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BitcoinWorld Hong Kong Tokenized Bonds: Unlocking a New Era of Digital Finance by 2026 The financial world is abuzz with the news that Hong Kong is poised to make a monumental leap in the digital finance realm. Imagine a future where traditional financial instruments meet the cutting-edge efficiency of blockchain technology. This isnât a distant dream; itâs becoming a reality as Hong Kong prepares to formalize Hong Kong tokenized bonds issuance, setting a precedent for global financial innovation. This strategic move solidifies the cityâs ambition to become a leading hub for digital assets, promising a new era of efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in capital markets. The Groundbreaking Move Towards Hong Kong Tokenized Bonds Hong Kong, long recognized as a global financial powerhouse, is taking decisive steps to integrate blockchain technology into its core financial infrastructure. Financial Services and the Treasury Secretary Christopher Hui recently confirmed the governmentâs ambitious plan to formalize the issuance of tokenized bonds as a regular practice, targeting the 2025â26 budget cycle. This announcement, reported by JinSe Finance, marks a significant milestone in the cityâs journey towards embracing digital finance. But what exactly are tokenized bonds ? Simply put, they are traditional bonds whose ownership and associated rights are represented by digital tokens on a blockchain. This innovative approach leverages the security, transparency, and immutability of distributed ledger technology (DLT) to streamline the entire bond lifecycle, from issuance and trading to settlement and redemption. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has been at the forefront of this exploration, having already successfully conducted two pilot issuances of government green bonds using tokenization. These initial ventures, including a HK$800 million (approximately US$102 million) tokenized green bond in February 2023, demonstrated the feasibility and benefits of the technology. With the HKMA now preparing for a third issuance, the groundwork is clearly being laid for a comprehensive and robust framework. This progressive stance signals Hong Kongâs commitment not just to experimentation, but to the full integration of digital assets into its financial ecosystem. Why Are Tokenized Bonds a Game-Changer for Finance? The shift towards tokenized bonds isnât just a technological upgrade; it represents a fundamental rethinking of how financial instruments are issued, managed, and traded. The benefits are multi-faceted and compelling, promising to unlock new efficiencies and opportunities for both issuers and investors. Letâs explore some of the key advantages: Enhanced Efficiency and Speed: By automating many of the manual processes involved in traditional bond issuance and settlement, tokenization can drastically reduce transaction times and operational costs. Smart contracts can automate coupon payments and redemptions, minimizing human error and administrative overhead. Increased Transparency: Blockchainâs immutable ledger provides a clear, auditable record of all transactions. This transparency can build greater trust among market participants and simplify regulatory oversight. Improved Liquidity: Tokenization can enable fractional ownership of bonds, making them accessible to a wider range of investors, including retail participants who might otherwise be excluded from large-denomination debt markets. This broader investor base can lead to increased trading activity and liquidity. Reduced Intermediary Costs: By leveraging a decentralized network, the need for multiple intermediaries in the bond issuance and trading process can be minimized, leading to lower fees and more direct interactions between parties. Greater Accessibility: Lower entry barriers and simplified processes can democratize access to bond markets, allowing smaller investors to participate and diversifying investment portfolios. These advantages collectively paint a picture of a more agile, inclusive, and cost-effective bond market, which is precisely what Hong Kong aims to achieve with its formalization efforts. Navigating the Regulatory Landscape: Balancing Innovation and Protection for Digital Assets The formalization of Hong Kong tokenized bonds is not merely about technological adoption; itâs intrinsically linked to establishing a robust and comprehensive regulatory framework. As Secretary Hui highlighted, once legislation is completed, the regulatory framework will fully cover the digital asset industry. This is a critical undertaking that seeks to strike a delicate balance: Risk Management: Ensuring that the inherent risks associated with digital assets, such as cybersecurity threats, market volatility, and operational risks, are adequately identified, assessed, and mitigated. This includes establishing clear standards for platform security and data integrity. Investor Protection: Safeguarding the interests of investors, particularly retail investors, from potential fraud, market manipulation, and other illicit activities. This involves developing robust disclosure requirements, anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) measures, and clear dispute resolution mechanisms. Market Innovation: Fostering an environment that encourages technological advancement and new business models within the digital asset space, without stifling creativity through overly restrictive regulations. The goal is to provide regulatory clarity that allows legitimate businesses to thrive. This holistic approach to regulation is crucial for building confidence and attracting both domestic and international participants to Hong Kongâs burgeoning digital asset market. The city aims to create a regulatory sandbox that is both secure and conducive to growth, distinguishing itself from jurisdictions with less defined or more prohibitive stances on digital assets. Hereâs a simplified comparison of key aspects between traditional and tokenized bonds: Feature Traditional Bonds Tokenized Bonds Issuance & Transfer Manual, paper-based or centralized digital registries Automated via smart contracts on blockchain Settlement Time T+2 or T+3 (days) Near-instant (minutes/seconds) Intermediaries Numerous (brokers, custodians, clearing houses) Fewer, potentially direct peer-to-peer Accessibility Often high minimums, limited to institutional investors Fractional ownership, broader investor base (retail) Transparency Centralized records, less real-time visibility Immutable, transparent ledger on blockchain Costs Higher operational and intermediary fees Potentially lower transaction and administrative costs What Does This Mean for the Future of Finance in Hong Kong ? The formalization of Hong Kong tokenized bonds issuance is more than just a regulatory update; itâs a powerful statement about the cityâs strategic vision for its financial future. By proactively integrating digital assets into its mainstream financial system, Hong Kong is positioning itself as a global leader in the evolving landscape of digital finance. This move could have several profound implications: Strengthening Hong Kongâs Position: It reinforces Hong Kongâs status as an international financial center, attracting innovative fintech companies, blockchain developers, and global investors seeking a regulated and forward-thinking environment for digital assets. Catalyst for Broader Digital Asset Adoption: The success of tokenized bonds could pave the way for the tokenization of other asset classes, from real estate and equities to intellectual property, creating entirely new markets and investment opportunities. Increased Capital Inflows: A clear and supportive regulatory framework for digital assets is likely to attract significant capital, both from traditional financial institutions looking to innovate and from crypto-native firms seeking legitimate operational bases. Enhanced Competitiveness: As other jurisdictions grapple with how to regulate digital assets, Hong Kongâs proactive and balanced approach gives it a competitive edge, potentially drawing business away from less certain markets. This initiative underscores Hong Kongâs commitment to staying at the cutting edge of financial innovation while upholding its reputation for regulatory prudence and investor protection. Itâs a bold step towards a more interconnected, efficient, and digitally-driven global financial system. In conclusion, Hong Kongâs decision to formalize tokenized bond issuance by 2025-26 is a landmark development that signals a profound shift in the global financial landscape. By meticulously crafting a regulatory framework that balances innovation with robust risk management and investor protection, Hong Kong is not merely adapting to the digital age but actively shaping its future. This pioneering move will undoubtedly serve as a blueprint for other jurisdictions, solidifying Hong Kongâs position as a vibrant and forward-thinking hub for digital finance and ushering in an exciting new chapter for capital markets worldwide. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Q1: What are tokenized bonds? A1: Tokenized bonds are traditional bonds whose ownership and associated rights are digitally represented on a blockchain, leveraging distributed ledger technology for enhanced efficiency, transparency, and liquidity. Q2: When will Hong Kong formalize tokenized bond issuance? A2: Hong Kong plans to formalize tokenized bond issuance as a regular practice in the 2025â26 budget cycle, with legislation expected to be completed to fully cover the digital asset industry. Q3: What benefits do tokenized bonds offer over traditional bonds? A3: Tokenized bonds offer several benefits, including increased efficiency, faster settlement times, enhanced transparency, improved liquidity through fractional ownership, reduced intermediary costs, and greater accessibility for a wider range of investors. Q4: How is Hong Kong balancing innovation with risk in digital assets? A4: Hong Kongâs regulatory framework for digital assets aims to balance risk management, investor protection, and market innovation. This involves establishing clear standards for security, implementing robust AML/CTF measures, and fostering an environment conducive to technological advancement. Q5: What is the Hong Kong Monetary Authorityâs role in this initiative? A5: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has been actively involved in piloting tokenized bond issuances, successfully conducting two previous green bond issuances, and is currently preparing for a third, laying the groundwork for the formalization. Q6: How will this impact Hong Kongâs position as a financial hub? A6: This move is expected to strengthen Hong Kongâs position as an international financial center and a leading hub for digital assets, attracting fintech companies, blockchain developers, and global investors seeking a regulated and innovative environment. If you found this article insightful, please consider sharing it with your network! Your support helps us bring more critical insights into the evolving world of digital finance. Share on social media and letâs spread the word about Hong Kongâs pioneering steps! To learn more about the latest crypto market trends, explore our article on key developments shaping digital assets institutional adoption. This post Hong Kong Tokenized Bonds: Unlocking a New Era of Digital Finance by 2026 first appeared on BitcoinWorld and is written by Editorial Team
Mortgage demand in the U.S. just hit its lowest point since May, as reported by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) on Wednesday. The total volume of mortgage applications dropped 3.8% last week, even though interest rates barely moved. The biggest problem isnât the cost of borrowing. Itâs the uncertainty around the economy . Thatâs whatâs pushing people to back away from major financial decisions. The average interest rate for 30-year fixed mortgage loans with conforming loan balances, $806,500 or less, inched down to 6.83% from 6.84%. Points, which include the origination fee, fell slightly too, from 0.62 to 0.60, for buyers putting 20% down. But that wasnât enough to pull buyers in. Activity continues to slide. Purchase and mortgage refinance applications slide despite steady rates Joel Kan, the Mortgage Bankers Associationâs deputy chief economist and vice president, said, âMortgage applications fell to their lowest level since May, with both purchase and refinance activity declining over the week. There is still plenty of uncertainty surrounding the economy and job market, which is weighing on prospective homebuyersâ decisions.â Applications to buy a home dropped 6% compared to the previous week. They were 17% higher than the same time last year, but Kan pointed out that volume remains low enough to distort the year-over-year comparison. He added, âApplications for conventional, FHA, and VA purchase loans fell, despite slowing home-price growth and increasing levels of for-sale inventory in many regions.â That means buyers arenât stepping back because homes are too expensive â theyâre stepping back because the outlook is too murky. Refinancing isnât doing much better. Refinance applications dropped 1% on the week. Compared to the same week in 2024, refis were up 30%, but activity is still near historic lows. This is the third week in a row of declining refinance volume. Mortgage rates were basically the same a year ago, only one basis point lower, so thereâs no real incentive driving a wave of refis right now. Rates did dip slightly at the start of this week, but bigger moves could be coming. The next big update comes Wednesday, when the Federal Reserve announces its latest decision on interest rates. Fed Chair Jerome Powellâs comments will be closely watched. Then, on Friday, the monthly employment report from the government is expected. That data could shape how the mortgage market moves next. Until then, borrowers are waiting, and the numbers show it. Cryptopolitan Academy: Tired of market swings? Learn how DeFi can help you build steady passive income. Register Now
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The Eurozone economy slowed sharply in the second quarter of 2025, growing just 0.1%, according to figures released Wednesday by Eurostat. The number beat the flat outlook that economists surveyed by Reuters had predicted, but still reflected the impact of weakened trade flows and rising tariff pressures. Growth had come in at 0.6% in the first quarter, driven largely by American firms rushing to import goods before new U.S. duties took effect. Trade tensions between Washington and Brussels have been the biggest drag on momentum. Donald Trumpâs reciprocal tariffs, first rolled out in April, set the tone for the quarter. While some levies were rolled back during ongoing talks, new sector-specific duties on items like automobiles, aluminum, and steel remained in place throughout the period. The latest EU-U.S. trade agreement imposes a 15% tariff on most European imports. Some products will avoid duties, and tariffs on cars have been scaled back to their base rates, but the overall uncertainty has left businesses across Europe exposed. Jack Allen-Reynolds, deputy chief Eurozone economist at Capital Economics, said, âThe slowdown in euro-zone GDP growth in Q2 came as no surprise as the boost from tariff front-running waned.â He explained that the temporary strength in Q1 came from U.S. buyers stockpiling early to dodge future tariffs. Jack added, âThe euro-zone has been resilient to the shifts in US trade policy so far⌠the impact of trade policy uncertainty has seemingly been limited so far.â Germany contracts, Spain and France outperform Data from Destatis, released the same day, showed that Germany , the regionâs largest economy, contracted 0.1% in Q2. That matched forecasts and marked a drop from its 0.3% expansion in Q1. Construction and industrial investment fell over the quarter, while consumer and public spending edged up. This weak showing is just the latest in a long string of poor performances for Germany, which has struggled to regain solid footing for over three years. In contrast, France delivered 0.3% growth, outperforming the 0.1% expected. Spain, one of the eurozoneâs more stable economies in recent years, clocked in at 0.7% growth, an increase from the 0.6% posted in the first quarter. That divergence highlights the growing imbalance across the region, as more industrial export-heavy economies like Germany face pressure, while others with stronger domestic demand show resilience. âThe return to growth [in Germany] and a strong economy remains a long and complicated project,â said Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently announced a plan to loosen the countryâs borrowing limits to free up âŹ1 trillion for investment. The idea is to jumpstart the economy after years of sluggish performance, but results could take time. Tariffs and rate uncertainty weigh on outlook With the trade fight dominating the backdrop, Riccardo Marcelli Fabiani of Oxford Economics said growth âsuffered only a limited setback due to the payback from tariff frontloading.â He also warned that âthis will make ECB policymakers more reluctant to cut.â Market expectations for another interest rate reduction this year have cooled. Traders now assign a 50-50 chance that the European Central Bank will deliver another quarter-point cut by October. ECB President Christine Lagarde said the economy had done âslightly better than the central bank had expected so far this year,â calling the Eurozoneâs position âa good place.â That comment came before the Q2 numbers dropped, but it gives a window into the ECBâs thinking as the year progresses. The euro held steady at $1.155 after the data was published. French and German 10-year bond yields barely moved, both inching up by less than a basis point, showing little investor reaction in the fixed-income markets. Ulrich Kater, chief economist at Deka Bank, pointed to Germanyâs weak performance versus its peers. âAs the dust of the tariff explosion gradually settles over the course of the year, it will become clear that economic momentum in Germany remains weak, especially in comparison with many European neighbours,â he said. Cryptopolitan Academy: Want to grow your money in 2025? Learn how to do it with DeFi in our upcoming webclass. Save Your Spot
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The tech-focused investment firm ARK Invest is dumping tens of millions of dollars worth of Coinbase (COIN) shares within a few days after the stock hit a new record high. On July 18th, COIN soared to a new all-time high of $444.65, eclipsing its previous record level of $429, which it hit on April 14th, 2021. Within three days of the rally, ARK Invest began offloading Coinbase shares â an aggressive move that knocked COIN from the firmâs top holding to second place. Data from Cathiesark.com shows that the firm unloaded $105,300,000 worth of COIN from July 21st to 24th. While ARK Invest was selling COIN, it was busy snapping up shares of the electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla (TSLA). The investment firm gobbled up $43.7 million worth of TSLA from July 21st to the 24th. At time of writing, TSLA is the firmâs top holding, accumulating a $1 billion stake in the Elon Musk-led firm. Coinbase ranks 2nd, with the firm now holding $803.5 million worth of COIN shares. ARK Investâs aggressive accumulation of TSLA comes after its CEO, Cathie Wood, predicted that the stock would be worth thousands of dollars by 2030. âOur prediction in five years is $2,600, and 90% of that valuation comes not from the electric vehicle, but from this robotaxi platform. Because the electric car, if you think about it, is a one-shot sale. Sell and hope they come when theyâre replacing their car.â Follow us on X , Facebook and Telegram Don't Miss a Beat â Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox Check Price Action Surf The Daily Hodl Mix Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing. Generated Image: Midjourney The post Cathie Woodâs ARK Invest Dumps $105,300,000 in Coinbase (COIN) Stock After All-Time High â All in Just One Week appeared first on The Daily Hodl .
SEC Approves In-Kind Redemptions for Spot Bitcoin, Ether ETFs | Strategy Buys $2.4B in Bitcoin After Oversubscribed Preferred Stock Sale | EToro to Tokenize U.S. Stocks on Ethereum
Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan predicts that TradFi firms will start scooping up altcoins after making âtons of moneyâ on Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Should that happen, there might not be a better time to learn about the best altcoins to buy now, and get in while their prices are still low. Keep reading for our top three suggestions. Hougan Predicts $BTC to $200K, Altcoin Season Next In a recent interview with The Wolf of All Streets , Hougan explained that institutional investors are now hunting for the next big opportunity beyond $BTC. âAll this money flowed into Bitcoin. The price went up 140%. And what are they going to do? Theyâre going to rotate into like Kelloggâs? No, theyâre going to rotate into Circle, Ethereum, and treasury companies⌠Itâs going to go all the way. Itâs altseason in TradFi for sure.â â Hougan. Hougan then went on to discuss how he thinks that âBitcoin is going to $200K by the end of this yearâ and that Ethereum is experiencing a massive demand shock due to unprecedented institutional buying. âThere is this supply-demand shock in both Bitcoin and Ethereum. And I didnât study that much economics, but I know enough that when demand is 5 to 10x supply, the price tends to go up. And I think thatâs just the story in crypto right now,â Hougan added. He also pointed out that nearly every day in July saw net inflows into Ethereum ETFs, with over $4.4B pouring in this month alone. As a result, he believes that $ETH has moved from a speculative asset to a must-have for institutional portfolios alongside $BTC. And itâs no wonder, given the number of institutions accumulating $ETH right now. One such example is blockchain infrastructure firm BTCS Inc., which recently added 14,240 $$ETH to its portfolio . This pushed its total holdings to a hefty 70,028 $ETH, valued at around $270M at the time of purchase. With capital rotating out of $BTC into altcoins, Hougan believes the market is just getting started. While it may feel like weâre at a peak, he says weâre âactually in the early innings,â comparing todayâs stance with the early days of the internet boom in 1998. Early-stage altcoins like $BEST , $HYPER , and $ENA are still under the radar. Naturally, this makes now a prime time to invest in them before the broader market catches on and their prices likely shoot up. Best Wallet Token ($BEST) â The Foundation of a #1 Anonymous Crypto Wallet $BEST is the native token of Best Wallet , a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to give you complete control over your digital assets. Owing to the fact that it gives you exclusive access to your private keys and doesnât require KYC verification, itâs ranked as our #1 anonymous crypto wallet . The Best Wallet mobile app also leverages Fireblocks Multi-Party Computation (MPC) technology to safeguard your keys while enabling encrypted cloud backups. This also removes the burden of managing seed phrases manually. Security is becoming increasingly vital in the crypto world. This year alone, $2.1B+ worth of crypto has been mostly stolen through private key breaches . Still, Best Wallet has a lot more to offer than urgent safeguarding measures. Its support of 1K+ digital assets, soon across 60 chains, makes it a one-stop powerhouse for crypto. Thanks to its Cross-Chain Swap feature, you can also access 330+ decentralized exchanges and 30+ bridges. Doing so unlocks the best rates and lowest fees when moving assets across networks. And it has tons to look forward to, including Best Card (its own crypto debit card), an NFT gallery, a rewards hub, and market intel analytics. To get the most out of Best Wallet, youâll want to hold some $BEST. Then, you can enjoy lower transaction fees, governance rights, early entry to the best crypto presales , and staking rewards at a 94%. $BEST has already raised over $14.3M, with one whale investing $49.5K into the project alone. Itâs clear that hype surrounding the Best Wallet ecosystem is building. You can currently buy $BEST on presale for just $0.025405. New developments like Best Card could push its price to $0.072 this year, setting the stage for possible 193%+ gains if you join the action now. 2. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) â Layer 2 Solution Set to Upgrade Bitcoin in Q3 2025 Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is the presale token behind a Layer 2 network that will speed up Bitcoin in Q3 2025. It aims to tackle some of Bitcoinâs most significant limitations by speeding up transactions, slashing fees dramatically, and introducing full smart contract support. To deliver on this, itâll integrate the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) . This should give it the speed and cost-efficiency of the Solana network, without sacrificing Bitcoinâs steadfast security. A Canonical Bridge is at the center of it all, allowing you to move $BTC between the Layer 1 and Layer 2 while gaining access to fast and flexible smart contracts. As a consequence, the Layer 2 upgrade will support performance dApps, real-world asset tokenization, and even the best meme coin launches. For extra benefits, including ultra-low fees, staking rewards (currently at a 176% APY), and governance rights, purchase $HYPER on presale for only $0.01245. The project has already raised over $5.8M with whales playing a big role in its early success â notable buys include one of $74.9K , $54.1K , and $53.9K. 3. Ethena ($ENA) â Breaks Away from Legacy Stablecoins like $USDT & $USDC $ENA is the governance and utility token of Ethena, a crypto-native synthetic dollar protocol built on Ethereum. The ecosystem offers an alternative to stablecoins like $USDT and $USDC. Its flagship asset, $USDe, is backed by $ETH and $BTC collateral and derivatives to maintain price stability without reliance on centralized banks. Ethena has also introduced the â Internet Bond ,â a dollar-denominated savings product thatâs available worldwide. $ENA gains attention for directing protocol profits toward ecosystem growth, shaping risk management, and enabling holders to vote on the projectâs future trajectory. Consequently, it has spiked by over 109% over the past month. Its price surge aligns with tremendous whale interest. Former BitMEX CEO, Arthur Hayes, for instance, recently acquired 2.16M $ENA worth $1.03M , bringing his total holdings to 7.76M $ENA worth $3.73M (at the time). Given such demand, now signals a fortuitous time to purchase $ENA. Itâs available on some of the best crypto exchanges (including MEXC , Binance , and Bybit ) for roughly $0.57. Verdict â An Altcoin Season Looms With TradFi companies investing in crypto beyond crypto and diving into altcoins, weâre already seeing early signs of an altcoin season looming, just like Hougan predicts. Projects like $BEST , $HYPER , and $ENA are each highly anticipated to soar, owing to their real-world use cases, rising demand, and whale attention. Better still, their prices remain low enough to offer serious gains. So, if youâre looking to invest in some high-risk, high-reward altcoins, these might be the way to go. This isnât investment advice. Always DYOR and donât invest more than youâd be sad to lose.
TRX sees substantial on-chain activity, attracting interest in market