Finance

Tokenized stocks are digital assets that represent stock rights or stock value on a blockchain network. Because they carry securities characteristics, they are typically subject to securities laws, asset custody rules, anti-money laundering (AML) requirements, investor protection regimes, and cross-border regulatory frameworks. While regulatory treatment of tokenized stocks varies by jurisdiction, the core issues generally center on three areas: whether the issuer is qualified to offer securities, whether the underlying assets are held in compliant custody, and whether investors are afforded the same legal protections as in traditional securities markets.

MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) is the EU's first unified regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, but its primary oversight targets centralized crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) rather than fully decentralized DeFi protocols. Under MiCA, if a DeFi project lacks an identifiable operator, management team, or intermediary, it is typically not directly subject to MiCA's requirements. However, when a DeFi protocol involves development team control, centralized governance, a front-end operating entity, or delivers services via centralized platforms, EU regulators may still classify the relevant activities as regulated.

MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) establishes a unified EU regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, outlining clear requirements for token issuance, exchange listings, stablecoin management, and information disclosure. MiCA will not prohibit the trading of mainstream cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH); however, certain stablecoins, privacy coins, high-risk tokens, and projects lacking compliance disclosures may face stricter oversight. For cryptocurrency exchanges, MiCA mandates that listed assets possess more comprehensive information disclosure and a clearly defined legal liability entity.

MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) represents the European Union's first comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto-assets. For everyday users, MiCA will not ban the purchase of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, but it will reshape account registration, identity verification, stablecoin usage, exchange services, and asset protection mechanisms. Going forward, users will increasingly engage with licensed exchanges, undergo more rigorous KYC checks, encounter greater transparency in disclosures, and benefit from stronger investor safeguards.

SK Hynix (KRX: 000660) is among the world’s top memory chipmakers and one of the most closely followed semiconductor names in the AI ecosystem. With surging demand for AI data centers, high-performance computing, and HBM (High Bandwidth Memory), SK Hynix has emerged as a bellwether tech stock in South Korea’s equity market.

Hyundai Motor Company (KRX: 005380) is one of South Korea's largest automakers and a major global player in new energy vehicles, intelligent driving, and hydrogen-powered vehicles. As one of the most iconic industrial firms in South Korea, Hyundai Motor has consistently attracted strong interest from investors worldwide.

USYC serves primarily for institutional fund management, DAO Treasury management, on-chain collateral, trading margin assets, and real-world asset (RWA) allocation. As a tokenized fund underpinned by U.S. Treasuries and money market instruments, USYC offers on-chain funds a management approach that delivers both liquidity and yield.

The key distinction between USYC and USDC lies in their asset attributes and purposes. USDC is a stablecoin maintaining a 1:1 peg to the U.S. dollar, primarily used for payments, trading, and on-chain settlement. USYC, conversely, is a tokenized money market fund whose underlying assets are U.S. Treasuries and money market instruments; its value reflects yield through the growth of its net asset value (NAV).

USYC and BUIDL are both tokenized Treasury funds within the Real-World Asset (RWA) space, offering yield exposure to investors primarily through holdings in U.S. Treasuries and money market instruments. USYC, driven by Circle’s ecosystem, emphasizes integration with USDC and on-chain financial infrastructure. In contrast, BUIDL, launched by BlackRock, focuses on channeling traditional institutional capital into the blockchain market.

Buying Korean stocks with USDT means participating in the Korean stock market trading through the Gate Stocks Korean Stock Zone, using stablecoins like USDT as the funding medium. After completing account verification and opening a stock account, users can transfer USDT to their stock account, search for target stocks in the Korean Stock Zone, and complete transactions. This entire process connects digital asset accounts with the Korean capital market, enabling users to access the stocks of listed Korean companies more conveniently.

On Gate, buying Korean stocks with USDT means using stablecoins like USDT as your funding medium to invest in the Korean stock market through the Gate Stocks Korean Stock Section. Once you've completed account verification and opened a stock trading account, you can view Korean listed company stocks, place trades, and manage your holdings — all through a unified account system. No need for traditional cross-border securities accounts or bank wire transfers to access the Korean market.

As digital assets and traditional financial markets increasingly converge, a growing number of investors seek more convenient access to global stock markets. Gate officially launches its stock trading service, enabling eligible users to trade US, Hong Kong, and Korean stocks directly with USDT—without requiring a separate traditional brokerage account or fiat currency exchange. This article explores Gate's stock trading operating model, supported markets, and key features, as well as how it delivers a seamless one-stop global asset allocation experience.

MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) is the European Union's unified framework for regulating cryptocurrencies. It establishes compliance requirements for crypto-asset issuance, stablecoin operations, and cryptocurrency exchange service providers. By providing a single set of regulatory standards across EU member states, MiCA allows businesses to operate throughout the European market with a single license, while enhancing investor protection and market transparency. As the first comprehensive regulation of its kind globally—covering crypto-asset issuance, trading services, stablecoin management, and market conduct—MiCA’s influence reaches far beyond Europe, positioning it as a key benchmark for global crypto regulatory frameworks.

CASP (Crypto-Asset Service Provider) is the core regulatory framework established under the EU's MiCA regulation, governing cryptocurrency exchanges, digital asset custodians, brokerage service providers, and other crypto-asset service platforms. Any company offering such services to EU users must generally obtain CASP authorization and comply with regulatory standards including investor protection, risk management, client asset segregation, and market transparency. Once licensed, firms can leverage the Passporting mechanism to operate across multiple EU member states, reducing cross-border operational costs and streamlining market access.

Currently, leading international digital asset firms including Gate, Crypto.com, OKX, Bitstamp, MoonPay, Bitpanda, and Coinbase have either obtained or are pursuing MiCA authorization. With a MiCA license, exchanges can operate across multiple EU member states through the Passporting mechanism without needing to reapply for local permits. The MiCA license is rapidly becoming an essential gateway for cryptocurrency exchanges to enter the European market and a key benchmark for assessing a platform's regulatory compliance.