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Latam Insights — Venezuelan Gold Battle Continues, Argentina Seeks Yuan Funding Extension
29.5.2023
Welcome to Latam Insights, a compendium of Latin America’s most relevant crypto and economic development news during the last week. In this issue, Venezuela tries to regain control of the gold stash held in London again; Argentina seeks to expand the Chinese yuan swap line; and Azteco enables...
Chinese Yuan to Replace US Dollar as World’s Reserve Currency, Says Russian Banker
29.5.2023
Russia’s second-largest bank’s chairman says there is every reason to expect the Chinese yuan to replace the U.S. dollar as the world’s main reserve currency. He highlighted that the central bank of Russia has already begun investing its reserves in yuan, and over 70% of the trade turnover...
Argentina to Expand De-Dollarization Efforts; Seeks Extension of Yuan Based Swap Line With China
27.5.2023
The government of Argentina is reportedly seeking to expand its de-dollarization agreement with China due to the lack of dollars that the country is facing. According to reports, Economy Minister Sergio Massa would be in talks to expand the current swap line to double the available amount from...
Putin Believes Decentralization Will Help Global Economy Be More Resilient
26.5.2023
Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated that the decentralization of the finance system might benefit the global economy, allowing it to be more resilient in the long run. At the second Eurasian Economic Forum, Putin explained that building this decentralized system would allow for...
Binance CEO Claims Chinese Communities Are ‘Buzzing’ After CCTV Airs Crypto Segment
25.5.2023
On May 24, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, shared through Twitter that “Chinese speaking communities are buzzing” following a news broadcast by state-operated media network China Central Television (CCTV) regarding Hong Kong’s latest cryptocurrency-focused regulatory...
Russia and China Carry Out Most Settlements in Yuan and Ruble, Russian PM Mikhail Mishustin Says
24.5.2023
The larger portion of payments between Russia and China are now processed using the currencies of the two countries, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin revealed. Moscow and Beijing intend to increase mutual trade beyond the $200-billion target this year, added the head of the Russian government....
Nobel Prize Laureate Paul Krugman Warns of Disruption in Financial Markets Without US Dollar
23.5.2023
Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman says that no currency can play the role of the U.S. dollar. Commenting on the de-dollarization trend and the possible U.S. default, he emphasized that without the USD, “financial markets will be disrupted by the lack of any safe, liquid asset.” Economist...
SWIFT Data Shows Despite De-Dollarization Push, US Dollar Is Still the King of International Settlements
22.5.2023
The share of the U.S. dollar usage for international payments has risen to 42.71% in April, despite the push of some countries towards de-dollarization. The dollar remains the most used currency in international settlements, with the euro taking second place according to data from the Society...
Russia and Iran Phasing Out US Dollar in Bilateral Trade Settlements
19.5.2023
The governments of Russia and Iran are starting to phase out the usage of the U.S. dollar to conduct bilateral trade settlements. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that 80% of Russia-Iran trade transactions are settled using national currencies and that they are considering also...
South African Minister Tells BRICS Nations Not to Rush Decision on Common Currency
11.5.2023
The South African minister of international relations, Naledi Pandor, has urged Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) countries to be wary of making a hurried decision when they meet in August to discuss launching a common currency. Pandor said her country will “not shy away...
President Raisi Calls on Central Bank of Iran to Ditch US Dollar in Trade, Shift to National Currencies
9.5.2023
Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi has called on the Central Bank of Iran to lay the groundwork necessary to ditch the U.S. dollar for bilateral trade settlements and to make the switch to use the Iranian real whenever possible. The Central Bank of Iran has already started implementing this policy...
Russia Projected to Start Purchasing Chinese Yuan for Its Foreign Reserves as Soon as May
4.5.2023
Russia will start to purchase Chinese yuan for its international reserves as soon as this month, according to reports from Russian economists. While analysts state that the purchases will be small and symbolic in the beginning, these will supposedly demonstrate a turnaround in the economy of...
China Ramped Up Gold Production During Q1 Amidst Steady Demand From Central Banks
2.5.2023
Gold companies operating in China ramped up their production levels during the first quarter of 2023. According to industry reports, the Chinese gold industry managed to recover its extraction levels, reaching numbers it saw before the Covid pandemic, with the country engaging in a record streak...
Syria Urges BRICS to Lead in Ditching Dollar, Talks Yuan Adoption With China
1.5.2023
BRICS nations can lead efforts to abandon the U.S. dollar in international settlements, according to President Bashar Assad of Syria. At a meeting with China’s top diplomat for the region, the leader of the war-torn Middle Eastern country called for using the Chinese yuan for cross-border trade....
Almost 50 Russian Banks Accept Yuan Deposits Amid Low Demand for Dollar Accounts
29.4.2023
A growing number of banking institutions in Russia are offering customers the option to save in Chinese yuan. The trend coincides with declining demand for U.S. dollar and euro deposits amid currency restrictions that triggered a flight of funds to bank accounts abroad. Demand for Dollar, Euro...
Argentina to Settle Chinese Imports in Yuan to Safeguard Dwindling Dollar Reserves
29.4.2023
The economy minister of Argentina, Sergio Massa, announced that starting this month, payments for imports coming from China will be settled using the Chinese yuan. The agreement, which will allow the country to safeguard its dwindling dollar reserves, involves the disbursement of more than...
Chinese Yuan Overtakes US Dollar as Most Used Currency to Settle Cross-Border Payments in China
27.4.2023
The Chinese yuan is now China’s most used currency for cross-border settlements. According to official data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, the Chinese yuan rose to be the most-used currency in March over the U.S. dollar, in a push from the Beijing government...
Hong Kong Judge Rules Crypto Assets as ‘Property,’ Following Similar Rulings Worldwide
19.4.2023
In a court case linked to the now-defunct crypto exchange Gatecoin, a Hong Kong judge has ruled that cryptocurrencies are “property” which is “capable of being held on trust.” According to the law firm Hogan Lovells, this case should provide greater clarity to insolvency...
Brazil and China Deepen Trade Integration to Move Away From US Dollar, as First Yuan-Based Settlement Is Processed
15.4.2023
Brazil and China have reached a milestone in their economic integration, as the first bilateral settlement in Chinese yuan was completed ahead of the visit of President Luis Inacio “Lula” da Silva to China. The settlement, which was processed by the Industrial and Commercial Bank...
Hong Kong’s Largest Virtual Bank Offers Crypto Conversion Services
15.4.2023
ZA Bank, Hong Kong’s biggest virtual-only lender, intends to expand its business into the region’s growing digital assets sector. The banking platform will offer crypto-to-fiat conversions and account services as the Chinese financial center is seeking to embrace the industry. ZA Bank to Provide...