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Lavender Au

Lavender Au

Lavender Au is a CoinDesk reporter with a focus on regulation in Asia. She holds BTC, ETH, NEAR, KSM and SAITO.

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The bill gives the Financial Services Commission authority to oversee and inspect service providers. (Daniel Bernard/ Unsplash)
Policy
Regulations
South Korea Passes Crypto Bill for User Protection
The bill marks the country's first step towards a digital asset legal framework.
The bill gives the Financial Services Commission authority to oversee and inspect service providers. (Daniel Bernard/ Unsplash)
By Lavender Au
Jul 3, 2023 at 5:52 a.m. UTC
Jul 3, 2023
RegulationsSouth KoreaNational AssemblyFinancial Services Commission
The MAS proposed stablecoin rules last year which set capital and reserve requirements for issuers. (Sandali Handagama/ CoinDesk)
Policy
Regulations
Stablecoin Issuer Circle Receives Digital Token License in Singapore
The issuer of USDC received in-principle approval in November last year.
The MAS proposed stablecoin rules last year which set capital and reserve requirements for issuers. (Sandali Handagama/ CoinDesk)
By Lavender Au
Jun 7, 2023 at 7:16 a.m. UTC
Jun 7, 2023
RegulationsStablecoinSingapore
The SFC will start accepting license applications for crypto exchanges in June. (Ruslan Bardash/Unsplash)
Policy
Regulations
Hong Kong Securities Regulator to Accept License Applications for Crypto Exchanges Starting June 1
The SFC's guidelines prohibit crypto "gifts" designed to incentivize retail investments, which likely includes airdrops, and says stablecoins should not be admitted for retail...
The SFC will start accepting license applications for crypto exchanges in June. (Ruslan Bardash/Unsplash)
By Lavender AuSandali Handagama
May 23, 2023 at 10:20 a.m. UTC
May 23, 2023
RegulationsHong KongSFC
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Meric Dagli/Unsplash)
Policy
Malaysia
Malaysia Says Crypto Exchange Huobi Global Isn't Registered, Must Cease Operations
The country's regulator told CEO Leon Li to ensure the website and mobile apps are disabled.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Meric Dagli/Unsplash)
By Lavender Au
May 22, 2023 at 8:31 a.m. UTC
May 22, 2023
MalaysiaHuobiRegulation
Users can manage and customize the entire life cycle of the CBDC, including minting, distribution, redemption and destruction. (Ripple Labs)
Policy
Ripple
Ripple Starts Platform for Central Banks to Issue Their CBDCs
The firm will also showcase a real estate tokenization product as part of Hong Kong Monetary Authority's e-HKD pilot.
Users can manage and customize the entire life cycle of the CBDC, including minting, distribution, redemption and destruction. (Ripple Labs)
By Lavender Au
May 18, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. UTC
May 18, 2023
RippleCBDCHong KongHong Kong Monetary Authority
Firms are subject to the whims of the bank account providers and end up dedicating resources to opening bank accounts. (Unsplash)
Policy
Analysis
Even Licensed Firms Say Opening Bank Accounts Is Hard in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has said it wants to be a crypto hub but its banks are rejecting account opening applications.
Firms are subject to the whims of the bank account providers and end up dedicating resources to opening bank accounts. (Unsplash)
By Lavender Au
May 17, 2023 at 7:16 a.m. UTC
May 17, 2023
AnalysisPolicyHong KongHong Kong Monetary AuthorityBankingBanking Regulation
Kim faces accusations that he was trading coins during meetings of the National Assembly's judiciary committee last year. (efired/Getty)
Policy
Regulations
South Korea Probes Crypto Exchanges Upbit, Bithumb on Ex-Lawmaker's Transfers
Lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk resigned from the main opposition party after his crypto transfers incited controversy.
Kim faces accusations that he was trading coins during meetings of the National Assembly's judiciary committee last year. (efired/Getty)
By Lavender Au
May 15, 2023 at 1:20 p.m. UTC
May 15, 2023
RegulationsSouth KoreaPolicy
Kim Nam-kuk's WEMIX holdings stood at 6 billion won ($4.5 million) between January and February 2022. (Jacek Malipan/EyeEm/Getty)
Policy
Regulations
South Korea Authorities Investigate Lawmaker Over Suspicious Crypto Transfers: Report
Local media reports Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk had previously co-sponsored a bill seeking to defer taxation on crypto profits.
Kim Nam-kuk's WEMIX holdings stood at 6 billion won ($4.5 million) between January and February 2022. (Jacek Malipan/EyeEm/Getty)
By Lavender Au
May 8, 2023 at 9:15 a.m. UTC
May 8, 2023
RegulationsSouth KoreaPolicyPolitics
Tokyo (Ryo Yoshitake/Unsplash)
Finance
Japan
Binance Japan Will Start Operations After June
Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange acquired Sakura Exchange BitCoin in November.
Tokyo (Ryo Yoshitake/Unsplash)
By Lavender Au
Apr 28, 2023 at 8:42 a.m. UTC
Apr 28, 2023
JapanBinanceacquisition
Hong Kong (Ruslan Bardash/Unsplash)
Policy
Regulations
Hong Kong Regulator Reminds Local Banks There Is No Ban on Crypto Firms
Crypto companies have complained that opening bank accounts in the jurisdiction is difficult.
Hong Kong (Ruslan Bardash/Unsplash)
By Lavender Au
Apr 28, 2023 at 7:54 a.m. UTC
Apr 28, 2023
RegulationsHong Kong Monetary AuthorityHong KongBanking Regulation