On January 8, India's Financial Intelligence Unit issued updated guidelines that classify crypto exchanges as VDA service providers and tighten AML/KYC. Platforms must conduct live ID checks, collect PAN, IP and geolocation data, and verify bank accounts via penny-drop. Exchanges welcomed clearer compliance, while the framework mandates five-year record retention and tools to detect mixers.

On 12 January 2026 at 10:55, major asset managers were described as shifting tokenization from pilots to core market infrastructure. BlackRock’s BUIDL tokenized treasury fund reached $500 million, while Hamilton Lane has tokenized more than $2.1 billion across private equity and credit. Firms are deploying multi-chain products on Ethereum, Stellar, and Polygon, with established custody support also in place.

In February 2025, South Korea's FSC set a three‑phase plan and is now moving to end a nine‑year corporate crypto ban. According to a local media report, new guidelines let listed companies and professional investors trade top‑20 tokens on five major exchanges with an annual cap of 5% of equity capital. The final phase could open access to roughly 3,500 entities while stablecoin eligibility remains under review.

A new report by Cato Institute analyst Nicholas Anthony, published Thursday, concludes most U.S. debanking cases arise from direct or indirect government pressure. The Institute's account highlighted the study on January 8, 2026. The analysis distinguishes government-driven debanking from political, religious, and operational closures, and notes crypto firms are frequently affected.

X’s head of product Nikita Bier said on Sunday that the platform is developing Smart Cashtags, a feature that lets users tie ticker symbols to specific tokens or smart contracts and view real-time price data. The announcement followed backlash over engagement limits, as Elon Musk promised to open-source X’s new recommendation algorithm within seven days while the company faces EU investigations, fines, and growing criticism about bot activity and throttled crypto reach.

Elon Musk has said on X that the platform's recommendation algorithm will be published as open source within seven days and refreshed every four weeks with detailed developer notes. The initiative aims to increase transparency around how organic and advertising posts are surfaced, drawing both support and skepticism from the crypto community and aligning with calls for auditable social media systems.

On January 11, the chairs of seven UK parliamentary committees sent a letter urging a complete prohibition on cryptocurrency donations to political parties. The move cites risks to transparency, traceability, and enforcement, and follows debates that intensified after a £9 million contribution linked to a crypto investor was flagged in December 2025.

On Sunday, X's head of product Nikita Bier outlined a "Smart Cashtags" feature that will show real-time prices for cryptocurrencies and stocks, with a public rollout targeted for February. The concept includes smart contract data and asset "mentions," and one mockup hints at in-app trading with Buy and Sell buttons.