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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. U.Today

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XRP Outlook 2026: XRPL Upgrades Expand Utility and Demand

The XRP Ledger enters 2026 with a clear development roadmap centered on expanding functionality beyond payments. A series of planned protocol upgrades aims to strengthen XRPL’s position in privacy, decentralized finance, and cross-chain interoperability, potentially increasing long-term demand for XRP as a settlement asset. Powered by Outset PR , this analysis reflects the agency’s commitment to strategic, data-backed communication for the crypto industry. Five Major XRPL Upgrades Planned for 2026 XRPL is slated to roll out five significant upgrades in 2026. These updates focus on three core areas: enhanced privacy features, native DeFi lending capabilities, and interoperability through zero-knowledge proof integrations. Privacy enhancements are designed to support confidential transactions while maintaining compliance-friendly transparency. This approach targets institutional and enterprise use cases that require discretion without sacrificing auditability. At the same time, the introduction of DeFi lending protocols would expand XRPL’s on-chain utility, allowing users to lend, borrow, and manage liquidity directly on the network rather than relying on external platforms. Zero-knowledge proof interoperability further broadens XRPL’s scope by enabling more efficient cross-chain communication and private data verification, improving the network’s appeal to developers building complex financial applications. Implications for XRP Demand As XRPL’s functionality expands, XRP’s role as a settlement and liquidity asset becomes more central. Increased activity across privacy-focused transactions, DeFi lending, and cross-chain operations would require XRP for fees, liquidity provisioning, and settlement. If developer adoption accelerates, demand for XRP would be driven less by speculative trading and more by usage-based activity. This shift could support a more stable demand profile over time, particularly if institutional participation grows. Presenting Yourself Without Overspending: How Outset PR Optimizes PR Budgets and Delivers Tangible Results The purpose of any PR campaign is to boost brand visibility. Traditionally, this has meant securing as many publications as possible, often with unpredictable outcomes. It was difficult to know how many readers would actually see a story, leaving much of PR to guesswork. Actually, it had been guesswork until analysts of Outset PR developed Syndication Map —a proprietary tool that identifies which outlets attract the most traffic and where a story is likely to achieve the strongest syndication lift. Senior Media Analyst Maximilian Fondé explains: If a company needs a top list article, we filter the table for media that publish this format, cross-check costs and placement conditions, and know within minutes which outlets to pitch. Over time, that builds into a comprehensive database of crypto-friendly publishers – something other players in the industry don`t have right now. Smarter Campaigns, Lower Costs Campaigns built with Syndication Map are not about mass reach for its own sake. They are carefully crafted to serve specific goals. By narrowing the focus to the most effective outlets, Outset PR reduces unnecessary spending on low-impact publications. Another key factor is communication. Outset PR’s dedicated Media Relations team, led by Anastasia Anisimova , has earned the trust of leading outlets through professionalism and genuine relationships. Sincerity and friendliness are our core principles, earning us the trust of numerous media outlets. Unfortunately, not all agencies in our industry prioritize friendliness in their communications. Extended Reach Through Syndication Outset PR campaigns also achieve more visibility than clients initially pay for. Articles are frequently republished across aggregators and platforms such as CoinMarketCap and Binance Square, extending exposure far beyond the original placement. Well-placed articles can achieve up to ten times the outreach of the original post. The case of StealthEX demonstrates this effect clearly: targeted tier-1 pitching led to 92 republications across outlets including CoinMarketCap, Binance Square, and Yahoo Finance, generating a total outreach of over 3 billion. Outset PR Sets a New Standard Pitching to a major outlet still has value, but syndication often delivers far greater reach at a lower cost. Outset PR has mastered this strategy, combining proprietary tools, strong media relations, and syndication opportunities to deliver results backed by numbers. Outlook XRPL’s planned 2026 upgrades mark a strategic expansion of the network’s capabilities. Enhanced privacy, DeFi lending tools, and zero-knowledge interoperability could attract a wider range of developers and institutional users, reinforcing XRP’s role as a settlement asset. However, long-term price performance will depend on execution, real-world adoption, and regulatory outcomes. XRPL’s roadmap provides a solid technical foundation, but sustained demand for XRP will ultimately hinge on usage rather than potential alone. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, investment, financial, or professional advice. U.Today