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22 May 2026, 04:10

Polymarket Lobbies for Japan Entry, Sets Sights on 2030 Approval

BitcoinWorld Polymarket Lobbies for Japan Entry, Sets Sights on 2030 Approval Decentralized prediction market Polymarket has initiated lobbying efforts to enter the Japanese market, targeting official government approval by 2030, according to a report by Bloomberg. The platform currently blocks users in Japan from placing bets on its website and app due to unresolved regulatory issues. Why Japan Matters for Polymarket The move into Japan comes as Polymarket faces increasing regulatory scrutiny in the United States, its primary market. The company has been under pressure from U.S. regulators over concerns related to gambling and market manipulation. Expanding into Japan, a country with a well-defined but strict regulatory framework for online betting and financial services, could provide a more stable operating environment and access to a large, tech-savvy user base. Competitive Landscape and Strategic Timing Polymarket’s push for Japan is also driven by the rise of competing platforms, notably Kalshi, which has gained traction in the U.S. prediction market space. Kalshi, which is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), offers a more traditional, regulated alternative to Polymarket’s decentralized model. The Japanese market, with its sophisticated regulatory system, could offer Polymarket a first-mover advantage if it secures approval before competitors. Regulatory Hurdles and Lobbying Strategy Japan’s regulatory environment for online betting and cryptocurrency-based services is stringent. The country’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the Japan Consumer Affairs Agency have historically taken a cautious approach to new financial products, particularly those involving gambling-like mechanics. Polymarket’s lobbying efforts are likely to focus on framing its platform as a tool for information aggregation and market forecasting rather than gambling, a distinction that has been central to its legal arguments in other jurisdictions. What This Means for Users and the Market If successful, Polymarket’s entry into Japan could set a precedent for how decentralized prediction markets are regulated in Asia. For Japanese users, it could provide access to a global platform for betting on events ranging from election outcomes to sports results, but under strict local oversight. For the broader crypto industry, Polymarket’s move signals a shift toward regulatory compliance as a growth strategy, moving away from the more adversarial stance many crypto platforms have taken in the past. Conclusion Polymarket’s bid for Japan approval by 2030 is a strategic response to mounting regulatory pressure in the U.S. and intensifying competition from regulated rivals like Kalshi. The outcome of this lobbying effort will be closely watched by the crypto and prediction market industries as an indicator of how decentralized platforms can navigate strict regulatory environments. For now, Japanese users remain restricted from the platform, but the company’s long-term ambitions suggest a significant shift toward compliance-focused expansion. FAQs Q1: Why is Polymarket targeting Japan specifically? Polymarket is targeting Japan because of its large, tech-savvy population and well-defined regulatory framework. The company sees Japan as a stable market for expansion amid increasing regulatory pressure in the United States. Q2: How does Polymarket differ from Kalshi? Polymarket is a decentralized prediction market built on blockchain technology, while Kalshi is a regulated U.S. exchange overseen by the CFTC. Kalshi operates under traditional financial regulations, whereas Polymarket has faced legal challenges over its unregulated status. Q3: What are the main regulatory challenges Polymarket faces in Japan? Japan has strict laws against online gambling and requires financial services providers to register with the Financial Services Agency. Polymarket will need to convince regulators that its platform is a forecasting tool, not a gambling service, to secure approval. This post Polymarket Lobbies for Japan Entry, Sets Sights on 2030 Approval first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

22 May 2026, 03:50

Bithumb to List OPG for KRW Trading, Expanding Altcoin Access in South Korea

BitcoinWorld Bithumb to List OPG for KRW Trading, Expanding Altcoin Access in South Korea South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has announced it will list OPG, the native token of the Oasys blockchain project, for trading against the Korean won (KRW). The listing is expected to expand access to the gaming-focused blockchain token for retail traders in one of the world’s most active crypto markets. Listing Details and Timeline According to Bithumb’s official notice, the OPG/KRW trading pair will go live on the exchange at 15:00 KST on a date to be confirmed shortly. Deposits for OPG will open two hours before trading begins. Bithumb has designated OPG with a “Caution” flag, a standard warning for newly listed tokens, indicating that price volatility may be higher than usual during the initial trading period. What Is OPG and Oasys? OPG is the native utility token of Oasys, a blockchain platform specifically designed for gaming and entertainment applications. Oasys aims to solve scalability and user experience issues that have hindered blockchain gaming adoption. The project has secured partnerships with major gaming companies, including Ubisoft, SEGA, and Bandai Namco, lending it credibility within the industry. The token is used for transaction fees, staking, and governance within the Oasys ecosystem. Its listing on Bithumb marks one of the first major South Korean exchange listings for a gaming-focused Layer 1 blockchain token, potentially signaling growing institutional interest in blockchain gaming. Implications for South Korean Traders South Korea remains one of the largest and most liquid cryptocurrency markets globally, with retail traders often driving significant volume for newly listed tokens. Bithumb’s decision to support KRW trading directly eliminates the need for traders to first convert to stablecoins or Bitcoin, reducing friction and potentially increasing demand. The listing also reflects Bithumb’s strategy to diversify its altcoin offerings amid increasing competition from Upbit and Coinone. By listing tokens with strong institutional backing like OPG, Bithumb aims to attract both retail traders and long-term investors interested in the gaming sector. Conclusion Bithumb’s listing of OPG for KRW trading provides South Korean traders with direct access to a token backed by major gaming industry players. While the initial trading period may see elevated volatility, the listing represents a significant step for Oasys in expanding its presence in the Asian market. Traders should conduct their own research before trading newly listed tokens. FAQs Q1: When will OPG trading start on Bithumb? Bithumb has announced the listing will occur at 15:00 KST on a confirmed date. Deposits open two hours prior. Check Bithumb’s official notice for the exact date. Q2: What is the OPG token used for? OPG is the native token of the Oasys blockchain, used for transaction fees, staking, and governance within the gaming-focused ecosystem. Q3: Why is Bithumb listing OPG? Bithumb regularly lists tokens with strong fundamentals and community interest. OPG’s backing by major gaming companies like Ubisoft and SEGA likely influenced the decision. This post Bithumb to List OPG for KRW Trading, Expanding Altcoin Access in South Korea first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

22 May 2026, 03:15

Jia Raises $3M to Bring On-Chain SME Lending to Southeast Asia

BitcoinWorld Jia Raises $3M to Bring On-Chain SME Lending to Southeast Asia Jia, a financial platform targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia, has secured $3 million in a seed funding round led by Coinbase Ventures. The investment also drew participation from the Stellar Development Foundation, A100x, TCG, and Hashed Emergent, signaling growing interest in blockchain-based lending solutions for underserved business segments in the region. Addressing a Persistent Funding Gap Small and medium-sized enterprises account for the vast majority of businesses across Southeast Asia, yet they frequently struggle to access traditional bank financing due to collateral requirements, limited credit histories, and high administrative costs. Jia aims to bridge this gap by combining artificial intelligence with blockchain technology to offer on-chain capital that is faster, more transparent, and more accessible than conventional lending. The company is developing an operating system and dashboard that automates credit assessment, disbursement, and repayment tracking. By leveraging blockchain for immutable record-keeping and smart contracts, Jia reduces reliance on intermediaries and lowers operational overhead. The AI component analyzes alternative data points such as transaction history, supply chain activity, and digital footprints to evaluate borrower risk more accurately. Investor Confidence and Broader Implications The involvement of Coinbase Ventures and the Stellar Development Foundation is notable. Stellar’s blockchain network is designed for cross-border payments and asset tokenization, which aligns with Jia’s goal of facilitating capital flows across Southeast Asia’s fragmented financial landscape. The funding round brings Jia’s total capital raised to $7.3 million, including earlier investments. This seed round reflects a broader trend among venture capitalists and blockchain foundations to back fintech solutions that address real-world economic pain points rather than speculative applications. For SMEs in markets like Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand, access to working capital remains a critical constraint on growth. Jia’s model could offer a scalable alternative if it successfully navigates regulatory requirements and builds trust among borrowers. What This Means for SMEs and the Crypto Ecosystem For small business owners, the promise of faster loan approvals and lower interest rates is compelling. However, adoption will depend on user-friendly interfaces and reliable customer support, especially in regions where digital literacy varies widely. For the broader crypto ecosystem, Jia represents a practical use case for stablecoins and decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure — moving beyond trading and speculation toward productive lending. Jia plans to use the fresh capital to expand its engineering team, enhance its AI credit models, and roll out its platform across additional Southeast Asian markets. The company has not disclosed a specific timeline for public launch but indicated that pilot programs are underway. Conclusion Jia’s $3 million seed round, backed by prominent crypto and blockchain investors, underscores the growing convergence of AI and on-chain finance for SME lending in Southeast Asia. If executed well, the platform could help unlock capital for millions of underserved businesses while demonstrating the practical value of blockchain technology outside of trading. The coming months will reveal whether Jia can translate investor confidence into real-world impact. FAQs Q1: What is Jia and what problem does it solve? Jia is a financial platform that provides on-chain capital to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Southeast Asia. It uses AI and blockchain to offer faster, more transparent lending, addressing the funding gap caused by traditional banks’ strict requirements. Q2: Who led Jia’s seed funding round and how much was raised? Coinbase Ventures led the $3 million seed round. Other investors included the Stellar Development Foundation, A100x, TCG, and Hashed Emergent. Total capital raised now stands at $7.3 million. Q3: How does Jia’s technology work? Jia combines AI for alternative credit scoring with blockchain for secure, transparent loan management. Its operating system automates credit assessment, disbursement, and repayment using smart contracts, reducing costs and intermediaries. This post Jia Raises $3M to Bring On-Chain SME Lending to Southeast Asia first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

22 May 2026, 02:10

Tom Lee: Ethereum Set to Become Core Payment Layer for Finance and AI Industries

BitcoinWorld Tom Lee: Ethereum Set to Become Core Payment Layer for Finance and AI Industries Tom Lee, Chairman of Bitmine (BMNR), has stated that Ethereum is poised to become the foundational payment infrastructure for both the finance and artificial intelligence industries. In a recent post on X, Lee argued that Ethereum’s established leadership and robust developer ecosystem will solidify its role as a critical payment layer for these rapidly evolving sectors. Comparing Current Sentiment to Past Crypto Winters Lee drew a parallel between today’s market sentiment and the pessimism observed at the bottom of previous crypto winters. He noted that widespread blame games and extreme negativity were common among market participants during those periods, suggesting that the current atmosphere may reflect a similar cyclical low. This comparison implies that despite short-term bearishness, the underlying fundamentals for Ethereum remain strong. Blockchain as the Backbone for Agentic AI Commerce Beyond finance, Lee emphasized that blockchain technology may be the only viable mechanism for agentic AI systems to engage in commerce. As autonomous AI agents become more prevalent, they will require a trustless, transparent, and programmable payment infrastructure to execute transactions independently. Ethereum’s smart contract capabilities position it as a natural candidate for this role. Impact on Financial System Revenue Structures Lee further argued that blockchain adoption could significantly improve the revenue structures of the traditional financial system. By reducing intermediaries, lowering transaction costs, and enabling new programmable financial products, Ethereum-based solutions could reshape how value moves through the economy. This transformation, he suggested, would benefit both institutional players and end-users. Conclusion Tom Lee’s commentary adds a notable voice to the ongoing debate about Ethereum’s long-term utility. While market sentiment remains cautious, his analysis highlights the potential for Ethereum to serve as a critical infrastructure layer for two of the most transformative sectors in the global economy: finance and artificial intelligence. Whether this vision materializes will depend on continued developer activity, network scalability improvements, and broader institutional adoption. FAQs Q1: Who is Tom Lee and why is his opinion on Ethereum significant? Tom Lee is the Chairman of Bitmine (BMNR), a blockchain infrastructure company. His perspective is notable because he has been a long-time crypto market commentator and his views often reflect institutional sentiment. Q2: What does it mean for Ethereum to be a ‘core payment layer’ for AI? It means that autonomous AI agents could use Ethereum’s blockchain to conduct transactions, pay for services, or settle contracts without human intervention, leveraging smart contracts for trust and automation. Q3: Is this prediction widely shared by other industry experts? Opinions vary. Some analysts agree that Ethereum’s developer ecosystem and network effects give it a strong advantage, while others point to scalability challenges and competition from newer blockchains as potential hurdles. This post Tom Lee: Ethereum Set to Become Core Payment Layer for Finance and AI Industries first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

22 May 2026, 01:09

Flare CEO says XRP set for institutional leap with confidential compute and DeFi expansion

Hugo Philion , co-founder and CEO of Flare , wants to create a system that allows institutions to trade and lend using XRP-backed assets without exposing their activity to the public. The new system, called Confidential Compute, will launch in Q3 2026. Philion spoke in an interview with crypto YouTuber Crypto Sensei on YouTube , saying Flare is the missing link that the XRPL needed for smart contracts, yield generation, and private computation. What is FXRP and why is it a big deal? FXRP is simply a copy of XRP that lives on the Flare blockchain instead of the XRP Ledger. FXRP is worth as much as XRP, but because it lives on Flare, it supports smart contracts, and institutions can use it in lending markets, trading pools, and yield strategies. XRP on its own cannot access these features. Once users finish trading FXRP, they can swap it back to the original XRP at any time. Flare spent years testing the system on its Songbird canary network and launched FAssets on the mainnet in September 2025. What did FAssets v1.3 change? Before the v1.3 upgrade, users had to go through several steps just to convert XRP into FXRP. The process was confusing for non-technical crypto users, and the friction involved made it less appealing to banks. With the v1.3 upgrade, users can now send XRP in a single step, as the system handles the rest and issues FXRP to them without additional approvals. Philion said that any exchange worldwide that already supports XRP destination tags can automatically support FXRP minting, since the new design uses the native XRP Ledger . According to the Flare Network official documentation , “XRPL is where XRP is issued and moved. Flare is where XRP becomes programmable.” Philion also said that Flare limits how much FXRP the system can mint at a time (minting cap) to prevent cyberattacks. The system will also automatically liquidate all FXRP if agents who provide liquidity fail to post collateral that exceeds the FXRP they issue. And when the protocol faces a severe attack or critical failure, Flare’s Core Vault can route funds to a regulated custodian connected to Ripple. What lending markets is Flare building for XRP? Flare is working with Firelight and Morpho protocols to fill the lending gap in XRPL. Firelight adds liquid staking for XRP on the Flare network, allowing users to keep earning from their shared pool contributions while also using the derivative token in other DeFi strategies. Morpho, on the other hand, lets big institutions set up a market where only verified counterparties can borrow, at rates they define, with collateral they approve. It is almost similar to how institutional lending works in traditional finance, and it is a way to pitch to the same banks and treasury desks that already use XRP for cross-border payments. Flare is also working with the crypto platform Uphold to build one-click products that put these capabilities in the hands of everyday users. What is Confidential Compute, and why would institutions care? Flare 2.0, or Flare Confidential Compute, is a system the company wants to create to provide blockchain privacy for large financial institutions. Because blockchain activity is fully public, banks, hedge funds, or asset managers face front-running risks whenever they post a massive trade on a public blockchain. But Confidential Compute creates sealed private rooms for computation using Trusted Execution Environment (TEE). With this system, a computer’s processor can run code in complete isolation, even without the knowledge of the computer’s operator. Institutions will be able to trade real-world assets issued on the XRPL, borrow against them, or run a compliant decentralized exchange without publicizing any of the activity. Who is already using Flare’s infrastructure for real money? Nasdaq-listed VivoPower (VVPR) deployed $100 million in XRP via Flare’s FAssets infrastructure in June 2025. VivoPower converted its corporate treasury into XRP, so it earns yield on FLare. Kevin Chin, VivoPower’s CEO, said the company wants to build “a virtuous cycle” in which it earns yield, uses it to buy more XRP, and repeats the process. The company’s backing came from a notable group of shareholders, including a member of the Saudi royal family. Flare also teamed up with hardware wallet maker D’CENT to launch the XRP alliance that connects D’CENT’s 720,000 hardware wallet users directly to XRP yield vaults on Flare. Users can now deposit XRP using only two digital signatures through Flare Smart Accounts, mint FXRP, and start earning. They do so while keeping their coins in self-custody. The campaign attracted over 5,400 users, and the initial earnXRP vault reached its 25 million XRP cap in just one week. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

22 May 2026, 00:47

Tom Lee Supports Ethereum as AI Agentic Settlement Layer

In the recent post on X, BitMine CEO Tom Lee has raised his support for a new Ethereum organization suggested by a former Ethereum Foundation researcher. According to Tom Lee, Ethereum would play a major role as the settlement layer for agentic AI in the future. Dankrad Feist has shared a few suggestions for the new organization, including new competent leadership. On May 21, Tom Lee, co-founder and Head of Research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, shared a post on the recent major discussion about the new Ethereum organization amid the departure of many popular Ethereum Foundation researchers and contributors . In the latest post on X (formerly Twitter), Tom Lee raised his support to lead Ethereum’s new organization along with “ a deep bench of leaders and developers .” It will help the community to ensure that the network remains the future settlement layer of finance and AI . The official tweet from Tom Lee highlights the Ethereum blockchain’s role in the agentic economy. Tom Lee Agrees with Former Ethereum Foundation Researcher’s Suggestion for New Leadership Tom Lee’s post came in response to the post shared by crypto analyst and Bankless co-founder Ryan Sean Adams. In the post on X, Ryan Sean Adams mentioned the name of Lee as a potential leader for a new organization suggested by a former Ethereum Foundation researcher. Tom Lee’s BitMine is continuously accumulating ETH, and it is currently the biggest ETH-holding private company. As per the latest announcement , the company is currently holding 5.27 million ETH tokens in its treasury, making it the biggest ETH holding entity. This makes it the biggest bullish force for the ETH price movement as it provides confidence to institutional investors. It also encourages other financial institutions to move beyond Bitcoin treasuries and hold assets like ETH. The origin of this discussion is a detailed proposal shared by Dankrad Feist, who is a former researcher at the Ethereum Foundation. In the post, Feist mentioned that the foundation is now holding less than 0.1%. He also mentioned that there is “no flow” for generating income from staking or fees. According to Dankrad, to bring Ethereum back on the right track, the community should create an organization that “ economically aligned with Ethereum and accountable to it. ” Dankrad has mentioned that the organization must have credible funding of a minimum of $1 billion in the beginning.“ That’s very reasonable for an ecosystem with a $250 billion market cap,” he said. Apart from this, he affirmed that the new foundation needs a competent leader who wants to fight. Also, the new organization must have a board of people “who want ETH to go up, and a charter that holds the org accountable to it.” However, some community members are still raising questions about this proposal suggested by Dankrad Feist. Laura Shin stated in the post that, “ IMO, though, it won’t work unless it can influence tokenomics. That’s the piece that’s been missing, and that needs to be integrated with the tech. Having an outside organization can only help with BD, not the fundamental ways the token works. ” Ethereum Foundation Sees Departure of Major Team Members The Ethereum Foundation is currently facing a crisis as major talent is leaving the organization for different reasons. Recently, many senior researchers, developers, and leaders have abandoned the organization, which has sparked a discussion in the entire community about the future of the organization. The list includes the popular names, including Carl Beek, Julian Ma, Barnabé Monnot, Tim Beiko, Josh Stark, Trent Van Epps, Alex Stokes, and Tomasz Stanczak. Most of these departures are connected to internal restructuring in the Ethereum Foundation. In 2025, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin hinted at some changes in leadership. According to these changes, Aya Miyaguchi took the role of President. In March 2026, the Ethereum Foundation revealed a document known as the EF Mandate . In this, the foundation has shared new principles, which include censorship resistance, open source development, privacy, and security. “To be a part of EF, our own teams must remember that Ethereum must, above all, remain censorship resistant, open source, private, and secure (CROPS). Its self-sovereign use must be extraction-resistant and experience seamless. These are the conditions that make Ethereum worth using, and therefore worth building, and worth defending. They must never be traded away for convenience: without them we have nothing,” stated in the official announcement. Tom Lee Mentions Blockchain’s Role in Agentic AI In the tweet, Tom Lee has highlighted blockchain’s important role in the agentic AI economy. He said, “Blockchain is arguably the only way agentic AI interacts in commerce. And blockchain vastly improves the profit profile of the financial system.” Agentic AI is an autonomous system that can think, plan, and execute complex tasks with just small human intervention. According to Goldman Sachs Research , Agentic AI is expected to witness a growth of 24x in token due to growing adoption and consumption by 2030 . Blockchain technology is expected to play a major role in this agentic payment revolution as it can provide permanent records for ownership and agreements. Apart from this, the feature of smart contracts can allow AI agents to automate financial transactions. The integration of agentic AI with blockchain technology will allow them to open a door for trustless settlement, which means that AI agents can talk to each other without any middle authority and make settlements. This will also help developers to create programmable money, such as USDC. On May 11, Circle announced the launch of the Circle Agent Stack , which is a tool that is designed for AI agents. One of the major features of this stack is agent wallets that come with programmable safety limits, which can be used for nanopayments by using USDC stablecoin. Apart from this, there will be an Agent Marketplace where users will be able to find different services and make transactions. On May 21, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire shared a major update regarding the AI agents. The new feature will allow agents to sign up for phone numbers on their own and make real-time AI calls through integrations with services like Twillio and BlandAI. Also Read: Fidelity Boasts FIDD, Europe Counters with Euro Stablecoin