ASIC Expands Digital Asset Rules in Major Crypto Guidance Update

Australia’s financial regulator has significantly updated its digital asset guidance, clarifying how existing financial services laws apply to cryptocurrencies and tokenized products. The revised framework introduces new custodial standards and expands classification examples while confirming that Australian law applies to offshore platforms serving local users.

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Hedera Launches HEAT to Accelerate Enterprise Blockchain Adoption

Hedera has launched the Hedera Enterprise Adoption Team (HEAT), a strategic initiative designed to accelerate enterprise adoption of its distributed ledger technology. Led by payments veteran Rob Allen, this professional services unit will help Council Members transform blockchain proofs of concept into production-ready enterprise solutions, positioning Hedera for growth amid advancing global digital asset regulations.

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VanEck Highlights Hedera’s Institutional Adoption Surge

VanEck’s report underscores Hedera (HBAR) as a leading altcoin for institutional adoption, with a 70% price jump in July attributed to partnerships and network expansion. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s Project Acacia and Archax’s settlement integration highlight Hedera’s growing legitimacy. Tokenization activity is gaining traction, with Archax creating Hedera token contracts for major asset managers like BlackRock and Fidelity. Stablecoin supply, primarily USDC, has surged on Hedera’s blockchain, reflecting strong on-chain activity. HBAR currently trades at $0.24 with a $10.3B market cap.

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Chainlink Powers Trillions in On-Chain Finance

Chainlink is playing a pivotal role in bringing traditional finance on-chain, collaborating with giants like SWIFT, Mastercard, and J.P. Morgan. Its infrastructure supports trillions in value, facilitating cross-chain settlements and tokenized assets. Key initiatives include Project Guardian in Singapore and Project Acacia in Australia, both leveraging Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and Runtime Environment (CRE) for secure transactions. With a $13B market cap and a 24% weekly surge in LINK’s price, Chainlink’s real-world utility—from AI-driven document processing to private transactions—sets it apart from competitors like Avalanche and Stellar. Financial institutions are increasingly relying on Chainlink to modernize legacy systems without overhauling them.

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Chainlink Gains RBA & Westpac Backing, LINK Price Rises

Chainlink’s involvement in Project Acacia, a joint initiative between Westpac Institutional Bank, Imperium Markets, and the RBA, marks a significant step toward institutional adoption of blockchain-based settlements. The project leverages Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol to enable secure, compliant tokenized asset settlements, potentially saving AUD 12 billion in Australian capital markets. Meanwhile, LINK’s price has rallied, breaking key resistance at $15, with analysts predicting a move toward $18.81 if support holds. The RBA’s endorsement strengthens Chainlink’s credibility, signaling long-term growth potential for the token in global finance infrastructure.

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Hedera (HBAR) Surges 14.25% with 153% Upside Potential

Hedera (HBAR) has surged 14.25% in the past 24 hours, with trading volume up nearly 60% to $875 million, driven by both retail and institutional investors. Crypto analyst Master Ananda highlights HBAR’s bullish technical structure, noting it trades above key EMAs (55, 89, 233) with five consecutive green candles, signaling strong buying momentum and a potential 153% upside. Beyond price action, Hedera’s ecosystem is expanding with Orbit, a comprehensive DeFi platform, and Salt App, a South Korean trading app enhancing HBAR accessibility in Asia. Additionally, Hedera is collaborating with the Reserve Bank of Australia on a digital currency project, further solidifying its real-world utility.

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Hedera Joins RBA’s Digital Money Project Acacia

Hedera has joined the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) in ‘Project Acacia,’ a pioneering initiative to explore digital money’s potential in Australia’s tokenized economy. The project has conditionally selected 24 use cases, including real-money transactions and proof-of-concept simulations, involving assets like private markets, carbon credits, and stablecoins. Testing will occur over the next six months, with findings published in Q1 2026. The RBA emphasizes the strategic importance of adapting payments for the digital age. Meanwhile, Hedera’s native token, HBAR, has surged 4.7% amid recent integrations, including India’s state carbon bank and the AUDD stablecoin launch on its network.

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Australia Launches 24 Tokenized Asset Pilots with Major Banks

Australia’s financial regulator, ASIC, has approved 24 tokenized asset trials under Project Acacia, a collaboration between the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC). The pilots will involve real-money transactions using CBDCs, stablecoins, and bank deposit tokens, with participation from major institutions like ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, and Westpac, alongside fintech firms. The project aims to explore blockchain-based settlements for assets like bonds, carbon credits, and trade receivables, potentially unlocking $12.4 billion in annual economic gains. Critics, however, argue the initiative favors centralized, permissioned systems over decentralized blockchain innovation. Testing will run for six months, with results expected in early 2026.

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RBA Revamps Research Strategy Post-Rate Decision

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) plans to update its research strategy to better inform future policy decisions, as revealed by Deputy Governor Andrew Hauser. This announcement comes just a day after the RBA left interest rates steady, catching investors and economists off guard. The move signals a potential shift in how the central bank assesses economic data and formulates monetary policy amid uncertain global and domestic conditions.

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Asian stocks rise as Chinese tech leads ahead of earnings reports

Most Asian stocks rose, driven by a rally in Chinese technology shares ahead of key earnings reports, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index surging 2%. Meanwhile, Australian stocks fell 0.5% following an expected interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia, which indicated uncertainty about future easing amid a strong labor market and persistent inflation.

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Wall Street Investment Bubble and Its Implications for Australia

Evidence suggests that the US stock market is in a bubble, with the S&P 500 potentially facing a significant drop in value. Analysts warn that a correction could lead to considerable pain for investors, while a deeper crash raises uncertainty about recovery. Current market exuberance may signal an imminent downturn, echoing past financial crises.

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Ripple partners with Chainlink to enhance RLUSD stablecoin pricing accuracy

Ripple has partnered with Chainlink to enhance the pricing accuracy of its RLUSD stablecoin, which is pegged to the US dollar and operates on both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchains. This collaboration aims to improve RLUSD’s utility in decentralized finance (DeFi) applications by utilizing Chainlink’s decentralized oracles for reliable, real-time pricing data.In related developments, Singapore’s OCBC Bank has introduced a blockchain solution for corporate clients to invest in fractionalized tokenized bonds, significantly lowering the minimum investment threshold and improving transaction settlement times. Global banks are increasingly exploring tokenization for financial transactions, with initiatives like Australia’s Project Acacia and Germany’s digital bond issuance.

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