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Pokémon Cards Get Rid Of Those Hideous Yellow Borders After 23 Years
9.12.2022
The date for the all-new Pokémon Scarlet & Violet TCG cards has been revealed, along with some really excellent news: International cards are losing their godawful yellow borders! Woo-hoo! We’re at last getting the gray/silver Japan enjoys, along with a bunch of other quality-of-life...
DMI finds CBDCs not targeting cross-border payments, huge potential in Metaverse
8.12.2022
The Digital Money Institute’s third annual payments report looks at CBDCs for the first time, as well as other payment methods, through the lens of cross-border payment utility
Strike Launches Bitcoin Lightning Network-Enabled Money Transfers to Africa
7.12.2022
United States-based users of Strike, a digital payments platform built on Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, can now transfer funds instantly and at a low cost to Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria via the recently added new feature known as “Send Globally.” The new feature instantly converts...
Remittances to Low and Middle Income Countries in 2022 Up by 5% to $626 Billion — Latest World Bank Report
7.12.2022
Despite the headwinds that have dominated the year, remittances to low and middle-income countries in 2022 still grew by 5% to $626 billion, the World Bank Migration and Development Brief has said. Africa, where the cost of sending $200 averaged 7.8% in 2022, is the “most severely exposed...
Strike partners with Bitnob to facilitate cross-border payments into Africa
6.12.2022
On stage at AfroBitcoin, Strike CEO Jack Mallers announced plans to improve remittance payments into Africa thanks to the Lightning Network on Bitcoin
National Bank of Ukraine Unveils E-hryvnia Concept
1.12.2022
The central bank of Ukraine has presented to interested parties a draft concept of the nation’s future digital currency, the e-hryvnia. The regulator is currently considering several potential applications for its digital coin, including retail payments and cross-border settlements. Ukraine’s...
National Bank of Ukraine is Looking at CBDCs for Retail Payments, Cross-Border Transactions, and Crypto Trading
30.11.2022
Ukraine is continuing the work on its digital hryvnia, or e-hryvnia, despite the ongoing aggression by Russia.
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) introduced a draft concept for its central bank digital currency (CBDC) on Monday this week. The statement said that the key purpose of e-hryvnia is...
Putin Calls for International Settlements Based on Blockchain and Digital Currencies
27.11.2022
Russian President Vladimir Putin believes a new system for international money transfers is needed to reduce dependence on big banks and third parties. He is convinced that cross-border payments relying on digital currency and distributed ledger technology will be “much more convenient.” Russia’s...
Hong Kong Preparing to Join Digital Yuan Pilot, Extend ‘Cross-border’ Reach
23.11.2022
Mainland China and Hong Kong are set to co-launch the digital yuan’s first cross-border pilot project – as the People’s Bank of China (PBoC)-led project edges ever-closer to roll out.
According to Shanghai Securities News, Howard Lee, the Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority...
Banks still show interest in digital assets and DeFi amid market chaos
18.11.2022
Traditional financial institutions continue to demonstrate use cases for digital asset support, along with DeFi capabilities, despite current market conditions
Russia and Cuba Eye Cryptocurrencies for Settlements Amid Sanctions
17.11.2022
Both facing sanctions, Russia and Cuba are looking into alternative options for cross-border payments, including cryptocurrencies, a Kremlin advisor has unveiled in Havana. Moscow is already developing a mechanism for crypto settlements to circumvent financial restrictions imposed over its invasion...
FTX Collapse: African Crypto Industry Leaders’ Perspective and Advice to Regulators
16.11.2022
The collapse of FTX and subsequent calls for tougher regulation by the likes of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren have increased the likelihood of regulators adopting even stricter crypto laws. In Africa, crypto industry participants warn of the unintended consequences arising from rushed...
Russian IT Firms Lobby for Crypto Payments in Software Exports
11.11.2022
Companies developing software solutions for foreign customers are urging Russian authorities to allow them to accept crypto payments. The proposal is part of a package of measures aimed at supporting IT exports suggested by an industry organization to the executive power in Moscow. IT Businesses...
S Korea Claims Cross-border CBDC Success, Chinese Bank Chief Says e-CNY Will Boost Trade
7.11.2022
East Asia could become the central bank digital currency world’s center of gravity – with major cross-border functionality advances on the cards in China and South Korea.
In South Korea, the central Bank of Korea (BOK) has claimed that its “second phase” of pilots has now been “successfully...
MPs Set to Vote on Mining Bill That Would Let Russians Pay Cross-border with Crypto
31.10.2022
Source: FedotovAnatoly/Adobe
A top Russian politician has said that a crypto mining regulation bill has been submitted to parliament – and that the bill would also allow Russians to use crypto “as a means of payment” outside the country. Moscow has previously banned the use of crypto...
Bank of Thailand Needs More Time to Complete and Launch Retail Digital Currency
31.10.2022
The central bank of Thailand is not going to rush with the launch of its digital currency as it’s not yet sure about the benefits it would bring. According to the head of the monetary authority, the development of the state-issued coin may take several years. Thailand’s Central Bank Wants to Better...
New Mining Bill Permitting Cross-Border Crypto Payments Filed in Russian Parliament
29.10.2022
A draft law designed to regulate the mining of digital coins in Russia is also legalizing the use of cryptocurrencies in international settlements. It has been submitted to the Russian parliament after the rejection of an earlier bill which was aiming to allow domestic crypto payments as well....
Russian Parliament Rejects Mining Bill Allowing Crypto Payments, Expects New Draft
24.10.2022
The lower house of Russian parliament, the State Duma, has voted against a piece of legislation designed to regulate cryptocurrency mining. While lawmakers turned down that proposal, which also aimed to legalize crypto payments in the country, another draft law on mining, which permits cross-border...
Chinese Researchers Propose Asian Digital Currency to Reduce Reliance on US Dollar
15.10.2022
Experts from an economic institute in China have circulated the idea of creating a blockchain-powered digital currency that could lower Asia’s reliance on the greenback. The initiative comes against the backdrop of an expanding digital yuan pilot, and after recent trials of cross-border payments...
Stablecorp Wants to Reduce Cross-Border Payment Friction
13.10.2022