Ripple has teamed up with digital asset infrastructure provider SettleMint to bring an end-to-end custody and token lifecycle stack to financial institutions in Asia-Pacific. The firms say the integration is designed to reduce operational complexity for banks and other regulated players that want to hold tokenized assets and manage them from issuance through ongoing administration.

Just days earlier, Coincheck Group announced a separate push in Japan toward institutional-grade custody and wallet technology, partnering with DFNS to deliver wallet-as-a-service capabilities. Together, the announcements highlight how Asia-Pacific institutions are trying to close the “infrastructure gap” that has slowed crypto adoption inside regulated finance.

Key takeaways

• Ripple and SettleMint will integrate Ripple Custody with SettleMint’s Digital Asset Lifecycle Platform to support custody, issuance, and management of tokenized assets.
• Coincheck Group’s Japan effort with DFNS focuses on wallet infrastructure and institutional-grade custody through a wallet-as-a-service model.
• Both partnerships target a persistent bottleneck: limited infrastructure that fits regulated financial workflows across the token lifecycle.
• Regulatory momentum in the region—particularly Japan’s evolving framework—adds urgency to custody and tokenization capabilities for institutions.

Ripple’s custody and token lifecycle integration

Ripple announced the partnership with SettleMint on Tuesday, framing it as a way to help financial institutions handle tokenized assets “across their full lifecycle.” According to Ripple’s announcement via PR Newswire, the collaboration will integrate Ripple’s institutional custody infrastructure, Ripple Custody, with SettleMint’s Digital Asset Lifecycle Platform (DALP).

The stated goal is straightforward: rather than stitching together multiple vendors and separate tools for custody and post-issuance operations, institutions can use an integrated approach that supports both securing assets and managing their lifecycle. Ripple’s coverage positions the combined stack as a less complex route for regulated firms that need robust custody controls while also participating in tokenized-asset issuance and administration.

Why this matters for investors and operators is that custody and lifecycle management are typically two of the hardest components to operationalize within traditional compliance requirements. If lifecycle tooling and governance controls can be packaged into a single institutional workflow, it can shorten deployment timelines for banks and asset managers that would otherwise face longer integration projects and higher operational risk.

Parallel momentum in Japan: Coincheck and DFNS

A day before Ripple’s announcement, Coincheck Group revealed its own initiative in Japan, partnering with wallet infrastructure provider DFNS to bring institutional-grade digital asset custody and wallet technology to the market. The development was reported in a Business Wire release.

DFNS’s wallet-as-a-service approach is designed to centralize operational management. The source describes it as supporting transaction lifecycle management, including workflow orchestration and governance controls, delivered under a single platform that supports more than 100 blockchain networks.

For institutions evaluating crypto infrastructure, that distinction—platform-level management rather than fragmented components—can be critical. Many regulated services require controls around approvals, governance policies, and operational workflows that extend beyond simple wallet access. A service positioned around “full transaction lifecycle management” suggests an attempt to meet those requirements more directly.

Infrastructure gap meets faster onchain growth in Asia-Pacific

Both partnerships arrive as Asia-Pacific continues to accelerate in crypto usage. According to Chainalysis’ 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, the Asia-Pacific region ranked as the fastest-growing area for onchain activity and saw a 69% year-over-year increase in value received.

While adoption growth alone does not guarantee institutional participation, it typically increases pressure on infrastructure providers to deliver enterprise capabilities that can handle real-world transaction volumes and compliance demands. The partnership announcements explicitly connect their work to an “infrastructure gap” that has hindered regulated financial institutions from entering digital asset activities.

In other words, the region is not just expanding in consumer and retail usage; it is building the case for institutional-grade custody, token issuance tooling, and governance-ready wallet and custody services that can operate under regulatory constraints.

Regulatory developments in Japan raise the stakes

Japan is central to the current wave of institutional infrastructure pushes. In July, the Japanese parliament passed revisions that classify crypto assets as financial assets under Japan’s Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, according to earlier coverage from Cointelegraph.

The regulatory direction matters because classification under financial rules generally changes how institutions think about onboarding, compliance, custody responsibilities, and product design. More clearly defined categories can help create predictable expectations for regulated market participants, but they can also require infrastructure upgrades to satisfy governance and custody standards.

Cointelegraph also reported that Japan’s Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama signaled an intent to bring crypto under the same umbrella as traditional finance assets in January. The stated aim was to ensure citizens can “benefit from digital and blockchain-based assets,” while keeping the framework aligned with established financial oversight.

Against this backdrop, the Ripple–SettleMint and Coincheck–DFNS announcements can be read as infrastructure groundwork for institutions trying to participate in a market where regulatory classification and operational expectations are becoming more formalized.

What to watch next

Investors and builders should watch how these partnerships translate into deployable institution-facing offerings—particularly around custody workflows, governance controls, and end-to-end token lifecycle operations. As Japan’s legal framework continues to take shape and as Asia-Pacific onchain activity grows, the competitive advantage is likely to accrue to providers that can integrate tokenization, custody, and compliance-ready operational tooling without forcing institutions into complex, multi-vendor builds.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is reconsidering its earlier restriction on stablecoins issued across multiple jurisdictions, proposing a route for some jointly issued tokens to qualify under its regulatory framework.

MAS opened a public consultation on Tuesday, covering legislative amendments to implement its stablecoin framework and additional policy proposals reflecting developments since 2023.

Under one proposal, stablecoins jointly issued by a Singapore issuer and a foreign issuer could be regulated under the framework and labeled “MAS-regulated stablecoins,” provided that the associated risks are sufficiently mitigated.

MAS is also considering recognizing a limited number of foreign-issued stablecoins regulated under comparable overseas frameworks, citing their potential use in cross-border wholesale transactions.

The proposals revisit MAS’s 2023 position that qualifying stablecoins must be issued solely in Singapore. The regulator finalized a framework that year covering single-currency stablecoins issued in Singapore and pegged to the Singapore dollar or a G10 currency.

At the time, MAS cited difficulties establishing regulatory equivalence and cooperation with other jurisdictions. It also noted technical challenges in tracing where commingled stablecoins originated and determining whether overseas reserves would be sufficient to meet redemption requests.

MAS proposes additional issuer safeguards

The broader consultation seeks to implement the 2023 stablecoin framework through amendments to the Payment Services Act (PSA), the primary law governing payment services and operators in Singapore.

The proposed requirements cover reserve-backed value stability, capital, redemption at par and issuer disclosures. Only issuers licensed under the framework would be permitted to market themselves as MAS-regulated stablecoin issuers and label their tokens “MAS-regulated stablecoins.”

Related: Japanese regulator requests tax filing exemption for trust-type stablecoins in 2027 reform

MAS also proposed prohibiting issuers from paying interest on regulated stablecoins and requiring them to conduct stress tests and maintain recovery and orderly wind-down plans.

Additional consumer safeguards would require issuers to protect customer money received before the corresponding stablecoins are issued. Stablecoins outside the dedicated framework would continue to be treated as digital payment tokens under existing rules.

MAS is accepting public comments on the proposals until Oct. 16.

Magazine: How Hong Kong is turning tokenized bonds into real market infrastructure

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Bitcoin price has fallen below $77,000 as fresh U.S. military strikes on Iranian targets have pushed oil prices higher and triggered heavy selling across crypto and stock markets.

Bitcoin price falls below $77,000

The U.S. Central Command said American forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran at 12 p.m. ET on Tuesday, citing recent attempted attacks against commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. military personnel stationed in the region.

Bitcoin (BTC) fell through $78,000 as reports of the operation emerged before extending its decline below $77,000. The cryptocurrency traded around $76,762 at the time of writing, after falling from an intraday high near $79,166.

Selling also reached Ethereum (ETH), which moved below $2,400 during the market decline. According to CoinGlass data cited in the original report, roughly $115 million in leveraged long positions across the crypto market were liquidated within one hour.

Liquidations occur when an exchange closes a leveraged position after the trader’s collateral can no longer cover mounting losses. A rapid price decline can therefore force the closure of long positions, adding more sell orders to an already weak market.

One day earlier, Bitcoin had held near $78,000 even as earlier exchanges between U.S. and Iranian forces pushed crude prices above $90. The latest round of strikes placed renewed pressure on that price area and erased the asset’s brief attempt to hold above short-term support.

The decline has also followed a strong August for Bitcoin. BTC gained about 23% during the month, according to market data cited in earlier coverage, before renewed geopolitical and interest-rate concerns weighed on the opening trading sessions of September.

US strikes increase pressure near the Strait of Hormuz

According to CENTCOM’s account, the operation followed alleged Iranian attempts to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and American service members deployed to the region.

Iranian state media reported explosions across several locations on the country’s southern coast, including Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas and Chabahar. Reports cited by Axios also identified Jask, Konarak, Minab and Sirik among the areas struck.

Qeshm Island and Bandar Abbas sit close to the Strait of Hormuz, a key passage connecting Persian Gulf energy exporters with international markets. Before the current conflict, roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies moved through the waterway, according to Reuters data previously cited in market coverage.

The Associated Press reported that Tuesday’s action ended roughly a month without direct military exchanges between the two countries. Earlier U.S. strikes on Sunday targeted rocket launchers on Larak Island, after which Iran launched missiles toward American sites in Jordan. Jordanian forces intercepted the missiles, while the United Arab Emirates said it stopped an Iranian drone over its waters.

Following Tuesday’s strikes, Iranian semi-official news agencies Fars and Tasnim reported that Tehran had started launching missiles and drones in response. An IRGC spokesperson said the United States “will regret its new attacks,” according to Fars.

President Donald Trump described the American operation as “large and powerful” and warned Tehran against further retaliation. According to Trump, another Iranian response would lead to a “much harder and higher level” of U.S. attack.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had said earlier on Tuesday that Tehran was prepared to return to a ceasefire agreement brokered with Washington in June if the United States followed its terms. Trump later questioned the value of another agreement during comments reported by the Associated Press.

Oil above $90 adds inflation and rate pressure

Crude prices accelerated as military activity returned to areas around the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that Brent crude settled 4.6% higher at $94.65 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate rose 5.2% to $90.22.

Oil traders were also monitoring reports that two tankers had been hit while leaving the strait. Iranian officials have warned that Gulf oil exports could face additional disruption if military and economic pressure on Tehran continues.

Earlier exchanges between Washington and Tehran had already exposed the sensitivity of financial markets to oil supply risks. In July, a warning of further U.S. strikes coincided with a $500 billion stock selloff as crude prices rose and Bitcoin came under pressure.

Higher energy prices matter to U.S. crypto investors because a sustained rise in fuel costs can feed into inflation data and influence Federal Reserve policy. U.S. Treasury yields rose during Tuesday’s trading, while the S&P 500 fell to its lowest level since Aug. 4, according to market data cited in the original report.

August inflation data and the Federal Reserve’s September policy decision could therefore affect Bitcoin’s next move. In August, Bitcoin rebounded after CPI data showed annual U.S. inflation at 3.4%, but oil supply disruptions could place fresh pressure on subsequent readings.

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh has maintained a firm position on inflation and left open the possibility of higher interest rates. Rising Treasury yields can increase the appeal of interest-bearing assets while raising financing costs, conditions that have previously weighed on Bitcoin and other assets that do not produce yield.

US markets fall as leveraged crypto positions unwind

Pressure from the military escalation has not remained confined to digital assets. U.S. equities declined as investors assessed the effect of higher oil prices, while the selloff in government bonds pushed Treasury yields upward.

Bitcoin’s fall below $77,000 placed the asset close to the lower end of the price range it had established after its August rally. The intraday low near $76,483 left the $76,500 area as an immediate level being tested by sellers, based on market pricing during the session.

A sustained break below that region would remove another support area that previously slowed declines. Any recovery would first require Bitcoin to regain $77,000, followed by the former support zone between $78,000 and $79,000.

Liquidation data offer another measure of the pressure facing leveraged traders. CoinGlass attributed the one-hour liquidation total of roughly $115 million mainly to long positions, indicating that traders positioned for higher prices absorbed most of the forced closures during the drop.

Meanwhile, Iran’s response remained active late Tuesday, with Fars and Tasnim reporting new missile and drone launches after the U.S. operation. American officials said the initial strikes were directed at Iranian radar and military capabilities associated with threats to commercial vessels and U.S. personnel.

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) and cryptocurrency exchange Kraken are reportedly launching tokenized stock trading on the stock market operator’s new night-time trading venue.

The LSE has partnered with Kraken’s parent company, Payward, to launch access to tokenized stocks tracking the value of leading UK equity products starting in 2027, Payward’s chief commercial officer, Mark Greenberg, told the Financial Times according to a Tuesday report.

The tokenized stocks will be listed on LSE’s new night-time trading venue, LSE 24, that will offer 24/5 trading, operating from Mondays to Fridays, the company announced on July 21.

The initiative makes the London bourse the latest traditional exchange operator to explore blockchain-based stock offerings that can be traded 24 hours a day with fractional ownership. Other traditional finance (TradFi) institutions exploring tokenized equity products include the Nasdaq, CME Group and the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

In August, Nasdaq agreed to acquire LeveL Markets, the third-largest alternative trading system in the US by trading volume, as part of its push into tokenized markets with round-the-clock trading.

Related: Trump Jr.-linked 1789 Capital leads Polymarket’s $1B raise: Report

TradFi companies deepen tokenization push

Some of the world’s largest TradFi institutions have been exploring tokenized stock offerings.

In March, Nasdaq, the world’s second-largest stock exchange by market capitalization, partnered with Payward and its Backed subsidiary, the issuer behind xStocks, to develop an equities transformation gateway. The plan builds on Nasdaq’s tokenization proposal filed with US securities regulators in September 2025.

A week earlier, ICE invested in crypto exchange OKX to bring NYSE-listed tokenized stocks to the exchange starting from the second quarter of 2026.

In April, Deutsche Börse invested $200 million in Payward, as part of the German exchange operator’s plans to offer access to a wider array of blockchain-based securities and tokenized investment products and build on its prior partnership with Kraken. 

In January, CME Group, the largest derivatives exchange by volume, announced plans to launch crypto futures contracts tied to Cardano (ADA), Chainlink LINK and Stellar (XLM). Three months later, CME announced plans to add Avalanche AVAX and Sui SUI futures contracts starting May 4, subject to regulatory approval. 

Tokenized stocks, total value onchain, all-time chart. Source: RWA.xyz

The value of tokenized stocks increased by 15% in the past 30 days to $2.53 billion, while the number of tokenized equity holders grew by 153% to 2.45 million, according to data provider RWA.xyz. 

Magazine: What NYSE’s exploration of onchain systems means for financial markets

An affiliate of Fairshake, one of the best-known political networks tied to the U.S. crypto industry, is spending on media ahead of Tuesday’s Massachusetts primary as part of a broader push into the 2026 election cycle. According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, Protect Progress PAC—linked to Fairshake—has targeted messaging to support Representative Jake Auchincloss in his bid for reelection.

The spending and accompanying accusations are also renewing scrutiny of how crypto-aligned political groups are engaging with candidates in races that are not directly about crypto policy—while highlighting the political pressure points around legislation affecting digital assets.

Key takeaways

• FEC records show Protect Progress PAC spent just over $189,000 on media supporting Jake Auchincloss in Massachusetts’ 4th congressional district primary.
• Democratic candidate Jason Poulos alleges some of the mailers were “AI-generated slop mailers,” raising questions about messaging tactics in the race.
• Poulos asked Auchincloss to renounce the PAC’s efforts in an Aug. 16 letter, intensifying public conflict around outside influence.
• Auchincloss’ crypto-policy profile is part of the dispute, with Poulos citing Auchincloss’ voting record on a 2025 digital-asset market structure bill.
• Fairshake and affiliates remain active in 2026, with the PAC reporting substantial cash reserves ahead of fall elections.

FEC filings detail Protect Progress PAC media spending in Massachusetts

Federal Election Commission documents filed as of Tuesday indicate that Protect Progress PAC, a Fairshake affiliate, spent just over $189,000 on media in connection with Representative Jake Auchincloss’ reelection campaign in Massachusetts’ 4th congressional district.

The primary is scheduled for Tuesday, and the media buy is notable because it reflects how crypto-linked political entities continue to participate in contests where candidates may be evaluated through broader political narratives rather than directly on digital-asset policy.

Poulos accuses outside groups of AI-generated messaging

Jason Poulos, a Democratic candidate challenging Auchincloss, argues that at least part of the PAC-supported messaging was not produced in a traditional format. In a public letter dated Aug. 16, Poulos called on Auchincloss to “publicly renounce” Protect Progress’ efforts to influence both the primary and the general election.

Poulos specifically claimed some of the mailers were “AI-generated slop mailers” supporting Auchincloss ahead of the Massachusetts primary. While the FEC spending records establish the existence of the media expenditure, Poulos’ characterization focuses on the alleged nature of the materials—an accusation that highlights the rising political controversy around technology-assisted campaign content.

Crypto-policy voting record becomes part of the political argument

In his Aug. 16 letter, Poulos also raised a link between the political support and Auchincloss’ relationship to crypto industry priorities. The candidate alleged Auchincloss had received $77,500 directly from “crypto-industry sources” since 2020.

Poulos further pointed to Auchincloss’ voting behavior on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in July 2025, describing it as a market-structure bill. As framed by Poulos, that measure was not signed into law at the time and was still awaiting Senate consideration.

For investors and builders following the policy landscape, the practical significance is that crypto-aligned political groups appear to be tying campaign support—directly or indirectly—to candidates’ positions on digital-asset regulation and market structure. Whether those policy positions translate into legislative outcomes remains a key question, but political reinforcement can influence candidate incentives ahead of legislative votes.

Fairshake affiliates push into 2026 elections with sizable resources

The Protect Progress spending is part of a larger pattern of engagement by Fairshake and related groups in the 2026 midterm cycle. Earlier this year and in recent reporting, Fairshake affiliates have deployed resources across multiple congressional races.

In August, Cointelegraph reported that the PAC and its affiliates spent about $3.6 million on House and Senate races in Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming during August. At the same time, Fairshake reported having $122 million in cash on hand ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Fairshake spokesperson Geoff Vetter stated in August that the organization was “not slowing down heading into November,” adding that there were “dozens of wins” across House and Senate races and that it had $122 million ready for the fall.

Massachusetts, with its primary on Tuesday, is among the later states to hold primaries, leaving limited time for further campaign developments ahead of the general election. Other states scheduled to hold primaries in September include New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Delaware.

For readers trying to assess how crypto politics are evolving, the Massachusetts spending shows that the cycle is not limited to a small number of early contests. Instead, crypto-linked political capital appears to be extending across the calendar, with media buys and message discipline playing a prominent role.

What to watch next in the Massachusetts primary

With FEC data confirming Protect Progress PAC’s media spending and Poulos pressing Auchincloss to reject outside influence publicly, the key uncertainty now is how Auchincloss and party leaders respond to the allegations and whether the primary’s outcome changes the tone of future attacks about crypto-linked political spending. The next data point to track will be additional reporting and filings clarifying the content and spending breakdowns associated with the media campaign tied to the Fairshake affiliate.

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