Bitbank

The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned Tehran-based crypto exchange BitBank and its software developer over alleged Bitcoin transfers linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. Officials said the exchange also processed some payments connected to safe-passage fees charged to tankers crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

Mirae Asset Consulting has become the largest shareholder in Korbit after taking a 97.15% stake in South Korea’s first homegrown cryptocurrency exchange. The move places Korbit inside the wider Mirae Asset Group family without changing the exchange’s operating company or disrupting customer services.

Japan’s SBI Group has acquired a majority stake in Singapore based crypto platform Coinhako, advancing a broader plan to link digital asset markets across Asia. The move sits alongside partnerships with Ondo Finance and the Solana Foundation as SBI expands into tokenization, stablecoins and blockchain settlement infrastructure.

Architect Partners says SBI’s Bitbank acquisition is a bet on regulated scale rather than near-term earnings. The deal expands SBI’s custody footprint, customer base and broader digital asset push in Japan.

SBI Holdings has agreed to acquire Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Bitbank for about $289 million, marking a major expansion of its digital asset footprint. The deal reflects the bank’s push to strengthen its crypto business as Japan weighs potential regulatory shifts.