The Asian Bankers Association (ABA) and Fintelekt Advisory Services, an ABA Knowledge Partner, jointly hosted a very successful webinar entitled “2025 Crypto Review” on 6 February 2026. The webinar gathered 630 registrants from 39 countries.
Hereunder is a summary report on the webinar for your reference:
Key Takeaways
During the webinar, Arpita Bedekar, Chief Operating Officer at Fintelekt, conversed with Calvin Koo, Crypto Expert and Cross-Border Disputes and Investigations Lawyer at Kobre & Kim LLP, on recent developments in the crypto space, including increased regulation and evolving legal frameworks worldwide in 2025.
At the outset, Calvin discussed the global rise in crypto regulations and the growing institutional participation in the market, noting that traditional financial institutions are becoming increasingly integrated into the sector. In light of recent market volatility, he outlined two possible interpretations: an optimistic view that the industry may shift focus from short-term price fluctuations, including those of Bitcoin, toward the long-term maturation of blockchain technology; and a more cautious view that the downturn could signal a renewed crypto winter. He also questioned whether deeper integration with traditional finance could amplify broader market impacts, concluding that the overall outcome remains uncertain and warrants close monitoring.
Among the points he raised were the following:
- The U.S. regulatory approach toward crypto shifted significantly in 2025, moving away from enforcement-driven actions toward clearer policies, improving industry confidence and encouraging institutional participation.
- Despite market volatility and a decline in crypto prices after early gains, adoption continued to grow particularly in stablecoins, indicating that the industry is maturing beyond speculative trading.
- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reduced most non-fraud enforcement actions against major exchanges and intermediaries, signalling a more collaborative regulatory environment.
- The GENIUS Act strengthened stablecoin governance, while the Clarity Act was stalled due to tensions between crypto exchanges and traditional banks over deposit-like services.
- Stablecoins are being increasingly used for cross-border payments due to faster settlement and lower costs; however, they raise significant concerns related to financial crime, money laundering, and sanctions evasion.
- Regulators globally are strengthening AML and compliance frameworks, and cross-border cooperation among law enforcement agencies is improving.
- The integration of AI into crypto markets will likely introduce both heightened risks such as amplified volatility and potential systemic disruptions and significant opportunities for innovation. As crypto markets become more interconnected with traditional finance, any AI-driven shocks could have broader spillover effects.
- Stablecoin regulation now emphasizes strong reserve backing, regular audits, executive accountability, and local regulatory presence to enhance consumer protection.
- Emerging markets and developing jurisdictions are prioritizing the regulation of centralized exchanges and stablecoins to safeguard retail investors and promote sustainable industry growth.
Looking forward, Calvin emphasized that the industry would need to ensure proper oversight, accountability, and bias mitigation as these technologies evolve. How effectively crypto and AI will complement each other will shape the next phase of market development.
Regulators will prioritize exchanges and stablecoins while seeking to balance consumer protection, innovation, cross-border cooperation, and evolving compliance challenges as the industry moves into 2026.
A recording of the webinar is available at the ABA YouTube channel and may be accessed below.
