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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Signals Support for Single Currency in Latam, Calls for Crypto Inclusion
22.11.2022
Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela, has expressed his support for the adoption of a new common currency for Latam in the latest meeting of the Workgroup of the Sao Paolo Forum. Maduro stated that this would be an important step for the construction of a common economic space, that would also...
Abu Dhabi Fintech Startup Raises $20 Million in Series B Funding Round
9.11.2022
Abu Dhabi-based fintech, Pyypl, announced on Nov. 7 that it had raised $20 million in Series B funding and this brought the total of funds raised to nearly $40 million. Pyypl has said it plans to use the recently raised funds to develop and add new features to its proprietary technology....
Egyptian Currency Plunges 15% After Cairo Accedes to Key IMF Exchange Rate Condition
28.10.2022
After authorities in Egypt announced the adoption of a more flexible exchange rate regime, the pound exchange rate versus the U.S dollar plunged to 23.09:1, a new low for the currency. Cairo’s apparent devaluation of the Egyptian pound met a key condition set by the International Monetary...
Costa Rica Might Be the Next Country to Establish Bitcoin as Regulated Currency
28.10.2022
Costa Rica could be one of the next countries to adopt bitcoin as a regulated payment method. This week, Congresswoman Johana Obando introduced a bill to allow bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to serve as a form of payment. The bill also proposes that traditional banking institutions be able...
Nigerian CBDC Still Not Widely Used a Year After Launch
27.10.2022
On October 25, Nigeria commemorated the first anniversary of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s e-naira, even as more residents continue to snub the digital currency. In a move aimed at boosting the use of the CBDC, the central bank is offering a 5% discount to motorized rickshaw drivers...
Recent Poll Shows Citizens of El Salvador Still Not Sold on Bitcoin
26.10.2022
A recent poll completed by the Public Opinion University Institute, part of the Simeon Canas Centroamerican University, has found that El Salvador is still not attracted by the idea of bitcoin as legal tender. The poll results indicate that almost two-thirds of the population has a negative...
Africa Focused Crypto Exchange Yellow Card Granted VASPs License in Botswana
25.10.2022
Yellow Card, an Africa-focused cryptocurrency exchange platform, recently said it has received a virtual asset service provider (VASP) license to operate in Botswana. Granted by the country’s Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority, Yellow Card’s license allows the crypto...
Chainalysis: Stablecoins Used to Fight Devaluation and Inflation in Latam
24.10.2022
According to Chainalysis, a crypto auditing and blockchain tracking firm, the use of dollar-pegged stablecoins is growing in Latam, specifically in Argentina and Venezuela, due to the common economic problems that both countries are facing. 34% of the “small” transactions include...
Report: Turkey’s September Gold Imports up by 1,700% as Individuals Swap Falling Lira With the Precious Metal
15.10.2022
Turkey’s gold imports of just over 39,000 kilograms in September 2022 are more than 16 times the quantity that was brought into the country in September 2021. The surge in Turkey’s gold imports is reportedly being spurred by the rise in demand for the precious metal by individuals...
Study: MENA Crypto Volumes Grew Fastest Between July 2021 and June 2022 — Turkey Cements Position as Region’s Largest Market
8.10.2022
Of the $566 billion in cryptocurrency transaction volume for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region between July 2021 and June 2022, nearly 40% went to Turkey, which kept its place as the region’s biggest cryptocurrency market, according to the latest Chainalysis data....
Kenyan Central Bank Raises Key Rate by 75 Basis Points
2.10.2022
The monetary policy committee of the Kenyan central bank recently revealed it increased the central bank rate by 75 basis points from 7.5% to 8.25%. Justifying its decision to act, the committee cites growing inflationary pressures and increased global risks, as well as their likely impact on...
Binance Resumes Offering Futures Trading Products to South African Users
27.9.2022
One of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchanges by volumes traded, Binance, has said its futures products are now available to eligible South African users. In a message to its users, Binance suggested it has rectified issues with the regional regulator and that its activities in South...
Report: Financial Services Giant Old Mutual Appointed Manager of South African Stablecoin Project’s Cash Reserves
15.9.2022
One of South Africa’s largest financial services groups, Old Mutual, has reportedly been appointed manager of the ZARP stablecoin project’s cash reserves. Founders of the stablecoin are hopeful that the appointment of one of the country’s oldest financial services companies...
Dubai Luxury Hotel Palazzo Versace Allows Guests to Pay in Crypto
13.9.2022
Guests staying at Palazzo Versace Dubai have, since September 7, had an option to settle payment for services rendered via cryptocurrency. The hotel also plans to add the crypto payment option to its e-commerce platforms to enable guests to pay for gift vouchers using digital currencies....
IMF Bailout Approval Helps Zambian Kwacha Take the Russian Ruble’s Position as World’s Best Performing Currency
3.9.2022
After the International Money Fund revealed it had approved a bailout package for Zambia, the Southern African country’s currency, the kwacha, rallied by 3.1%. Following this gain, the kwacha took the Russian ruble’s position as the world’s best-performing currency in 2022....
Bitfinex CTO Paolo Ardoino States Salvadoran Bitcoin Bonds to Be Further Delayed
1.9.2022
The launch of El Salvador’s bitcoin bonds, issued to finance part of the construction of the Bitcoin City in the country, will be delayed again. In a recent interview Paolo Ardoino, CTO at Bitfinex, the exchange in which these bonds will be offered, stated that the law framework needed...
Bitcoin Beach to Receive More Than $203 Million in Infrastructure Investments in El Salvador
31.8.2022
El Zonte, a beach in El Salvador rebaptized as “Bitcoin Beach” due to its adoption of the cryptocurrency, will receive infrastructure investments as part of a strategic plan of the government of El Salvador. Surf City, another beach location in the La Libertad region, will also...
Report: East African Single Currency Unlikely to Be Introduced by 2024
25.8.2022
There are growing doubts about the regional economic bloc known as the East African Community’s ability to successfully launch a single currency by 2024, a report has said. One of the reasons for this is member states’ delays in meeting targets as set out in the roadmap. Attainment...
Nigerian BTC Peer-to-Peer Volumes Nearly $400M in H1 of 2022 — Significant Growth in Kenya and Ghana Volumes
25.8.2022
Nigeria’s peer-to-peer bitcoin traded volumes of over $1.1 billion between January 2021 and June 2022 mean the West African nation is now Paxful’s largest market. Kenya, which saw traded volumes of over $325 million during the same period, now ranks as the crypto exchange’s...
Report: Nigerian Central Bank Targets Tenfold Increase in Number of CBDC Users, Governor Says Use of Cash Will ‘Dissipate to Zero’
23.8.2022
Despite the apparent slow embrace of the e-naira digital currency by Nigerians, the Central Bank of Nigeria governor has said his institution is targeting a tenfold increase in the number of users of the digital currency in the next twelve months. The governor predicted that the use of cash will...