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IMF execs float raising crypto mining electricity prices by 85%
16.8.2024
A tax on the energy used by crypto miners could cut emissions by 100 million tons a year, equal to Belgium’s emissions, say two IMF executives
Latam Insights Encore: El Salvador Forges a Path to Overcome IMF’s Bitcoin-Phobia
13.8.2024
Welcome to Latam Insights Encore, a deep dive into Latin America’s most relevant economic and cryptocurrency-based news from last week. In this edition, we discuss the possibilities that El Salvador is opening for other countries to receive help from international institutions like the IMF even...
Latam Insights: El Salvador Advances Talks With IMF Despite Bitcoin Allegiance; Brazil Passes First Solana Spot ETF
12.8.2024
Welcome to Latam Insights, a compendium of Latin America’s most relevant crypto and economic news from the last week. In this issue: El Salvador holds talks with the IMF despite its Bitcoin allegiance; Brazil greenlights the first Solana spot ETF; and Polymarket gets criticized for...
Global Asset Freeze Targets Fugitive ‘Cryptoqueen’ and Onecoin
10.8.2024
A London high court has announced a global asset freeze targeting Onecoin’s co-founder Ruja Ignatova and associates. Over 400 investors sought this legal action after losing millions in the Onecoin cryptocurrency scam. The asset freeze prevents further movement of Ignatova’s wealth, possibly...
El Salvador and IMF Advance Talks on Bitcoin Risk Mitigation and Economic Reforms
8.8.2024
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has reported progress in negotiations with El Salvador on policies to strengthen public finances, boost bank reserves, improve governance, and address bitcoin risks. Although many BTC risks haven’t materialized for El Salvador, the IMF stated that both...
Group Urges Nigeria to End Naira Float, Reinstate Subsidies
7.8.2024
The Nigerian government has been urged to abandon a floating foreign exchange system and reintroduce subsidies in the power and energy, agriculture, and transportation sectors. In a communique, the Multidisciplinary Finance Professionals (MFP) said the Nigerian government should not determine...
Ethiopian Premier Defends Currency Float Decision, Rejects Devaluation Claims
3.8.2024
The Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, has defended the decision to float the birr and insisted that this move does not amount to the devaluation of the currency. Ahmed stated that the intention is to unify the official and parallel market exchange rates. Reports suggest that Ethiopia’s decision...
Nigerian CBDC Adoption Lags, Makes Up Less Than 1% of Currency in Use
30.7.2024
Nigeria’s central bank digital currency, known as the eNaira, was the first of its kind in Africa. However, it currently represents only about 0.36% of the total currency in circulation. Nigerian experts attribute the slow adoption of the e-naira to its perceived lack of significant benefits...
Ethiopia’s Birr Falls 30% After Currency Float; Forex Surrender Requirements Scrapped
29.7.2024
Ethiopia’s birr plunged 30% against the dollar after the central bank floated the currency as part of reforms aimed at correcting foreign exchange market distortions. The bank also eliminated foreign exchange surrender requirements and lifted restrictions on certain imports. In return...
Zambia De-Dollarization: Central Bank Seeks to Enforce Kwacha as Sole Legal Tender for Domestic Transactions
27.7.2024
The Bank of Zambia has defended its de-dollarization plans but also seeks input from stakeholders who oppose the proposal. The central bank governor clarified that they are not proposing anything new; instead, the bank aims to enforce existing laws designating the kwacha as the sole legal tender...
BRICS Poised to Dominate World Bank and IMF, Says Russian Executive Director
27.7.2024
The World Bank Executive Director for Russia forecasts that BRICS nations will soon dominate the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), attributing this shift to inevitable macroeconomic and demographic changes away from Western dominance. He emphasized the importance of working...
IMF Warns Zambia Against Dedollarization, Calls Plan Counterproductive
20.7.2024
An International Monetary Fund representative has cautioned that Zambia’s proposed dedollarization initiative may inadvertently undermine efforts to contain inflation. The representative expressed concern that the prevailing economic conditions in Zambia are not conducive for the country to proceed...
AI Preparedness Index: South Africa Best Prepared African Country; Nigeria Ranks Outside the Continent’s Top 7
17.7.2024
The latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index reveals that only seven African countries have preparedness indices of 0.4 or more. South Africa leads the continent with a score of 0.5, while the Republic of South Sudan (0.11) and the Central African Republic...
IMF Advises US to Keep Interest Rates Steady Through Late 2024
4.7.2024
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised the U.S. to improve its fiscal position by reducing spending and increasing revenues. The IMF emphasizes addressing rising debt through policy adjustments and recommends maintaining current interest rates until late 2024. “Given those risks...
IMF: CBDCs Can Boost Financial Inclusion and Payment Efficiency in Middle East
20.6.2024
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says 19 countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, including Bahrain, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, are in the advanced “proof-of concept” stage for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). “We support policymakers evaluating...
IMF Says CBDCs Could Boost Middle East's Financial Inclusion, Payment Efficiency
19.6.2024
Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) may not be essential to achieving intended policy goals, instead addressing underlying constraints and improving other digital payment systems may be a more practical alternative, a survey of 19 central banks in the Middle East and Central Asia (ME&CA) region...
IMF Data Shows Decline in US Dollar Dominance
16.6.2024
Recent data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) points to an ongoing decline in the U.S. dollar’s share of allocated foreign reserves held by central banks and governments. Economists explained that reserve managers are attracted to nontraditional reserve currencies “because they...
IMF Calls Zimbabwe’s Gold-Backed Currency an ‘Important Policy Action’
24.5.2024
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has stated that Zimbabwe’s recently introduced gold-backed fiat currency represents a significant policy step. This is the IMF’s first substantial comment on the currency since its inception. The global lender has reportedly announced plans to send a team...
Indian Finance Minister: Crypto Regulation Needs Global Consensus
20.5.2024
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman advocates for global consensus on cryptocurrency regulation, highlighting the need for international cooperation, particularly within the G20. She noted that while Indian regulators have differing opinions regarding how to treat crypto, there is currently...
IMF Acknowledges Russian Assets’ Confiscation Might Undermine the World’s Financial System
20.5.2024
The IMF has expressed its concerns about the possible outcome of the confiscation of Russian assets abroad as a consequence of the ongoing military conflict between the nation and Ukraine. Julie Kozack, a spokesperson for the institution, called for these actions to have a proper justification...