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China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and UAE Trial Cross-Border Transactions With Digital Currencies
29.9.2022
The monetary authorities of four jurisdictions in Asia have carried out tests with international settlements using state-issued digital currencies. Cross-border payments and foreign exchange transactions totaling over $22 million were made as part of the pilot project with the participation of...
Hong Kong Protects Local Currency in Forex Market Amid Capital Flight to US Dollar
29.9.2022
Following the Bank of England explaining that it would be meddling in U.K. bond markets and the Bank of Japan defending the yen in the foreign exchange market last week, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) revealed it intervened in forex markets on Wednesday. Hong Kong’s central bank...
Settlements With China — Russia Plans Next Step for Digital Ruble
28.9.2022
Russia intends to use its digital ruble, to be introduced early next year, for payments with its key ally, China. Authorities in Moscow hope other nations will be willing to adopt the Russian digital currency in trade, which will allow the country to circumvent sanctions imposed over the Ukraine...
Report: Gap Between Ethiopian Currency’s Official and Parallel Market Exchange Rate Grows to New Record
25.9.2022
The Ethiopian birr currency’s parallel exchange rate against the U.S. dollar recently dropped to a low of 92 birrs per dollar, a report has said. The report added that following this latest plunge, the gap between the birr’s official and parallel market exchange rates has widened to...
Russia Starts Developing Mechanism for International Crypto Payments
25.9.2022
Financial authorities in Russia have begun work on a mechanism to facilitate the employment of cryptocurrencies for settlements with other nations amid sanctions. The country’s central bank and finance ministry have already agreed on a draft law regulating cross-border crypto payments....
Github Partially Reinstates Tornado Cash Codebase, Open Source Code Set to Read-Only Mode
24.9.2022
The internet hosting and software development subsidiary of Microsoft, Github, has partially unbanned the Tornado Cash repositories following the recent sanctions enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC). Github’s decision follows the U.S....
Bank of Japan Intervenes in Foreign Exchange Markets After Yen Slips to 24-Year Low
22.9.2022
While the greenback has been rising higher, the Japanese yen tapped a 24-year low and Japan decided to intervene in foreign exchange markets (forex) for the first time since 1998. Reports say the Bank of Japan conducted the first forex intervention in 24 years, after the Japanese central bank kept...
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Plans to Revoke Do Kwon’s Passport: Report
15.9.2022
According to local reports stemming from South Korea, the country’s foreign ministry is looking to invalidate the co-founder of Terraform Labs Do Kwon’s passport. The story was published the day after it was reported that Seoul’s Southern District Prosecutors Office issued...
Crypto for foreign trade: What do we know about Iran’s new strategy
15.9.2022
Iran has decided to legalize the use of crypto in cross-border payments, which could impact how some countries view crypto
Russian Prime Minister Orders Finance Ministry, Central Bank to Agree on Crypto by December
15.9.2022
The central bank and the finance ministry in Moscow have been asked by the head of the Russian government to agree on a vision for the development of the country’s digital asset market by Dec 1. Working with other regulators, they should also present a common position on the legislation...
Foreigners to Be Given Anonymous Entry Points to Digital Ruble, Russian Official Suggests
15.9.2022
Foreign nationals should be able to buy Russia’s upcoming digital ruble through entry points providing anonymity, according to a high-ranking member of the Russian parliament. The idea circulated in Moscow aims to protect these investors from Western sanctions. State Duma Deputy Proposes...
OFAC Sanctions 7 New Bitcoin Addresses Allegedly Associated With Iran-Related Ransomware Activities
14.9.2022
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) has published a specially designated nationals list update (OFAC’s SDN List) that lists a number of individuals accused of being involved with Iran-related ransomware. The list further shows seven bitcoin addresses that...
Russian Businesses to Choose Which Crypto to Use for Cross-Border Settlements, Lawmaker Says
14.9.2022
Russian companies may start transacting in cryptocurrency with partners abroad as early as next year and will be free to pick the coin they want to use, officials in Moscow have indicated. The sanctioned country is preparing to legalize foreign trade settlements with digital assets and this could...
Ethiopian Central Bank Restricts Amount of Cash Travelers Can Hold, Sets Foreign Currency Conditions
13.9.2022
According to the National Bank of Ethiopia’s directive, which became effective on September 5, persons entering and departing the country in possession of local currency are now subject to new restrictions. Individuals may not hold local currency whose value exceeds $57.00 or 3,000 birr....
Nigerian Blockchain Startup Bitmama Closes $2 Million Pre-Seed Round
11.9.2022
After raising $1.65 million via a pre-seed extension, Bitmama, a Nigeria-based blockchain startup, has now closed its pre-seed funding round at $2 million, a report has said. Leading the funding round were two Africa-focused venture capital firms: Unicorn Growth Capital and Launch Africa....
Bank of Russia to Promote Digital Ruble in Foreign Trade as Finance Ministry Pushes for Crypto Option
10.9.2022
Days after the two institutions agreed on the need for cross-border crypto payments, the finance ministry and the central bank of Russia are once again highlighting their different priorities. While the treasury department aims for legalizing cryptocurrency payments in the coming months,...
500,000 DAI From DAO Maker Exploit Was Sent Through Tornado Cash, Security Analysts Report
9.9.2022
On September 8, the crypto security and smart contract auditing firm Certik revealed that 500,000 DAI was sent through the Tornado Cash mixing platform after the funds were stolen in August 2021. The digital assets originally stemmed from the DAO Maker breach that saw the loss of more than...
Top Russian Lawmaker Joins Calls for Legalizing International Crypto Payments
9.9.2022
A high-ranking member of the Russian parliament has urged for the adoption of a relevant legal framework to properly regulate cross-border crypto payments. His proposal comes after key regulators in Moscow said that Russia needs to allow the use of cryptocurrencies in foreign trade, now that...
Russia Explores Stablecoins for Settlements With Friendly Nations
7.9.2022
Russia is cooperating with friendly countries on the potential employment of stablecoins in international payments, a top government official unveiled. The news comes after key institutions in Moscow agreed that the Russian Federation needs to legalize cross-border crypto payments in the face...
Russia Can’t Do Without Cross-Border Crypto Payments, Consensus Reached
7.9.2022
Key government institutions have agreed that Russia needs to legalize crypto payments for international settlements. The proposal has been gaining support in the past few months since Moscow’s decision to invade Ukraine was met with wave after wave of Western sanctions. Financial Authorities...