●• Japan approves $135B stimulus with included plans for crypto tax reform
●• South Korean exchanges face revenue squeeze amidst tightening market conditions
●• India moves forward with a rupee-pegged ARC asset launch
A weekly recap of the Asian cryptocurrency landscape highlights significant regulatory and financial shifts across major markets. Most notably, Japan has approved a massive $135 billion economic stimulus package, which includes plans for cryptocurrency tax reforms. This move is widely anticipated to improve the trading environment for domestic investors who have long faced high tax burdens on digital assets.
Conversely, the South Korean market is facing headwinds as local exchanges report a squeeze on revenue. This financial pressure on Korean platforms could lead to consolidation or shifts in fee structures within one of the world's most active retail trading hubs. Meanwhile, developments in India include the launch of a rupee-pegged ARC asset, signaling continued attempts to integrate digital assets within the existing financial framework.
Other regional updates include significant losses in Malaysia attributed to power theft by crypto miners and reports of Russia utilizing crypto for laundering purposes. These diverse developments underscore the fragmented nature of the Asian market, where some jurisdictions are moving toward liberalization and integration while others grapple with enforcement and operational sustainability.