McKinsey Report: Tokenization at a Tipping Point, Poised to Transform Financial Markets

The world of finance is standing on the brink of a transformative era driven by the rising prominence of tokenized assets. According to a recent McKinsey & Company report, tokenization—the process of converting assets into digital tokens on a blockchain—has reached a tipping point, setting the stage for at-scale implementations that promise enhanced liquidity, operational … Read more

Nomura and GMO Collaborate on Japanese Stablecoin Issuance

Nomura Holdings, a leading global financial services group, has partnered with Laser Digital, its subsidiary focused on digital asset solutions, and GMO Internet Group, a prominent Japanese technology company renowned for its internet infrastructure, online advertising, and fintech services. The collaboration aims to explore the issuance of stablecoins denominated in JPY and USD in Japan. … Read more

House Passes Landmark Crypto Bill Marking ‘Historic Day’ for Americans

The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century (FIT21) Act for the regulation of crypto assets despite opposition from President Joe Biden and SEC Chair Gary Gensler. This landmark legislation secured a bipartisan approval with a vote of 279 to 136. “FIT21 is the first legislation of … Read more

Biden Administration’s Economic Report Deems Crypto Assets ‘Mostly Speculative Investment Vehicles’

On Monday, U.S. president Joe Biden published the administration’s economic report and addressed the subject of cryptocurrencies. The section titled “The Perceived Appeal of Crypto Assets” describes the currencies as “mostly speculative investment vehicles” that are “unbacked” and “traded without fundamental anchors.” The White House insists that crypto assets do not deliver on their promises … Read more

BIS Releases Report On ‘Project Icebreaker’ — Develops Cross-Border Retail CBDC Payment Model

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has released a report summarizing the “Project Icebreaker” trial, which explored the potential advantages and difficulties of utilizing a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) in cross-border payments. The experiment was designed to test “the technical feasibility of conducting cross-border – cross-currency transactions between different [distrubuted ledger technology]-based CBDC … Read more

Saudi Central Bank Says Ongoing CBDC Experiment Focused on Domestic Wholesale Use Cases

Saudi Arabia’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) experiment, which is being carried out in conjunction with local banks and fintechs, is presently focused on domestic wholesale uses cases, the central bank has said. Meanwhile, the Saudi Minister of Finance has said CBDCs can be a “fantastic tool” which can be used by developing countries as … Read more

Huobi Becomes Latest Crypto Exchange to Receive Provisional Approval From Dubai Regulator

Huobi recently became the latest cryptocurrency exchange platform to be granted provisional approval by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, a statement from the company has said. The provisional approval allows Huobi to offer virtual asset exchange products and services to “pre-qualified investors and professional financial service providers.” Spot and OTC Services Are Limited to … Read more