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Banks & Finance
Asia Crypto Weekly: Japan Bets on Bitcoin, South Korea Cracks Down on Exchanges
Asia’s crypto sector saw a mix of expansion and enforcement this week, as Japan moves to deepen its Bitcoin ecosystem while South Korea tightens oversight of exchanges
Bitcoin Approaches $74K as U.S. Inflation Data Lifts Crypto and Stocks
Positive PCE inflation data lifts risk assets, pushing Bitcoin toward a five-week high while analysts remain divided on the next price move
FBI Arrests Suspect in $46 Mln Crypto Theft Linked to U.S. Government Wallets
Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested John Daghita in Saint Martin over the alleged theft of cryptocurrency linked to the United States Marshals Service
Crypto Legislation Stalls as Banks Reject White House Compromise
Crypto companies including Coinbase support the White House compromise
Bank of England May Raise Interest Rates if Iran Conflict Drives Energy Prices Higher
Economists warn the Bank of England could reconsider planned rate cuts if oil and gas prices surge due to tensions involving Iran
Bank Lending in Uzbekistan Jumps 36% in 2025
Loans issued in the national currency were the main driver of the increase
Bank of England Could Face Weak Demand Risk as Inflation Eases, Policymaker Says
Comments from MPC member signal growing debate over rate cuts as inflation undershoots forecasts
Wahed Launches UCITS ETFs Combining Shariah Compliance with Human Rights Screening
The new actively managed funds add a values-based layer to Islamic investing in the European ETF market
Uzbekistan’s Public Debt Rises $6.6 Bn in 2025
International financial institutions remain the largest creditors
Uzbek Central Bank Adds Three Firms to Microfinance Register
Uzbekistan’s microfinance market expanded to $8.57 bn in 9M 2025
Uzbekistan Microfinance and Pawnshop Loans Reach $2.62 bn in 2025
MFOs accounted for 28.9 trln soums ($2.38 bn)
TBC Bank Group Unveils Uzbekistan Growth Strategy at New York Investor Day
The banking group outlined ambitious 2030 targets for its fast-growing digital ecosystem in Uzbekistan, highlighting rising global investor interest
Bitdeer Dumps All Bitcoin Holdings and Raises $325 Mln to Fund AI Expansion
The company said it had sold its most recent production of 189.8 Bitcoin
IDFC First Bank Shares Tumble After $65 Mln Fraud Disclosure
By late morning in Mumbai, the stock was down 15.8%
Uzbekistan Business Confidence Rises Sharply in January 2026
The improvement was driven by better assessments of current conditions
Opinions
Why WTO membership is only the beginning and what Uzbekistan must do to achieve long-term economic transformation and sustainable growth
The Head of PR for Yandex Entertainment Services in Uzbekistan analyzes how AI tools influence the work of PR
The new structure is positioned as international, but its format, powers and composition raise questions
Where demand for private credit is already taking shape in Uzbekistan and what this means for investors is explained by Anna Romanova, Credit Ratings Analyst at Finvizier Consultancies
The Uzbek delivery market is entering a phase in which B2B and B2C merge into a single hybrid logistics model. This will completely change the rules of the industry
Pavel Kaptel, head of Uzbek banks at Fitch Ratings, continues a series of publications on key features and risks of Uzbekistan's banking sector
Uzbekistan Strengthens Crypto Mining Rules as Regulatory Framework Evolves
New mining regulations and compliance requirements highlight Uzbekistan’s structured approach to cryptocurrency oversight
Uzbekistan’s Economy in 2025: Ten Insights for Investors from Freedom Broker
Strong growth, lower inflation and record bank profits highlight resilience, but structural challenges remain
Central Asia Banks to Remain Resilient in 2026 Despite Risks, S&P
Strong lending growth and solid profitability expected to support regional banking sector, with rising competition and digital risks ahead
Kazakhstan’s Otbasy Bank Eyes Uzbekistan Market
The holding is also considering expanding into Malaysia and the Middle East
MrBeast Acquires Teen-Focused Banking App Step
The acquisition price was not disclosed
Uzbekistan’s Gold and Foreign Currency Reserves Reach $75 Bn
More than $7.9bn of the total was held in foreign currency