Latest news with #MarketsinCrypto-Assets
Mint
6 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Bitcoin buyer Metaplanet overtakeschipmaker Kioxia in m-cap, stock soars 400% in 2 months
Japan's hotelier-turned-Bitcoin-buyer Metaplanet Inc. overtook memory chipmaker Kioxia Holdings Corp. in terms of market capitalization as the stock soared nearly 400% in less than two months, riding the global crypto rally. Metaplanet's market value surpassed ¥1 trillion ($6.9 billion) for the first time on Monday, extending gains which also took it past chipmaker Screen Holdings Co. and Tokyo Metro Co., operator of one of the world's biggest subway systems. The stock rocketed 26% Monday as it announced its purchase of ¥16.9 billion worth of Bitcoin which hit a record of $111,980 on May 22. Metaplanet has plans to raise about $5.4 billion to add to its Bitcoin stockpile. The company is among a growing cadre of listed entities globally that have followed the strategy adopted by Strategy, the software maker that has amassed more than $60 billion of the original digital asset. Over a five-year period, Metaplanet shares have soared more than 3,000%. But not everyone is convinced Metaplanet's rally will last. Short positions have grown to about 23% of its free float as of June 12, the largest among Tokyo-listed companies of at least that size, according to data from S&P Global. Listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Standard section for medium-sized companies and basic governance standards, Metaplanet is the largest stock on the bourse without any analyst coverage, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Two of the world's largest cryptocurrency companies are poised to secure licences granting them access to operate across the European Union, as a rift grows among regulators over the speed and rigour of some countries' approvals, according to sources familiar with the matter. Under the EU's new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which came into force earlier this year, member states can issue licences that allow crypto companies to operate throughout the 27-nation bloc, but some have raised concerns in closed-door meetings about the speed with which licences are being granted, two people familiar with those discussions said, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. At stake is the oversight of the multi-trillion-dollar crypto industry, which regulators have long warned could facilitate fraud, market instability and illicit financial flows if it is not properly supervised. --With contribution from Reuters
Deccan Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Deccan Herald
Crypto giants set for EU green light amid growing regulatory rift, sources say
Under the EU's new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which came into force earlier this year, member states can issue licences that allow crypto companies to operate throughout the 27-nation bloc.
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Crypto firm which switched HQ from Ireland to Malta poised to secure EU licence
Two of the world's largest cryptocurrency companies are poised to secure licences granting them access to operate across the European Union, as a rift grows among regulators over the speed and rigour of some countries' approvals, according to sources familiar with the matter. Under the EU's new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which came into force earlier this year, member states can issue licences that allow crypto companies to operate throughout the 27-nation bloc, but some have raised concerns in closed-door meetings about the speed with which licences are being granted, two people familiar with those discussions said, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. At stake is the oversight of the multi-trillion-dollar crypto industry, which regulators have long warned could facilitate fraud, market instability, and illicit financial flows if it is not properly supervised. MiCA aims to bring crypto under the same regulatory umbrella as traditional finance, but some fear that uneven enforcement could undermine its goals. Gemini, a crypto trading platform founded by billionaire twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, is on the verge of receiving a licence to operate from Malta, the smallest country in the European Union, two people said. This follows Malta's earlier approvals of OKX and granted within weeks of the new regime's introduction. Gemini launched Ireland as its European base, to much fanfare, in 2023, but in January 2025 moved its European operations from Ireland to Malta. The Winklevoss twins famously sued Facebook's Mark Zuckerburg accusing him of stealing their idea. Mr Zuckerburg countersued and the twins eventually dropped their lawsuit after agreeing a settlement believed to be in the region of €50m. The pace of Malta's approvals has drawn scrutiny from other national regulators, who meet under the umbrella of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). France's AMF has publicly warned that ESMA's lack of direct authority could lead to a "regulatory race to the bottom". Another senior regulatory official, who did not wish to be identified, said that they were concerned about accepting licences granted in countries where regulators had fewer staff, citing Malta as one example. ESMA has scrutinized Malta's licensing process, with a report due to be circulated in the near future, said one of those people. A spokesperson for the Malta Financial Services Authority said it had granted four crypto licences so far and was able to move fast due to its past experience, adding that "expedited processing" was due to its "in-depth understanding acquired over these years". It said its local money laundering standards were strict. ESMA declined to comment. OKX said its application was "rigorous" and that compliance was a priority. The regulatory debate has intensified with expectations that Luxembourg will soon grant a licence to Coinbase, the first US crypto-focused company to join the S&P 500, one of the people said. While the application has been in progress for several months, one person pointed to the relatively modest size of Coinbase's planned operation in Luxembourg. A Coinbase spokesperson did not comment on its application but said it employed 200 in Europe and that it invested in staff to ensure operations were safe. The spokesperson said Luxembourg was a "high-bar, well respected global financial centre" and that Coinbase would hire more than 20 people there by the end of the year. Luxembourg's financial watchdog declined to comment. One person familiar with Luxembourg's thinking dismissed any suggestion that the country was lax and said some critics were rather motivated by self interest in a race to attract crypto firms. Coinbase's anticipated approval is seen as a setback for Ireland, where relations with the crypto industry have cooled. In 2023, Central Bank Governor Gabriel Makhlouf compared crypto to a Ponzi scheme, warning that 'most of the time when you gamble, you're actually losing'. The global cryptocurrency market is currently valued at roughly €2.6tn but it has seen crises, such as the collapse and fraud of top US exchange FTX in 2022. The European Union has long had to contend with divergence between its members. The dispute is unfolding as European politicians consider granting greater powers to regulator ESMA. While the European Union is united as a trading bloc and writes much regulation centrally in Brussels, countries vie with each other to attract international businesses. ESMA head Verena Ross has also pushed publicly for more powers to oversee crypto, although one person familiar with discussions among EU politicians said several countries were sceptical.
The Star
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Exclusive-Crypto giants set for EU green light amid growing regulatory rift, sources say
PARIS/FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Two of the world's largest cryptocurrency companies are poised to secure licences granting them access to operate across the European Union, as a rift grows among regulators over the speed and rigour of some countries' approvals, according to sources familiar with the matter. Under the EU's new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which came into force earlier this year, member states can issue licences that allow crypto companies to operate throughout the 27-nation bloc, but some have raised concerns in closed-door meetings about the speed with which licences are being granted, two people familiar with those discussions said, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. At stake is the oversight of the multi-trillion-dollar crypto industry, which regulators have long warned could facilitate fraud, market instability and illicit financial flows if it is not properly supervised. MiCA aims to bring crypto under the same regulatory umbrella as traditional finance, but some fear that uneven enforcement could undermine its goals. Gemini, a crypto trading platform founded by billionaire twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, is on the verge of receiving a licence to operate from Malta, the smallest country in the European Union, two people said. This follows Malta's earlier approvals of OKX and granted within weeks of the new regime's introduction. The pace of Malta's approvals has drawn scrutiny from other national regulators, who meet under the umbrella of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). France's AMF has publicly warned that ESMA's lack of direct authority could lead to a "regulatory race to the bottom". Another senior regulatory official, who did not wish to be identified, said that they were concerned about accepting licences granted in countries where regulators had fewer staff, citing Malta as one example. ESMA has scrutinized Malta's licensing process, with a report due to be circulated in the near future, said one of those people. A spokesperson for the Malta Financial Services Authority said it had granted four crypto licences so far and was able to move fast due to its past experience, adding that "expedited processing" was due to its "in-depth understanding acquired over these years". It said its local money laundering standards were strict. ESMA declined to comment. OKX said its application was "rigorous" and that compliance was a priority. SELF INTEREST? The regulatory debate has intensified with expectations that Luxembourg will soon grant a licence to Coinbase, the first U.S. crypto-focused company to join the S&P 500, one of the people said. While the application has been in progress for several months, one person pointed to the relatively modest size of Coinbase's planned operation in Luxembourg. A Coinbase spokesperson did not comment on its application but said it employed 200 in Europe and that it invested in staff to ensure operations were safe. The spokesperson said Luxembourg was a "high-bar, well respected global financial centre" and that Coinbase would hire more than 20 people there by the end of the year. Luxembourg's financial watchdog declined to comment. One person familiar with Luxembourg's thinking dismissed any suggestion that the country was lax and said some critics were rather motivated by self interest in a race to attract crypto firms. Coinbase's anticipated approval is seen as a setback for Ireland, where relations with the crypto industry have cooled. In 2023, Central Bank Governor Gabriel Makhlouf compared crypto to a Ponzi scheme, warning that 'most of the time when you gamble, you're actually losing.' The global cryptocurrency market is currently valued at roughly $3.3 trillion but it has seen crises, such as the collapse and fraud of top U.S. exchange FTX in 2022. The European Union has long had to contend with divergence between its members. The dispute is unfolding as European politicians consider granting greater powers to regulator ESMA. While the European Union is united as a trading bloc and writes much regulation centrally in Brussels, countries vie with each other to attract international businesses. ESMA head Verena Ross has also pushed publicly for more powers to oversee crypto, although one person familiar with discussions among EU politicians said several countries were sceptical. (Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft in Paris and John O'Donnell in Frankfurt, additional reporting by Hannah Lang in New York; Editing by Elisa Martinuzzi and Louise Heavens)
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Crypto giants set for EU green light amid growing regulatory rift, sources say
By Elizabeth Howcroft and John O'Donnell PARIS/FRANKFURT (Reuters) -Two of the world's largest cryptocurrency companies are poised to secure licences granting them access to operate across the European Union, as a rift grows among regulators over the speed and rigour of some countries' approvals, according to sources familiar with the matter. Under the EU's new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which came into force earlier this year, member states can issue licences that allow crypto companies to operate throughout the 27-nation bloc, but some have raised concerns in closed-door meetings about the speed with which licences are being granted, two people familiar with those discussions said, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. At stake is the oversight of the multi-trillion-dollar crypto industry, which regulators have long warned could facilitate fraud, market instability and illicit financial flows if it is not properly supervised. MiCA aims to bring crypto under the same regulatory umbrella as traditional finance, but some fear that uneven enforcement could undermine its goals. Gemini, a crypto trading platform founded by billionaire twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, is on the verge of receiving a licence to operate from Malta, the smallest country in the European Union, two people said. This follows Malta's earlier approvals of OKX and granted within weeks of the new regime's introduction. The pace of Malta's approvals has drawn scrutiny from other national regulators, who meet under the umbrella of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). France's AMF has publicly warned that ESMA's lack of direct authority could lead to a "regulatory race to the bottom". Another senior regulatory official, who did not wish to be identified, said that they were concerned about accepting licences granted in countries where regulators had fewer staff, citing Malta as one example. ESMA has scrutinized Malta's licensing process, with a report due to be circulated in the near future, said one of those people. A spokesperson for the Malta Financial Services Authority said it had granted four crypto licences so far and was able to move fast due to its past experience, adding that "expedited processing" was due to its "in-depth understanding acquired over these years". It said its local money laundering standards were strict. ESMA declined to comment. OKX said its application was "rigorous" and that compliance was a priority. SELF INTEREST? The regulatory debate has intensified with expectations that Luxembourg will soon grant a licence to Coinbase, the first U.S. crypto-focused company to join the S&P 500, one of the people said. While the application has been in progress for several months, one person pointed to the relatively modest size of Coinbase's planned operation in Luxembourg. A Coinbase spokesperson did not comment on its application but said it employed 200 in Europe and that it invested in staff to ensure operations were safe. The spokesperson said Luxembourg was a "high-bar, well respected global financial centre" and that Coinbase would hire more than 20 people there by the end of the year. Luxembourg's financial watchdog declined to comment. One person familiar with Luxembourg's thinking dismissed any suggestion that the country was lax and said some critics were rather motivated by self interest in a race to attract crypto firms. Coinbase's anticipated approval is seen as a setback for Ireland, where relations with the crypto industry have cooled. In 2023, Central Bank Governor Gabriel Makhlouf compared crypto to a Ponzi scheme, warning that 'most of the time when you gamble, you're actually losing.' The global cryptocurrency market is currently valued at roughly $3.3 trillion but it has seen crises, such as the collapse and fraud of top U.S. exchange FTX in 2022. The European Union has long had to contend with divergence between its members. The dispute is unfolding as European politicians consider granting greater powers to regulator ESMA. While the European Union is united as a trading bloc and writes much regulation centrally in Brussels, countries vie with each other to attract international businesses. ESMA head Verena Ross has also pushed publicly for more powers to oversee crypto, although one person familiar with discussions among EU politicians said several countries were sceptical. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
