Mystery of crypto sleuth’s death, Japanese exchange lists on Nasdaq: Asia Express

The journey to turn into India’s MicroStrategy begins with 12 BTC

Jetking Infotrain unveiled that it has turn into the primary publicly listed Indian agency to undertake Bitcoin as a reserve asset. 

Speaking to Bitcoin proponent Max Keiser in a Dec. 9 X submit, the corporate’s chairman Avinash Barwani stated his agency now holds 12 BTC.

“The entire thought is to get Bitcoin on the stability sheet for enterprises and be sure that we’ve got fairness and Bitcoin in place in order that over a time frame, the worth of the corporate will increase and the shareholders get their worth,” Barwani stated.

Barwani describes his firm as a “very small” agency. Its firm’s inventory value has jumped greater than 60% since Keiser’s video, elevating its market capitalization to round $7 million.

In accordance with the corporate’s treasury reserve coverage for the 2024-25 monetary 12 months permitted by its board on Nov. 12, Jetking intends to carry the vast majority of its treasury reserve in Bitcoin, whereas sustaining 15% of money reserves for working capital. Bitcoin could also be liquidated to satisfy their day-to-day wants. 

The Indian agency joins the rising listing of Asian corporations putting their future within the fingers of Bitcoin, a method popularized by Bitcoin fanatic Michael Saylor and his agency MicroStrategy. 

Japan’s Metaplanet has been given the “Asian MicroStrategy” nickname for its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation that raised over 1,100 BTC. However Hong Kong’s Booya Interactive has much more in its stash, with 3,183 Bitcoin.

In the meantime, China’s personal “MicroStrategy,” Meitu, cashed in on its $100 million crypto funding not too long ago to bag $80 million in earnings. Meitu first invested in Bitcoin and Ether in 2021.

Critics have criticized Saylor’s all-in on Bitcoin tactic as dangerous and reckless, whereas some Bitcoin maxis see it as a long-term fail-proof technique.

Within the rapid future, it might land the corporate within the Nasdaq 100. This index tracks the efficiency of the 100 largest non-financial corporations (MicroStrategy is technically a software program agency) on the Nasdaq trade. By cracking into the index, MicroStrategy will get publicity to institutional buyers and hedge funds by way of merchandise like exchange-traded funds that make investments straight in corporations in that index.

Coincheck’s SPAC merger for Nasdaq itemizing

Japanese crypto trade Coincheck turned the second main crypto trade on the Nasdaq, one of many world’s largest inventory markets, second solely to the New York Inventory Trade.

Coincheck joins Coinbase as the one main trade on the Nasdaq. It’s one of many high 50 exchanges on the planet in response to CoinMarketCap’s rankings, the place it ranks second amongst Japanese platforms.

Not like Coinbase, which went public by way of direct itemizing, Coincheck did so by way of a backdoor itemizing by way of a merger with particular objective acquisition firm Thunder Bridge Capital. SPACs are also referred to as clean verify corporations, as their main perform is to merge with a personal firm to take them public, in what is typically referred to as a

The transaction that completes the merger is named a de-SPAC transaction. For Coincheck, the de-SPAC transaction was reportedly valued at $1.25 billion.

SPAC listings are also referred to as backdoor listings as a result of they supply a non-traditional strategy to gaining entry to the inventory market.

That doesn’t essentially imply it’s all the time straightforward. As an example, Circle, the issuer of the second-largest stablecoin USDC, failed its $9 billion SPAC merger with Harmony Acquisition Group and the deal was terminated in December 2022. In August 2022, mining agency PrimeBlock scrapped its $1.25 billion merger with 10X Capital Enterprise Acquisition Corp. II.

A profitable merger doesn’t assure success both. Earlier than Coinbase and Coincheck traded on the general public market, cryptocurrency trade Eqonex (previously often known as Diginex) finalized a SPAC itemizing with 8i Enterprises Acquisition Corp in September 2020.

On Feb. 27, 2023, Nasdaq introduced its choice to delist Eqonex’s atypical shares.

Mysteries cloud the tragic demise of Taiwan’s high crypto investigator

Prosecutors in Taiwan have launched an investigation into the demise of Miffy Chen, the nation’s main cryptocurrency forensics knowledgeable, who died in a automobile crash on Dec. 4.

Chen was returning residence from the Taichung Prosecutors Workplace along with her boyfriend, a Legal Investigation Bureau detective recognized as “Hsieh,” when the crash occurred. Hsieh suffered accidents from the accident.

Chen and Hsieh had reportedly been summoned to the prosecutor’s workplace following a criticism filed in opposition to Hsieh. The criticism alleged that he leaked confidential data associated to a fraud syndicate investigation to Chen, in response to the China Instances, a neighborhood media outlet typically thought to be pro-Beijing.

After questioning, Hsieh was launched on a bail of 30,000 New Taiwan {dollars} (round $920), whereas Chen was launched with out bail.

Chen was extensively thought to be Taiwan’s high cryptocurrency investigator. She reportedly served as a professional bono knowledgeable counselor for the CIB and the police and helped observe and freeze 10 billion New Taiwan {dollars} (round $300 million) in unlawful proceeds. She additionally labored as a monetary crime investigator for trade XREX and served as secretary on the presidential panel of the Judicial Reform Committee.

In accordance with Taoyuan Metropolis Councilor Huang Ching-ping cited by the Taipei Instances, Chen was warned by police about her private security as legal teams started asking about her background and private data.

Hong Kong’s central financial institution isn’t too eager on investing in Bitcoin

Hong Kong’s Trade Fund, the funding arm of the Hong Kong Financial Authority, doesn’t at present goal crypto property, in response to Joseph Chan, appearing secretary for Monetary Companies and the Treasury.

Responding to a question from Legislative Council member Johnny Ng, Chan said that whereas the sovereign wealth fund invests in diversified asset courses, crypto isn’t amongst them.

Nonetheless, he famous that exterior managers appointed by the HKMA may put money into crypto property, emphasizing that any such allocation can be “minimal.”

Hong Kong, aiming to turn into a regional “crypto hub,” has been creating regulatory frameworks to draw Web3 companies. Chan introduced plans to introduce a licensing regime for crypto custodians in 2025.

The town has already launched a licensing regime for crypto exchanges, approving three up to now. In accordance with Securities and Futures Fee CEO Julia Leung, the regulator plans to announce batch approvals for added candidates by year-end.

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Yohan Yun

Yohan Yun is a multimedia journalist masking blockchain since 2017. He has contributed to crypto media outlet Forkast as an editor and has lined Asian tech tales as an assistant reporter for Bloomberg BNA and Forbes. He spends his free time cooking, and experimenting with new recipes.