Bursa once said no to crypto. LIDAC26 showed how far Malaysia has come since

Back in 2024, an article lamented Bursa Malaysia's decision to exclude bitcoin and other crypto assets from its new multi-asset exchange. However, just two years later, an event called LIDAC26 showcased Malaysia's significant progress in embracing digital assets. The conference, held at the M Resort & Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, focused on institutions rather than retail investors and gave regulators, bankers, and fund managers an opportunity to discuss digital assets as the backbone for the future of the capital market.

Luno, a digital asset exchange registered with the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), emphasized that stablecoins, pegged to currencies like the US dollar, comprised around 90% of all tokenized assets, with roughly RM1.26 trillion of that being stablecoins. As the SC holds workshops, pilots prove their worth before rewriting rules.

Trading value on Malaysia's licensed digital asset exchanges reached RM17.14 billion in 2025, a 23% increase from the previous year. Bank Negara Malaysia has also been experimenting, including testing a ringgit stablecoin, with the potential for Malaysia's tokenization opportunity to be worth around RM175 billion by 2030.