Topics · Safeguards · Systemic and prudential
Operational and cyber resilience.
Hacks have cost Asian exchanges billions. Regulators now set technology-risk, key-management and incident-reporting rules, and audit them.
Outsourcing to cloud and infrastructure providers is increasingly supervised too.
By market · 14 sources across 10 markets
East Asia
Hong Kong1 source
Circular on intermediaries engaging in tokenised securities-related activities
Treats tokenised securities as securities and sets expectations on ownership and technology risk for intermediaries dealing in them.
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Southeast Asia
Philippines1 source
Circular No. 1108, Series of 2021: Guidelines for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP)
The core VASP regime: a Certificate of Authority for exchange, transfer and custody services. Minimum capital is ₱50 million with custody and ₱10 million without, plus AML, travel rule, cybersecurity and consumer protection duties.
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Thailand1 source
SEC files criminal complaint with ECD against Bitkub Online Co., Ltd. and its former directors for giving false statements, and against the former directors for making false entries in a juristic person's document to deceive any person
The SEC alleges that Bitkub's daily net capital reports hid the effect of a May 2021 hack of about 1.7 billion baht in customer assets. Bitkub remains on the SEC licence register.
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Central Asia
Kazakhstan1 source
Register and requirements: digital asset trading platform operators
Registration rules for platforms trading DFAs and crypto: KZT 200 million charter capital, board-approved operating rules, a three-year business plan and cybersecurity testing before launch. The register, on the Russian version of the page, lists only KASE.
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Kyrgyzstan1 source
Treasury sanctions cryptocurrency exchange and network enabling sanctions evasion and cyber criminals
Designated Grinex as the successor to Garantex and Old Vector, the Kyrgyz issuer of the rouble-backed A7A5 token, along with other firms in Russia and Kyrgyzstan.
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Middle East
Israel1 source
Financial Asset Custody Provisions, Circular 2026-10-2
Binding custody rules for financial asset service licensees: client assets in trust in segregated accounts, a custody officer, a register updated at least daily, multi-party (e.g. multisig) approval of transfers, quarterly checks by an independent accountant and controls on outsourced custodians. Published 19 July 2026, in force six months after publication (January 2027).
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Jordan1 source
Draft Executive Instructions for Virtual Asset Activities for 2026
127 draft articles on platform operators, custodians, brokers and offer providers, client dealings and investor protection, marketing, outsourcing, financial guarantees, audits and cybersecurity. Comment closed on 28 January 2026; the final instructions had not been published by 5 October 2026.
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Turkey2 sources
Information Systems and Technological Infrastructure Criteria for Crypto Asset Service Providers
Announces the mandatory technical controls for crypto firms under the Capital Markets Law, covering hot and cold wallet security, key management, governance and business continuity.
Read the originalCommuniqué on the Principles of Establishment and Operation of Crypto Asset Service Providers (III-35/B.1)
Sets the two-stage licensing process (establishment then operating permit), ownership and management rules, internal controls, IT systems, independent audit and proof-of-reserves audits.
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Offshore hubs
Bermuda2 sources
Guidance Note: Digital Asset Business, Guidance for Prospective Applicants for Licensing
Sets out what the BMA expects in a DABA licence application, from the legal vehicle, head office and staffing to outsourcing, insurance, capital and custody. It names SAC, ISAC and trust structures as bankruptcy-remote options firms have used.
Read the originalConsultation Paper: Call for Proposal, Embedded Supervision in the context of Decentralised Finance
Invited proposals for a joint pilot testing whether supervisory requirements can be built into DeFi infrastructure. The BMA lists Chainlink Labs, Hacken, Bluprynt and Apex as participants in the pilot.
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Cayman Islands3 sources
Private Sector Consultation: Rule and Statement of Guidance on Cybersecurity for VASPs
Proposes a standalone cybersecurity rule for VASPs covering risks such as wallet infrastructure, private keys, smart contracts and third-party technology, beyond the cross-sector rule applied to VASPs since 2023.
Read the originalRule: Obligations for the Provision of Virtual Asset Services, Virtual Asset Custodians and Virtual Asset Trading Platforms
Governance, capital, risk management, cybersecurity and listing rules for licensed custodians and platforms. Capital must be the higher of a risk-based amount or six months' fixed overheads; conduct sections moved to the Market Conduct Rule in February 2026.
Read the originalDesk-Based Review: Registered Virtual Asset Service Providers
Findings from a review of 11 registered VASPs between September 2024 and February 2025, citing weaknesses in board composition, succession planning, business continuity, cybersecurity and custody arrangements.
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