A potential U.S. military strike on Iran could trigger prolonged regional conflict and significant global economic disruption, according to geopolitical commentary shared in a recent Youtube interview with the host of the Predictive History channel. Xueqin Jiang Argues Iran Conflict Would Ripple Across Global Trade In a recent discussion published on Youtube, Xueqin Jiang, host […]
Open World Launches Saudi Arabia’s First RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence to Advance Vision 2030 Digital Economy Goals
AL KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia, Jan 23, 2026 – (ACN Newswire) – Open World Ltd. (“Open World”), a blockchain infrastructure company with experience supporting large-scale digital asset initiatives, today announced the establishment of Saudi Arabia’s first RWA (Real-World Asset) Tokenization Center of Excellence. The news follows Open World’s announcement on January 5, 2026, regarding its plans to merge with VerifyMe, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRME) (“VerifyMe”), positioning the combined entity for participation in public markets as a leading infrastructure provider in the digital asset and tokenization sector.
The RWA Center of Excellence will operate as a fully licensed and, as regulations are defined, in-Kingdom entity designed to accelerate compliant digital asset innovation for sovereign, enterprise, and institutional clients across Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East. The initiative will directly support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 Financial Sector Development Program, which seeks to establish Saudi Arabia as a globally competitive financial and investment hub.
As the Saudi regulatory frameworks continue to mature, the Center of Excellence will enable compliant tokenization of real-world assets, including energy infrastructure, tokenized carbon reduction credits, real estate, sovereign bonds and, over time, regulated stablecoins. These initiatives will be launched on Open World’s sovereign and national-scale tokenization infrastructure introduced in December 2025 through its partnership with Abstract. This will provide Saudi enterprises and government entities new pathways to access global capital markets while maintaining full regulatory compliance with Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and Capital Market Authority (CMA) requirements.
“Saudi Arabia is leading the global conversation on how digital assets can be deployed in service of national economic priorities,” said Matt Shaw, co-founder and CEO of Open World. “By establishing our Center of Excellence in Al Khobar, we are making a long-term commitment to build alongside Saudi partners, under Saudi regulations, with infrastructure that meets the Kingdom’s sovereign data and security requirements. Our goal is to help transform Saudi Arabia’s tremendous real-world asset base into globally accessible, compliant digital instruments that attract international investment while ensuring value creation remains within the Kingdom.”
Initial focus areas for the Center of Excellence include certain types of energy asset tokenization, real estate development financing, and the on-chain verification and storage of carbon reduction credits. The Center has been structured to meet sovereign-grade delivery standards, with a strong emphasis on data residency, local security controls, and national economic considerations aligned with the Kingdom’s localization objectives.
“Welcoming Open World to Al Khobar represents a significant step in our region’s digital transformation journey,” said Dr. Salman Salem Al Khaldi, member of the Industry and Energy Committee at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “The Eastern Province is home to Saudi Aramco, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran Techno Valley and the Kingdom’s largest concentration of energy assets, making it the ideal location to pioneer real-world asset tokenization. This initiative aligns perfectly with Vision 2030’s goal to develop our financial sector and diversify our economy beyond traditional energy exports.”
The RWA Center of Excellence is expected to commence full operations in 2026, with initial pilot projects targeted for mid-year launch. Open World has established the necessary legal, licensing, commercial, and technological infrastructure required to operate directly within Saudi Arabia’s regulatory environment.
To support growing institutional adoption in Saudi Arabia, Open World said it plans to work with financial institutions, government entities, and regulators to develop frameworks for investor protection, regulatory clarity, and standardized tokenization practices, with strategic partnership announcements expected throughout 2026.
About Open World Ltd.
Open World has been a major driving force behind many of the most iconic projects in blockchain. Given its expertise, Open World is now expanding its offerings to traditional finance (TradFi). Open World has facilitated the inception and growth of more than 20 companies since 2023 and has helped launch over $65 billion in aggregate network value since (at peak FDV). Open World advises founding teams as they navigate the most complex intersections of financial regulatory, tokenomics, public markets, exchange strategy, and governance structuring. The teams Open World advises are partners with leading venture capital firms, including a16z, Multicoin Capital, Dragonfly, and Founders Fund. The firm’s range of services includes token launch advisory, DATs and TradFi strategies, RWA tokenization, stablecoin issuance, policy advocacy, and strategic advisory work. To learn more, visit https://www.openworld.dev.
About VerifyMe, Inc.
VerifyMe provides specialized logistics for time and temperature-sensitive products, as well as brand protection and enhancement solutions. To learn more, visit https://www.verifyme.com/.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “become,” “expected,” “plans,” “upon,” “will,” and similar expressions, as they relate to Open World and VerifyMe, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include the uncertainty of whether Open World and VerifyMe will enter into a merger agreement and, if they do enter into a merger agreement, that the merger will close. Additionally, the expected benefits of the merger may not be realized. These risk factors and uncertainties include those more fully described in VerifyMe’s Annual Report and Quarterly Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including under the heading entitled “Risk Factors.” Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of our underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those currently anticipated. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
Additional Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It
This document includes discussion related to a proposed transaction between Open World and VerifyMe. In connection with the proposed transaction, if the parties enter into a merger agreement, VerifyMe intends to file a proxy statement, and, if required by the definitive merger agreement, a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC relating to the proposed transaction. After concluding the SEC comment process, and, if applicable, the registration statement is declared effective, VerifyMe will mail a definitive proxy statement, and, if applicable, a prospectus, to its stockholders. VerifyMe will also file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC.
Investors and securityholders are urged to read the proxy statement and any prospectus, and other relevant documents filed with the SEC carefully when they become available, because they will contain important information about Open World, VerifyMe, and the proposed transaction.
Copies of the proxy statement and any prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by VerifyMe will be available free of charge on the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov and on VerifyMe’s website at https://vrmeinvestor.com/ or by written request to VerifyMe at VerifyMe, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 801 International Parkway, Fifth Floor, Lake Mary, Florida 32746.
Participants in the Solicitation
Open World and VerifyMe and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed under SEC rules to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from VerifyMe’s stockholders in connection with the proposed merger. If the parties enter into a merger agreement, a list of the names of the directors and executive officers of VerifyMe and information regarding their interest in the proposed merger will be contained in the proxy statement and any prospectus when available. Additional information regarding the interests of the persons who may, under SEC rules, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies of VerifyMe’s stockholders in connection with the proposed merger, including the names and interests of Open World’s directors and executive officers, will be set forth in the proxy statement and any prospectus for the proposed merger, which is expected to be filed by Open World and VerifyMe with the SEC after the parties enter into a merger agreement.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under applicable securities laws.Media Contact
UBS considers allowing some banking clients to invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum
UBS Group AG, the world’s leading wealth manager, is considering allowing select wealthy clients to invest in crypto assets, starting with Bitcoin and Ethereum, as it evaluates partners for a potential digital asset rollout, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
UBS may begin offering crypto services in Switzerland, with potential expansion to the Asia-Pacific region and the US. The wealth manager is still selecting partners and has not finalized plans.
The initiative comes amid rising interest in digital assets among wealthy clients and follows similar initiatives by competitors like JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley.
The move would represent an expansion beyond UBS’s existing blockchain initiatives. In November 2024, the bank launched UBS Digital Cash, a private blockchain pilot for multi-currency cross-border payments.
UBS Tokenize, another initiative, enables on-chain issuance of tokenized financial products, including the first tokenized money market fund on Ethereum.
CEO Sergio Ermotti has emphasized blockchain as central to the future of traditional banking, citing its efficiency and scalability. UBS has previously described crypto as a limited segment of digital assets and refrained from direct offerings amid regulatory uncertainty.
Crypto Market Shed $220B This Week as Bitcoin Slips and Select Tokens Defy the Selloff
Over the past seven days, the crypto economy coughed up roughly $220 billion and is now wobbling right around the $3 trillion line. Bitcoin slipped 6.6%, a broad swath of altcoins face-planted, yet a stubborn handful still walked away with gains this week. Bloodied Majors, Breakout Outliers: Crypto’s Winners and Losers in a Brutal Week […]
The new secret to getting a credit line without a bank
Let’s say an investor has a house in Switzerland and a beach house in Miami. They’re worth, perhaps, $10 million. But what they are really looking for right now is a line of credit for some time on the slopes at St. Moritz, a trip to the Cannes film festival and a few upgrades to the yacht.
In traditional finance, they might be able to approach their bank and use those assets to secure a flexible, short-term loan. However, if a substantial part of the investor’s assets is in crypto, it’s likely much harder.
And it seems there are a large number of ultra-rich people who made their fortunes in crypto. In 2025 alone, a survey by Henley & Partners found that the global population of crypto millionaires had reached 241,700, up 40% from the previous year.
So how do these crypto-rich investors use their fortune to supplement their lavish lifestyle? Their traditional bank likely won’t even touch crypto, and if selling those crypto assets is out of the question, where do they turn?
This is when a sophisticated decentralized finance (DeFi) lending strategies comes into play, said Jerome de Tychey, the founder of Cometh, a DeFi-for-businesses facilitator that recently became one of the few firms in France to gain a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license.
For someone who is crypto native, they could simply take their ether tokens, add them to a lending platform like Aave and withdraw stablecoins. However, for someone who made their fortune by just buying crypto and watching it grow, and who is not familiar with the DeFi process, it can be bewildering, de Tychey said.
“This is still a bit too complicated and too sophisticated for the layman, and so it’s typically the kind of thing we do to help family offices, for example, who have a good amount of crypto and want a credit line,” he said in an interview at the CfC St Moritz crypto conference.
On a day-to-day basis, wealthy clients often use collateral loans, also known as Lombard loans or Lombard credit, to secure loans against their assets. These are flexible, short-term loans secured by the pledge of assets such as stocks, bonds, or investment portfolios. They allow borrowers to access cash quickly without selling their investments, thereby avoiding capital gains tax and retaining benefits such as dividends.
Typically, these clients have wealth in the tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, and their objective is to keep their assets stable while funding their lifestyle and expenses at the lowest rate possible.
De Tychey, who is also the founder of the Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC), said his firm adds a DeFi component to the equation that could involve bitcoin on Aave, USDC on Morpho, or perhaps providing liquidity on ether to BTC on Uniswap, for example.
DeFi vs TradFi loans
Borrowing using crypto assets also offers perks, such as a faster lending process. For example, a loan backed by bitcoin could be processed in as little as 30 seconds on some platforms, whereas a Lombard loan, using traditional assets as collateral, at a private bank might take up to 7 days.
Also, traditional loans require credit checks and tax returns, while DeFi loans are permissionless (where code is the law and it doesn’t care who the borrower is in some platforms), so anonymity is an additional perk for those who seek it.
It also has some drawbacks. For example, crypto loans depend on counterparty risk and could be more volatile depending on the price of the crypto asset. For example, if the price of a digital asset suddenly drops, the smart contract or code could automatically liquidate a borrower’s collateral.
However, it all comes down to using an investor’s crypto asset to secure a loan through a faster, more seamless process, rather than going to a traditional bank, where crypto might not be considered an asset to borrow against.
‘Tradfi-cation of DeFi’
Having snagged a MiCA license in France, Cometh is also working on ways to use DeFi strategies for stocks, bonds and derivatives using their identifying International Securities Identification Numbers (ISIN).
To access debt using an account holding Tesla shares, for instance, ISIN-based codes need to be held in a dedicated fund, de Tychey said.
“We are looking at these sorts of approaches done through dedicated private debt products that anyone with a title account can access. So that’s a way of doing tokenization but the other way around; it’s really a kind of ‘tradfi-cation’ of DeFi,” de Tychey said.
Crypto ETFs with staking can supercharge returns but they may not be for everyone
Investing in crypto assets like ether, the native token of the Ethereum network, once followed a simple path: traders bought coins on platforms like Coinbase or Robinhood, or stored them in self-custody wallets such as MetaMask, and held them directly.
Then came staking, or pledging a certain amount of cryptocurrencies to a network to validate transactions and earn rewards. This was seen as a way for investors to generate passive income while holding the tokens through crypto exchanges in anticipation of price appreciation.
However, as crypto has moved closer to mainstream finance, new products such as exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track spot prices now sit alongside direct ownership, giving investors more choice — but also more decisions to make.
If that wasn’t enough, the ETFs that track ether, intended to provide traditional investors with easier access to ETH exposure, now offer staking products. These funds not only provide exposure to the ether price but also offer the potential for passive income through staking yields.
For example, crypto asset manager Grayscale, earlier this month, was the first fund to pay shareholders staking rewards for its Ethereum Staking ETF (ETHE). Investors received $0.083178 per share, meaning that if someone purchased $1,000 worth of ETHE shares, which at that time traded at $25.87, they would have earned $82.78.
This leaves investors with a tough question: Is it better to buy and hold spot ETH outright via a crypto exchange or to purchase an ETF that stakes it on their behalf?
Yield vs ownership
At its core, the decision comes down to two factors: ownership and yield.
When an investor buys ETH directly through an exchange like Coinbase or Robinhood, they’re buying the actual crypto asset. Investors gain or lose money depending on whether the price increases or decreases, while the exchange holds the asset on their behalf.
If they choose to stake that ETH through Coinbase, the platform handles the staking process, and the investor earns rewards — typically around 3% to 5% annually — minus a commission that the exchange collects on those rewards. While this approach doesn’t require managing validators or running software, it still keeps the investor within the crypto ecosystem, allowing them to transfer, unstake, or use their ETH elsewhere.
On the other hand, if an investor chooses to buy shares of an ether ETF, that fund would purchase ETH on their behalf, without the investor ever having to log in or create a crypto wallet. And if that ETF has a staking component, the fund that buys ETH will stake it and earn rewards on behalf of the investors.
Fees are another major difference.
Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust (ETHE), for instance, charges a 2.5% annual management fee, which applies regardless of market conditions. If the fund also stakes ETH, a separate cut goes to the fund’s staking provider before any earnings are passed on to shareholders.
Coinbase, by contrast, doesn’t charge an annual management fee to hold ETH, but it does take up to 35% of any staking rewards, which is a standard practice for any platform offering yield on staking, although the fees can vary.
“There is no fee to stake your assets. Coinbase takes a commission based on the rewards you receive from the network. Our standard commission is 35% for ADA, ATOM, AVAX, DOT, ETH, MATIC, SOL, and XTZ,” according to the Coinbase website disclosure. The fees are lower for someone who is part of Coinbase’s paid premium membership.
That makes the effective yield from staking typically higher on Coinbase than through a staking ETF, though the ETF structure may appeal more to investors who want simplicity and access through a traditional brokerage account.
In other words, investors will have exposure to ETH price moves and passive income from staking, without ever having to understand what a crypto exchange or wallet is. All they have to do is buy the stocks of that staking ETF. It’s like earning yield from a fund that invests into dividend-paying companies — except, in the case of staking ETFs, the rewards come from the blockchain, not a company.
Sounds fairly easy, which is one of the reasons these ETF products became so popular in the first place. However, there are some caveats.
First, income generation isn’t guaranteed.
Just like traditional stock-related ETFs, these staking funds are subject to risks, such as fluctuating yields. Imagine this scenario: if a company suddenly cuts its dividend, it may lower the yield of the fund held by the investors.
Similarly, staking rewards vary. The staking rewards are based on network activity and the total amount of cryptocurrency staked. Right now, for ETH, the annual yield is around 2.8%, according to CoinDesk data.
But those rewards aren’t guaranteed and fluctuate as the chart shows. And if something goes wrong with the staking operation — say the validator fails or gets penalized — the fund could lose part of its ETH.
The same is true when staking through Coinbase: while the platform handles technical details, rewards still fluctuate, and poor validator performance could reduce returns. That said, staking through Coinbase offers more flexibility than an ETF — you retain ownership of your ETH and can choose to unstake or transfer it, something ETF shareholders can’t do.
There’s also the matter of access and control. Even when an investor holds ETH on an exchange like Coinbase or Robinhood, they are still part of the crypto ecosystem. If someone ever wants to transfer their ETH to a wallet or use it in DeFi apps, they can (though Robinhood’s withdrawal process adds complexity).
With an Ethereum ETF, that flexibility disappears. Investors don’t hold ETH directly and can’t transfer it to a wallet, stake it independently, or use it in DeFi protocols. Their exposure is limited to buying or selling ETF shares through a brokerage account, meaning access to the asset is entirely mediated by the fund structure and traditional market hours rather than the blockchain itself.
Which is better?
So, which one is better? The answer lies in what investors are looking for from these products.
If they are looking for yield without managing keys or validators, a staking fund might be a good option. Even if the fees are eating into the total returns.
However, if an investor values direct ownership, long-term flexibility, or is willing to stake ETH themselves, holding crypto on a wallet or an exchange may be the better option. Plus, they can avoid the fund management fees (although they will still need to pay various transaction fees).
Nifty Gateway to Shut Down in February 2026 as NFT Market Slump Deepens
Nifty Gateway, one of the earliest and most recognizable NFT marketplaces, is set to shut down operations next month, marking another high-profile exit amid the sector’s prolonged downturn.
“Today, we are announcing that the Nifty Gateway platform will be closing on February 23, 2026,” the Gemini-owned platform wrote in a Saturday post on X, adding that it has already entered withdrawal-only mode, giving users roughly one month to move any remaining NFTs or funds off the site.
A shutdown notice is now displayed on Nifty Gateway’s homepage, and users can withdraw assets either through a linked Gemini Exchange account or directly to their bank via Stripe.
Nifty Gateway said customers with NFTs, ETH or US dollar balances would receive email instructions on withdrawing their assets. The company urged users to complete the process ahead of the February deadline.
Related: What the NFT Paris cancellation says about the current state of the NFT market
Nifty Gateway topped $300 million in sales at its peak
Launched in 2020, Nifty Gateway played a central role in bringing NFTs to a mainstream audience. Unlike many crypto-native platforms at the time, it allowed users to purchase digital collectibles using credit cards, lowering the barrier to entry. The marketplace became known for curated “drops” from high-profile artists and creators, including Beeple and Grimes.
At the height of the NFT frenzy in mid-2021, Nifty Gateway facilitated more than $300 million in sales. That momentum faded as the broader NFT market cooled. In April 2024, the company stepped away from operating a traditional marketplace and rebranded as Nifty Gateway Studio, shifting its focus toward onchain creative projects and brand partnerships.
Gemini, which acquired Nifty Gateway in 2019, said the closure would allow the crypto exchange to concentrate on its broader product strategy. “This decision will allow Gemini to sharpen its focus and execute on the vision of building a one-stop super app for customers,” the company said, adding that it will continue to support NFTs through the Gemini Wallet.
Related: US prosecutors drop OpenSea NFT fraud case after appeals court reversal
Animoca acquires Somo as NFT market shows signs of life
Earlier this month, Animoca Brands acquired gaming and digital collectibles firm Somo, bringing its playable and tradable collectibles into Animoca’s wider blockchain ecosystem. The company plans to integrate Somo using shared infrastructure and partnerships, positioning the deal as a strategic extension of its existing gaming and NFT portfolio.
The acquisition came as the NFT market showed a short-term rebound at the start of 2026. Total NFT market capitalization rose about 20% in the first two weeks of the year, climbing from roughly $2.5 billion to over $3 billion, with a sharp $300 million jump occurring in a single 24-hour period alongside higher trading volumes.
Magazine: Bitget’s Gracy Chen is looking for ‘entrepreneurs, not wantrepreneurs’
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy
Stablecoin Yield Bans Under CLARITY Act Could Push Capital Offshore
The proposed restrictions on stablecoin yields under the US CLARITY Act risk driving capital out of regulated markets and into offshore, opaque financial structures.
Colin Butler, head of markets at Mega Matrix, said banning compliant stablecoins from offering yield would not protect the US financial system, but instead sideline regulated institutions while accelerating capital migration beyond US oversight.
“There’s always going to be demand for yield,” Butler told Cointelegraph, adding that if compliant stablecoins can’t offer it, capital will simply move “offshore or into synthetic structures that sit outside the regulatory perimeter.”
Under the recently enacted GENIUS Act, payment stablecoins such as USDC (USDC) must be fully backed by cash or short-term Treasuries and are prohibited from paying interest directly to holders. The framework treats stablecoins as digital cash, rather than financial products capable of generating yield. Butler argued that this creates a structural imbalance, particularly at a time when three-month US Treasuries yield around 3.6% while traditional savings accounts pay far less.
Butler said the “competitive dynamic for banks isn’t stablecoins versus bank deposits,” but banks paying depositors very low rates while keeping the yield spread for themselves. He added that if investors can earn 4% to 5% on stablecoin deposits through exchanges, compared with near-zero yields at banks, capital reallocation is a rational outcome.
Related: Goldman Sachs CEO says CLARITY Act ‘has a long way to go’
Yield ban could drive demand for “synthetic dollars”
Andrei Grachev, founding partner at Falcon Finance, warned that limiting onshore yield could create a vacuum filled by so-called synthetic dollars, which are dollar-pegged instruments that maintain parity through structured trading strategies rather than one-to-one fiat reserves.
“The real risk isn’t synthetics themselves – it’s unregulated synthetics operating without disclosure requirements,” Grachev said.
Butler pointed to Ethena’s USDe (USDe) as a prominent example, noting that it generates yield through delta-neutral strategies involving crypto collateral and perpetual futures. Because such products fall outside the GENIUS Act’s definition of payment stablecoins, they occupy a regulatory gray area.
“If Congress is trying to protect the banking system, they have inadvertently accelerated capital migration into structures that are largely offshore, less transparent, and completely outside US regulatory jurisdiction,” Butler said.
Banks have argued that yield-bearing stablecoins could trigger deposit outflows and weaken their lending capacity. Grachev acknowledged that deposits are central to bank funding, but said framing the issue as unfair competition misses the point.
“Consumers already have access to money markets, T-bills, and high-yield savings accounts,” he said, adding that stablecoins simply extend that access into crypto-native environments where traditional rails are inefficient.
Related: The CLARITY Act stalling is positive for the crypto industry: Analyst
Stablecoin yield bans could hurt US competitiveness
Beyond domestic concerns, Butler warned of global competitive implications. China’s digital yuan became interest-bearing earlier this year, while jurisdictions such as Singapore, Switzerland and the UAE are actively developing frameworks for yield-bearing digital instruments.
“If the US bans yield on compliant dollar stablecoins, we’re essentially telling global capital: choose between zero-yield American stablecoins or interest-bearing Chinese digital currency. That’s a gift to Beijing,” he said.
Grachev argued the US still has an opportunity to lead by setting clear standards for compliant, auditable yield products. The current CLARITY Act draft, however, risks doing the opposite by treating all yield as equivalent and failing to distinguish between transparent, regulated structures and opaque alternatives.
Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy
Binance applies for MiCA license ahead of July deadline
Binance, one of the world’s leading crypto exchanges, has filed for a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license in Greece through a holding corporation called Binary Greece as part of its bid for EU-wide operating rights.
Athens-based Binary Greece was registered late last year, according to D News. The entity serves as Binance’s home base for securing a MiCA license, which, if granted, would allow the company to passport its services across all 27 EU member states from a single regulatory hub.
The application is being reviewed by the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC), Greece’s securities regulator.
The HCMC has invited five leading audit and advisory firms, including Ernst & Young, KPMG, Grant Thornton, Deloitte, and PwC, to assist with the complex assessment required under the EU’s MiCA framework.
The MiCA framework, introduced by the EU in 2023, requires digital asset firms operating in Europe to obtain authorization before July 1, 2026. Only 4% of crypto platforms registered in France have secured MiCA authorization so far.
Approval would help Binance maintain its presence ahead of the July deadline, after which unlicensed firms must cease operations in several member states.
From Boom to Whimper: Bitcoin Slides Into Bearish Territory
It’s a tightrope walk in the crypto circus today as bitcoin teeters just above a crucial support zone, drawing both skeptics and hopeful scalpers to the ring. With a market that can’t decide if it wants to bounce or break, let’s dive into the technicals—where the drama is live and the signals are twitchy. Bitcoin […]