Cryptocurrencies are still relatively new compared to many of their peers, and the fact that they are entirely online-based has made many reluctant to give them a try. The fact that the assets deal with fluctuations and volatility constantly has made them more challenging to deal with as well, as the inherent risks make it difficult to come up with a single strategy and game plan for your portfolio. If you’re a crypto trader, you most likely know that being successful takes quite a lot of research and attention, as you have to change the ways in which you interact with the market depending on the ways in which the prices shift.
Being aware of metrics such as the volume of Bitcoin, the BNB price, the total value locked of Ethereum, or Solana’s relative strength index will help you make more objective decisions and have a diversified and robust portfolio. While there are still many who believe that cryptocurrencies are fundamentally dangerous and should be avoided by those who value their financial stability, an ever-growing number of individuals are looking to add holdings to their portfolios. It’s not just investors but institutions and corporations as well.
The current financial environment is more open to assets such as crypto as well, with legislation from all over the world clearly showing the fact that crypto coins are slowly but surely entering the mainstream.
South Korean Stablecoins
South Korea has recently elected a new president, and under the new ruling party, stablecoins are set to grow as local issuance could be legalized shortly. Lee Jae-myung has talked about domestic stablecoins since his campaign days, but even crypto users were surprised that the party has moved forward with the bill so quickly. The proposed Digital Asset Basic Act is aimed at improving transparency and boosting competition within the crypto sector. The stipulations include the fact that local companies could issue stablecoins with a minimum equity capital of 500 million won, or $386,000.
However, they must be able to guarantee refunds via reserves and obtain regulatory approval from the Financial Services Commission, South Korea’s leading finance regulator. In addition to the local currency stablecoins, Lee has also advocated for the country’s national fund to invest in BTC and other crypto coins. The launch of Bitcoin-based exchange-traded funds might also be a matter of time. The reason for these developments in the crypto world is Lee’s belief that a won-backed stablecoin ecosystem will prevent South Korea’s national wealth from moving overseas.
The Bank of Korea has opposed the introduction of stablecoins, with governor Rhee Chang-yong believing that integrating these coins could weaken the nation’s monetary policy.
Switzerland
Switzerland’s Federal Council is expecting to enforce a bill that would share crypto-adjacent data with seventy-four other countries by late 2026. The United Kingdom and the European Union member states are included in the bill. The Federal Council announced the adoption of the bill on June 6th, and it is currently being discussed in Parliament. If approved, it will take effect on January 1st, 2026. The first exchange of crypto data will take place in 2027, in this case. The exchange will also only occur if the partner states are interested in exchanging this information with Switzerland, as the countries will have to fulfill the requirements of the Crypto-Asset Reporting framework developed by the OECD.
ADVERTISEMENT
The eighth upgrade of the Directive on Administrative Cooperation, which applies to all countries that aren’t OECD-compliant yet, could result in the EU implementing the AEOI on cryptocurrencies.
California
Recent data shows that nearly 830 million people from all over the world currently own some form of cryptocurrency, indicating that adoption rates continue to increase as people become more comfortable with digital assets. The global user base of cryptocurrencies has increased by almost 200% between 2018 and 2020, continuing to accelerate even further since 2022. Africa, Asia, and South America saw the largest numbers of users, with people from these continents being much more likely to own at least one type of crypto compared to those living in other parts of the world.
One of the reasons why people are more likely to invest in cryptocurrencies now is because the regulatory framework surrounding them is more transparent. Dealing with troubles from lawmakers was a significant cause of apprehension for investors, and many are relieved at the possibility of those difficulties being lessened and potentially eliminated over the long term. The California State Assembly has recently passed a bill that could allow state agencies to accept cryptocurrency payments. The vote was unanimous, and the bill is now on its way to the Senate.
The Department of Financial Protection and Innovation will have to come up with rules that make both transactions and state fees under the DFAL fully payable in digital coins. There’s an additional bill in the works at the moment that would lay out crypto self-custody rights for the state’s residents. The bill is known as AB 1052 or “Bitcoin rights” and could also deem the use of cyber assets as legal and valid forms of payment when part of private transactions. Public entities could be prohibited from restricting or taxing cryptocurrencies based solely on their use as payment.
Malaysia
As crypto policies remain unclear in Malaysia, a market for illicit crypto mining has started to thrive. In addition to the inconsistent policies, unauthorized electricity usage can mean that Malaysia may not be able to make the most of the potential offered by crypto mining, at least not until things change in the sector. The multinational electricity company Tenaga Nasional Berhad lost 441.6 million ringgit, approximately $104.2 million, due to electricity theft between 2020 and 2024.
Having a regulated and incentivized environment where mining can take place would transform this energy into legitimate revenue and generate income that becomes fully taxable for the government. Legal miners exist in the country, but they tend to avoid publicity as much as possible due to the possibility of cyberattacks or physical theft of the gadgets.
ADVERTISEMENT
To sum up, the crypto ecosystem continues to evolve and thrive as the traditional financial world becomes more aware of its positive impact. Investors must remain attentive and keep up with these developments to make the most of them.
