Digital Assets

CBDCs

MAS Completes First Live wCBDC Settlement on SGD Testnet

By Nithya Subramanian | 14/11/2025

The trial shows banks can settle interbank overnight lending using wholesale CBDC on the new SGD Testnet, paving the way for future issuance of tokenised MAS Bills.

Tokenisation

MAS to Trial Tokenised Bills, Expand AI Initiatives

By Nithya Subramanian | 14/11/2025

MAS announced trials for tokenised MAS Bills settled in wholesale CBDC, finalised rules for stablecoins, and new AI governance initiatives.

Tokenisation

Hong Kong Launches Live Pilot for Tokenised Deposits, Digital Assets

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 14/11/2025

HKMA's new EnsembleTX project will test real-value settlement with major banks and asset managers, outlining a path to central bank money.

Stablecoins

Japan Stablecoin Issuers Could Become Major JGB Buyers – Report

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 14/11/2025

The head of a new yen stablecoin issuer says digital asset firms could fill the void left by the BOJ's tapering in the JPY 1,055 trillion bond market.

Anti-Money Laundering

China's Capital Controls Fuelling Global Money Laundering Threat, RUSI Finds

By Manesh Samtani | 14/11/2025

A new paper finds Chinese Money Laundering Organisations are a dominant global force, but concludes there is no public evidence of Chinese state direction.

CBDCs

BIS: Public Payment Systems Boost Welfare But Could Raise Merchant Fees

By Manesh Samtani | 14/11/2025

A new BIS paper finds public options like CBDCs can improve financial inclusion but may disintermediate banks and increase merchant fees.

Cryptocurrency

Taiwan to Study Inclusion of Bitcoin in Strategic Reserves

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 14/11/2025

The central bank to draft rules and pilot a treasury programme using seized assets, following calls to reduce reliance on the US dollar.

Anti-Money Laundering

UK Jails Chinese Fraud Mastermind Over Multi-Billion Bitcoin Laundering

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 13/11/2025

The case involved one of Britain's largest-ever cryptocurrency seizures, stemming from a massive Ponzi scheme affecting 128,000 Chinese investors.

Tokenisation

DBS, JP Morgan to Develop Cross-border Tokenised Deposit Framework

By Nithya Subramanian | 13/11/2025

The collaboration aims to create an interoperability framework enabling real-time exchange and settlement of tokenised deposits across multiple blockchains.