Retail trading platform eToro has filed confidential documents with U.S. regulators, taking a major step toward an initial public offering (IPO) in New York this year that could value the company at more than $5 billion.

Dunamu, the operator of South Korean crypto exchange Upbit, has officially responded to recent reports that the platform may be subject to a suspension of business by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIU) under the Financial Services Supervisory Service (FSS) of South Korea. Dunamu made it clear that the financial regulator's penalty plan has not yet been finalized and will clarify the issues raised through subsequent processes including the Sanctions Review Committee. At the same time, Dunamu also emphasized that even if the penalty is finally implemented, it will not affect the cryptocurrency trading services for existing and new users. The penalty will only limit new users to transfer virtual assets from the Upbit platform within a specific time.

Trump is "open to the idea of establishing a strategic reserve containing digital currencies created by the United States." The article wrote: "While many in the cryptocurrency community are cheering Trump's upcoming executive order in support of cryptocurrency, one proposal has caused more controversy: the establishment of an "America First" strategic reserve that would give priority to digital currencies created by the United States, such as Solana, USD Coin and Ripple. In recent weeks, Trump has met with the founders of these digital currencies, and according to sources, he is open to the proposal. Industry insiders who wish to remain anonymous said they are worried that the move could delegitimize efforts to promote Bitcoin."

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has issued a circular to new virtual asset trading platforms seeking to be licensed: a refined licensing process and an enhanced external assessment. The circular focuses on the licensing plan and the enhanced external assessment for new corporations applying for a virtual asset trading platform license, and replaces the subject scope of the external assessment report published in June 2023. All virtual asset trading platform applicants who submit license applications after December 18, 2024, please see this circular. The SFC proactively communicates and strengthens communication with virtual asset trading platforms to provide guidance on the regulatory standards to be achieved in a direct and effective manner, which is the key to the fast-track licensing program. The SFC follows this approach for all virtual asset trading platform applicants seeking to be licensed. Under the refined licensing process, virtual asset trading platform applicants must engage external experts to conduct an external assessment after setting up all relevant systems and control measures. The SFC becomes an agreed participant in the external assessment of applications to be conducted by virtual asset trading platform applicants. The SFC has also optimized the external assessment to enhance its effectiveness. The enhanced external assessment will focus on ensuring that the policies, procedures, systems and control measures of virtual asset trading platform applicants are appropriately designed and implemented, and must be conducted in a direct attestation manner based on relevant standards and frameworks.

PANews reported on January 16 that according to the official website, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission announced today that all new applicants for virtual asset trading platform licenses can apply for licenses according to the SFC's fast-track licensing procedures. The new licensing method requires virtual asset trading platform applicants to first implement internal policies, procedures, systems and measures, and conduct external assessments of relevant measures.

Binance Alpha has added a new list of projects, including: LLM, SEKOIA, and PYTHIA.

Pension funds are trying to buy Bitcoin. Pension funds in Wisconsin and Michigan have become among the largest holders of U.S. stock market funds focused on cryptocurrencies, while some pension fund managers in the U.K. and Australia have also made small allocations to Bitcoin through funds or derivatives in recent months. As of the end of September, the Wisconsin Investment Committee became the 12th largest shareholder of BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF, with a stake worth about $155 million. Michigan is the sixth largest shareholder of the Grayscale Ethereum ETF, with a stake worth $12.9 million, and is also the 11th largest shareholder of the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF.

South Korean crypto exchange Upbit has been notified by the country's financial authorities that it will face a suspension of business for rectification due to violation of anti-money laundering obligations such as the customer identification system (KYC). The Financial Information Analysis Unit (FIU) of the Financial Services Commission of South Korea notified Upbit in advance on the 9th of this month of sanctions with the main content of suspension of business for rectification because it violated the Specific Financial Transaction Information Act. If the punishment is finalized, Upbit will restrict business related to new customers during the suspension period (up to 6 months), but existing users can still trade on Upbit. Upbit can submit an opinion on this punishment to the FIU before the 20th of this month. After receiving Upbit's defense, the FIU will hold a sanctions review meeting on the 21st of this month to finalize sanctions such as the suspension period.

QCP Capital, a Singapore-based crypto investment firm, said in a statement today that global markets rebounded last night after a lower-than-expected consumer price index (CPI) report was released, easing market concerns about rising inflation. Bitcoin surged 4.13% to a high of $100,800 before stabilizing just below $100,000. The stock market also showed optimism, with the S&P 500 up 1.83% and the Nasdaq up 2.27%. Yesterday, both Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs saw healthy inflows, with Bitcoin spot ETFs seeing a staggering inflow of $723.2 million. The rapid recovery in inflows reflects strong institutional demand and bodes well for the future prospects of the cryptocurrency market.