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Ghana CBDC Development: New Central Bank Document Outlines Key Motivations for Issuing the Digital Currency
28.3.2022
In a recently released document, the Bank of Ghana (BOG) outlines some of its key reasons for developing the central bank digital currency (CBDC). Also, in the document, the bank’s governor insists the institution is open to suggestions that will help it to successfully launch the digital...
UAE Venture Capital Firm Launches $100 Million Seed Fund for Blockchain and Crypto Projects
26.3.2022
Cypher Capital, a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based venture capital (VC) firm, has announced the launch of a $100 million seed fund that will primarily avail funding to decentralized finance (defi), gamefi, and metaverse projects. Mentoring of Entrepreneurs A United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based venture...
Venezuela’s Sunacrip Launches Petro-Based Gift Card Market and Exchange
26.3.2022
Sunacrip, the Venezuelan cryptocurrency watchdog, has announced a set of improvements to its Petroapp wallet, allowing Venezuelans to use the petro (PTR) for new functions. The app now has an embedded cryptocurrency exchange that allows users to exchange petros for other currencies, and a series...
Report: Kenya Central Bank Governor Reiterates His Opposition to Cryptocurrencies
25.3.2022
The Kenyan central bank governor has once again told Kenyans to be wary of the risks that are associated with cryptocurrency transactions and trading. The governor also warned financial institutions supporting cryptocurrency transactions that they risk losing their licenses. Crypto Trading...
Salvadoran Bitcoin Bonds Might Be Issued by State Geothermal Company La Geo, Delays Possible
23.3.2022
The treasury minister of El Salvador, Alejandro Zelaya, has informed about the future of the issuance of the bitcoin bonds and the possibility of these being issued by La Geo, the national geothermal power company. Zelaya also referred to the day of issuance of these instruments, hinting at...
Venezuelan Minimum Monthly Wage Not Pegged to the Petro, According to Official Gazette Decree
20.3.2022
The new decree that makes official the recently announced Venezuelan minimum monthly wage rise has been revealed in the Official Gazette, with no mention of its supposed peg to the petro, the national cryptocurrency. The law published mentions that the wage will be 130 VES, using the national fiat...
Crypto Exchange FTX Partners With AZA Finance ‘to Expand the Adoption of Web3 and Digital Currencies in Africa’
19.3.2022
Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX is partnering with AZA Finance to expand the use of digital currencies and Web3 in Africa. Through this arrangement, the two companies will also work to “onboard African NFTs and artists onto the FTX NFT marketplace.” Bolstering Adoption of Web3...
UAE Hospitality Brand Stella Stays Now Accepts Crypto
17.3.2022
A hospitality brand from the United Arab Emirates(UAE), Stella Stays, has announced that its clients can now pay for services with cryptocurrencies. Clients can pay with bitcoin, ethereum, and 35 more digital assets. Stella Stays’ Tilt Towards ‘Futuristic Tech Offerings’...
Kenyans Lost $120 Million to Cryptocurrency Scams in the Past Financial Year — Government Official
17.3.2022
Kenyans are believed to have lost as much as $120 million to cryptocurrency scammers in the last financial year, a government official has said. The official, however, suggested the number of Kenyans losing funds this way can be reduced if the media helps by disseminating the right information....
US Dollar May Increase Pressure on Emerging Markets
14.3.2022
What’s Happening? The gain of the US Dollar has been against ASEAN currencies. It had gained 0.14% against the Singapore dollar, 2.16% against the Thai baht currency, and 0.71% against the Philippine peso. The Indonesian Rupiah was more resilient, with USD/IDR falling 0.54%. This fall could...
Venezuela Increases Minimum Monthly Wage to Half a Petro
7.3.2022
Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela, announced an increase in the minimum wage of workers in the country linked to the petro. In the II Workers’ Congress, Maduro revealed that the new value of the salary would be half a petro, the national cryptocurrency, which is now worth close to $59....
75% of investors in emerging markets want more crypto: survey
4.3.2022
The survey found that the vast majority of investors in APAC and LATAM emerging markets are eager to get more crypto because they believe in its long-term growth trajectory
Study: 77% of Saudis Aware of Cryptocurrencies, Only 18% Currently Buying and Selling
3.3.2022
More than three-quarters of Saudi Arabian residents are aware of cryptocurrencies, a new Yougov survey has found. However, the study also found that only 18% of those surveyed are presently buying and selling cryptocurrencies. Easy Accessibility of Virtual Coins According to the findings of...
First Mover Americas: Fed Hikes Could Drive Bitcoin Adoption in Emerging Markets
3.3.2022
Bitcoin was trading flat to negative even as the European stocks and the S&P 500 futures got a slight tailwind
Islamic Scholar Says Digital Currency is Not a ‘Fictitious Currency’
1.3.2022
An Islamic scholar, Irshad Ahmad Ijaz, has asserted that digital currency is not fake currency and that it should be legitimized once certain conditions are met. Ijaz’s viewpoint is echoed by other scholars that attended a seminar examining the status of digital currencies from...
Reported First Real Estate Purchase Made With Bitcoin in Chile
25.2.2022
Yuval Ben Haym, regional manager of Remax, a real estate firm that operates worldwide, has announced that the “first” real estate purchase with cryptocurrencies has already occurred in Chile. The purchase, that was made using bitcoin, happened last year. Such purchases have also...
Swiss Crypto Bank SEBA Gets License to Operate in UAE Financial Center
24.2.2022
The Swiss crypto bank, SEBA Bank, was recently granted a license to operate in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the UAE’s financial center. The license allows SEBA to conduct regulated services. SEBA’s Strategy The Swiss-registered digital asset bank, SEBA Bank, has been granted...
Venezuela Might Have Cryptocurrency ATMs Again Soon
22.2.2022
While Venezuela has been a leading country for cryptocurrency adoption in Latam, its citizens don’t have access to cryptocurrency ATMs. However, this might change in the future, as Bitbase, a crypto ATM company, is currently in talks with Venezuelan authorities and banks to install some...
President of Central Bank of Peru Criticizes Crypto, Citing Lack of Intrinsic Value and Climate Change
21.2.2022
Julio Velarde, the president of the Central Bank of Peru, attacked the value of cryptocurrencies and referred to negative effects they are said to have on the environment. In a recent interview with local media, Velarde said the Bank did not consider bitcoin a payment method. Instead, Velarde...
Pakistan Central Bank Governor on Cryptocurrency: ‘The Potential Risks Far Outweigh the Benefits’
18.2.2022
The Pakistani central bank governor, Reza Baqir, recently revealed that his organization has determined the risks posed by cryptocurrencies “far outweigh the benefits.” The governor, however, suggested that if solutions that address these potential risks emerge, the central bank...