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National Bank of Ukraine Temporarily Bans Cross-Border Crypto Purchases With Hryvnia
22.4.2022
The central bank of Ukraine has introduced additional restrictions on international transactions that will prevent Ukrainians from buying crypto assets abroad with the national fiat. The measures are intended to reduce capital outflow amid an ongoing military conflict with Russia. Ukraine Citizens...
National Bank of Georgia to Regulate Country’s Crypto Sector
8.4.2022
The National Bank of Georgia is taking steps to regulate the crypto market in the Southern Caucasus country, its governor revealed in a recent interview. While companies in the industry are to expect a licensing regime, financial institutions have already been banned from providing crypto-related...
Romanian central bank approves blockchain firm Elrond to buy Twispay
10.3.2022
Elrond's main goal is to implement Twispay's e-money license for issuing stablecoins that can be used in the European Union
Ukraine Crypto Donations: Government Now Accepts Over 70 Crypto Assets
6.3.2022
Crypto payment processor Coingate and International Business Settlement (IBS) have started an arrangement with the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) that enables well-wishers to send donations to Ukraine via more than 70 different crypto assets. Calls for Widening List of Accepted Crypto Donations...
Rwanda May Not Reach Decision on CBDC Issuance Until End of 2022 — Central Bank Official
3.3.2022
The Rwandan central bank may not know whether it can issue a digital currency until December 2022, when it completes a study that looks at the benefits and risks that come with such a currency, the bank’s deputy governor has said. The Investigation Phase The deputy governor of the Rwandan...
Bitcoin, Tether, Ethereum Trade for Premiums in Ukraine, Hryvnia BTC Price $3K Higher Than Global Average
26.2.2022
After Ukraine’s central bank imposed a limit on cash withdrawals, Kuna, a cryptocurrency exchange that provides trades in ruble and hryvnia saw a notable surge in volume. Moreover, to this day, crypto-assets being swapped on Kuna such as bitcoin, tether, and ethereum are trading for...
Ukraine Central Bank Limits Cash Withdrawals Amid Russian Assault
24.2.2022
The central bank of Ukraine has capped withdrawals of cash in national fiat and banned those in foreign currency. The monetary authority says the measures aim to ensure the functioning of the nation’s financial system under the martial law introduced in response to Russia’s military...
Hungary’s Central Bank Governor Calls for EU-Wide Ban on Cryptocurrency Trading and Mining
13.2.2022
The governor of Hungary’s central bank has called for a ban on cryptocurrency trading and mining in the European Union. “It is clear-cut that cryptocurrencies could service illegal activities and tend to build up financial pyramids,” he said. Hungarian Central Bank Chief Wants...
Swiss National Bank Trials CBDC in Transactions With Five Banks
14.1.2022
The Swiss National Bank has successfully employed a wholesale CBDC to settle transactions with five commercial banks, the monetary authority announced. The tests are part of an experiment carried out together with the Bank for International Settlements and Switzerland’s financial services...
Global Central Bank Gold Holdings Rose to 36,000 Tons in 2021, Increase Attributed to Dollar’s Decline
5.1.2022
The total quantity of gold held in reserves by central banks topped 36,000 tons for the first time since 1990, data from World Gold Council has shown. This increase follows growth in the banks’ reported holdings of the asset by 4,500 tons over the past decade. Dollar’s Decline a Boon...
Central Banks of France, Switzerland and BIS Complete Cross-Border CBDC Trial
9.12.2021
Bank of France, the Swiss National Bank (SNB), and the Bank for International Settlements have successfully tested the application of wholesale central bank digital currency in cross-border payments. The project used distributed ledger technology and was realized with help from private firms....
Elrond to Acquire Capital Financial Services S.A, Owner of First e-Money License in Romania, Pending Approval of Romania’s National Bank
12.10.2021
Sibiu, Romania, October 12, 2021 – Elrond Network, the European startup developing groundbreaking internet-scale blockchain technology, announced today the acquisition of Capital Financial Services S.A. (operated under the Twispay brand), a company licensed to operate an Electronic Money...
Poland’s Central Bank Says It Will Add 100 Tons of Gold to Existing Holdings in 2022
11.10.2021
The Polish central bank, the National Bank of Poland (NBP), is reportedly planning to raise its gold reserves by 100 tons in 2022. According to bank governor Adam Glapinski, the objective of this decision is to prepare Poland for “the most unfavourable circumstances.” Gold’s...
Georgia to Pilot Digital Currency in Retail Commerce Next Year
8.10.2021
The central bank of Georgia is advancing its digital currency project. The monetary authority is preparing to launch the CBDC as early as next year and plans to use the blockchain-based version of the national fiat, the Georgian lari, to facilitate retail sales. Georgia to Introduce Digital Lari...
Egyptian Banks Set to Launch Multi-Million Dollar Fintech Fund
1.10.2021
Egyptian banks are reportedly on course to launch a $69.6 million fund which is earmarked to support the country’s fintech companies. According to a report, this fund is expected primarily to target the digital banking and financial services sector. Fintech Apps Targeted Fintech apps that...
Central Banks Should Allow Salaries, Social Transfers to be Paid in CBDCs - BIS
30.9.2021
ivate innovation, all the while preserving public trust.The BIS worked on the papers in cooperation with the Bank of Canada, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, European Central Bank, US Federal Reserve, Sweden’s Sveriges Riksbank, and the Swiss National Bank. The studies analyze policy options a
Central Bank of Ukraine Seeks to Hire Blockchain Developer
29.9.2021
National Bank of Ukraine is hiring a blockchain expert who will likely support its digital currency project. The vacancy has been announced as the financial institution prepares to pilot e-hryvnia salary payments for government workers as early as this year. NBU Posts Blockchain Developer Ad...
Central Bank of Ukraine Supports Crypto Industry, Fears Cryptocurrency
23.9.2021
The National Bank of Ukraine recognizes the benefits of endorsing crypto innovations but also fears cryptocurrencies could gain ground on the national fiat. Announcing its monetary policy guidelines for the near future, the regulator noted it’s going to defend the status of the hryvnia...
Ukraine’s Digital Ministry Plans to Pay Employees With Digital Hryvnia in Pilot Project
18.8.2021
Employees of Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation may become the first in the country to get their salaries in digital currency. The National Bank of Ukraine is developing an electronic version of the Ukrainian hryvnia and the ministry is considering the option of using...
Ukrainian President Signs Law Opening Door for Digital Hryvnia, Regulatory Sandbox
1.8.2021
President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law that will allow the National Bank of Ukraine to issue its own digital currency. The new legislation, which aligns Ukrainian regulations with EU rules, will also stiffen authentication requirements for clients of payment service providers....