News Roundup — Hong Kong regulator adds Victory Fintech to list of approved trading platforms

Major news stories this week;

1. Hong Kong regulator adds Victory Fintech to list of approved trading platforms
2. TradFi giant Apollo enters crypto lending arena via Morpho deal
3. OKX secures EU payment license to expand stablecoin services
4. Tether quietly stacked 27 tons of gold, now it’s wiring $150M to sell it to crypto users
5. White House Executive Director: Trillions Are Waiting To Enter Bitcoin And Crypto, Working Hard on Market Structure Bill

Story Summaries;

1. Hong Kong regulator adds Victory Fintech to list of approved trading platforms Hong Kong’s SFC has granted Victory Fintech a place on its approved trading platform register, signalling continued momentum in the city’s licensing regime. The decision reinforces Hong Kong’s positioning as a regulated digital-asset hub and may encourage other exchanges to pursue compliance-led entry.
2. TradFi giant Apollo enters crypto lending arena via Morpho deal Apollo Global Management is expanding its digital-asset strategy through a partnership with DeFi lender Morpho, bringing a major institutional name into on-chain credit infrastructure. The arrangement includes the option for a sizable MORPHO token position, underlining increasing institutional appetite for crypto-native lending rails.
3. OKX secures EU payment license to expand stablecoin services OKX has secured a payment institution licence in Malta, providing a regulated foundation to roll out stablecoin-based payment products across EU markets. The approval supports the expansion of offerings such as OKX Pay and the OKX Card, reflecting a broader shift toward compliance-first crypto payments in Europe.
4. Tether quietly stacked 27 tons of gold, now it’s wiring $150M to sell it to crypto users Tether has taken a strategic stake in Gold.com, aiming to strengthen distribution for its tokenized gold product and broaden access to physical bullion via crypto on-ramps. While the move taps rising demand for hard-asset exposure, it also puts renewed focus on how tokenized commodities handle custody, ownership rights, and redemption mechanics at scale.
5. White House Executive Director: Trillions Are Waiting To Enter Bitcoin And Crypto, Working Hard on Market Structure Bill A senior White House digital-assets official pointed to ongoing work on U.S. market-structure legislation designed to clarify oversight and encourage larger institutional participation. With the House-passed proposal now in the Senate’s hands, the administration is emphasising clearer roles for regulators and more workable pathways for banks and crypto firms to operate together.

And that’s all for last week’s news! Wishing you a great week ahead!