The Central Bank of Brazil propped up tokenization and “open finance” as key elements of the future’s financial system. In a panel presentation before the IMF and the World Bank, the bank’s president stated that the intersection between these had been underestimated. Central Bank of Brazil Considers Tokenization Potential ‘Underestimated’ In a recent panel presentation […]
World Bank: Nigeria Loses $8B on Foreign Exchange Subsidies Over 3 Years
The World Bank reports that Nigeria lost over $ 8 billion due to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) refusal to float the naira between 2021 and 2023. This foreign exchange subsidy, along with the fuel subsidy, deprived the government of revenue. The World Bank acknowledges the suffering caused by the government’s policies but …
Bank of America Declares Gold the ‘Last Safe Haven’ Asset, Forecasts $3,000 Price
Bank of America sees gold as the last and ultimate safe-haven asset amid rising U.S. debt, urging traders and central banks to increase their holdings. With concerns over fiscal instability and mounting interest payments, the bank forecasts gold could hit $ 3,000 per ounce by 2025, reinforcing its role as a critical hedge against …
The Slow Death of Private Blockchain Tech—R3 Reportedly Explores Sale Despite Big Bank Support
According to a recent report, R3, the private blockchain initiative backed by several major companies—including Intel, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo—has been looking into various strategic paths, including the possibility of a sale. Sources with knowledge of the situation noted that blockchain organizations such as Ava Labs and the Solana Foundation have reportedly been […]
Norway’s Central Bank on CBDC Progress: We’re Not Falling Behind
Norway’s central bank is on track to decide by 2025 whether to adopt a central bank digital currency (CBDC), but officials stress there’s no urgency. Despite Norway’s cashless society, with only 2% using cash, the bank is carefully studying both retail and wholesale CBDC options, emphasizing complex issues and the need for collaboration with other […]
South African Bank Blocks Crypto Payments, Faces Industry Backlash
South African bank Capitec has blocked electronic funds transfers and real-time payments to cryptocurrency exchanges as a security measure. While Capitec acknowledges growing interest in cryptocurrencies, the bank maintains that the measure is necessary to protect clients from fraud. Some industry players view this move as an attempt to restrict crypto trading. Crypto Payments Blocked […]
Can BRICS Dethrone World Bank and IMF? Why Cuba Is Betting on Its Growing Dominance
BRICS is emerging as a potential alternative to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), challenging the dominance of Western-led financial institutions, according to Cuba’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations. With major economies like China and Russia among its members, BRICS offers developing nations more favorable financial terms. Countries such as Cuba and […]
Nigerian Currency ‘Most Competitive in 20 Years,’ Says World Bank
Nigeria’s currency reforms under Bola Tinubu’s government have made the naira one of the most competitive in 20 years, according to World Bank chief economist Indermit Gill. The decision to float the naira and remove fuel subsidies helped prevent fiscal collapse. While the naira’s devaluation has exacerbated poverty and raised concerns about civil unrest but […]
BRICS Bank Offers Zimbabwe Escape From IMF Debt Traps, Says Professor
A Zimbabwean professor has highlighted the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) as a crucial alternative to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), offering better financial terms to developing nations. He emphasized the NDB’s role in helping countries like Zimbabwe escape debt cycles and discussed the introduction of Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), a currency backed by mineral wealth, […]
AED Stablecoin Gets Green Light From UAE Central Bank
AED Stablecoin LLC has received approval from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to launch its stablecoin, AE Coin. This makes AED Stablecoin the first entity in the UAE to issue stablecoins, aligning with the government’s digital strategy. AE Coin is a fiat-backed stablecoin, meaning each coin is backed by the AED […]
TD Bank Makes History as First US Bank to Plead Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy
TD Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S., has agreed to pay a record $ 3 billion penalty, the largest ever under the Bank Secrecy Act, after pleading guilty to felony charges. The bank is the largest in U.S. history to plead guilty to Bank Secrecy Act program failures and the …
Brazillian Central Bank Invites New Participants to CBDC Pilot Program
The Brazilian Central Bank is opening the drex CBDC pilot to new entrants, aiming to test more advanced use cases and privacy solutions for the project’s second phase. Thirteen use cases have been confirmed, including carbon credits, agricultural bonds, and foreign trade platforms. Brazilian Central Banks Opens CBDC Pilot to New Consortiums Brazil is preparing […]
National Bank of Bahrain Launches Bitcoin Investment Product
The National Bank of Bahrain has made a groundbreaking move by launching the first bitcoin-linked structured investment product in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This innovation, developed with ARP Digital, highlights Bahrain’s leadership in fintech while offering accredited investors a secure way to tap into bitcoin’s long-term growth potential. NBB Launches First Bitcoin-Linked Investment Product […]
Nigeria Central Bank Governor Defends Naira Float Decision
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, emphasized the importance of the decision to float the naira, despite public criticism of the move. He stated that the disparity between official and parallel exchange rates encouraged arbitrage and speculation, eroding market trust. He highlighted the positive impact of the decision on reducing […]
Aussie Bank Joins MAS’ Digital Asset Interoperability Project
The Australian financial institution ANZ Bank has joined Project Guardian, a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) initiative exploring the digitization of financial markets. In partnership with Chainlink Labs and ADDX, ANZ will investigate the interoperability of private blockchains for exchanging tokenized assets like commercial paper. ANZ aims to contribute to developing a stable, secure digital […]