Regulation & Policy

Australia tightening crypto regulations: exchanges must have a financial services license Australia has just approved a new regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry; under it, exchanges and digital asset custody platforms will be required to apply for a financial services license within the next six months. The move is seen as a significant step toward greater oversight and regulation of the sector.

Texas Senate vice governor Dan Patrick announced that the forecast market, cryptocurrency, and blockchain research will be priorities for the next legislative session, aiming to advance the Texas conservative agenda. Texas will evaluate cryptocurrency ATMs and strengthen coordination of federal regulatory efforts, while also focusing on the legal compliance of prediction markets. In addition, Patrick proposed studying the impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce. Texas markets and investors will closely watch the development of relevant policies.

The Hong Kong government's delay in issuing HKD stablecoin licenses, initially promised by March, is creating uncertainty in the market. Despite strong institutional interest, the approval process remains stalled as regulators prioritize thorough evaluations over swift implementation.

The Yinchuan City Xingqing District People’s Court concluded a civil and commercial dispute involving entrusted investment in virtual currency. The plaintiff sought repayment of the investment funds but did not obtain it, and therefore filed a lawsuit based on unjust enrichment. The court determined that the relationship was one of an entrusted contract, facilitated a mediation, and reminded investors to be mindful of legal risks.

Amid rumors of a partnership between American Express and XRP ultimately falling through, it was actually announced that it would become the NFL’s official payments partner, without mentioning Ripple. The prior hype misled people, leading to a negative market reaction, and the XRP price dropped by about 29%. Analysts warn investors to stay alert to false information and social-media hype.

The European Central Bank, in its latest DeFi report, used data from DeFiLlama for the first time, indicating that regulators are paying close attention to decentralized finance. The report sheds light on the problem of concentrated governance power, which is of great significance for policy-making. Improving DeFiLlama’s credibility can help promote cooperation between regulators and DeFi platforms. In the future, DeFi may face stricter compliance requirements, while also bringing governance challenges.

Gate News update. On April 1, Bloomberg reported that the EU is pushing to consolidate regulatory authority over large crypto institutions into the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and Malta has publicly opposed it. If the relevant proposal is advanced by the EU Council and Parliament this summer, Malta may need to hand over its direct regulatory authority over top crypto institutions to ESMA.

The US commodities regulator’s chief enforcement director sent a cautionary message to prediction market insider traders on Tuesday, vowing that violators will face enforcement action. “We are aware of the speculation about insider trading,” CFTC enforcement director David Miller said at a panel at

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is strengthening its oversight of insider trading in prediction markets, emphasizing that event contracts are swap contracts subject to strict financial regulation. Multiple recent cases have drawn attention, and the CFTC will prioritize handling serious violations, while related legislation is also moving forward to push prediction markets toward compliance. Investors need to pay attention to legal and information compliance.

A Fed governor highlighted that the regulatory framework on stablecoins established by the GENIUS Act should be complemented by strict federal oversight. The warning comes amid the scheduled markup of the Clarity Act, which aims to patch the regulatory gaps of the GENIUS Act on digital

The U.S. Federal Reserve’s first systematic assessment of payment stablecoins finds that they could improve cross-border payment efficiency, but may also change the flow of reserves and monetary policy. Stablecoin regulation is governed by the GENIUS Act and may affect the Fed’s asset management policies; as the scale grows, regulation will become more stringent.

Spanish bank CaixaBank was approved on March 30 to become the sixth crypto-asset service provider under the EU MiCA regulation, allowing it to offer services for crypto-asset custody, trading, and transfers. The EU’s MiCA authorization is valid across member states, providing regulatory convenience. Unauthorized institutions will lose their eligibility to provide services in 2026.

Hong Kong’s Hong Kong dollar stablecoin licensing program has been delayed, and it has still not been approved to date. The market expects it may be pushed back to April. Regulators are focused on the applicants’ use cases and compliance, and the high bar is intended to reduce risk. HSBC, Standard Chartered, and others are potential licensees. Stablecoins will connect traditional finance with blockchain assets, and this will be tied to competition in regional digital finance.

Hong Kong’s first batch of stablecoin issuer licenses was originally expected to be issued in March 2026, but as of the end of March, none has been issued yet, drawing market attention. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority emphasized that it will announce progress in due course. The frontrunners with stronger support currently include Standard Chartered and HSBC, while it appears that mainland Chinese institutions have not been able to make the shortlist. Delays in granting licenses could affect Hong Kong’s position as a pioneer in the global stablecoin regulatory space.

The Federal Reserve Board member Michael Barr warned that stablecoin reserve assets face money laundering and financial stability risks, emphasizing that reserve quality is crucial. Stablecoins have advantages in areas such as real-time cross-border payments, but they could pose dangers due to insufficient regulation. Pushing the “Lummis Act” will require issuers to formally register and hold equivalent reserves to strengthen market stability. The implementation of regulatory details will directly affect the development of the U.S. stablecoin market.

Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary and the Treasury Bureau Deputy Director, Chan Ho-lim, revealed that the OECD revised the Common Reporting Standard, incorporating new types of digital financial products such as central bank digital currency, and issued a framework for reporting crypto assets, aiming to enhance transaction transparency. The Hong Kong Legislative Council supports this bill, with the goal of enacting the legislation by 2026.

Hong Kong’s first batch of stablecoin issuer licenses was originally set to be issued in March 2026, but it did not roll out as scheduled. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said it is moving forward with the licensing process, and the market is watching the application status of HSBC and Standard Chartered. Among the applications for the second batch of licenses, Futu Securities and OSL Group are strong contenders.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has prioritized studying prediction markets and cryptocurrency regulations for the upcoming legislative session, aiming to address gambling loopholes and evaluate the state's crypto policies and AI's workforce impact.

Federal Reserve Board Governor Michael Barr emphasized that stablecoins must develop under strict regulation, warning that a lack of safeguards could repeat the history of problems caused by private currencies. He noted that while the GENIUS Stablecoin Act has provided an initial framework, it needs stronger enforcement and oversight to ensure the safety and liquidity of reserve assets and to prevent potential financial stability risks.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson expressed strong doubts about the “Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act,” saying the bill could have long-term negative effects, stifle innovation in the industry, and warning that its complex structure may further drive industry consolidation, favoring established projects.