2026-01-07 01:07:38

Virtual asset over-the-counter (OTC) merchants are now officially required to hold licenses to operate. This regulatory upgrade exceeds expectations — it’s not just about standardizing trading platforms; from OTC exchanges, investment advice, to asset management services, the entire cryptocurrency industry chain has been incorporated into a unified regulatory framework.

What does this mean? The previously gray-area OTC trading models will be thoroughly regulated. Merchants need to be licensed, business processes must be transparent, and customer funds are protected. In other words, regulation is paving the way for large capital inflows — institutional investors and high-net-worth clients have the highest compliance requirements. With this comprehensive regulatory system in place, they can confidently invest real money.

The maturity of the virtual asset market depends on this institutionalization process. From retail markets to institutional competition, the improvement of the regulatory framework is an essential step.

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MetaNomad

· 01-10 01:04

Get certified and start working, basically it's about pushing retail investors out. The gray areas are gone, small businesses will have to die off. Institutions are entering to roll out the red carpet, and we're just waiting to be harvested like chives. This round of regulation seems protective, but in reality, it's just consolidating power. Had I known earlier, I would have taken the chance to make quick money in the chaos. Now that everything is regulated, there's no opportunity anymore.

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ForkTrooper

· 01-09 20:09

The gray area is finally clearing out, now big institutions will dare to step in seriously. Institutional entry is a bullish signal; getting licensed and regulated should have been like this all along. Confident about this wave; only when the official forces arrive do retail investors have a chance. Another round of reshuffling; small businesses need to understand the new rules. This framework seems strict, but in fact, it is laying out the red carpet for institutions. Compliance costs are higher, but is the genuine market trust gained worth it? In plain terms, it's the prelude to big fish eating small fish.

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TokenomicsDetective

· 01-08 03:58

The gray area is completely gone, and retail investors' good days are gone with it. Licensed merchants will face higher costs, and transaction fees will definitely increase. At that point, it will be the era of institutions. I've long suspected this would happen; regulation is just paving the way for big capital.

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BasementAlchemist

· 01-07 01:36

Licensed? Sounds like they are really going to crack down on those gray transactions. The influx of institutional funds is about to ignite the fire. Retail investors' golden era is really coming to an end; it will be a game for the big players from now on. Why does it feel like every time regulators are paving the red carpet for institutions? Once this framework is perfected, small businesses will probably have a harder time surviving. Compliance is indeed good, but I worry that high thresholds will make it impossible for small and retail investors to participate. Honestly, there's no problem with regulation itself; I just fear it being used as a shield to cut the leeks. Can genuine fund security be guaranteed this time, or will they just find another way to cut?

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BlockchainFries

· 01-07 01:31

The gray area has been cleaned up; now it depends on who can truly survive. Getting licensed sounds compliant, but the real winners are the major institutional players. Finally, no more worries about OTC counterparties running away, although transaction fees will definitely increase.

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LuckyHashValue

· 01-07 01:20

The gray area should also be regulated; only then will big players dare to enter the market.

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RegenRestorer

· 01-07 01:19

The gray area is gone, and now retail investors' advantages are also gone. --- Having a licensed operation is good; at least you don't have to worry about being cut for profit. --- Is institutional entry paving the way? Basically, they want to take over from us. --- Finally, someone is regulating OTC; those previous merchants were really outrageous. --- Improving the regulatory framework is a good thing, but transaction fees will definitely increase; there's no avoiding it. --- Large capital inflows sound good, but do we small retail investors still have a chance? --- The licensing system is coming; finding a reliable OTC merchant will be even more difficult in the future. --- Clear compliance indeed can protect fund safety; this must be acknowledged. --- From gray to white, virtual assets are finally maturing. --- The era of institutionalized competition is coming; the era of retail investors is really coming to an end.

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RadioShackKnight

· 01-07 01:14

The gray area is gone, retail investors will be squeezed again.

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LiquidityNinja

· 01-07 01:09

The gray area is truly gone now, and institutions can finally come in and play. Having a license to operate is a good thing, but it feels like the era of small retail investors is coming to an end. This wave of regulation is actually paving a red carpet for large funds, and retail investors are being automatically marginalized. As compliance costs rise, how will small and medium-sized businesses survive? I'm optimistic about the long term, but in the short term, there will definitely be another wave of market cleansing. With the gray space in OTC closed, where will liquidity go? A完善监管框架=大户进场=零售韭菜继续割，这个逻辑没毛病啊。

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The U.S. crypto market has witnessed a significant internal rift as of late January 2026, with industry giants Ripple and Coinbase taking opposing stances on the newly amended CLARITY Act.

Trending Topics

GoldBreaksAbove$5,200

ContentMiningRevampPublicBeta

MiddleEastTensionsEscalate

GameFiSeesaStrongRebound

FedRateDecisionApproaches

Hot Gate Fun

马上有钱

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Long

龙马精神

狼王格林

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TRUMP

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Pin

𝙏𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙒𝘼𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 $21𝘽 𝙞𝙣 𝙏𝙑𝙇. - Long-term forecasts vary — $2–4T by McKinsey, up to $16T per Boston Consulting Group, but directionally, the slope is clear. © Cryptorank

The U.S. crypto market has witnessed a significant internal rift as of late January 2026, with industry giants Ripple and Coinbase taking opposing stances on the newly amended CLARITY Act.

𝙏𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙙 𝙍𝙒𝘼𝙨 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 $21𝘽 𝙞𝙣 𝙏𝙑𝙇.
-
Long-term forecasts vary — $2–4T by McKinsey, up to $16T per Boston Consulting Group, but directionally, the slope is clear.
© Cryptorank