Japan Holds Rates, China Crypto Crime in Korea and More

Welcome to the Asia Pacific Morning Brief—your essential digest of overnight crypto developments shaping regional markets and global sentiment. Grab a green tea and watch this space.

Japan maintains a steady monetary policy amid trade uncertainties. Korean court sentences Chinese scam money launderer using USDT. Trump’s crypto report briefly mentions the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve framework despite campaign promises.

Japan Also Likely to Maintain Current Interest Rates

The Bank of Japan convenes Thursday for its second policy meeting day. Governor Ueda and eight board members will likely keep borrowing costs steady, marking the fourth consecutive gathering without rate adjustments since January.

Recent US-Japan tariff negotiations concluded successfully, reducing some market uncertainty. However, central bank officials demand more comprehensive data on corporate impacts. Many policymakers insist on thorough analysis before considering changes.

The BOJ releases economic projections extending through fiscal 2027 on Thursday. Rising rice costs and persistent inflation will shape growth estimates.

Japan’s cautious approach mirrors Federal Reserve decisions made Wednesday evening. US officials maintained rates between 4.25-4.50 percent unchanged. Both central banks prioritize economic stability over immediate policy responses amid global trade uncertainties.

Korean Court Sentences Chinese Investment Scam Money Launderer

The Korean Court sentenced a man to three years’ imprisonment for laundering Chinese investment fraud proceeds through USDT stablecoins. Korean local media reported that the defendant operated as a “washing agent” from December 2023, converting criminal proceeds into cryptocurrency through his home office.

The man collaborated with Chinese investment scam organizations, transferring funds to third-party accounts before converting to cash and delivering to USDT sellers. He laundered 650 million won, $467,861, worth of fraud money between January and March 2024, earning approximately 120 million won, $86,374, in commissions.

The court applied both money laundering and fraud charges, treating him as an investment scam co-conspirator rather than merely an accomplice. The judge noted the defendant maintained close relationships with Chinese crime organization leaders, recruiting other money launderers and providing criminal infrastructure.

White House Crypto Report Briefly Addresses Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

President Trump’s digital asset policy report dedicates just one page to his Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The single-page section appears in a 166-page comprehensive study released Thursday. Trump repeatedly promised detailed reserve coverage throughout his presidential campaign.

The brief framework outlines Treasury Department administration using forfeited government Bitcoin exclusively. Holdings will generally avoid sales, maintained as strategic reserve assets. However, the report omits specific plans for additional Bitcoin purchases.

Bloomberg reports administration officials will provide more details soon. Top crypto adviser Bo Hines promised “people will be very pleased” with forthcoming plans while the Treasury works on infrastructure setup.

Shigeki Mori contributed.