Governments and institutions across Asia and beyond are accelerating their steps in the digital asset sector. Japan’s Financial Services Agency plans to set up a new division to oversee cryptocurrency, generative AI, and related innovation. The “Crypto Assets and Innovation Division” will take shape in fiscal year 2026 under a larger restructuring plan.
The budget for the plan totals 25 billion yen, or around 170 million dollars, and includes new staff to strengthen oversight. In the Philippines, Senator Bam Aquino suggested moving national budget records onto blockchain. He said this would help create transparent and traceable spending.
The plan would build on the Department of Budget and Management’s ongoing work with the Polygon network, where it already stores certain fiscal documents. The United Arab Emirates is making global headlines as it ranks fourth in the world among governments holding Bitcoin.
Crypto reserve state miner citadel holds 6300 bitcoins
The country holds over 6,300 bitcoins, worth about 740 million dollars, through its state mining firm Citadel Mining. The coins come from mining operations with the Phoenix Group. In Thailand, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is promoting the idea of turning the country into a digital asset treasury hub for ASEAN.
He held talks with international asset firms, including Japanese players, to discuss creating a sovereign Bitcoin reserve. He said this could help offset economic slowdown and rising debt. The government also plans a crypto sandbox program with private sector involvement. Hong Kong is also making moves in digital finance.
Yao Zhisheng, a member of China’s top political advisory body, called for the city to become a global center for stablecoin issuance. He argued that Hong Kong’s role as a financial hub and its offshore RMB strength give it a unique edge. India saw a darker side of crypto.
China’s ex-central bank chief warns on Stablecoin risks
An anti-corruption court sentenced 14 people, including 11 police officers, to life imprisonment for kidnapping a businessman in 2018 and extorting Bitcoin. The case also revealed that the victim himself faces charges in separate crypto-related crimes.
China’s former central bank governor, Zhou Xiaochuan, warned of risks associated with stablecoins. Stablecoins are saying they could fuel speculation without offering clear payment benefits. Meanwhile, PetroChina is studying the potential of stablecoins for cross-border settlement, showing that energy giants are now exploring digital finance.
Elsewhere, the University of Hong Kong’s business school launched a pilot allowing tuition payments in Bitcoin and other digital assets. And in a push for global leadership, former Bank of China executive Wang Yongli urged China to advance real-world asset tokenization, calling it the next frontier of financial innovation.
