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Nigeria Proposes Rule Requiring Foreign Crypto Exchanges to Incorporate in the Country
17.3.2024
The Nigerian Securities Regulator has proposed a rule requiring virtual asset service providers to be incorporated and maintain an office within Nigeria. The regulator has also suggested a fivefold increase in the registration fee, which must be submitted alongside license applications from...
Economic Intelligence Unit: Nigerian Central Bank Lacks Capacity to Defend Local Currency
12.3.2024
The Economic Intelligence Unit has stated that the Central Bank of Nigeria cannot halt the rapid depreciation of the local currency. The continued volatility of the naira is expected to result in erratic regulation, primarily affecting businesses that hold foreign exchange. Nigeria Presses Ahead...
Egypt Devalues Currency, Raises Interest Rates to Fulfill Key IMF Aid Requirement
8.3.2024
Authorities in Egypt recently allowed the local currency’s exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar to decrease by more than 60%. Additionally, the central bank raised interest rates by 600 basis points. Both steps were key conditions set by the IMF which Egypt had to meet before the approval of a...
Nigerian Users Criticize Binance for Imposing Exchange Rate Caps on USDT to Naira Transactions
22.2.2024
Some Nigeria-based users of Binance’s peer-to-peer platform have blasted the crypto exchange’s decision to block or remove traders quoting USDT to naira exchange rates exceeding NGN1,802. Binance says it has the right to remove “users behaving in a malicious or manipulative...
Nigeria’s Headline Inflation Increases as Central Bank Intensifies Foreign Exchange Controls
17.2.2024
In the first month of 2024, Nigeria’s headline inflation rose from nearly one percent to 29.9%. However, on a year-on-year basis, the January 2024 headline inflation rate was 8.08 percentage points higher than the January 2023 rate. Many commentators identify foreign exchange shortages as...
Nigerian Currency Depreciation: Central Bank Head Reaffirms Commitment to Reviving Confidence in the Economy
8.2.2024
The Nigerian central bank remains committed to building confidence in the economy but that hinges on the implementation of “bold reforms” and residents’ help in easing pressure on the naira. However, critics have faulted the central bank’s policies including the devaluation...
Nigeria Forex Crisis: Central Bank Removes Cap on Exchange Rate for International Money Transfer Operators
4.2.2024
The Central Bank of Nigeria announced on Jan. 31 that it had removed caps on naira payout rates that international money transfer operators are allowed to quote. The central bank said the policy change is an effort aimed at further liberalizing the foreign exchange market. The naira’s Feb.1...
EU Regulator Proposes Stricter Rules for Foreign Crypto Firms
3.2.2024
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator, has proposed stricter rules for crypto firms based outside the EU, limiting their ability to directly serve customers within the bloc to ensure fair competition. ESMA Proposes Stricter Rules for Non-EU...
OFAC Blocks Venezuelan Gold Business, Warns About Upcoming Oil Sanctions
2.2.2024
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has revoked the license of Minerven, the Venezuela-owned gold company, for commercializing gold in international markets. The sanctions on Minerven, which were eased in October, will be applied again on February 13, with oil and gas sanctions reported...
Russia Open to the Use of Crypto in Foreign Trade Says Central Bank Governor
1.2.2024
The Russian Central Bank is discussing the possible use of central bank digital currencies as a payment method in foreign trade, according to Elvira Nabiullina, the bank’s governor. Nabiullina stated that while Russia is opposed to the use of crypto payments in domestic transactions, the country...
Nigerian Currency Plunges to New Low Versus the USD, Central Bank Governor Says Naira is ‘Undervalued’
28.1.2024
The Nigerian currency reportedly plunged to a new low versus the U.S. dollar on the official market on Jan.25. Central Bank governor Olayemi Cardoso has said the naira is currently “undervalued” and that efforts are underway to rectify this. Official and Parallel Market Exchange Rates...
US Treasury Announces New Sanctions Against Hamas-linked Crypto Companies
22.1.2024
The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has imposed new sanctions on facilitators and networks involved in crypto transactions linked to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. In an announcement posted on January 22, the Office of Foreign Assets Control...
Castle Funds’ COO Exclusive: Just Because Bitcoin ETFs Are Allowed Doesn’t Mean They’ll Succeed
22.1.2024
In an insightful interview with Cryptonews, Dan Hoover, the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at investment firm Castle Funds, discussed several Bitcoin ETF-related topics. These include how valuable Bitcoin ETF trading volume information really is, what it takes for ETFs...
Coinbase’s CLO Criticizes U.S. GAO for Lack of Analysis on Crypto Sanctions Risk
22.1.2024
Coinbase‘s chief legal officer Paul Grewal has criticized the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) following its recent report describing crypto as a tool for foreign entities to evade sanctions. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), the Coinbase executive expressed...
Two South Korean Brokerages Pause Transactions of Foreign Spot Bitcoin ETFs
12.1.2024
Source: Pixabay Two major South Korean securities firms have suspended transaction services of foreign spot Bitcoin ETFs. Following an announcement from South Korea’s Financial Services Commission, the country’s top financial watchdog, Samsung Securities and Mirae Asset Securities...
South Korea’s Tax Authority, DAXA Form Committee to Prevent Illegal Transactions: Report
8.1.2024
Source: Pixabay South Korea’s tax Authority, the Korea Customs Service group and five major cryptocurrency exchanges including Bithumb Korea, Coinone, Korbit, and Streami have formed a group to prevent illegal foreign transactions, according to a report by News1.KR. The Digital Asset Exchange...
South Korea Proposes Ban on Crypto Purchases with Credit Cards
4.1.2024
Source: Pixabay / viarami South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) has announced a proposal to amend its Enforcement Decree of the Credit-Specialized Financial Business Act, aiming to ban crypto purchases with credit cards. The proposed amendment plans to restrict the use of credit...
Report: Turkey Exits From Foreign Exchange Protected Deposit Program
3.1.2024
On Jan. 1 Turkey ended its two-year-old foreign exchange (FX)—protected deposit program in what is seen as another step towards a return to orthodoxy. Treasury and Finance Minister, Mehmet Simsek also signaled the start of what he called a “permanent improvement in the current account.”...
Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer Slams US Decision to Drop Additional Charges Against Bankman-Fried, Calls it a ‘Miscarriage of Justice’
1.1.2024
Source: a video screenshot, ABC News / YouTube US prosecutors have decided not to pursue the remaining charges against Sam Bankman-Fried, including allegations of foreign bribery and bank fraud. However, it is the dropped charge of unlawful political donations that has sparked significant concern...
China Tightens Grip on Cryptocurrency Trading, Targets Use of Tether in Foreign Exchange
29.12.2023
Source: AdobeStock / Wit Chinese authorities have issued a stern directive for an enhanced crackdown on the use of cryptocurrencies, emphasizing their role in illegal foreign exchange trading as part of ongoing efforts to mitigate financial risks. In a joint statement released on Wednesday,...