Asia Morning Briefing: SCB 10X’s New Chief Eyes Crypto Expansion as Uniswap Surges and Strategy Adds to BTC Stack
PLUS: SCB 10X CEO Kaweewut Temphuwapat sees a convergence of AI, fintech, and crypto as the next frontier — and predicts Thailand’s proactive regulation could turn Southeast Asia into a dealmaking hub.
Welcome to the Asia Morning Briefing, where we recap key developments from U.S. hours and give you a snapshot of global crypto and macro movements. For more on North American markets, check out the Crypto Daybook Americas.
Uniswap Jumps 5% as Trading Volumes Hit 3-Month High
Uniswap’s UNI token posted a 5% gain over the past 24 hours, rising from $6.00 to $6.65, bucking the broader downtrend as the CoinDesk 20 Index fell 1.8%. The surge follows Uniswap’s best trading month since February, with more than $73 billion in monthly volume and $380 million in year-to-date revenue. A return of institutional activity — including a notable whale accumulating $4 million in UNI — is fueling the bullish momentum.
SCB 10X CEO: AI and Crypto Are the Future of Fintech in Southeast Asia
Kaweewut Temphuwapat, the new head of SCB 10X — the venture arm of Thailand’s Siam Commercial Bank — believes the next wave of investment will blend artificial intelligence and crypto-native innovation.
“We’re doubling down on AI and crypto — and especially where they intersect,” Temphuwapat told CoinDesk.
He expects clearer U.S. regulatory frameworks will accelerate cross-border deal flow into Asia’s emerging crypto scene, particularly in countries like Thailand, where regulators have shown openness to innovation.
SCB 10X, an early investor in Ripple, continues to integrate crypto into SCB’s core platforms. Temphuwapat also hinted that Thai banks may soon be able to hold crypto assets on their balance sheets, starting with regulatory sandbox experiments.
James Wynn Leaves the Bitcoin Table With $25M, Goes Memecoin Hunting
Notorious Hyperliquid trader “James Wynn,” also known as “moonpig,” has walked away from billion-dollar BTC bets — and into the world of memecoins.
After taking a $17.5 million loss on a $1.2 billion bitcoin long and scoring $3 million from a 40x-leveraged short, Wynn has netted a total of $25 million in profits from an initial $3 million investment. On X, he declared he was “leaving the casino.”
Now, Wynn is back in action with a $1 million long bet on Pepe (PEPE) using 10x leverage. The position is already up $500,000 following a 6% rally in the memecoin.
Strategy Buys Another 4,020 BTC for $427M, Total Holdings Now Top 580K
Strategy (MSTR), the world’s largest corporate holder of bitcoin, has added 4,020 BTC to its balance sheet — bringing its total stash to 580,250 BTC.
The $427 million purchase, made between May 19–25, was financed through three active at-the-market equity programs, including common and preferred stock sales.
The average purchase price was $106,237 per coin, pushing Strategy’s total BTC investment past $40.6 billion, with a blended cost basis of $69,979. The company continues to use capital markets as a vehicle for scaling its bitcoin holdings.
Market Snapshot
- BTC: Trading near $109,000, Bitcoin holds gains despite holiday-thinned liquidity and macro headwinds. Accumulation by long-term holders remains steady.
- ETH: Ethereum is holding firm above $2,500. Despite volatility, whale activity and ETH ETF flows suggest continued institutional demand.
- Gold: Gold dipped slightly following a U.S. tariff delay but remains above $3,310 amid inflation and deficit concerns.
- Hang Seng: Hong Kong’s index fell slightly to 23,304, dragged by a 4.9% loss in Meituan and weakness in the tech sector.
- Nikkei 225: Japan’s benchmark slipped 0.13% Tuesday as investors weighed the implications of delayed U.S.-EU tariffs.
- S&P 500: Closed Monday for Memorial Day.
