The cryptocurrency marketplace has become increasingly fast-paced over the last few months, with prices skyrocketing to levels higher than ever before for many tokens as traders become more interested in digital assets and start including them in their portfolios in increasing numbers. Institutional investors in particular have begun looking into the opportunities that cryptocurrencies can offer as well, so that they make the most of the ecosystem and secure their capital in the face of losses and inflation. Those looking for the best strategies on how to buy crypto know that one of the surest and safest ways to look after your holdings is to keep up with the price changes and shifts in metrics that could signal either upswings or downswings, and which should inform your future plans.
With that in mind, let’s have a look at the global news and announcements that could change outcomes in the crypto landscape until the end of the year.
Thailand’s crypto plans for tourists
The Thai government will announce the creation of a regulatory sandbox, a controlled environment that allows companies to test services, business models, and innovative products as a result of a regulatory framework that is much laxer. However, this functionality is only available for a limited amount of time. Lawmakers can therefore determine the risks and benefits of these technologies and provide the innovators with a space where they can refine their ideas before launching them on the wider market.
The Thai regulatory sandbox will enable tourists to convert cryptocurrencies into Thai Baht, allowing them to make electronic payments using these currencies. The motion is part of a plan to incentivize tourism and make more people interested in visiting the country. It is known as TouristDigiPay and will allow visitors to complete electronic payments through regulated providers. All these platforms are directly regulated by Thailand’s central bank as well as its Securities and Exchange Commission.
All tourists are eligible to use the service after completing the Know Your Customer guidelines, but additional safeguards will also be in place regarding monthly spending limits. Direct cash withdrawals are also not possible.
Hong Kong
A China Merchant Bank subsidiary, CMB International Securities Limited, has recently launched a crypto exchange based in Hong Kong, designed for professional investors. The exchange supports 24/7 ventures and hosts Bitcoin, Tether’s USDt, and Ethereum. The bank has also announced that it plans to integrate standard stocks with cryptocurrency and other fintech applications. But in mainland China, crypto has remained banned since 2017 and finds itself in the same situation nearly a decade on.
Hong Kong, on the other hand, has emerged as a crypto hub and one of the most crypto-friendly places in both Asia and the world. At the same time, Hong Kong has been working towards introducing new rules for the ecosystem as well. Smart contracts were banned for cold wallets, and security standards were tightened for all custodians. The Securities and Futures Commission has issued immediate guidance on the matter, with the security requirements applying to all digital wallets.
The regulator also outlined prescriptive controls for all licensed custodians and will include having a certified hardware security module that restricts withdrawals to whitelisted addresses only. Security operations monitoring systems, infrastructure, networks, and wallets will be maintained at all times, too. The reason for these changes is that smart contract functionality is vulnerable to exploitation, meaning that relying on the contracts could increase the likelihood of the wallets being targeted. Their introduction of governance and additional complexities, which have the potential to create protocol-level risks for the blockchain, have also been taken into consideration and regarded as hazards.
2025 correction
Bitcoin has recorded significant growth since the fourth quarter of 2024, reaching record prices that were previously unseen. Since then, the corrections have been minimal and have not had any long-lasting impact on the marketplace. However, investors expect prices to drop further in the near future. Historical data recorded during previous halving cycles show that the Bitcoin price typically halts its second uptrend anywhere between five and seven weeks.
However, analysts believe that even though the prices could dip, a new all-time high could still occur by the end of the year. In fact, the correction might be the thing that ends up propelling the price even further. According to data, BTC/USD has not delivered a fully green August and September back-to-back yet. A dip could nevertheless form the pretext for a much more considerable cycle that could emerge toward the fourth quarter of the year.
Investors have referred to this as a “pink flush” that is followed by a strong Q4, a tendency observed in most years during bull markets. If the number of flushes keeps increasing over the next two months, it could be the missing piece that the fourth quarter needs in order to propel its rally.
Jeju City
Jeju City is the capital and largest city of South Korea’s Jeju Island, a renowned tourist destination known for its natural beauty and mild climate. Right now, the tourist hotspot is dealing with a complex process of freezing and seizing the crypto assets of some individuals who have allegedly committed tax evasion. Almost 3,000 individuals were investigated, and nearly 20 billion won (approximately $14.2 million) was seized to settle the outstanding balance. The tax officials had to comb through data from several major South Korean exchanges to locate the individuals.
The country enacted laws in 2021 that allow regulators to seize cryptocurrency from tax dodgers. Authorities in the city of Paju have announced that they will conduct a similar operation targeting crypto users who failed to pay their taxes last November. Since the introduction of this 2021 policy, millions of dollars worth of crypto have been collected from evaders.
To sum up, if you’re an investor and want to guarantee the success of your portfolio, you must do your research. Look into the ways in which the market is changing and shifting to determine the direction of your next strategy. And remember to ensure that your operations are always in accordance with the law. According to Binance.com co-founder Yi He, “Crypto isn’t just the future of finance – it’s already reshaping the system, one day at a time.”, so this marketplace is definitely where you want to be if you’re keen on innovation.
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