ART

Taiwan econom
2026-07-21 03:29:12

Taiwan think tank says 2026 GDP growth could top 10% on AI export strength

Taiwan’s economy may grow by more than 10% in 2026, according to Taiwan Institute of Economic Research President Gordon Chang Chien-yi, who said the institute’s latest forecast will be revised upward to above the 10% mark. That would place TIER alongside Academia Sinica, which projected 10.16% on July 13, and the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, which had already raised its estimate to 9.64%. Chang said the key driver is straightforward: exports have come in far stronger than the assumptions built into earlier models. He tied the momentum to stronger-than-expected demand for AI, high-performance computing and cloud infrastructure, which has lifted semiconductor and information and communications technology exports as well as private investment. Chang also said AI-related business opportunities should last at least through 2028, though he cautioned that next year will be a tougher test because the comparison base will already be high. He added that if Taiwan can still post growth above 8% next year, that would show AI demand is holding up beyond a short-lived surge. Chang also commented on global trade realignment, saying the world may increasingly split into U.S.-centered, China-centered and non-U.S./non-China blocs led by the European Union.

130
Taiwan think tank says 2026 GDP growth could top 10% on AI export strength
Crypto Fundin
2026-07-16 02:20:27

Crypto Primary Funding Hit $8.658 Billion in H1 as Japan Passes Law Change to Cut Tax Rate and Open ETF Path

A broad set of policy, market-structure, ETF, stablecoin and exchange developments shaped the latest 24-hour cycle in crypto. RootData said the industry logged $9.081 billion in total fundraising across 259 deals in the first half of 2026, with primary-market financing, excluding IPOs, post-IPO rounds and M&A, reaching $8.658 billion. That segment was down 26.1% year over year, while deal count fell 28.5%. March and May were the busiest months by activity, and the data pointed to a market still functioning but increasingly driven by a smaller number of larger rounds, more concentrated venture participation, and heavier interest in DeFi, infrastructure, CeFi, AI, payments and RWA. Japan moved to the front of the regulatory agenda after the upper house approved revisions to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. The overhaul would classify crypto assets as financial products, add insider-trading restrictions, toughen penalties for unlicensed operators, and set up the legal framework for crypto ETFs. The tax treatment is also set to change. From Jan. 1, 2028, gains from crypto trading are expected to shift from a comprehensive regime with rates of up to 55% to a separate self-assessed tax system of about 20%, matching stocks, with loss carryforwards of up to three years. Elsewhere, the U.S. and U.K. published a joint digital-asset roadmap centered on regulated stablecoins and tokenization, South Korea said it plans to push a Digital Asset Basic Act in the second half, spot Bitcoin and Ether ETF flow data stayed active, and exchanges including OKX and Binance announced new tokenized equity products and collateral expansions.

3200
Crypto Primary Funding Hit $8.658 Billion in H1 as Japan Passes Law Change to Cut Tax Rate and Open ETF Path