Asian Countries Dominate Chainalysis’ 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index

The SUI token has surged to an all-time high (ATH) price after the revelation of the project’s partnership with the American University of Sharjah (AUS) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to establish the AUS-Sui Blockchain Academy. SUI is the native token of the Sui blockchain, a layer one blockchain network and smart contract platform that’s striving to make digital asset ownership private, secure and accessible. The AUS-Sui Blockchain AcademyAccording to a press release published via regional news media outlet Zawya on Monday, the AUS-Sui Blockchain Academy is situated within the multidisciplinary Center of Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainable Development, within the AUS. It’s been set out to align with the principles of entrepreneurship, innovation and sustainability with the objective of fostering responsible and impactful technological advancement relative to blockchain. The Academy aims to equip the next generation of leaders and innovators with the necessary knowledge to harness Web3 technology so as to address future global challenges. Dr. Greg Siourouni, Managing Director of the Sui Foundation, expressed enthusiasm for the blockchain education initiative, emphasizing its role in advancing Sharjah's goal of becoming a leading educational and research hub.Photo by Ainur Kamaev on UnsplashPrice surgeIn response to the announcement, SUI's token price has surged. While it’s up 4% over the course of the past 24 hours, the token is now standing at a record-high unit price of $1.79 since its launch in May 2023. The positive momentum in SUI's price underscores market enthusiasm for the layer-1 blockchain platform's educational initiatives. However, other in-roads being made by the project may also be playing a role. Last September the project launched zkLogin, a Web3 authentication solution that enables dApp users to login using social media accounts. The following month, the Sui Foundation announced a $50 million ecosystem fund in an effort to bolster growth relative to the Sui network. AUS and SUI blockchain education initiativesThis latest initiative is part of Sharjah's vision to position itself as a regional powerhouse for education and research, particularly in the realm of technology and blockchain. It’s not the first blockchain-centric collaboration that the university has engaged in. In June of last year, Dubai-headquartered crypto spot and derivatives trading platform Bybit partnered with AUS to establish a scholarship fund of $272,000. That endeavor is supporting fintech and blockchain studies for the benefit of 20 students. The Sui Foundation too has established a track record where educational initiatives are concerned. It has previously introduced several programs, including a Web3-focused curriculum at the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development at the London Business School. Additionally, it awarded $400,000 in Sui Academic Research Awards (SARAs) to 15 universities worldwide and introduced a Web3 curriculum for high school students. SUI's partnership with AUS to establish the AUS-Sui Blockchain Academy reflects its commitment to advancing education and innovation in the blockchain space, while its price surge is suggestive of market optimism for its future endeavors. 

New York Bans CoinEx While Seizing Crypto AssetsCoinEx, a Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange, has been banned from operating in the US state of New York by Attorney General Letitia James. The ban comes after the exchange allegedly failed to register as a securities and commodities brokerage and falsely represented itself as an exchange.Photo by Jan van der Wolf on Pexels$1.7 million seizureThat’s according to a statement published by the Office of the New York State Attorney General on Thursday. As part of an agreement reached between the parties, over $1.7 million worth of CoinEx’s funds have been seized.Under the terms of the agreement, approximately $1.1 million will be returned to 4,691 investors from New York, and an additional $600,000 will be paid in penalties to the state. To prevent access by New York IP addresses, CoinEx must implement geo-blocking. Moreover, the exchange is forbidden from creating new accounts for customers based in the United States.Trade prohibitionThis recent development resolves a lawsuit filed against CoinEx in February by the New York state. The state accused the exchange of misleading investors and failing to register with local authorities. In accordance with the consent order, CoinEx is now prohibited from offering, selling, or purchasing securities and commodities in New York and cannot make its platform available in the state.James emphasized the consequences for crypto companies that disregard New York’s laws and put investors at risk. The agreement serves as a warning that her office will continue to crack down on such companies. CoinEx users have a 90-day period to recover their crypto funds directly from the exchange.After this period, eligible investors can request fiat currency refunds by emailing coinexrefund@ag.ny.gov. Refunds will be provided in cryptocurrency or cash equivalents held in accounts as of April 25.CoinEx faced a lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court on February 22, where Attorney General James alleged that the exchange engaged in fraudulent practices and violated the state’s Martin Act, known for its strict anti-fraud provisions. The complaint included tokens such as Amp, LBRY Credits (LBC), Rally (RLY), and Terra.Harsh stanceThe banning of CoinEx in New York highlights the regulatory scrutiny surrounding cryptocurrency exchanges and the importance of compliance with local laws and regulations. On the one hand, the enforcement actions taken by authorities aim to protect investors and ensure the integrity of the financial system.However, the state of New York has been particularly harsh in its dealings with crypto companies. As today’s statement reveals, the New York Attorney General has taken action previously against crypto exchange Kucoin, crypto lending platform Nexo, and USDT stablecoin issuer Tether.These actions tie in with the current anti-crypto regulatory pushback that prevails in the United States right now. Other state agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) who last week sued global crypto exchanges Coinbase and Binance, the Federal Reserve, the Department of the Treasury, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), have all conspired to crack down on the industry in the US in recent months.

A regulatory divide regarding the digital asset sector is emerging across Asia. While China is moving to strengthen its prohibition on cryptocurrency operations to ensure financial stability, Central Asian states such as Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are increasingly formalizing frameworks to integrate and regulate the industry.Photo by Road Ahead on UnsplashChina cites renewed crypto speculationAccording to Reuters, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has reaffirmed its prohibition on business activities involving digital assets, citing a renewed wave of speculation as a complication in managing financial risks. At a Nov. 28 meeting on crypto regulation, the central bank reiterated that commercial activity involving cryptocurrencies remains illegal. PBOC officials stated that enforcement against unlawful financial operations tied to cryptocurrencies would be intensified to safeguard economic stability. The central bank identified stablecoins as a primary concern, noting that they fail to meet customer identification standards and broader anti-money laundering (AML) requirements. Officials warned that these assets could create vulnerabilities to fraud, money laundering, and unregulated cross-border capital flows. Kazakhstan mulls $300M crypto moveIn contrast to Beijing’s elevated oversight, Kazakhstan is exploring the integration of digital assets into its financial reserves. According to BeInCrypto, National Bank Chairman Timur Suleimenov indicated on Nov. 28 that the monetary authority is considering an allocation of up to $300 million into crypto assets. However, he clarified that deploying the full amount is unlikely. Suleimenov explained that any potential investment would be drawn from the central bank’s gold and foreign-exchange reserves rather than the National Fund. He added that the National Bank of Kazakhstan intends to wait for market conditions to stabilize, citing recent volatility as a factor making the timing of such an investment uncertain. The latest development comes after Bloomberg Law reported last month that the country is preparing to launch a crypto reserve fund valued between $500 million and $1 billion as early as next year. This proposed fund is expected to target exchange-traded products and industry-related companies rather than direct crypto purchases, with capital potentially sourced from repatriated assets and mining proceeds. Simultaneously, the government is advancing physical infrastructure for the sector. In May, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev unveiled plans for a "CryptoCity" pilot zone in the Alatau development north of Almaty. Under this government-approved sandbox program, authorities are testing blockchain-based tools for taxation, investment, and decentralized identity systems, with the aim of positioning Kazakhstan as a regional hub for innovation. Turkmenistan to launch licensing rulesFurther deepening the regional trend toward adoption, Turkmenistan has moved to establish a formal legal infrastructure for the sector.  Another Reuters report said the country recently passed legislation to legalize and regulate digital assets, which President Serdar Berdymukhamedov has signed into law. Scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, the legislation creates a licensing regime for crypto exchanges and mining operations. A government spokesperson said the law spells out the legal and economic status of virtual assets, covering their creation, storage, circulation, and other functions, and aims to boost digitalization and draw foreign investment. Despite their differing approaches, the three countries reflect a shared recognition of digital assets’ growing relevance in global finance. China continues to view cryptocurrencies as a source of systemic risk, while Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are testing whether regulation, licensing, and selective investment can deliver economic gains without compromising stability. Together, these diverging paths underscore a broader debate over whether engagement or exclusion offers a more resilient long-term model.