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Vietnam Targets Mid-January Launch for Pilot Crypto Exchange Licenses

Vietnam has set a mid-January timeline to approve its first pilot cryptocurrency exchanges, marking a shift toward controlled market testing. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh instructed regulators to complete approvals by Jan. 15, 2026, under a sandbox model that allows crypto trading while limiting systemic risks. The move places digital assets on a formal policy track after years of legal uncertainty. The decision followed a Jan. 6, 2026 national finance-sector conference, where the government outlined priorities for the year ahead. Among them, pilot crypto exchanges ranked as a key task. Officials framed the initiative as a way to observe market behavior, improve oversight tools, and prepare for broader regulation if results remain stable. Vietnam’s crypto market already ranks among the most active in Southeast Asia by user adoption. However, until now, trading largely occurred through offshore platforms. By opening a domestic pilot, authorities aim to bring activity onshore, improve transparency, and reduce risks linked to capital flight and fraud. Strict Entry Rules Define the Pilot Phase Regulators designed the pilot to start with a limited number of participants. Only five companies are expected to receive initial approval. Each applicant must meet a minimum charter capital of VND10 trillion, signaling that the government wants well-capitalized operators with long-term capacity. Ownership rules further narrow eligibility. At least 65% of shares must be held by institutional investors, with a minimum 35% split between two qualifying institutions such as banks, securities firms, insurers, fund managers, or technology companies. These institutions must show two consecutive profitable years and clean audit records. Technical and security standards also play a central role. Approved exchanges must comply with Level 4 IT safety requirements, close to the highest national benchmark. This condition reflects concerns over hacks and data breaches that have affected regional crypto platforms in recent years. Oversight Structure and Regional Context Vietnam assigned oversight across multiple agencies. The Ministry of Finance will supervise exchange operations, while the State Bank of Vietnam will track capital flows and anti-money-laundering controls. At the same time, the Ministry of Public Security will handle enforcement related to cybercrime and market abuse. The pilot aligns with broader legal changes that took effect at the start of 2026, expanding the regulatory base for digital technologies. Officials see the exchange trial as a testing ground rather than full legalization, allowing authorities to adjust rules before scaling. Across Asia, Vietnam’s approach mirrors steps taken by jurisdictions such as Singapore and Hong Kong, which also launched sandbox regimes before issuing broader crypto licenses. By following a phased model, Vietnam positions itself to balance innovation with financial stability while keeping tight control over early market development. The Crypto Basic

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XRP Sees Surge in $100K+ Transactions: What Does it Mean for Ripple’s Price?

XRP’s on-chain activity took a sudden turn early this week as large-value transfers on the XRP Ledger jumped to a three-month high, according to new data from Santiment. The rise in $100,000-plus transactions points to growing involvement from large holders at a time when the Ripple token’s price is pulling back, setting the stage for wider price movement in the days ahead. Whale Activity Jumps as Exchange Balances Keep Falling Santiment said on January 8 that whale-sized XRP transfers climbed from 2,170 on Monday to 2,802 the following day, the highest daily count since October. The analytics firm warned that price movement is likely to be more erratic than usual when large holders become this active. That behavior stands out because it contrasts with what is happening on exchanges. Separate data shared by CryptoQuant contributor CryptoOnchain showed XRP reserves on Binance falling to about 2.6 billion tokens, the lowest level since January 2024. Since late 2025, balances on the exchange have dropped from roughly 3.25 billion XRP, a shift often linked to holders moving coins into self-custody rather than preparing to sell. Meanwhile, Arab Chain added another layer to the picture, with the platform’s analysts pointing out that whale flows to Binance have been trending lower since mid-December 2025, after peaking above 70% of total inflows in November and early December. Whales now make up about 60% of XRP deposits to the exchange, while retail participation has stayed fairly steady. Historically, according to the analysts, fewer whale deposits suggest less immediate selling interest from large players. The data has come at a time when XRP is becoming a major talking point in broader markets. On January 6, CNBC’s Power Lunch called it the “hottest crypto trade” of 2026, pointing to heavy interest from investors seeking bigger percentage moves than Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH) after strong ETF inflows late last year. Price Action Cools, But Larger Trend Still Intact At the markets, XRP was trading around $2.13 at the time of this writing, after a 6% drop in the past 24 hours, according to CoinGecko data. The token briefly touched the upper end of its weekly range around $2.40 earlier this week before sellers pushed it lower, in line with a softer session across the wider crypto market. Zooming out, XRP is still up about 16% in the last seven days and nearly 14% over the past two weeks. Monthly gains sit just above 3%, while the yearly figure remains slightly negative. Analysts are watching key support near $2.27, with a sustained hold above that level viewed as critical for maintaining bullish momentum. Some chartists point to a bullish setup on the XRP/BTC pairing not seen since 2018, suggesting a potential shift in relative strength. For now, rising whale transfers paired with falling exchange balances suggest positioning rather than panic, even as short-term price swings remain likely. The post XRP Sees Surge in $100K+ Transactions: What Does it Mean for Ripple’s Price? appeared first on CryptoPotato . The Crypto Basic