{"id":17533,"date":"2026-02-22T11:08:54","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T11:08:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/2026\/02\/22\/digital-asset-law-changes-in-the-usa-china-and-the-uae\/"},"modified":"2026-02-22T11:08:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T11:08:54","slug":"digital-asset-law-changes-in-the-usa-china-and-the-uae","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/2026\/02\/22\/digital-asset-law-changes-in-the-usa-china-and-the-uae\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital asset law changes in the USA, China, and the UAE"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/crypto.news\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/crypto-news-Licenses-or-lawsuits-option02.webp\" \/><\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"cn-block-disclaimer\">\n<p class=\"cn-block-disclaimer__content\">\n            Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news\u2019 editorial.        <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><!-- .cn-block-disclaimer --><\/p>\n<p>In 2026, global digital asset laws are shifting from implementation to operational, with a major focus on stablecoin oversight, tokenized real-world assets, and tax compliance. Here are the key changes during February from the United States, China, and the United Arab Emirates.<\/p>\n<div id=\"cn-block-summary-block_bdef7e23d4ca0f679e9efc45b3ea88c6\" class=\"cn-block-summary\">\n<p>\n        <span class=\"tabs__item is-selected\">Summary<\/span>\n    <\/p>\n<div class=\"cn-block-summary__content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>From experimentation to enforcement: In 2026, digital asset policy is shifting from pilots to operational law with stablecoins, tokenized RWAs, and tax compliance at the center.<\/li>\n<li>U.S. pushes market structure clarity: The Clarity Act advances toward finalization, aiming to formalize CFTC oversight and solidify US\u2019 leadership in crypto infrastructure.<\/li>\n<li>Diverging global models: China tightens state control around e-CNY and bans most RWAs, while Hong Kong and the UAE expand licensing regimes and regulated stablecoin frameworks.<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!-- .cn-block-summary --><\/p>\n<p>    <!-- .cn-block-related-link --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The United States<\/h2>\n<p>In 2026, U.S. cryptocurrency legislation is entering a transformative phase focused on finalizing market structure and implementing the first major federal digital asset laws. The U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/119th-congress\/house-bill\/3633\/text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Clarity Act<\/a>, aimed at implementation in 2026, is proposed U.S. legislation designed to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets, primarily granting the Commodity Futures Trading Commission jurisdiction over most digital assets. As William Quigley, a cryptocurrency and blockchain investor and co-founder of WAX and Tether (<a href=\"https:\/\/crypto.news\/price\/tether\/\" target=\"_blank\">USDT<\/a>), explained:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cThe Clarity Act, which is expected to become law this year, aims to distinguish between commodities and securities, requiring exchanges and dealers to register with the CFTC and adhere to consumer protections.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cenlanow.com\/news\/ap-wire\/ap-top-headlines\/ap-the-latest-democrats-demand-dramatic-changes-for-ice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">called<\/a> for a \u201cspring signing\u201d of the bill, noting that the 2026 midterm elections create significant urgency to pass the legislation before the political window closes.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Current legislative status of the Clarity Act<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Body\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Version<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Status (as of Feb 16, 2026)<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>House<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>H.R. 3633<\/td>\n<td>Passed (294-134) in July 2025<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Senate Agriculture<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>DCIA (S. 3755)<\/td>\n<td>Advanced 12-11 on Jan 29, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Senate Banking<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>CLARITY Act (Senate Draft)<\/td>\n<td><strong>Stalled;<\/strong> Markup postponed since Jan 14, 2026<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>    <!-- .cn-block-related-link --><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">China<\/h2>\n<p>During February, Chinese authorities strengthened their rules on digital payments through the sovereign digital yuan (e-CNY) and controlled tokenization projects. New regulations prohibit the unauthorized issuance of yuan-pegged stablecoins (both domestically and offshore) and mandate strict vetting for tokenized real-world assets, reinforcing the dominance of the state-backed e-CNY. Key details regarding China\u2019s 2026 stablecoin regulations are as follows:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ban on unauthorized stablecoins<\/strong>: A February 6, 2026, notice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/asia-pacific\/china-vows-tighten-virtual-currency-restrictions-2026-02-06\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">issued<\/a> by eight government agencies reiterated that all virtual currency activities are illegal, specifically targeting stablecoins that replicate sovereign money. Yifan He, the founder and CEO of Red Data Tech, explained:\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cI think the most significant aspect is that the authorities removed stablecoin from the definition of cryptocurrencies. If you compare these two to the one from last November, stablecoin is no longer mentioned alongside cryptocurrencies and RWAs. The only mention is to state that \u2018stablecoin pegged with fiat functions partially as money\u2019. This is a huge policy shift regarding stablecoin. This might mean greenlighting Chinese banks in Hong Kong to apply for the HK stablecoin license.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>No yuan-pegged stablecoins<\/strong>: The new regulations ban any entity (including foreign ones) from issuing stablecoins pegged to the renminbi (RMB) offshore without explicit approval.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Offshore restrictions<\/strong>: Domestic Chinese entities and their subsidiaries are strictly prohibited from issuing virtual currencies or conducting RWA tokenization outside China without consent. As Yifan added:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cHelping illegal crypto business from inside China (even for projects outside China), including promotion, IT development, and advisory, will face severe criminal punishment. This goes next level.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>RWA tokenization rules<\/strong>: While some market participants see potential for a regulatory framework for tokenized, real-world assets (RWA), the 2026 rules <a href=\"https:\/\/crypto.news\/china-formalizes-sweeping-ban-on-crypto-trading-and-rwa-tokenization\/\">impose strict oversight<\/a> on this sector, requiring approval for any RWA tokenization, especially if it involves onshore assets. As Yifan He explained:\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cIn the circulars, RWAs are totally banned. In the past two days, many people from the RWA industry have tried to confuse people with RWA and \u2018tokenized security\u2019 and claim that the Chinese government officially gives a clear path to legalize RWAs. It is not. The path is now a total ban.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Nevertheless, \u201cit gives a clear path for \u2018tokenized securities.\u2019 This is the bright side of the circulars. But because it is about \u2018securities,\u2019 the issuance and trading must go through licensed entities. I don\u2019t think this brings any opportunities to the market, tech companies, or crypto companies. This will be a new business for existing underwriters and stock exchanges. The IPOs and fundraising won\u2019t be any easier. Especially, one major required step is that the owners of the assets to be \u2018tokenized\u2019 must receive approval from CSRC, literally exactly the same procedures as for Chinese companies to be listed in foreign stock markets,\u201d pointed out Yifan.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Separation from Hong Kong<\/strong>: While mainland China maintains a strict ban, Hong Kong continues to pursue a separate, cautious pilot program for regulated, licensed stablecoin issuance, though this is expected to be under tight supervision.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Hong Kong is currently implementing a comprehensive multi-layered regulatory <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hk-lawyer.org\/content\/hong-kong%E2%80%99s-comprehensive-framework-regulated-virtual-asset-trading-and-financial-crime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">framework<\/a> for digital assets, with several significant legislative milestones scheduled for 2026. The government aims to solidify the city\u2019s position as a global digital asset hub by expanding licensing requirements to nearly all types of crypto service providers and aligning tax transparency with international standards.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>For 2026, Hong Kong has prioritized the regulation of previously \u201cover-the-counter\u201d (OTC) and advisory services:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>New licensing bill<\/strong>: Regulators plan to submit a bill to the Legislative Council in 2026 to establish licensing regimes for four new categories: Virtual Asset (VA) Dealing (including OTC desks), VA Custodians, VA Advisory Services, and VA Asset Management.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stablecoin licenses<\/strong>: Following the passage of the Stablecoins Ordinance in 2025, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is expected to issue the first batch of official stablecoin licenses in the first quarter of 2026.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Banking standards<\/strong>: Effective January 1, 2026, Hong Kong will fully implement the Basel Committee standards for crypto assets, governing how banks manage capital requirements and credit risks when dealing with digital assets.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tax exemptions<\/strong>: Hong Kong is shifting toward high transparency for tax compliance while maintaining its competitive \u201cno capital gains\u201d environment.\u00a0 The government plans to submit a bill in 2026 to formally expand tax exemptions for funds and family offices to include \u201cdigital assets,\u201d essentially promising a 0% tax rate on crypto profits for these qualifying institutional investors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>CARF implementation<\/strong>: Legislation to implement the OECD\u2019s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) is slated for completion in 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The United Arab Emirates<\/h2>\n<p>As of February 2026, the UAE has strengthened its crypto regulatory framework, with the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dfsa.ae\/news\/dfsa-issues-updated-rules-regulation-crypto-tokens-difc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">updating<\/a> its rules on 12 January 2026 to shift token suitability assessments from the regulator to authorized firms. The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theasianbanker.com\/press-releases\/cbuae-approves-uae-dirham-backed-stablecoin-ddsc-for-operational-launch\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">approved<\/a> a dirham-backed stablecoin for institutional use on February 13, 2026. The new rules aim to increase market flexibility while ensuring high standards of integrity for digital asset service providers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>DIFC Updates (DFSA)<\/strong>: Effective January 12, 2026, the DFSA eliminated the \u201cRecognized Crypto Tokens\u201d list, requiring firms to conduct their own due diligence, assessment, and monitoring of tokens before listing.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stablecoin regulation<\/strong>: The CBUAE approved the launch of a Dirham-backed stablecoin (DDSC) on the ADI Chain for institutional, payment, and settlement use cases as of 13 February 2026.\u00a0 Erhan Kahraman, Former Chief Editor of Cointelegraph Turkey, said:\u00a0<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cI don\u2019t see any major impact on the use of stablecoins in the MENA region, simply because here, it\u2019s used more as a \u2018survival tool\u2019 rather than a trading asset. I know that for the Western Hemisphere, stablecoins are the main tool for on- and off-ramping cryptocurrencies (i.e., you first buy USDT and then use it for trading). In contrast, people in MENA use stablecoins as a gateway to a) cross-border payments\/remittances and b) to join the global job market as individuals.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>He continued: \u201cImagine this: a freelancer needs to provide multiple legal documents, such as a \u2018Bank Confirmation Letter,\u2019 only to start working for a foreign company (to receive USD or Euro). This is incredibly difficult to provide for underbanked or unbanked populations found in the MENA region. Stablecoins eliminate that barrier. When you find a job that pays in USDT, all they ever ask you about your financial situation is your crypto wallet address. I believe that is making a huge difference for the underbanked population.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Investor protection<\/strong>: Retail client protections remain strict, with mandatory appropriateness assessments and a ban on certain marketing practices.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Taxation 2026<\/strong>: Crypto activity generating income is subject to corporate tax, while transfers of crypto are generally exempt from VAT, and mining rewards are treated as taxable income.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Compliance and licensing<\/strong>: UAE regulators are heavily focused on institutional-grade compliance and preventing financial crime, emphasizing robust governance for licensing, according to reports from 16 February 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>    <!-- .cn-block-related-link --><\/p><\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/crypto.news\/digital-asset-law-changes-in-the-usa-china-and-the-uae\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news\u2019 editorial. In 2026, global digital asset laws are shifting from implementation to operational, with a major focus on stablecoin oversight, tokenized real-world assets, and tax compliance. Here are the key changes during February [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":17534,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"kronos_expire_date":[],"class_list":["post-17533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crypto"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17533"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17533\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17534"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17533"},{"taxonomy":"kronos_expire_date","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cryptoted.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kronos_expire_date?post=17533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}