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Hong Kong’s HashKey to Launch $500M Digital Treasury Fund

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HashKey Group, Hong Kong’s leading licensed crypto exchange and digital asset manager, announced plans to launch a $500 million Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) fund, joining the wave of firms adopting bitcoin-style treasury strategies pioneered by U.S. software firm MicroStrategy (MSTR.O).

MicroStrategy, which began stockpiling bitcoin in 2020, now holds more than $63 billion in crypto, inspiring “copycats” worldwide. Collectively, such treasury adopters have amassed nearly 100,000 bitcoin, according to Standard Chartered.

HashKey said the fund will create a diversified DAT portfolio, initially focused on the Bitcoin and Ethereum ecosystems, with the goal of advancing crypto asset standardization and fostering a sustainable Web3 infrastructure.

“The strategy is not just a U.S. phenomenon — it’s spreading across Hong Kong, Japan, and other equity markets,” Binance founder Changpeng Zhao said at a recent Hong Kong bitcoin conference, noting how DAT adoption is gaining traction in Asia.

Founded in 2018, HashKey Group offers services spanning asset management, brokerage, tokenization, and runs Hong Kong’s largest licensed crypto exchange. By leveraging its global footprint, HashKey said it plans to both initiate and invest in leading DAT projects, accelerating institutional-grade adoption of blockchain technologies.

Trump Family in Talks for Stake in Binance’s US Arm, WSJ Reports

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Representatives of President Donald Trump’s family have engaged in talks regarding a potential financial stake in the U.S. arm of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, according to a Wall Street Journal report released Thursday. The report also suggested that Binance’s founder, Changpeng Zhao, has been advocating for a pardon from the Trump administration.

In November 2023, Zhao resigned as CEO of Binance and pled guilty to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws, following a $4.3 billion settlement that resolved a prolonged investigation into the company’s operations. The move marked a significant step for the exchange as it looked to resolve its legal challenges.

According to the Journal, Binance representatives reached out to Trump allies in late 2023 to discuss a potential business arrangement aimed at bringing the crypto giant back to the U.S. However, details about the nature of the potential deal or whether it would be tied to the granting of a pardon remain unclear.

The Trump family has shown a growing interest in the cryptocurrency sector, with cryptocurrency meme coins launched by its members and former President Trump himself holding a stake in World Liberty Financial, a crypto platform. Trump’s recent executive order, which establishes a strategic reserve of cryptocurrencies from government-owned tokens, has sparked controversy due to potential conflict-of-interest concerns, especially as the crypto industry has heavily supported Trump and other Republican candidates financially.

Both Binance and representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Abu Dhabi-Backed MGX Group Makes $2 Billion Investment in Binance

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The Abu Dhabi-backed investment group MGX has made a $2 billion cryptocurrency investment in Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, marking one of the largest institutional investments in the crypto industry to date. The deal, announced on Wednesday, will see MGX become a minority shareholder in Binance, with the investment made in stablecoin – a type of cryptocurrency tied to a fiat currency such as the dollar.

This marks Binance’s first institutional investment, although the exact stablecoin used and the size of MGX’s stake have not been disclosed by either party. Binance’s spokesperson also declined to comment on the governance rights associated with the deal.

Founded in 2017 in China by Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Binance quickly grew into the largest crypto exchange globally, largely due to skyrocketing demand for bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. However, the company and Zhao faced significant legal challenges, including a guilty plea to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws and spending time in jail last year.

Since Richard Teng succeeded Zhao as Binance’s head, the company has been strengthening its connections with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with Binance employing around 1,000 of its 5,000 global staff in the UAE. This investment deepens ties between Binance and the UAE, as the nation aims to become a global hub for digital assets, including cryptocurrencies.

MGX, established a year ago, is focused on advancing AI and blockchain technologies through strategic partnerships. In addition to its investment in Binance, MGX has also backed OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI. The firm is chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser, and is backed by Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala wealth fund.

The investment comes amid a crypto industry revival, following the collapses and scandals in 2022, and a surge in bitcoin’s value. MGX’s involvement in Binance signals growing interest in blockchain’s transformative potential for digital finance, according to Ahmed Yahia, MGX’s CEO.

Teng also emphasized that this partnership would help shape the future of digital finance, signaling a significant step forward for both Binance and the global crypto industry.