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Japan to Ban Insider Trading in Crypto Markets Under New Regulations

Zabi
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Japan to Ban Insider Trading in Crypto Markets Under New Regulations

Japan’s top financial watchdog is preparing to introduce new regulations that would outlaw insider trading in cryptocurrency markets. 

According to a report by Nikkei Asia, the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission (SESC) may soon have the legal authority to investigate suspicious cryptocurrency transactions. It will also impose fines on offenders and refer severe violations for criminal prosecution.

The move aims to close a significant regulatory gap that has allowed insider trading to go largely unchecked in Japan’s fast-growing cryptocurrency sector.

Expanding Oversight Powers

Currently, Japan’s Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA), the primary law governing securities, does not cover digital assets such as cryptocurrencies.

Moreover, the Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association (JVCEA), which oversees exchanges under a self-regulatory model, also lacks a strong system to detect insider activity.

Under the new proposal, the SESC would gain powers similar to those it uses in cases of stock market misconduct. Specifically, penalties would depend on the scale of illicit profits, while serious cases could lead to criminal charges.

New Framework Expected by 2025

Meanwhile, Japan’s financial watchdog, which supervises the SESC, expects to finalize the regulatory framework in late 2025. Once complete, the agency plans to submit proposed revisions to the FIEA to parliament in 2026.

This effort follows growing concern over weak market surveillance and the rapid rise of crypto trading in Japan.

Notably, the country has seen its number of registered crypto users increase fourfold over the past five years. It now stands at 7.88 million people, or roughly 6.3% of the population, according to Nikkei Asia.

Enforcement Challenges

Despite stronger oversight plans, regulators acknowledge that enforcement is still challenging.

For instance, many digital tokens are not issued by a specific entity or managed by a central authority, which complicates the identification of who might be considered an “insider”.

This structural difference from traditional securities poses a challenge for crafting enforceable insider trading rules in digital asset markets.

Political Shift May Encourage Innovation

The regulatory push comes as Sanae Takaichi, expected to become Japan’s next prime minister, signals a more innovation-friendly approach to technology.

Takaichi has publicly supported “technological sovereignty” and aims to expand Japan’s digital infrastructure, including blockchain technology.

Her administration is expected to maintain strict compliance standards. Yet her broader economic stance, which favors lower interest rates, tax cuts, and easier monetary policy, could encourage greater investment in the Japanese crypto industry.

Integrating Crypto Under Securities Law

In September 2025, the FSA proposed bringing cryptocurrencies fully under the FIEA, shifting authority from the Payment Services Act. This change, the agency explained, would strengthen investor protection and align crypto assets more closely with securities.

Finally, the agency emphasized that the transition seeks to address recurring issues affecting the market. These include misleading disclosures, unregistered platforms, scams, and cybersecurity risks associated with crypto exchanges.

Veteran Trader Predicts Rapid Surge to New ATH for XRP if It Breaks This Resistance

Elendu Benedict
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Veteran Trader Predicts Rapid Surge to New ATH for XRP if It Breaks This Resistance

A top market trader has predicted a rapid bullish development for XRP, potentially taking its price to a new all-time high, but places a condition.

Specifically, Matthew Dixon, a self-acclaimed veteran financial trader, highlighted in his Tuesday analysis that one level stands in the way of a rally to unprecedented prices for XRP. According to him, XRP would rapidly swing into uncharted territories when it finally breaks the resistance at this level.

XRP Below Crucial Resistance

According to him, this level is the $2.65 resistance. He mentioned that XRP has failed to reclaim this critical level amid the ongoing rebound effort. The crypto asset broke below this former support area during the quick drop to $1.37 on October 10.

XRP attempted to recover the price mark on Monday, when it rallied to a high of $2.647, but the supply zone stood. Yesterday’s efforts also proved abortive, with XRP dropping to $2.40 after a clear rejection from the area.

However, Dixon believes that though it could take time, its inevitability is not in question. When it does happen, he predicts an upsurge to new all-time highs, surpassing the current peak of $3.66.

Completion of WXY Correction to Support Increase

Meanwhile, the completion of the WXY correction further adds weight to the trader’s new ATH outlook.  An accompanying chart marked the “W,” “X,” and “Y” points in the XRP daily chart, explaining how prices have shuffled between the areas.

XRP WXY Consolidation
XRP WXY Consolidation

The “W” marked the low of $1.615 in April. After the low, XRP rallied in an ABC price pattern, reaching a peak of $3.66 in July, identified as the “X.” Another ABC consolidation wave followed a brief correction to $2.96, pushing prices into a descending channel.

The last leg of this correctional phase was its drop to “Y” on October 10, marking its end. From there, Dixon projects a reclaim of the $2.65 resistance, followed by a new all-time high.

XRP to New All-Time High

When asked if XRP would rally to prices like $6 or $7, the market commentator was reserved on setting a precise price target. He simply stated that XRP would at least reach a new all-time high upon breaking above.

Meanwhile, XRP trades at $2.52 at the time of writing, down 31% from its current ATH. This means that XRP would have to rally by at least 45% from here to surpass its all-time peak attained in July.

Notably, Dixon adds to the number of analysts betting on a new all-time high surge for XRP. For context, analyst CasiTrades predicts an increase to $4.50 when the final lap of a three-wave Elliot Wave pattern resumes.

Here’s How Much You Will Make if XRP Hits $10 and You Are on the Top 5% XRP Rich List

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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Here’s How Much You Will Make if XRP Hits $10 and You Are on the Top 5% XRP Rich List

Investors who are among the top 5% on the XRP rich list could see their holdings reach impressive margins if the XRP price hits two figures.

With XRP recently collapsing with the rest of the market on the back of the Oct. 10 crash, panic has set in. However, some market observers believe the recent slump, which pushed XRP to new monthly lows, presents an opportunity for investors to accumulate more tokens at discounted prices. 

XRP Rich List Presents a Discount

Notably, the current position of the XRP Rich List supports this case, and, if XRP ever reaches some of its ambitious price targets, investors at the top of the list could see some serious gains.

Specifically, data from the community-driven resource confirms that investors holding between 8,162 and 10,501 XRP tokens are among the top 5% on the XRP Rich List. With XRP having dropped to $2.49 at press time, this requirement for entering the top 5% translates to a holding range of $21,129 to $27,197.

XRP Rich List
XRP Rich List

Interestingly, these figures were rather lower at the time of the previous XRP Rich List report from The Crypto Basic. Notably, as of Oct. 1, investors needed to hold between 8,229 and 10,550 XRP to enter the top 5%. At the XRP price then, this requirement stood at $23,370 to $29,962. 

Gains for Top 5% Addresses if XRP Hits $10

This indicates that two weeks later, investors need $2,000 less to enter the top 5% on the XRP Rich List. While this presents a good opportunity to get XRP cheaper, some market pundits have insisted that those who want to get in should seize the chance while they can. For one, Coach JV recently suggested that when XRP does rally, it will be fast and unexpected, giving no room for accumulation.

Notably, multiple analysts have presented varying targets for when this anticipated XRP rally occurs, but the $10 XRP price prediction has mostly taken center stage. For instance, market watcher DustyBC suggested in July that most investors will miss out on the XRP rally to $10 while expecting a deeper slump.

However, if XRP does reach the $10 mark, how much would investors on the top 5% XRP rich list make? Currently, these investors hold between $21,129 and $27,197 worth of XRP. Should XRP hit $10, their balances will appreciate to between $81,620 and $105,010. This would mark profits ranging from $60,491 to $75,048.

Analyst Says Shiba Inu Has Finished Its Job at the Bottom: Here’s Its Swing Long Target

Elendu Benedict
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0
Analyst Says Shiba Inu Has Finished Its Job at the Bottom: Here’s Its Swing Long Target

An analyst has highlighted the bullish possibilities for Shiba Inu, suggesting that it is ready to move to higher prices after a period of price accumulation.

The pseudonymous market commentator, who calls himself “Trades” on TradingView, emphasized that Shiba Inu looks suitable for a swing long position as it is gearing up for an upthrust. He shared this recently, highlighting that the meme coin’s days of consolidating are nearing their end.

Shiba Ready to Move

Notably, Shiba Inu has been making lower highs since its December peak price of $0.00003343, signaling a clear downtrend pattern. Highs of $0.00002497 in January, $0.00001765 in May, $0.00001597 in July, and $0.00001484 in September support this narrative.

While Shiba Inu has failed to break previous highs, it often finds support around the crucial $0.000010 level. The meme coin has sustainably held the demand zone, as it provides sufficient pressure to cushion weak price actions.

Although it dropped below the support to a low of $0.0000067 amid the broader market crash on October 10, its price has since recovered to the current level. From the bottom, it has rebounded by an impressive 60% to reclaim the key $0.000010 support.

Shiba Inu Analysis
Shiba Inu Analysis

Notably, this prolonged price accumulation around the support has fueled optimism that a breakout would be loud. Several analyses have predicted this, with the recent TradingView commentary echoing this sentiment.

The market watcher stated that Shiba Inu seems to have “finished its job at the bottom.” He projected an imminent breakout potentially targeting multi-month highs, noting that current levels are a good point to take a bullish stance.

Analyst Shares Shiba Inu Target

For the target, the commentary set a swing rally to $0.00004566. Remarkably, Shiba Inu last visited the price level in March 2024, when it peaked at $0.00004567.

Notably, SHIB trades at $0.00001072 at the time of writing. As a result, a rally to the target would represent over 4x, or 326%, growth.

Meanwhile, other analysts expect a similar bullish outcome for Shiba Inu. Analyst MMB Trader predicted the token would surge to $0.00003364, then to $0.0000771, marking a 619% increase from the current market price.

Coinbase Maintenance Falls on XRP ETF Decision Day, Is This Coincidence

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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Coinbase Maintenance Falls on XRP ETF Decision Day, Is This Coincidence

XRP analyst ChartNerd has drawn attention to a curious overlap between Coinbase’s scheduled system upgrade and an expected SEC decision date for spot XRP ETFs.

Specifically, he pointed out that XRP ETF decisions for Oct. 25 fall on the same day Coinbase will undergo a four-hour outage. To ChartNerd, this is more than just a coincidence.

Coinbase Announces Maintenance Window

For context, in a tweet on Monday, Coinbase confirmed plans to undergo a maintenance period beginning October 25 at 7:00 AM PT. The maintenance will last approximately four hours.

During this time, all trading, transfers, staking, and credit card transactions will be unavailable. Moreover, certain services, such as Coinbase One rewards and loan payments, will be on hold.

While users will still be able to access their accounts, most functions will be paused.

Additionally, futures and derivatives trading will be unavailable from 4:00 AM to 1:00 PM PT due to overlapping maintenance, further tightening trading activity on one of the busiest crypto platforms in the U.S.

XRP ETF Decisions Approaching

The timing is particularly notable as several spot XRP ETF filings are approaching their anticipated SEC decision dates. These include applications from:

  • Grayscale (October 18)
  • 21Shares (October 19)
  • Bitwise (October 22)
  • Canary Capital (October 23)
  • CoinShares (October 23)
  • WisdomTree (October 24)

However, note that industry commentators like Eleanor Terrett have said these initial approval deadlines will no longer be effective, since the SEC asked issuers to withdraw their 19b-4 forms. In other words, the original October deadlines have become an invalid timeline for XRP ETFs to launch.

Nonetheless, issuers submitted amended S-1 filings with ticker symbols last week. This is a procedural step that typically comes shortly before final approval. This includes Grayscale’s GXRP, Franklin Templeton’s XRPZ, and Canary’s XRPC.

Essentially, the move indicates growing readiness among issuers for a launch once the SEC declares their S-1s effective.

Shutdown Uncertainty Still Looms

Despite rising anticipation, the U.S. government shutdown continues to cast a shadow over the approval timeline. The SEC’s limited operations have delayed some registration processes, meaning that even prepared ETFs may not launch until full functionality is restored.

Still, the coordinated filings and Coinbase’s planned system downtime have fueled speculation that significant backend preparations could be underway in anticipation of eventual XRP ETF trading activity.

Notably, Coinbase is one of the U.S. exchanges that relisted XRP post-lawsuit. Moreover, as the largest U.S. crypto trading platform, it stands as a key avenue for XRP trading once approvals come up.

With no certain timeline for XRP ETFs to go live, the overlap between Coinbase’s maintenance and some earlier ETF dates may ultimately prove coincidental, even as XRP supporters continue to speculate on its significance.

Market Expert Shares Three Cardano Price Targets

Elendu Benedict
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0
Market Expert Shares Three Cardano Price Targets

Following the rejection from a lower trendline retest earlier in the week, a top market analyst has highlighted three targets for a Cardano price downtrend.

ADA permabull Dan Gambardello identified these targets in his recent analysis, as Cardano saw lower prices in the past 24 hours. The altcoin shared in the ongoing crypto market downtrend, further correcting by 3% on Thursday.

Notably, the downside followed a rejection after an attempt earlier in the month to reclaim a lower support trendline around $0.90. With Cardano now losing the 20-day and 50-day moving averages, Gambardello has highlighted three levels it could retest if bearish momentum persists.

Three Cardano Targets

The closest support Cardano could dump to is the 0.786 Fibonacci level between $0.810 and $0.785. Notably, ADA currently trades around the support level, and its price action will determine whether a rebound or lower prices will follow.

If the support level fails, the analyst highlighted that the second target is the 200-day moving average at $0.74. A correction that steep would entail another 9.4% decline from the current market price of $0.817.

Meanwhile, his last target is a key support area around the mid-$0.60s, particularly around $0.62. While he noted that he does not want to see this happen, he maintained that it is the target for a technical move following a price breakdown.

Three Cardano Targets
Three Cardano Targets

Cardano Upside Still Possible

Nonetheless, Ganbardello did not entirely rule out a price rebound. In fact, he predicted how it could happen, but he advised great caution, as the market shows clear signs of a bearish trend.

Specifically, he noted that a bullish reversal could happen depending on how Cardano reacts with the current Fibonacci support. The market watcher pointed out that a rebound from the area would set things up for a retest of the lower trendline, where it was rejected earlier in the month.

He emphasized that Cardano’s reaction to reaching the trendline would determine whether a market shift would occur. A breakout would indicate bullish momentum for a rally to higher prices, while another rejection may confirm resistance, leading to a sideways trend.

Additionally, he shared that a move towards $0.87 would be a positive sign for Cardano. According to him, reclaiming the price level could be the start of a reversal move for the cryptocurrency.

New York City Launches Nation’s First-Ever Office for Crypto Assets

Zabi
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0
New York City Launches Nation’s First-Ever Office for Crypto Assets

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has signed an executive order establishing a dedicated Office of Digital Assets and Blockchain.

It’s the first time a U.S. mayor has launched an office focused on the emerging digital economy.

According to the executive order, the new office will work to promote responsible use of blockchain and digital assets. Specifically, it will coordinate efforts between the crypto industry and city agencies.

The office will also bridge collaboration with federal and state governments on related policy matters.

Ultimately, the initiative aims to create a welcoming environment in New York City for blockchain startups and cryptocurrency firms that operate within existing legal frameworks.

Leadership and Vision

The office will be led by Moises Rendon, a digital policy expert who has advised the city on blockchain strategy for over a year. Under Rendon’s direction, the office will help attract global talent, expand access for underbanked communities, and modernize government services through innovative technology.

As his first action, Rendon will form a commission of leaders in the digital assets space to advise the office on policy and strategy. The commission will guide the office’s efforts in fostering responsible innovation and ensuring alignment across public and private stakeholders.

In a statement, Mayor Adams said the move reflects New York’s long-standing reputation as a center of innovation. He further emphasized that the “age of digital assets is here”. According to Adams, the new office offers opportunities to grow the economy and make the city’s systems more efficient and inclusive.

Adams’ Pro-Crypto Track Record

Throughout his tenure, Adams has maintained a pro-crypto stance. For instance, early in his term, he received his first three paychecks in Bitcoin. The move reflected his confidence in digital currencies.

Moreover, he hosted the city’s first crypto summit, positioning New York as a hub for blockchain dialogue and investment.

End of Term and Legacy

Adams’ term as mayor is set to end later this year. Last month, he withdrew from the upcoming mayoral race, citing campaign finance difficulties and intense media scrutiny as the primary reasons for suspending his re-election bid.

The creation of this office could become one of his key achievements. It sets a framework for how cities can responsibly integrate blockchain and digital asset technologies.

Shiba Inu Reopens Shibarium Bridge, But Hack Victims Still Face Repayment Delay

Lele Jima
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Shiba Inu Reopens Shibarium Bridge, But Hack Victims Still Face Repayment Delay

Following comprehensive security enhancements, the Shiba Inu ecosystem team has reopened the Shibarium Plasma Bridge for BONE. 

The team made this known in its latest update, emphasizing that users can now safely transfer BONE tokens between Shibarium and Ethereum networks. 

This development comes more than a month after the bridge’s suspension, which followed a major security breach where attackers stole over $4 million worth of digital assets, including SHIB and LEASH. 

In the latest update, top developer Kaal Dhairya announced on behalf of the team that the Plasma Bridge is back online for BONE. Plans are underway to reopen the Plasma Bridge for additional tokens, including SHIB and TREAT, in phased rollouts after further testing.

New Security Upgrades 

Notably, the reopening comes with two major security upgrades: a blocklisting functionality and a seven-day withdrawal delay. The blocklisting function is a proactive system that allows the team to identify and block suspicious addresses at the bridge layer. 

The Shiba Inu ecosystem team has also introduced a seven-day finalization delay for all BONE withdrawals on the Plasma Bridge. This mechanism is intended to give validators and the security team sufficient time to monitor and respond to suspicious activity. 

As a result, the process of bridging BONE between Ethereum and Shibarium now involves depositing the token on the source chain, waiting through a seven-day finalization period, and then withdrawing the funds from the destination chain. 

Before relaunching, the Plasma Bridge underwent a multi-layered testing and validation process, which included unit and simulation tests, as well as deploying the updated version on Puppynet, the beta version of Shibarium. 

Leading cybersecurity solution provider Hexens also conducted an independent review of all the changes before they were implemented.

K9 DAO to Launch Bigger Bounty Offer to Recover KNINE 

Furthermore, Dhairya also provided an update about K9 DAO’s bounty of 5 ETH, which was launched last month to recover the stolen KNINE tokens. 

According to the update, the K9 bounty offer of 5 ETH has expired as the attackers refused to accept it. While the bad actors sold most of the stolen tokens, including BAD, they cannot use the KNINE tokens, which remain blacklisted. 

Following the expiration of the first bounty, the team intends to issue a larger and final offer to encourage the complete return of the KNINE tokens. 

Hack Victims Will Not Receive Funds Until Security Checks Are Complete 

Meanwhile, the update noted that the team is finalizing a repayment program for users affected by the prior bridge exploits, ensuring transparency and fairness. 

It promised to share details on repayment through official channels once all security and compliance checks were complete. Until the security team completes these checks, affected users will need to wait for their reimbursement.

Market Technician Says XRP is Not Bearish in the Slightest: Here’s Why

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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Market Technician Says XRP is Not Bearish in the Slightest: Here’s Why

Prominent market analyst Charting Guy insists that XRP is not bearish in the slightest despite the most recent market crash.

For context, XRP was one of the victims of the broader market collapse that occurred on Friday, Oct. 10. According to a report from The Crypto Basic, the altcoin lost $1.27 from its price, as it slumped to a new yearly low of $1.53. Despite an immediate rebound, XRP remained in a downtrend, leading to retail panic.

XRP Not Bearish in the Slightest

With XRP currently trading for $2.49, the token is still down 11% from its pre-crash price of around $2.8. However, amid the low investor sentiment, Charting Guy believes XRP’s current position is not bearish “in the slightest.”

Notably, the market watcher shared a 1-month XRP chart to prove his point, which indicates that XRP has maintained a position above a crucial support range despite the latest crash. 

Specifically, this range lies between the $1.45 and $1.68 price levels. Charting Guy drew a rectangular box within this price region, which engulfs the Fibonacci 0.786 retracement at $1.61. This level acts as XRP’s long-term support region, with the bulls leveraging it to assess the market’s health.

XRP 1M Chart Charting Guy
XRP 1M Chart | Charting Guy

When XRP dropped to the $1.53 mark during the latest market crash, it slipped into this support. Expectedly, the bulls defended the support fervently, hedging against steeper declines below it. Notably, if XRP had dropped below this level, retaking it would have proved difficult, as the bears could have flipped it to resistance.

Instead, XRP held the support and has now recovered well above it as it currently trades for $2.49. Charting Guy’s conviction that XRP is not “in the slightest” bearish is largely due to this situation. With XRP trading well above the support range, it remains in a bullish position, awaiting the next market recovery to push ahead.

XRP Fibonacci Targets

Interestingly, data from the analyst’s chart shows that XRP’s immediate recovery from the Oct. 10 crash also saw it surge above the Fib. 0.888 retracement around $2.2. Now, XRP has no Fibonacci resistance on its way to the pre-crash price of $2.8. Reclaiming this region could set the stage for a rally toward the January 2018 peak of $3.31.

From here, the accompanying chart presents three bullish Fibonacci targets for XRP if the momentum remains strong. The first target sits at $8.29, aligning with the 1.272 Fibonacci extension. For XRP to hit this mark, it would need to rally 245% from the current price. 

Meanwhile, the second target, at $13.39, aligns with the Fib. 1.414 extension level, and represents a 458% increase from the current price. For the ultimate target, the Fibonacci analysis sets $26.6 at Fib. 1.618. Notably, a year ago, analyst EGRAG Crypto also presented the $26 level as his ultimate XRP target.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Announces IBIT Bitcoin ETF Surpasses $100 Billion

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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0
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Announces IBIT Bitcoin ETF Surpasses $100 Billion

The BlackRock CEO, Larry Fink, revealed live on CNBC that the firm’s spot Bitcoin ETF, IBIT, has surpassed $100 billion in assets under management (AUM).

This remarkable achievement comes just under two years after the product’s launch. During the interview, Fink highlighted how the company is increasing its focus on digital assets as part of a strategy to innovate across both traditional and emerging investment vehicles.

“Two years ago, we had zero dollars in this space,” Fink remarked, emphasizing the rapid expansion. Amid the massive inflows into its Bitcoin ETF, BlackRock’s product continues to rank among the fastest-growing ETFs globally.

BlackRock’s Bitcoin Holdings

Indeed, the world’s largest asset manager currently holds 804,944 BTC. At today’s lower prices, that equates to approximately $89 billion. However, as of last week, when Bitcoin reached an all-time high, BlackRock’s holdings exceeded $100 billion.

Notably, BlackRock’s Bitcoin holdings amount to 3.833% of the total BTC supply. The only company with a comparable share is Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), which holds 640,250 BTC, representing 3.048% of Bitcoin’s total supply.

Beyond Bitcoin, the firm also holds significant investments in Ethereum. BlackRock currently manages an Ethereum portfolio valued at over $17.3 billion.

New Vision: “Tokenize Everything”

During the interview, the BlackRock CEO also discussed the company’s broader plans for digital assets. He believes that tokenization will soon be applied to everything from real estate to stocks and bonds. This aligns with BlackRock’s vision of bringing traditional investment assets into the digital finance ecosystem.

Fink sees tokenization as a key trend for the future. It opens up new opportunities for investors, especially younger generations who are more inclined toward digital and crypto-based assets.

With $4.1 trillion sitting in digital wallets worldwide, BlackRock sees a major opportunity to engage digital-first investors and bring them into traditional, long-term investment products.

BlackRock’s Commitment to Digital Innovation

The firm is also investing heavily in technology to improve digital asset management, including tokenized money market funds. One such product, BUIDL, is already the largest tokenized cash money market fund.

Fink emphasized that this is just the beginning, as BlackRock continues to innovate in the digital finance space.

Notably, Fink had previously expressed caution regarding cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, his perspective has shifted as the sector has matured. In an earlier interview on 60 Minutes, he acknowledged this change, stating that Bitcoin is a suitable asset for diversification, comparable to gold.

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