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Latam Insights — Argentina Settles IMF Payment in Yuan; Brazilian CBDC to Be Launched in 2024
3.7.2023
Welcome to Latam Insights, a compendium of Latin America’s most relevant crypto and economic news during the last week. In this issue, Argentina settles part of its $44 billion debt with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) using the Chinese yuan, Central Bank of Brazil officials estimate...
Ethiopia Joins Egypt in Seeking BRICS Membership
3.7.2023
Ethiopia has joined Egypt and Algeria in applying to become a member of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) economic bloc. According to the Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Ministry, joining the bloc would help the country guarantee its national interests. Safeguarding Ethiopian National...
Argentina Allows Banks to Open Yuan Accounts — Economist Says It Could Boost Chinese Currency as Safe Haven Alternative to US Dollar
2.7.2023
The central bank of Argentina has officially included the Chinese yuan as a recognized currency for making deposits in bank accounts. “Opening yuan accounts could attract more people and enterprises to exchange Argentinian peso to yuan, as more or less a ‘safe haven’ currency, instead of exchanging...
US Judge Orders Kraken to Release Customer Data to IRS in Cryptocurrency Tax Probe
1.7.2023
Kraken, the San Francisco-headquartered digital currency exchange, has received a court order from a U.S. judge requiring the release of customer data to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The court filing, submitted on Friday, states that the IRS is seeking details pertaining to accounts that...
Is Fednow the First Step Towards a Central Bank Digital Currency? Speculations Rise Ahead of Launch
30.6.2023
In recent days, there has been a buzz surrounding the upcoming debut of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s Fednow project, slated for July 1, 2023. The discussions surrounding this topic have sparked speculation about whether this marks the central bank’s inaugural foray into a central bank...
North Carolina Advances Bill to Study Holding Bitcoin, Using Crypto to Hedge Against Inflation
30.6.2023
The U.S. state of North Carolina has advanced a bill to study holding cryptocurrencies, particularly bitcoin, in the state treasury. The bill appropriates $50,000 from the state’s general fund to study three areas, including “The process of acquiring, securely storing, insuring, and liquidating...
Ledger Unveils Tradelink: A Custodial Crypto Trading Platform Tailored for Institutions
28.6.2023
On June 28, the crypto hardware wallet manufacturer and security firm Ledger unveiled its latest offering, a digital currency exchange and custodial solution service, specifically tailored for institutions. The new service, known as Tradelink, has been heralded by Ledger as “the first open network...
CFTC issues $54M default judgment against trader in crypto fraud scheme
28.6.2023
As a result of the judgment, the defendant is also now prohibited from engaging in any trading activities within markets regulated by the CFTC and is barred from registering with the regulatory body
European Commission aims for universal acceptance with Digital Euro proposal
28.6.2023
With this move, the European Commission aims to open up the payments market that has been controlled by banks, Visa and Mastercard
Swiss Central Bank to Launch Wholesale CBDC Soon Says Chairman Thomas Jordan
28.6.2023
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) said it plans to issue a wholesale central bank digital currency as a pilot via SIX Digital Exchange, a subsidiary of SIX, an operator of infrastructure for the Swiss and Spanish financial centers. SNB chairman Thomas Jordan said while the Central Bank has not ruled...
Shanghai Clearing House Introduces Support for Digital Yuan Settlements
28.6.2023
The Shanghai Clearing House, Asia’s first counterparty clearing institution, announced support for payments made with the digital yuan Monday. According to reports, the move will allow companies to settle transactions for commodities in bulk, promoting the digital yuan, the Chinese central...
Nevada’s Financial Watchdog Seeks Receivership of Crypto Custodian Prime Trust Amidst Insolvency Concerns
28.6.2023
In a recent submission to the Eighth Judicial District Court in Las Vegas, the Nevada Financial Institutions Division has expressed its intention to take decisive action against the crypto custodian Prime Trust. The regulatory body seeks to not only shut down Prime Trust but also swiftly seize...
IMF Director: Iranians, Brazilians, Saudis Switching to Trade in Chinese Yuan as De-Dollarization Gains Momentum
28.6.2023
The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) executive director for Russia says a growing number of countries are switching to trade in Chinese yuan, not only with China but also with third countries. He stressed that it is wrong for the U.S. dollar to be widely used globally given that the U.S....
Digital pound will be pseudonymous with a focus on privacy: BoE CBDC chief
27.6.2023
The underpinning technology for the UK CBDC could use a different ledger than the popular blockchain technology
Zimbabwe's Gold-Backed Digital Token Won't Fix the Country's Currency Woes, Economists Say
27.6.2023
Sound macroeconomic policies like raising interest rates and bringing down the country's deficit could dampen Zimbabwe's currency instability, economists said
IMF Boss: Supporting Egyptian Currency Akin to ‘Putting Water in a Bucket That Has Holes’
27.6.2023
Kristalina Georgieva, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s managing director, has said Egypt needs to plug leakages of foreign reserves if it wishes to successfully support its currency. According to the IMF leader, Egyptian authorities must also do more to support the vulnerable and...
Yuan Usage Soars in Argentina: Over 500 Companies Request to Pay for Imports in Chinese Currency, Report
27.6.2023
Over 500 companies in Argentina have reportedly requested to pay for imports using Chinese yuan as the U.S. dollar shortage worsens. “The central bank doesn’t have dollars so it needs the emergency aid China is offering,” a trade economist in Buenos Aires explained. Chinese Yuan Usage Hits Record...
North Korean Analyst Warns of Accelerating End to Dollar Dominance — Says BRICS Poses Challenge to US Hegemony
27.6.2023
A North Korean analyst has cautioned that the actions taken by the U.S. to restrict the usage of the dollar and the growing interest of countries to join the BRICS bloc are “accelerating” the decline of the USD as the world’s dominant currency. North Korean State Media...
Economist Jim Rickards Warns of a CBDC-Supported Social Credit System in the US: ‘It Can Happen Here’
26.6.2023
Jim Rickards, an economist and investment banker, has warned about the establishment of a social credit system powered by the issuance of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). According to Rickards, this combination could be used to restrict the civil liberties of Americans by limiting their...
What is De-Dollarization? Exploring the Shift Away From the US Dollar’s Global Dominance
25.6.2023
From the latter half of 2022 and continuing into 2023, the concept of de-dollarization has gained significant traction, making its mark on the mainstream media. This surge in attention can be attributed to the concerted efforts of BRICS countries such as Brazil, China, and Russia, who...