South Korea to Consult Top Five Exchanges on Virtual Asset Tax
South Korea's government will convene representatives from Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Digital X, and GOPAX on October 20 to hear industry views on the virtual asset tax set to take effect next year. The current plan applies a 22% tax rate on crypto transfer and lending income after a 2.5 million won basic deduction. First proposed in 2020, the measure has already been postponed three times. Industry groups argue that taxation standards for staking, airdrops, and DeFi remain underdeveloped, calling for another delay while the government continues preparations on schedule.
Huobi HTX Leads Centralized Exchanges with $38.9 Million Net Inflow
Huobi HTX recorded $38.89 million in net inflows over the past 24 hours, the highest among major global centralized exchanges, according to CoinMarketCap data. The inflow suggests renewed trader interest in the exchange amid broader market consolidation. BTC briefly moved above $82,000 before pulling back near the $81,000 level. The shift in exchange flows also coincided with volatility across major perpetual markets.
Hong Kong IPO Fundraising Hits 15-Year High in First Three Quarters
Hong Kong's IPO market raised HK$385.57 billion across 115 listings in the first nine months of 2026, exceeding any full-year total since 2011. Deloitte and KPMG project full-year fundraising could approach HK$500 billion. Regulators are monitoring sponsor capacity after the SFC noted the five most active sponsors' share of pending applications fell from 77% at the start of the year to 65% in September. The strong pipeline underscores Hong Kong's continued role as a capital-raising hub despite broader regional market swings.
Chinese National Arrested in Bangkok Over $700 Million Money Laundering Network
Thai immigration police arrested a 37-year-old Chinese national in Bangkok in connection with a transnational money laundering operation involving more than 5 billion yuan (approximately $700 million). Investigators said the suspect processed crypto and foreign exchange through more than 133 accounts for criminal networks and allegedly arranged visas for members. He had overstayed his residence permit by about three years and eight months and will face legal proceedings in Thailand before deportation to China.
Chinese Firms Dominate Global Humanoid Robot Revenue Rankings
Chinese companies occupied all five top positions in global humanoid robot market revenue in the first half of 2026, according to Frost & Sullivan. Global humanoid robot sales reached 36,000 units, already surpassing the 35,000 sold in all of 2025, with market revenue hitting $540 million. Shenzhen-based firms accounted for two of the top five slots. The report underscores China's accelerating lead in physical AI hardware as domestic tech groups step up commercialization efforts.
SoftBank Considers Acquisition of US Security Giant Allied Universal
SoftBank is exploring an acquisition of Allied Universal, the largest US security services firm, at a potential equity valuation of up to $18 billion, Bloomberg reported citing people familiar with the matter. Including roughly $12 billion in publicly traded debt, the total deal value could approach $30 billion. Masayoshi Son is exploring AI robotics applications across industries, and SoftBank envisions eventually deploying robots for some security tasks, though humanoid deployment may take longer. Discussions remain at an early stage.
Solana Establishes Corporate Entity in Shanghai Led by China Co-Head
Shanghai Solana Enterprise Management Co., Ltd. was established in June with registered capital of 5 million yuan, with Solana China co-head Claire Du serving as legal representative, according to Tianyancha records. In August, the company took a 45% stake in a joint venture with another party to form Shanghai Yaokun Qiushi Digital Technology Co., Ltd., with registered capital of 10 million yuan. The new entity's business scope covers technology development, system integration, and conference and exhibition services.
Cobo to Showcase Enterprise Wallet and Payment Products at Singapore FinTech Festival
Digital asset custody provider Cobo will unveil a brand upgrade and showcase its latest institutional wallet capabilities at the Singapore FinTech Festival in mid-November. Founded in 2017 as a consumer wallet, Cobo has since pivoted to institutional and enterprise clients, now serving more than 680 institutions across nearly 50 countries. The presentation will highlight upgraded products for enterprise and agent-based payment scenarios as the Singapore-based firm expands across Asia.
Solana Accelerate China Shenzhen Event Postponed
Solana Accelerate China has postponed its Shenzhen event originally scheduled for October 20, citing registration numbers exceeding expectations and the need to comply with local event guidance. The organizer said registration information will be retained and new dates will be announced once confirmed. The delay reflects strong grassroots demand for Solana ecosystem events in mainland China's tech hubs.
Bitdeer Sells All Weekly Bitcoin Production, Maintains Zero Holdings
Bitdeer produced 294.2 BTC for the week ending October 16 and sold the entire amount, keeping its treasury position at zero, excluding customer deposits. The Singapore-based mining firm has consistently monetized production rather than holding mined coins on its balance sheet. The approach contrasts with other public miners that have adopted bitcoin treasury strategies amid rising institutional adoption.
DeepSeek to Charge for Search and Fetch API Calls from November
DeepSeek will begin charging for server-side Search and Fetch tool calls within DeepSeek Harness, Claude Code, and Codex starting November 1, Beijing time. Both interfaces will cost 5 yuan per 1,000 successful requests, with failed requests, empty search results, or timeouts exempt from billing. The move marks a monetization shift for the Chinese AI lab as it seeks to convert free developer usage into recurring revenue.
