabilities within its existing conventional services. 

Bithumb Shuts Down Crypto Research Center Amid Trading Volume SlumpBithumb, a cryptocurrency exchange based in South Korea, is shutting down its research center less than a year after its launch, according to a report by news agency Newsis. The closure is seen as a strategic move to enhance business performance in response to the recent decline in trading volume.Photo by Kelly Sikkema on UnsplashCostly research centersEstablished on June 8 last year, the Bithumb Economic Research Institute is reportedly ceasing operations tomorrow. Research centers are often perceived as costly endeavors, particularly when the company is experiencing poor financial performance. In the traditional financial sector, small and medium-sized securities firms typically prioritize restructuring their research divisions when dealing with profitability challenges.Relevance of research hubsAn official from a Korean cryptocurrency exchange told Newsis that research centers can be a financial burden during times of low trading volumes and subpar performance. Nonetheless, the official underscored the need to furnish investors with refined information through these research hubs, encouraging exchanges to cultivate an environment conducive to informed decision-making based on high-quality data.Since its inception, Bithumb’s research organization has published 55 reports aimed at forecasting cryptocurrency market trends using comprehensive macroeconomic and crypto data analysis. These reports have contributed to drawing investors to the sector.Global restructuring trendThe wave of workforce reductions in the crypto industry isn’t isolated to South Korea; it’s a global phenomenon. Chinese reporter Colin Wu, known for his crypto news platform Wu Blockchain, shared via Twitter that Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is planning to lay off roughly 20% of its staff, totaling about 8,000 employees.In response to these concerns, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, wrote a tweet yesterday. According to CZ, employee layoffs are a weekly occurrence within the company, based on considerations such as alignment with corporate culture. As an example, he mentioned the remote work environment and how it may not be suitable for everyone. However, CZ reassured that Binance remains engaged in hiring, with a focus on enriching its talent pool.

Philippines Delays Crypto Framework PublicationThe Philippines’ financial regulator has decided to postpone the release of a legal framework for the crypto industry, originally scheduled for late 2022, despite a tumultuous year.That’s according to a report published by local news outlet, Philstar Global. In the face of numerous market failures in 2022, the Philippines’ financial regulator has opted for a cautious approach and delayed the publication of a legal framework for the crypto industry, which was initially expected to be released by the end of the same year. However, work on the guidelines is still ongoing, and there is a possibility that the results could be made public in 2023.Photo by Krisia on PexelsScrutinizing crypto failuresAccording to the chairman of the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Emilio Aquino, the regulatory authority has adjusted its previous deadlines for introducing the crypto framework in the country. The SEC had originally planned to roll out the guidelines in 2022, but they held back in order to thoroughly study the reasons behind the collapse of the FTX exchange and ensure the protection of investors.Aquino stated that there is still a chance that the framework will be issued by the end of 2023, saying, “We haven’t closed the door. We really just have to make sure people don’t get burned.”Earlier this year, the SEC joined forces with the University of the Philippines Law Center (UPLC) to collaborate on the development of guidelines for digital assets. In January 2023, the regulator introduced the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11765 for public comment. This act, which was signed into law in 2022, however, does not explicitly mention “crypto” or “blockchain.”The crypto industry in the Philippines has been facing increasing pressure. The country’s central bank has been urging citizens to refrain from engaging in any transactions with unregistered or foreign crypto exchanges, and the SEC has echoed these recommendations.In May 2023, the SEC identified Gemini Derivatives as an unregistered security product under national law. In the investor advisory, the Commission wrote: “The public is advised not to invest or to stop investing in the investment scheme of Gemini Trust Company, LLC.”Last month the country hosted a meeting of the Regional Consultative Group for Asia of the Financial Stability Board. That meeting, held in the Philippines' oldest city, Cebu, highlighted the risks pertaining to crypto assets.Potential for positive approachNevertheless, the Philippines remains an attractive destination for crypto enthusiasts. With its rapidly growing economy, it has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing markets, with over 11.6 million Filipinos owning digital assets, placing it 10th worldwide in terms of crypto adoption.In an opinion piece published by Forkast News in April, Robert De Guzman, Head of Legal Compliance at Philippines-based cryptocurrency exchange Coins.ph, outlined his view that the country is forging a positive, workable framework for crypto assets. With that, it sounds like while the delay is unwelcome, the more important factor is that the South East Asian country devises a framework that is fit for purpose relative to the innovation at hand.