Metaplanet’s executive stock pool sparks shareholder backlash
Japanese Bitcoin treasury company Metaplanet’s executive stock pool continues 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 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 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) 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. 
Gemini receives Singapore payment license for crypto services
Crypto exchange Gemini has .
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 eyes payment operator registration freeze
The Philippines’ central bank has 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
