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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...
Nippon vs Nihon: What's The Difference?
26.7.2021
During the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, the official announcer introduced the country as “Nihon.” Sponichi Annex reports that this surprised some. Read more
Number of Cryptocurrency ATM Locations Soars Past 24K Worldwide
25.7.2021
The number of cryptocurrency ATMs has surpassed 24,000 globally. Out of 75 countries with crypto ATMs, the U.S. tops the list with the most locations. 24K+ Cryptocurrency ATMs Worldwide The number of cryptocurrency ATMs has exceeded 24,000 globally, according to the crypto ATM tracking website...
Countries representing over 90% of global GDP are exploring CBDCs
25.7.2021
Governments around the world are pouring more resources into CBDC research and exploratory use cases. Among the major economies, China appears to be pulling ahead and has plans to implement digital-yuan usage during the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing
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...
64% of Adults from 10 Different Countries Would Use a Central Bank Digital Currency: Report
24.7.2021
As central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) advance in testing, a number of countries have taken the lead in an effort to create a CBDC. The enterprise blockchain firm Guardtime recently conducted a survey that shows adults from ten different countries would likely use a CBDC. Nearly two out...
Despite Negative Press, Binance Is Still the World’s Largest Crypto Spot and Derivatives Exchange
19.7.2021
While Binance has had a few issues with payment service providers and regulators from a few countries, the centralized cryptocurrency exchange is still the largest trading platform in terms of trade volume. During the last 24 hours, Binance has recorded roughly $8.6 billion in swaps and the trading...
IMF, World Bank, BIS Recommend Countries Work Together on CBDCs to Enhance Cross-Border Payments
18.7.2021
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the Bank of International Settlement (BIS) have conducted an extensive study of using central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) for cross-border payments. Their report to the G20 states that enhanced cross-border payments “can...
How International Fiat Fund Hurts Cash-Strapped Countries (FYI, El Salvador)
18.7.2021
The IMF’s Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva. Source: A screenshot, Instagram/the_imf
In this commentary, Bernhard Reinsberg, Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Glasgow, and Thomas Stubbs, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the Royal Holloway, University...
Visa, Mastercard Monitor Binance’s Regulatory Compliance as More Regulators Scrutinize the Crypto Exchange
16.7.2021
Payments giants Visa and Mastercard say they are monitoring Binance’s regulatory compliance developments as more regulators come after the global crypto exchange for operating in their countries without authorization. Visa, Mastercard Monitoring Binance’s Regulatory Troubles Visa...
Italian Regulator Warns Binance Crypto Exchange Not Authorized to Provide Investment Services in Italy
15.7.2021
Binance’s regulatory troubles grow with Italy being the latest country to issue a warning on the global cryptocurrency exchange. Other countries that have issued similar warnings include the U.K., Japan, Thailand, and the Cayman Islands. Crypto Exchange Binance Unauthorized in Italy...
Poland, Romania Rank in Top 10 for Number of Bitcoin ATMs, World’s Total Exceeds 23,000
15.7.2021
Two East European nations, Poland and Romania, are now among the top 10 countries hosting the most cryptocurrency ATMs. The global number of teller machines supporting crypto transactions has increased exponentially over the past months, now reaching over 23,000 devices. Poland Ranks Among Leading...
Barclays' Binance Customers Looking for Alternative Apps, Banks & Countries
6.7.2021
The crypto-supporting customers of London-headquartered multinational bank Barclays are "leaving" and searching for workarounds, after the bank - previously fined for being used for money laundering - stopped payments to major crypto exchange Binance to "protect" customers'...
Regulators in UK, Japan Issue Warnings on Binance Amid Crackdown on Unauthorized Crypto Exchanges
27.6.2021
Top financial regulators in England and Japan have independently issued warnings on Binance for offering crypto exchange services to residents of the two countries without being registered with the regulators as required by law. Japanese Regulator’s Warning Japan’s top financial...
New Bank of America Report Says Digital Currencies ‘Could Boost Economic Growth’ in Developing Countries
23.6.2021
A new Bank of America (BOA) research study has found that both central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and private digital currencies hold “a lot of potential” for increasing financial inclusion in developing countries. In the report, the bank also argues that such “digital...
Economist Steve Hanke Warns Salvadoran Bitcoin Adoption Could ‘Completely Collapse the Economy’
20.6.2021
The professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University, Steve Hanke, has recently been criticizing bitcoin adoption taking place in El Salvador. Hanke doesn’t think it’s a good idea for the Latin American country to use bitcoin as legal tender and says it could “completely...
Central American Bank for Economic Integration to Help El Salvador Implement Bitcoin as Legal Tender
17.6.2021
The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), which has 15 member countries, will help El Salvador implement bitcoin as legal tender. The CABEI president has expressed his support. “We’re very optimistic,” he said. Central American Bank for Economic Integration...
Latin American Countries Eye Bitcoin Adoption After El Salvador Passed Bitcoin Law
15.6.2021
A number of lawmakers in Latin American countries have expressed their interest in bitcoin following El Salvador passing the law making the cryptocurrency legal tender. The countries include Paraguay, Argentina, Panama, Brazil, and Mexico. Tonga and Tanzania have also reportedly expressed interest...
Crypto Cyberthreats Spike This Year With Russia Hit the Hardest, Report Reveals
14.6.2021
Cyberthreats related to cryptocurrencies have increased with rising demand for the digital assets, a study has concluded. Russia, Thailand and Peru are the most affected countries by malicious attacks designed to exploit the heightened interest in decentralized money, the authors point out. Booming...