Without localized risk detection and public–private cooperation, illicit capital will continue to flow unchecked, and trust in the system will collapse. Opinion by: Slava Demchuk, co-founder and CEO of AMLBot Asia’s cryptoverse has lost more than 1.5 billion in the first half of 2025 — more than during 2024, including Bybit and pig butchering scams in Southeast Asia. Most engines are built around typologies of Western money laundering. They miss custom laundering channels tailored to each region, which are popping up across Asia. Blockchain analytics firms must build customized regional risk libraries and collaborate with local law enforcement to combat the level and caliber of cryptocurrency-enabled crime in Asia. Failure to address this means criminal funds will still be able to lurk in plain sight and subvert the very integrity of global compliance systems. Read more
American Bitcoin is reportedly exploring acquisitions in Japan and Hong Kong to expand its Bitcoin stockpile. American Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency mining company linked to the Trump family, is reportedly looking to acquire at least one publicly listed company in Asia to further its Bitcoin (BTC) purchases. According to a Financial Times report, American Bitcoin wants to buy a company in Japan and potentially another in Hong Kong. It aims to follow the blueprint of Strategy, which to date has accumulated 628,946 BTC worth $73.8 billion at this writing. American Bitcoin’s “ambition is to build the strongest and most efficient Bitcoin accumulation platform in the world,” the company told the Financial Times on Friday. “While we are evaluating possibilities in certain regions, we have not made any binding commitments.” Cointelegraph contacted American Bitcoin but had not received a response at time of publication. Read more
OSL said its latest milestone reflects “strong recognition” of its digital asset business model. Digital asset platform OSL Group has secured $300 million in equity financing, marking the largest publicly disclosed equity raise in Asia’s crypto sector to date. On Friday, the company announced that it will deploy the funds in three growth areas: acquisitions, global business initiatives like payments and stablecoin infrastructure and boosting its working capital. The raise is part of OSL’s broader strategy to expand its international presence. OSL described the raise as a “milestone” for the company that signals market recognition of its long-term trajectory and crypto business model. Read more
Consortium uses M&A to advance corporate Bitcoin adoption across Asia Simon Gerovich, CEO of Tokyo-based Metaplanet, is part of a consortium that is negotiating to acquire a controlling stake in SGA, a publicly traded software services company listed on South Korea’s KOSDAQ. The deal, if finalized, would position SGA to acquire Bitcoin as part of a broader digital asset strategy. While Gerovich is listed as an independent investor — not acting on behalf of Metaplanet — the move aligns with the company’s growing Bitcoin treasury strategy. According to a press release from Top Win International, (SORA on the Nasdaq stock exchange), “proceeds from the issuance will be used for strategic asset acquisitions and general corporate purposes.” Acquisitions such as this are part of a broader strategy to accelerate corporate Bitcoin adoption across Asia by transforming traditional companies into Bitcoin-aligned entities, using deals to position companies like DV8 and SGA as vehicles for Bitcoin exposure in regional capi...
Asia’s regulatory frameworks in tokenization are attracting global investors, with Japan and Hong Kong setting the pace for real-world asset adoption. Asia’s leadership in tokenization is drawing growing attention from global investors, with regulatory clarity in the region attracting capital that was once on the sidelines, according to Maarten Henskens, head of protocol growth at Startale Group. “We’re seeing Western institutions set up Asia-Pacific operations not just to follow capital, but to participate in innovation,” he told Cointelegraph. Henskens pointed out the distinct yet complementary approaches taken by Japan and Hong Kong to advance real-world asset (RWA) adoption. Japan’s regulatory framework has been deliberate and forward-looking, establishing a strong foundation of institutional trust. “MUFG’s infrastructure for security token issuance is a good example of how the ecosystem is maturing,” he noted. Read more
Banking giant UBS says its high-net-worth clients in Asia are pivoting from US dollar assets toward gold, crypto and Chinese markets. High-net-worth clients across Asia are gradually pivoting away from US dollar-based investments, favoring gold, cryptocurrencies and Chinese assets instead, according to financial services giant UBS Group. “Gold is getting very popular,” Amy Lo, the Swiss bank’s co-head of wealth management for Asia, said during Bloomberg’s New Voices event held in Hong Kong on May 13. She cited rising geopolitical uncertainty and persistent market volatility as primary factors behind the shift. Investors, traditionally concentrated in US-centric assets, are now seeking broader exposure across alternative asset classes, including crypto, commodities and other currencies. Read more