The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) announced on December 27, 2024 that it has approved commercial banks and payment institutions for the first time to provide services related to Category 1 crypto assets, including stablecoins and secured cryptocurrencies. However, unsecured cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are still prohibited. This means that commercial banks and payment service providers will be allowed to exchange crypto assets with legal currencies, transfer between accounts and provide custody services, but they are not allowed to use customers' crypto assets for their own purposes. This move aims to regulate the operation of digital currencies to cater to global financial trends.