Japan’s National Business Enterprise Pension Fund Plans 1% Crypto Allocation
Japan’s National Business Enterprise Pension Fund, which covers about 1,200 small and medium-sized enterprises, intends to allocate 1% of its managed assets to cryptocurrencies starting in fiscal 2026. The fund will invest in a passive, multi-crypto fund run by a large hedge fund. The shift comes as the fund adjusts its portfolio: the yen weighting drops from 80% to 70%, developed-market currencies get a new 10% slice, and the remaining 5% goes to emerging-market currencies, gold, and crypto. The primary goal is currency risk diversification.
South Korea Crypto Tax Repeal Petition Garners 58,571 Signatures, Headed to National Assembly
A public petition to abolish South Korea’s planned crypto tax has secured 58,571 signatures, triggering a mandatory review by a National Assembly committee. Under current law, starting January 1 next year, gains from virtual asset transfers or lending will be taxed as other income at a combined rate of 22% (20% income tax plus 2% local tax) on amounts exceeding 2.5 million won (about $1,800). The petition’s progression signals mounting public pressure against the levy.
Chinese AI Models Accelerate, Boosting Demand for Computing Power
According to a CITIC Securities research note, Chinese artificial intelligence models such as GLM-5.2 and Kimi K2.7 are rapidly advancing, expanding from general Q&A toward developer tools and enterprise workflows. Kimi is bolstering its global operations, while DeepSeek’s fundraising strengthens commercialization prospects. WeChat’s AI feature, now in limited beta testing, hints at a shift from standalone apps to super-app ecosystems — a move poised to increase model usage and token consumption. For crypto markets, surging AI demand in China could further strain GPU supply, indirectly affecting mining hardware availability and costs.
Osaka Police Uncover Multi-Billion Yen Crypto Money Laundering Ring
Osaka police arrested three men on suspicion of violating Japan’s organized crime punishment law by laundering funds for an investment fraud group using stablecoins and other crypto assets. The trio allegedly converted roughly 14 million yen from 10 victims across six prefectures into stablecoins via over-the-counter, peer-to-peer trades outside licensed exchanges, severing the money trail. Authorities estimate the total laundered amount reached several billion yen, highlighting an expansive criminal network.
Thai Authorities Seize 315 Illegal Crypto Mining Rigs in Power Theft Bust
In a coordinated operation across five northeastern provinces, Thai police and agencies raided 14 locations and confiscated 315 cryptocurrency mining machines. The operators are accused of illegally tapping electricity and tampering with meters, causing losses of about 40.38 million baht ($830,000), including 5.38 million baht in fines and 35 million baht in unpaid bills. The crackdown underscores Southeast Asia’s ongoing battle against unauthorized mining operations that strain local power grids.
Major Token Unlocks Next Week: H, SAHARA, and XPL Set to Release Over $80 Million
Token Unlocks data shows significant unlocks next week for tokens traded heavily in Asian markets. Humanity (H) will unlock 266 million tokens worth approximately $54.8 million on June 25, representing 9.41% of circulating supply. Sahara AI (SAHARA) follows on June 26 with a 1.03 billion token unlock worth $14.8 million, a massive 30.1% of its float. Plasma (XPL) will release 88.89 million tokens worth $10.4 million on June 25. These events could spark heightened volatility on Asian exchanges like Binance and OKX.
Pakistan FM: No Fees on Strait of Hormuz for 60 Days Amid US-Iran Talks
Pakistan’s foreign minister, speaking at a four-way meeting with Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, stated that Iran will not block or charge passage fees in the Strait of Hormuz for the next 60 days. Pakistan has facilitated the first US-Iran dialogue in 47 years, with three technical teams currently discussing nuclear issues, frozen funds, and the Lebanon situation. A full closure of the strait — a key global oil and energy transit route — would likely roil crypto and traditional markets across Asia given the region’s heavy reliance on energy imports.
Philippines SEC Signals Readiness for Real-World Asset Tokenization
Philippine SEC Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo said the legal and regulatory framework is in place to welcome real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, which he believes can revolutionize the stock exchange and spur capital market innovation. Tokenized investment products could offer overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) more legitimate investment options and steer them away from scams. The comments highlight Southeast Asia’s growing appetite for blockchain-based traditional finance products.
Chinese Chip Designer Innosilicon Completes IPO Preparation
Shanghai-based Innosilicon Technology, a fabless semiconductor design house specializing in high-performance SSD controller chips and storage solutions for cloud, AI, and autonomous driving, has finished its IPO tutoring and filed a completion report with the China Securities Regulatory Commission. The move signals growing capital access for China’s chip design sector, which could indirectly influence the supply of specialized mining hardware to the crypto industry.
WeChat AI Assistant “Xiaowei” Begins Limited Beta Testing
Tencent’s WeChat has quietly rolled out a native AI assistant to a small group of users. Named “Xiaowei,” the feature appears as an eye icon on the main chat interface and supports voice or text commands to perform in-app tasks like sending messages, searching Moments, or booking services. The integration into China’s dominant super app could massively increase AI token consumption and drive demand for computing power — a trend with potential knock-on effects for Asian crypto mining operations.
