Qatar Financial Center (QFC) has launched its Digital Assets Lab, selecting 24 participants to develop innovative digital solutions using distributed ledger technology. Key partners include Google Cloud, Masraf Al Rayan, The Hashgraph Association, and R3. Lab Participants to Lead Digital Transformation In a move signaling Qatar’s embrace of digital assets, the QFC, the region’s leading […]
The Bank of Russia aims to open the payment infrastructure for the Russian central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital ruble, by July next year. Larger banks will offer digital ruble accounts and services by this deadline, with smaller institutions following later. The initiative seeks to enhance payment efficiency and reduce costs, with retailers also […]
A U.S. congressman has introduced the Bridging Regulation and Innovation for Digital Global and Electronic Digital Assets Act (BRIDGE Act), aimed at improving collaboration between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on digital asset regulations. The bill proposes forming a Joint Advisory Committee to unite both agencies and […]
Swift has unveiled a plan to enable the movement of digital assets and currencies on its global payment network. The initiative aims to integrate regulated digital currencies into Swift’s platform, building on past experiments. “We’re paving the way towards real-world solutions that will enable our members to access and transact with regulated digital assets and […]
Onedegree, an Asian digital assets insurer, and its UAE partner, Dubai Insurance, have started offering digital asset custodial risk insurance to clients in the UAE. This new product, approved by the Central Bank of UAE, expands both companies’ product portfolio and offers a comprehensive solution to UAE digital asset companies. The launch of this insurance […]
Moonpay has successfully registered with the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) to provide digital currency exchange services in Australia. This registration will enable Moonpay to establish local payment processing relationships and offer Australian users alternative payment methods such as Osko and Pay ID. As a registered entity, Moonpay will comply with Australia’s AML/CTF […]
The UK Ministry of Justice has introduced the Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill to recognize bitcoin and other digital assets as personal property under English and Welsh law. Led by Justice Minister Heidi Alexander, this bill addresses legal uncertainties around digital assets, ensuring better protection for owners in fraud cases and disputes. It also positions […]
China’s digital yuan initiative has advanced considerably, backed by over a decade of research and four years of pilot experimentation, according to Lu Lei, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC). Trials for the Chinese central bank digital currency (CBDC) have been conducted in 17 different areas, accumulating a total transaction value of […]
The North Carolina General Assembly has overridden Governor Roy Cooper’s veto to enact a bill prohibiting a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the state. The Senate voted 27-17, securing the required supermajority. The bill bars payments using CBDC and state participation in Federal Reserve testing. This bill reflects strong opposition to CBDCs and emphasizes […]
Financial giant State Street Global Advisors has launched three digital asset and disruptive technology exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in collaboration with Galaxy Asset Management, focusing on blockchain, AI, and volatility management. These actively managed ETFs aim to capture market inefficiencies and adapt to the evolving digital asset space, offering investors exposure to cutting-edge technology trends through […]
Russia’s central bank is expanding its digital currency pilot program, involving 9,000 individuals and 1,200 companies. New features for the digital ruble, including payments via QR code, will be tested. Full-scale implementation is expected by late 2025. According to officials, demand for the digital ruble is growing, with successful integration anticipated due to ongoing sanctions. […]
After a dip in August, the first week of September didn’t bring much sunshine to the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Sales slid by 7.69% over the seven-day period. The total number of NFT transactions was just over 1 million, which is a notable 36.93% drop from the previous week. September NFT Sales Struggle With […]
According to Victor Yu, co-founder of Carv, the current digital ecosystem favors data distributors over data creators. While he acknowledges the usefulness of regulatory frameworks like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)in overseeing internet users, Yu believes these frameworks fall short because they do not translate into full user […]
Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma’s Financial Market Committee, has discussed the use of national digital currencies for bilateral settlements between Russia and China. In a recent interview with Russian media, Aksakov stated that these instruments will be considered for such settlements as soon as the regulatory and technological platforms for this task are […]
A law professor at the East China University of Political Science and Law has highlighted the urgent need for China to standardize procedures for recovering illicit digital assets due to a rise in cryptocurrency-related crimes. He stressed the lack of uniform standards complicates asset recovery and urged for comprehensive guidelines and international cooperation to manage […]