Singapore’s DBS introduces Token Services for institutions

Laos to Prioritize Blockchain for Digital TransformationThe Laotian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, recently hosted the inaugural Ministerial Conference on Blockchain 4.0 Digital Transformation in Vientiane, the country’s capital. The conference, held on Friday, brought together blockchain experts and leaders from various economic departments in the country, indicating the government’s prioritization of blockchain technology for its digital transformation efforts.Photo by Molydar SOUAMA on UnsplashMetaBank cooperation agreementIn an effort to promote digital transformation within Laos, the Laotian government has signed a cooperation agreement with Singapore’s MetaBank. Software company MetaBank describes itself as a “digital civilization accelerator empowered by blockchain.”A report from MetaBank sheds light on the main focus of the conference. The key objective was to expedite Laos’ digital transformation by harnessing the potential of digital technology. The concept of Blockchain 4.0 was introduced, highlighting the importance of open collaboration and positioning Laos as both a catalyst and a beneficiary of the emerging global digital landscape.In a press release published on Monday, MetaBank Founder and Chairman Frank Sui said that blockchain technology can help developing countries like Laos to “overtake on a bend.” Laotian Minister of Technology, Boveingkham Vongdara, suggested that blockchain technology is needed to transform production and service methods.In line with this vision, MetaBank and the Laotian Ministry of Technology plan to establish a blockchain research and development center that will support the Blockchain 4.0 initiative in Laos. This center will serve as a hub for innovative blockchain projects and contribute to the country’s technological advancements.Leveraging digital technologyThe conference outlined several goals for the development of Laos’ digital economy. These goals include leveraging digital technology to generate new fiscal revenue, strengthen foreign exchange reserves, control inflation, foster sustainable economic growth, improve living standards, and enhance international competitiveness in the short term.Furthermore, the event proposed the establishment of a Blockchain Technology Transformation Committee, which would be responsible for ensuring legal compliance and drafting legislation relevant to the digital economy.During the conference, Prime Minister Siphandone stressed the importance of integrating blockchain technology into various government processes and utilizing it extensively for administrative management and public services. He emphasized that embracing blockchain technology is vital for the successful implementation of Laos’ ninth five-year plan, which aims to drive national, economic, and social development.Laos, situated in Southeast Asia, has recently taken significant strides in adopting blockchain and digital technology. In February, the country’s central bank signed a memorandum of understanding with Japanese financial software firm Soramitsu to launch a proof-of-concept project for a central bank digital currency (CBDC).The project involves the creation of a digital currency called DLak, which will be exchanged with commercial banks for fiat currency and used for real-time transactions through a QR code and an accompanying app. This initiative aims to address the delays previously experienced in digital transactions within Laos, which could take up to a month to clear.With the establishment of this Blockchain 4.0 initiative and the planned research and development center, Laos is positioning itself to make further progress in its digital transformation journey.

Bithumb celebrates 10th anniversary with a commitment to changeBithumb, South Korea’s major fiat-to-cryptocurrency exchange, celebrated its 10th anniversary on Wednesday (local time), as per a report by local news agency Newsis.Photo by Adi Goldstein on UnsplashFoundation for the marginalizedTo celebrate this occasion, the platform has set up a foundation with a budget of KRW 10 billion (approximately $7.6 million). The foundation is dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by marginalized individuals in the community.Bithumb has also introduced a new slogan, “Deep change for customers,” reflecting the exchange’s commitment to transformation, its top core value.Demonstrating such efforts, the platform has implemented a zero-trading fee policy for all supported cryptocurrencies since October. This policy will remain in effect until further notice. In response to this competitive move, other players in the market followed suit. Later in the same month, Korbit introduced fee-free trading for all types of tokens, and Gopax removed trading fees for four major cryptocurrencies: BTC, ETH, XRP and USDC.IPO planned in 2025Furthermore, Bithumb is striving to go public on the Korean stock market, a move partly driven by criticisms of inadequate governance transparency. The virtual asset service provider aims to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) in the second half of 2025. Through this IPO, Bithumb intends to demonstrate its corporate transparency and strengthen its position as a trustworthy exchange.Identifying and fostering young entrepreneurs is another initiative Bithumb is spearheading. The crypto exchange is processing applications from aspiring business owners for its support program. These applicants will be assessed based on their creativity and the feasibility of their business models without any restriction on the type of business area they are involved in. For this purpose, Bithumb has allocated KRW 30 billion to support startups that have been operational for less than three years.User engagement eventsA customer engagement event called the “10 Bitcoin 1/N challenge” is also underway for Bithumb users. Participants in this event will have the opportunity to equally share a total of 10 BTC. To join, customers need to send the message “Happy 10th birthday, Bithumb” to Bithumb’s KakaoTalk channel. Upon successfully sending this message, customers will receive a coupon code. After receiving a coupon code, they must apply it on the Bithumb app. The distribution of rewards is set for Dec. 11.In addition, Bithumb is set to airdrop cryptocurrencies worth up to KRW 1 million to users who have been inactive for an extended period. To participate, these users simply need to log into the Bithumb app and enter the MISS-YOU coupon code. This promotional event will last from Dec. 6 to 12, with the airdrop occurring on Dec. 18.Lee Jae-won, CEO of Bithumb, remarked that Bithumb’s 10-year journey mirrors the rapid growth and evolution of the cryptocurrency market. He emphasized that the exchange believes growth stems from embracing new challenges and transformative efforts. Lee added that Bithumb is determined to implement authentic changes to better serve its customers.

Bitcoin’s long-standing four-year market cycle tied to halving events may be losing influence, according to a new outlook from crypto exchange Bybit and research firm Block Scholes that examines market conditions through 2026. The report suggests that Bitcoin price action may be increasingly influenced by macroeconomic policy, institutional participation, and market structure rather than by new supply reductions. It says historical cycles have tended to track changes in global liquidity, often measured by global M2, and that this relationship has become more visible, while Bitcoin continues to respond to shifts in expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts.Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on UnsplashETFs reshaping demand dynamicsThe analysis points to structural changes in demand, citing the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs and the growth of corporate digital asset treasuries (DATs). The report says ETF flows and corporate balance-sheet allocations are playing a larger role in price formation than retail trading. That shift is disrupting the traditional capital rotation from Bitcoin into Ethereum and then into smaller altcoins and memecoins. As a result, the report suggests broad altcoin rallies may be harder to ignite, with gains depending on whether assets can be incorporated into institutional products such as ETFs. On the macro front, the report says markets are pricing in further Federal Reserve easing, with looser financial conditions potentially supporting a closer relationship between Bitcoin and major stock indexes despite recent underperformance versus U.S. equities. Based on options pricing, the report estimates a 10.3% implied probability that Bitcoin reaches $150,000 by the end of 2026. At present, Bitcoin is trading slightly above $91,000. Index criteria and Japan policy in viewThe analysis also highlights policy risks, including potential volatility tied to concerns over the possible exclusion of Strategy from major stock indexes, which could affect companies holding digital assets on their balance sheets. That risk has since eased after MSCI paused a proposal that would have excluded firms with digital asset reserves, though Benchmark analyst Mark Palmer cautioned that the issue could resurface in future rule reviews. The Bybit-Block Scholes report also cites potential policy tightening by the Bank of Japan later this year as another source of cross-asset risk, following its December rate hike of 25 basis points to a 30-year high of 0.75%. RWA and stablecoinsOne area of focus in the report for 2026 is real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, which it describes as building on the stablecoin adoption that gathered pace last year. That view is echoed in a separate outlook from Moody’s, cited by Cointelegraph, which says fiat-backed stablecoins and tokenized bank deposits are functioning as “digital cash” for settlement, liquidity management, and collateral movement. Moody’s estimates stablecoins processed about $9 trillion in on-chain settlement volume in 2025 and projects banks, asset managers, and infrastructure providers could invest more than $300 billion in digital finance by 2030. As an example, Moody’s cited JPMorgan’s U.S. dollar–denominated deposit token, JPM Coin, as a way digital-cash layers can operate on top of existing banking systems. The bank’s Kinexys unit plans to work with Digital Asset to bring JPM Coin to Digital Asset’s Canton Network in a phased rollout during 2026. This follows JPMorgan’s expansion of the project onto Coinbase’s Ethereum layer-2 network Base for institutional clients.