China Tightens Crypto Crackdown, Targets RWA Token Issuance

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China has stepped up its crackdown on virtual currencies, banning unauthorized offshore issuance of yuan-pegged stablecoins and pledging stricter oversight of tokens backed by onshore assets, according to a notice published by the People’s Bank of China. The move reinforces Beijing’s long-standing prohibition on cryptocurrencies while drawing a clearer regulatory line around real-world asset (RWA) tokenization.

Authorities said virtual currency-related activities remain illegal financial operations and warned domestic entities—and their overseas affiliates—against issuing tokens abroad without approval. Regulators also barred both domestic and foreign firms from issuing offshore stablecoins pegged to the yuan, underscoring that such instruments effectively replicate functions of fiat currency. Financial institutions were cautioned not to provide banking or clearing services to crypto-related businesses.

While reiterating a hard line on cryptocurrencies, the notice introduces a notable distinction for RWA tokenization. Offshore issuance of tokens backed by Chinese onshore assets will be subject to strict vetting by relevant authorities, a shift some industry observers view as the beginnings of a formal legal framework. Analysts say the policy signals recognition of RWA activity—long operating in a gray area—while maintaining the central bank’s monopoly over digital money via the digital yuan.

Officials cited renewed speculative activity as justification for tighter measures. Market participants now await detailed implementation rules to determine whether regulated RWA issuance can proceed and produce viable use cases under China’s oversight.

Germany’s CDU Considers Social Media Ban for Under-16s

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Germany’s conservative Christian Democratic Union is weighing a proposal to bar children under 16 from social media, though coalition partners have signaled reluctance toward a blanket ban. The debate follows similar moves abroad after Australia introduced age-based restrictions, intensifying scrutiny of social media’s effects on young users across Europe.

Dennis Radtke, head of the CDU’s labour wing, said rapid changes in social media have outpaced media literacy, arguing that platforms amplify hate and misinformation. He welcomed the idea of adopting a minimum age, citing the need to protect children. By contrast, the Social Democrats (Social Democratic Party of Germany), the CDU’s centre-left coalition partners, cautioned against an outright prohibition, calling instead for stronger platform-led safeguards, age verification, and limits on aggressive recommendation algorithms for minors.

The issue is set to feature at the CDU’s national conference later this month, following a motion from the party’s Schleswig-Holstein branch proposing a statutory minimum age of 16 with mandatory age checks. The motion reportedly names platforms including TikTok and Meta Platforms’ Instagram and Facebook.

Germany has intensified its focus on online harms, appointing a special commission last year to assess protections for young people. Regulators say issues such as cyberbullying and hate speech are taken seriously, adding that if voluntary measures fail, stricter interventions—including bans—could be considered as a last resort.

Nvidia Supplier Wistron Says AI Boom Is Not a Bubble

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Artificial intelligence is not a speculative bubble and demand linked to the technology will continue to accelerate, according to Wistron chairman Simon Lin. Speaking in Taipei, Lin said AI-related order growth in 2026 is expected to exceed last year’s levels, reflecting what he described as a structural shift rather than a temporary surge.

Wistron, a key supplier to Nvidia, sees strong demand extending well into 2027. Lin said the company expects “significant” growth this year compared with the previous one, adding that AI is already transforming a wide range of industries and marking the beginning of a new technological era.

The company is expanding its manufacturing footprint in the United States to support Nvidia’s long-term AI ambitions. Wistron said new U.S. facilities are on track to be ready in 2026, with volume production starting in the first half of this year. Part of the capacity will support Nvidia’s plan to build up to $500 billion worth of AI servers in the U.S. over the next four years.

Nvidia previously said it would build supercomputer manufacturing plants in Texas, working with partners including Foxconn and Wistron. The comments from Wistron’s leadership underline growing confidence among AI supply-chain firms that current demand reflects long-term structural growth rather than a short-lived boom.