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E-Naira Countdown: Nigerian Experts Question Selection of Bitt Inc as Central Bank’s Fintech Partner
10.9.2021
Nigerian fintech entrepreneurs have slammed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s decision to select Bitt Inc as its fintech partner. They insist that the choice of Bitt Inc, a Barbados based firm, undermines central bank claims that it is “fighting for the naira in the forex...
African Economist Says Regulated Cryptocurrencies Are Reasonable Alternative to Single Trade Currency
6.9.2021
A Nigeria-based research and development economist, Gospel Obele, has called “for a unified regulatory mechanism for cryptocurrency trading.” He adds that such regulation of cryptocurrencies can potentially “complement an African digital currency,” hence this needs to...
Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Africa to Trial Cross-Border Digital Currency Payments
3.9.2021
The central banks of Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Republic of South Africa have set out to test the use of state-issued digital currencies in cross-border payments. The trial, led by the Bank for International Settlements, aims to establish whether they can simplify transactions and make...
Afghanistan’s Economic Crisis: ‘No One Has Money’ Says Afghani Banker After US Seized Central Bank’s Assets
28.8.2021
The troubles in Afghanistan rage on after the U.S. government spent 20 years and trillions of dollars on a conflict that was never resolved. The U.S. government, Federal Reserve, and allied partners have seized the central bank of Afghanistan’s assets and as time passes, the country’s...
Financial Warfare: Afghan Central Bank’s $10B Confiscated by US, Biden Halts USD Shipments to Afghanistan
18.8.2021
The war in Afghanistan has been an extremely long conflict since the United States invaded the country in 2001, in order to drive the Taliban from power. After a messy exit, the U.S. occupation in Afghanistan has been compared to mistakes made during the Vietnam War. Now that U.S. forces have left...
Satoshi Versus the ‘Infrastructure Bill’ — Political Permission Not Required
12.8.2021
When Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin white paper in October 2008, it likely wasn’t with the idea that governments and central banks needed to recognize, adopt, and regulate Bitcoin for everyone’s benefit. To the contrary, if anything can be taken away from that document and...
Debunking the 4 Big Bitcoin Myths Promoted By Central Banks in 2021
8.8.2021
It's 2021 and central bankers still can't figure out what to make of Bitcoin (BTC). Although many of them have dismissed the asset as a highly speculative bubble in the past, the cryptocurrency keeps growing in terms of price, general adoption, and a variety of other metrics.
Due to the massive...
Mastercard Outlines Plans for Cryptocurrencies, Stablecoins, Central Bank Digital Currencies
2.8.2021
Mastercard’s CEO has outlined the company’s plans to develop products and services around cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). “We want to be playing a role across all of them … It’s obviously a vibrant space around digital...
Central Bank Governor: South Africa’s Digital Currency Study Ongoing
31.7.2021
South African Reserve Bank (SARB) governor, Lesetja Kganyago, has once again confirmed that the central bank is presently studying the feasibility of issuing a digital currency. In his remarks at the SARB’s annual general meeting, governor Kganyago suggested his organization has embarked...
Ghana Vice President Praises Central Bank’s CBDC Initiative, Says Digital Currencies Can Boost Intra-African Trade
30.7.2021
The Ghanaian Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia, has implored African governments to start exploring digital currencies as such alternatives have the potential to enhance intra-African trade. In addition, such digital currencies allow African countries to carry out all cross-border payments smoothly...
Digital Euro to Handle ‘Almost Unlimited’ Payments, Estonian Central Bank Says After Test
28.7.2021
A blockchain-based digital euro would be highly scalable allowing it to process an almost unlimited number of payments, the central bank of Estonia has concluded following a recent experiment. Central banks from several euro area countries and the ECB participated in the test, which also professed...
81 Countries Are Now Exploring Central Bank Digital Currencies — 5 CBDCs Fully Launched
25.7.2021
Eighty-one countries are now exploring central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), according to a new tracker. This number is 46 more countries than the number in May last year. In addition, five countries have fully launched their own digital currencies. 81 Central Banks Explore Launching Own Digital...
Digital Euro Project Gets Going as ECB Launches Investigation Phase
15.7.2021
After months of deliberation, the European Central Bank has decided to proceed with a digital euro project. Officials insist the new version of Europe’s common currency should “ensure privacy” and provide access to “the safest form of money” at...
UAE Central Bank Unveils Plan to Launch Digital Currency
14.7.2021
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has unveiled its plan to launch a digital currency as part of its 2023-2026 strategy to become one of the world’s top 10 central banks. A growing number of central banks worldwide are working to launch central bank digital currencies (CBDCs)....
Nigeria’s June P2P Bitcoin Trade Volumes Surged Again Despite Central Bank’s Crypto Restrictions
12.7.2021
Nigeria’s peer-to-peer bitcoin trade volumes went up to just under $38 million in June 2021, the latest data shows. This surge becomes only the second time Nigerian P2P traded volumes have breached the $35 million mark in 2021. March 2021 is the only other period when P2P bitcoin traded...
11% of Central Bankers Consider ‘Cryptocurrencies Like Bitcoin’ Gold Alternatives: UBS Survey
9.7.2021
A UBS survey finds that central bankers see benefits in investing in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. 28% see benefits from cryptocurrency being an uncorrelated asset and “11% would consider it as an alternative to gold.” Central Bankers See Benefits in Investing in Cryptocurrencies Like...
Gold Spikes Higher as Fed’s Minutes Report Looms, Central Bank Bullion Purchases Begin to Swell
6.7.2021
After a long break, monthly purchasing data shows that central banks are buying gold again. The World Gold Council says throughout March and April, the organization recorded a higher level of central bank monthly gold purchases and the latest data from May shows the exact same trend. Gold Rises...
New York Fed president says crypto poses challenging questions for central banks
28.6.2021
John Williams responded to a presentation from Mark Carney, the former head of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, about the potential for issuing central bank digital currencies
Palestinians Ponder Digital Currency as Move for Monetary Independence
26.6.2021
The Palestine Monetary Authority is exploring the possibility of issuing its own digital currency. For Palestinians, the minting of a national coin would represent a step, at least a symbolic one, towards achieving monetary independence from the State of Israel. Digital Currency to Help...
Central Banks Step Up Bitcoin, Stablecoin Bashing Efforts Amid CBDC Plans
23.6.2021
The Bank for International Settlements keeps bashing cryptocurrencies, such as bitcoin (BTC), and stablecoins, while preparing the ground for central bank digital currencies (CBDC), saying that they "open a new chapter for the monetary system."
Central bank interest in CBDCs comes at...