US Treasury Sanctions Cambodian Tycoon Over Crypto Fraud and Trafficking Links

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on Cambodian tycoon Ly Yong Phat and his businesses, linking them to human trafficking and forced labor scams involving cryptocurrency fraud. Victims were manipulated into online scam centers, and trafficked workers were forced into labor for these schemes. The sanctions freeze U.S.-based assets and prohibit transactions, … Read more

Cambodian Firm Receives $150K in Crypto From North Korean Hackers

A major payments firm in Cambodia, Huione Pay, received over $150,000 in cryptocurrency from a digital wallet used by the North Korean hacking group Lazarus, according to blockchain data reviewed by Reuters. The crypto was sent to Huione Pay between June 2023 and February 2024 from a wallet linked to funds stolen from Atomic Wallet, … Read more

UN Development Programme Partners With Dfinity Foundation to Boost MSME Inclusion

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has announced a partnership with the Dfinity Foundation to enhance its Universal Trusted Credentials (UTC) initiative. The collaboration aims to improve financial inclusion for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) globally using blockchain technology. UN Project Explores Digital Identity Solutions for MSME Financing The partnership will focus on developing … Read more

10 Southeast Asian Nations Challenge Dollar Dominance With Push for Local Currencies

The leaders of 10 Southeast Asian nations, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), have agreed to “encourage the use of local currencies for economic and financial transactions.” The group comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. This move will help them reduce their reliance on the U.S. … Read more

India to Facilitate International Settlements in Rupees to Reduce Dependence on the US Dollar

The government of India has announced that it will facilitate the settlement of international transactions using its national currency, the rupee. As part of its foreign trading policy framework implemented on April 1, the country introduced this measure to facilitate payments for countries experiencing a U.S. dollar crush. India to Offer Rupee-Based Settlement Options for … Read more