Metaplanet equity backlash, SE Asia crypto funding doubles: Asia Express

JAPAN

Metaplanet’s executive stock pool sparks shareholder backlash

Japanese Bitcoin treasury company Metaplanet’s executive stock pool continues to draw shareholder backlash over stock dilution concerns. 

Multiple shareholders objected across social media to Metaplanet’s 10th Series executive option pool, which was designed as 20% of fully diluted shares and automatically expanded as the company issued new shares to fund its Bitcoin (BTC) accumulation.

Some shareholders are now asking Metaplanet to cancel the additional 273 million shares created from the changes and to provide more transparency on future decisions.

Bitcoin Magazine CEO David Bailey defended Metaplanet and said that giving the team 20% of the cap table over five years “isn’t some crazy number” but many shareholders disagree.

Citi plans fast cross-border blockchain payments

Citi plans to offer Japanese companies near-instant international payments through blockchain-based infrastructure, including outside standard banking hours.

SE ASIA

Singapore takes the lead as SE Asia funding doubles to $680 million

Investment in south east asian crypto firms doubled between 2025 and 2026, with the region recording 25 funding rounds worth $680 million in 2026. That’s up from just 319 million according to private market data platform Tracxn. Unfortunately the figures mean more funds are going to fewer companies, as there were 46 funding rounds last year.

Singapore has taken out the number one spot as Asia’s preeminent crypto hub, and is home to 2,285 of the 3,957 blockchain companies in the entire region. It has also accounted for 82.5% of all time blockchain equity funding tracked across the region.

US sanctions Xinbi scam marketplace

United States authorities restrained more than $52 million in crypto linked to scam marketplace Xinbi Guarantee and its vendor network as part of a coordinated operation. 

The US Justice Department said its Scam Center Strike Force seized two wallets used by Xinbi to collect vendor payments containing about $12 million. Law enforcement also sought restraints against 47 additional wallets believed to be connected to money laundering across Xinbi’s network. 

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Xinbi as a significant transnational criminal organization. OFAC also sanctioned Singapore-based SafeW Technology and Cambodia-based Anwen Technology for allegedly providing technological and financial support to Xinbi. 

SINGAPORE

Gemini receives Singapore payment license for crypto services

Crypto exchange Gemini has received a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), completing its transition from the in-principle approval granted nearly two years ago. 

MPI license holders can provide regulated payment services without the transaction-volume limits imposed on standard payment institutions.

Gemini President and co-founder Cameron Winklevoss said the exchange has served customers in Singapore since 2020, while CEO Tyler Winklevoss described the country as a strategic hub for serving retail and institutional clients.

Circle to buy Tazapay for $400M

USDC issuer Circle has agreed to pay $400 million to acquire Singapore based cross border payments company Tazapay, which has more than 60 bank and fintech partners across 100 different markets.

SOUTH KOREA

South Korean regulators introduce tokenized securities roadmap

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (SFC) introduced a three-phase roadmap to develop infrastructure for tokenized securities issuance, for assets including stocks, bonds and funds.

Starting Feb. 4, 2027, tokenized securities will be legally recognized as digitized forms of securities after an update to the Act on Electronic Registration of Stocks and Bonds is scheduled to take effect.

The first phase will offer tokenized securities legal recognition, including for institutional money market funds, bonds, unlisted stocks and fractional investment securities. Phase two would expand tokenization to all publicly offered securities, while phase three aims for onchain payments linked to stablecoins.

Won stablecoins could save merchants $3.8 billion annually

South Korea’s National Assembly Budget Office says that won-denominated stablecoins could reduce South Korean merchants’ annual payment fees by between $275 million and $3.8 billion annually.

INDIA

India’s Arya.ag to put grain ownership records on Avalanche

Indian agricultural warehousing and lending company Arya.ag is testing a system to tokenize warehouse receipts for stored grain on a dedicated Avalanche layer-1 blockchain. 

Arya.ag is working with Finternet to connect grain deposits, warehouse receipts, collateral commitments and loan status through the network.

Devika Mittal, Ava Labs’ head of India, told Cointelegraph that testing was underway and said each tokenized receipt would represent ownership of the stored commodity. The companies did not disclose an expected launch date or how much grain or lending the initial deployment would cover.

India’s FIU cracks down on money laundering compliance

India’s Financial Intelligence Unit issued non-compliance notices to 15 offshore virtual digital-asset service providers for alleged AML failures. The agency also sought takedowns of relevant applications and URLs, accusing them of serving Indian customers without proper controls.

Indian crypto regulation to be discussed next week

India’s Finance Ministry is expected to appear before a parliamentary panel on September 16, with the discussion focused on the taxation and regulation of virtual digital assets.

THAILAND

Webull buys Pi Securities for $100M

Thailand’s Webull Securities has completed the acquisition of long established tradfi securities and investment services firm Pi Securities for $100 million.

PHILIPPINES

Philippines eyes payment operator registration freeze

The Philippines’ central bank has proposed freezing new payment-system operator registrations for 12 months while imposing tighter controls on payment arrangements involving virtual asset service providers (VASPs). 

Under a draft circular, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it would suspend acceptance and processing of applications for operators of payment systems (OPS) to conduct a “holistic review” of its taxonomy and licensing framework. 

HONG KONG

Chelsea’s USDC Jersey sponsorship creates problems in Hong Kong

Circle’s USDC jersey sponsorship deal with the Chelsea Football Club has created headaches in Hong Kong, where unlicensed crypto promotions are penalized and local merchants have been hesitant to sell the jersey.

Boyaa Interactive buysaa Bitcoin

Hong Kong-listed gaming company Boyaa Interactive has purchased another 115 Bitcoin, adding to its treasury holdings.