Gold and Bitcoin Markets Tested, While Central Banks Try to Quell Stock Market Rout

Central banks worldwide have been bracing for the worst, as the global economy has shuddered over the last seven days. On March 11, the Bank of England slashed rates by 50 bps bringing the base rate down to 0.25%. Meanwhile, Wall Street bankers and U.S. President Donald Trump want the Federal Reserve to slash rates … Read more

G20 Kicks Off 2020 Discussion on Cryptocurrencies — Urges Countries to Apply FATF Standards

The G20 finance ministers and central bank governors had their first 2020 meeting this weekend in Saudi Arabia. They discussed cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, and issued a statement urging countries to implement the cryptocurrency standards set by the Financial Action Task Force. They were also informed that the Financial Stability Board will soon issue its crypto … Read more

ECB Keeps Subzero Interest Rates and Open-Ended QE Worth €20B a Month But Launches Policy Review

The European Central Bank (ECB) has launched an extensive review that will examine a wide range of its policies by the end of this year. Under its new president, Christine Lagarde, the bank will try to establish why its monetary stimulus has failed to achieve the Eurozone’s goal of close to 2% inflation. Sharing few … Read more

Trump ‘Loves’ Negative Rates and ‘Could Get Used to’ Them, Criticizes Fed at World Economic Forum, China Trade Deal

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland Tuesday saying the U.S. and other nations are “forced to compete … with nations that are getting negative rates, something very new.” Trump took direct shots at the U.S. Federal Reserve, claiming they’ve not lowered rates quickly enough. The harsh words echo … Read more

ECB Wants Active Role in Crypto, Will Not Deter Private Solutions

The European Central Bank (ECB) wants to play an active role in the field of digital currency, said President Christine Lagarde. As the bank works on its own digital currency and an instant payment system, Lagarde emphasizes that “central bank initiatives should neither discourage nor crowd out private market-led solutions for fast and efficient retail … Read more

Regulatory Roundup: Crypto ‘Inevitable’ in India, China Rankings, NY Streamlines Policy

In this regulatory roundup, we cover a positive crypto story in India, China’s year-end rankings, and the European Central Bank entering the stablecoin race. We also cover the New York regulator’s proposed Bitlicense revision — the first in five years — and several other notable regulatory developments in the crypto space. Also read: Regulatory Roundup … Read more

Lagarde Sees Demand for Stablecoins, Plans to Put ECB ‘Ahead of the Curve’

At her first press conference as head of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde outlined her plans to lead the ECB “ahead of the curve” in the field of digital currency. “There is clearly a demand out there that we have to respond to,” she said, referring to stablecoins. Also read: Regulatory Roundup – … Read more

ECB Nominee Blames Resistance to Negative Rates on Financial Illiteracy

European Central Bank (ECB) executive board nominee and member of the German Council of Economic Experts, Isabel Schnabel, recently remarked at a European Parliament hearing that “This scapegoating [of the ECB] is extremely dangerous: it may damage the trust in the euro.” Schnabel was speaking out in defense of negative deposit rates being employed as … Read more

ECB President: ’We Should Be Happier to Have a Job Than to Have Our Savings Protected’

Newly installed European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde made controversial remarks in a recent statement prior to assuming her new role. The former IMF Managing Director implored: “isn’t it true that ultimately we have done the right thing to act in favour of jobs and of growth rather than the protection of savers?” Regarding former … Read more