Bitcoin ETFs surge, Ethereum selling pressure fades, and AI faces fresh scrutiny over power, safety and global supply chains.
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From Europe to Asia, governments are tightening regulations on crypto and AI at the same time as capital flows back into digital assets. New rules in Belarus and South Korea signal a harder regulatory edge, while corporate treasuries and institutions quietly increase their exposure to Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Market structure also took centre stage. Bitcoin ETFs recorded their strongest inflows in months, Ethereum selling pressure eased as the exit queue cleared, and China continued to scale its alternative payments rails through the mBridge CBDC project. Even fast food chains are now formalising Bitcoin reserves, underscoring how mainstream crypto usage has become.
On the AI front, energy, hardware and safety dominated headlines. US authorities challenged how AI data centres are powered, new tariffs targeted advanced Nvidia chips, and multiple countries moved to block Grok over explicit content. At the same time, billions are being committed to AI drug discovery, robotics and power infrastructure, highlighting the growing tension between innovation, regulation and resource constraints.
Get up to speed with the latest in Web3 and AI with this week’s Pasar Pulse.
Crypto and Web3
Belarus Introduces Regulatory Framework for Crypto Banks
Belarus has introduced a legal framework for crypto banks, providing direct state oversight for digital asset activities. Termed Decree Number 19, it rules that crypto banks need resident status in the country’s tech park and must maintain a dedicated register.
Google Ties App Availability to Local Regulations
Google’s latest crypto app requirements in South Korea will tie crypto apps to their VASP registration in the country to be accepted. The move may significantly restrict access to offshore crypto exchanges that don’t meet the requirements.
Polygon Cuts Workforce as it Pivots to Payments
Polygon workers are being laid off amidst Polygon Lab’s latest pivot to a payments-first strategy built around stablecoin rails. The layoff comes as Polygon announces that it’s using US$250 million to acquire Coinme and Sequence.
Bitcoin ETFs Record US$1.42 Billion in Inflows
Spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded US$1.42 billion in net inflows last week, marking their strongest performance since early October. The surge was driven by institutional long-only allocators re-entering the market as large-scale selling activity stabilised.
China’s mBridge CBDC Platform Processes Over US$55 Billion
China’s mBridge CBDC platform processed US$55.5 billion across more than 4,000 cross-border transactions. China’s digital yuan accounts for around 95% of the volume, reflecting efforts to build payment infrastructure outside dollar-based systems.
Ethereum Exit Queue Falls to Zero Amidst Strong Demand
The Ethereum staking exit queue has dropped to zero, signalling a sharp reduction in potential selling pressure. At the same time, the entry queue has grown to 2.6 million ETH, creating an estimated 45-day wait for new validators.
Steak ’n Shake Launches US$10 Million BTC Reserve
Fast food chain Steak ’n Shake purchased US$10 million worth of BTCfor its corporate treasury after reporting a 15% increase in sales linked to crypto payments. The company now directs all BTC received into a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
Coinbase, White House Clash Over CLARITY Act
Coinbase withdrew support for the CLARITY Act, prompting the White House to consider abandoning the legislation altogether. Chief executive Brian Armstrong cited what he described as unfair lobbying by banks seeking to block competition from yield-bearing stablecoins.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Court Rules xAI’s Turbines Illegal
The US’s EPA ruled that xAI’s AI data centres were acting illegally by using methane gas turbines to power the facility. The data centre had been using a local country loophole in the state of Tennessee to bring in illegal air turbines.
Trump Imposes 25% Tariffs on Nvidia Chips
President Trump announced a 25% tariff on certain Nvidia-made chips such as the H200 AI processor under a new national security order released by the White House. The action is aimed at incentivising chipmakers to produce more semiconductors in the US.
Advocacy Groups Push to Shut Down Grok
A coalition of 28 advocacy groups including women’s organisations and tech watchdogs has demanded that Google’s and Apple’s CEO to remove access to X over Grok’s production of sexualised images.
NVIDIA, Lilly Launch US$1 Billion AI Drug Discovery Lab
NVIDIA and Eli Lilly are jointly investing US$1 billion over five years to establish an AI lab in San Francisco. The facility aims to turn drug discovery into a more engineering-led process, using a “scientist-in-the-loop” model.
Malaysia, Indonesia Ban Grok Over Explicit AI Images
Malaysia and Indonesia have banned xAI’s Grok chatbot after reports that it could generate non-consensual explicit images. Experts caution that such restrictions are easily circumvented using VPNs or DNS changes.
Japan Develops NVIDIA-Powered Robots for Elderly Care
Japan’s Moonshot research programme is using NVIDIA technology to develop AIREC humanoid robots which are intended to assist the elderly with tasks like cooking, cleaning and repositioning.
Multiply Labs Uses Robotics to Cut Cell Therapy Costs
Biotech start-up Multiply Labs is automating cell therapy manufacturing with robotic systems, reducing the cost per dose. Using NVIDIA Isaac and GR00T models, the robots perform sterile production tasks to improve throughput.
Trump, US Governors Push for US$15 Billion Power Auction
The Trump administration and a group of US governors are calling for an emergency power auction to fund US$15 billion in new electricity generation for AI data centres. The Department of Energy has suggested that data centres should pay higher rates.
That’s all for this week’s Pasar Pulse. Want more insights? Stay tuned to our site or subscribe via email!
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