1. Polygon lays off nearly 30% of staff, advancing business transformation centered on stablecoin payments
#Polygon recently conducted an internal round of layoffs, cutting approximately 30% of its workforce, although the company has not yet officially confirmed this. Reports indicate the layoffs come amid a broader business restructuring, as Polygon has recently pivoted toward a strategic focus on stablecoin-based payments and completed acquisitions of Coinme and Sequence.
Meanwhile, some employees and ecosystem members related to Polygon have disclosed their departures and team changes on social platforms. Polygon Labs has not responded to requests for comment at this time.
2. State Taxation Administration urges residents to self-check and report overseas income from 2022–2024
According to relevant departments of the State Taxation Administration, tax authorities continue to strengthen outreach and guidance on individual residents’ tax obligations for overseas income. Since last year, taxpayers have been reminded to review their foreign-sourced income earned between 2022 and 2024. Under laws and regulations such as the Tax Collection and Administration Law, if a taxpayer fails to file returns or underpays taxes due to non-compliance or calculation errors, the tax authority may recover taxes and late fees within three years; cases constituting tax evasion will be handled in accordance with the law.
Paying individual income tax on income earned both domestically and abroad is a globally accepted practice, which helps prevent cross-border tax avoidance and safeguard national tax interests. The tax authority reminds taxpayers that fulfilling tax obligations is a civic duty. Individuals who discover they previously failed to declare foreign income as required should promptly correct and file supplementary returns.
3. Belarus President Lukashenko signs decree formally introducing "crypto bank" system
Belarusian President Lukashenko signed a decree in January 2026 formally establishing the "crypto bank" regime, allowing qualified institutions to offer token-related financial services while conducting traditional banking and payment operations.
Under the decree, crypto banks must be resident enterprises of the High-Tech Park (HTP) and be included in the crypto bank registry maintained by the National Bank of Belarus. They will also be subject to dual oversight from financial regulators and the HTP administration.
4. Moldova plans to introduce cryptocurrency regulations in 2026
Moldovan Finance Minister Andrian Gavriliță announced that a cryptocurrency regulatory framework will be implemented in 2026, covering rules for holding, trading, and exchanging digital assets. As an EU candidate country, Moldova cannot ban cryptocurrencies but must regulate them in fulfillment of its commitments.
The new law prohibits using cryptocurrencies as payment. A 12% income tax will be levied on gains from cryptocurrency transactions (holding itself is not taxed). Drawing on the EU’s MiCA framework and Romania’s experience, the regulation will be jointly drafted by the National Bank, the National Commission for the Financial Market, and the Anti-Money Laundering Office, strengthening anti-money laundering measures.
5. Russian Central Bank proposes requiring banks to report details of clients’ #crypto transactions
The Central Bank of Russia plans to revise reporting rules for private international transfers, requiring commercial banks to provide detailed information on clients’ cryptocurrency-related transactions, including sender/recipient identities, transfer methods, intermediaries, fees, transaction types, and sources. Transactions involving buying/selling cryptocurrencies and digital rights/#NFTs must be reported separately.
The revisions aim to reflect emerging economic phenomena, such as how crypto mining income affects payment balances. The central #bank intends to pass comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation before summer this year and analyze banks’ exposure to crypto assets.
