FDIC Creates Bridge Banks for Failed Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank Clients to Access Funds

The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has announced that clients of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank (SBNY) can access their funds during normal banking hours on Monday, March 13, 2023. The FDIC stated that both banks’ deposits were made whole under the “systemic risk exception” approved by the U.S. Federal Reserve and … Read more

Silicon Valley Bank Failure Highlights Dangers of Fractional-Reserve Banking

After the failure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), a great deal of Americans are starting to realize the dangers of fractional-reserve banking. Reports show that SVB suffered a significant bank run after customers attempted to withdraw $42 billion from the bank on Thursday. The following is a look at what fractional-reserve banking is and why … Read more

Report: Thai Govt to Grant Tax Waivers to Issuers of Digital Asset Investment Tokens

Thailand’s government has said companies that issue digital tokens will receive a waiver that exempts them from paying corporate and value-added tax. According to a report, the Thai government anticipates losing just over $1 billion in tax revenue as a result of the waiver. Relaxation of Tax Rules for Investments in Digital Assets Thailand-based companies … Read more

US Accounting Watchdog Issues Warning on Crypto Proof-of-Reserve Audits: Investors Urged to Exercise Caution

According to a recent warning by the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), crypto proof-of-reserve (POR) audits have limitations, and the board believes that investors should exercise caution when dealing with companies using POR audits. PCAOB Calls for Investor Caution and Due Diligence When Using Proof-of-Reserve Reports The U.S. accounting watchdog recently issued an … Read more

G20 Finance Chiefs Widely Recognize Crypto Poses Major Financial Stability Risks, Says Indian Central Bank Governor

The G20 finance ministers and central bank governors recognize that cryptocurrencies pose major risks to financial stability, monetary systems, and cyber security, India’s central bank governor reportedly said. Crypto regulation was among the key topics discussed during the G20 meeting over the weekend. G20 Agrees Crypto Poses Major Risks to Financial Stability, Says RBI Governor … Read more

Most Retail Crypto Investors Lost Money Over the Last 7 Years, According to BIS Analysis

According to data from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), published in the latest BIS Bulletin No. 69, researchers assessed that, on average, most users lost money on their investments over the past seven years. Onchain data, metrics from exchanges, and cryptocurrency application download statistics gathered by BIS researchers suggest that most median retail crypto … Read more

Treasury Secretary Yellen Urges Swift Action to Increase Spending Limit, Avert Default on US Obligations

Janet Yellen, the U.S. secretary of the Treasury, sent a letter to Congress on Friday urging lawmakers to increase the spending limit. Yellen stressed that the country would reach its statutory debt limit on Jan. 19, 2023. She warned that “failure to meet the government’s obligations would cause irreparable harm to the U.S. economy, the … Read more

Uncertainty Surrounds Federal Reserve’s Future Plans for Rate Hikes

The U.S. Federal Reserve has raised the benchmark bank rate seven times during the course of 2022, leading many to question when the central bank will cease or change course. The Fed has stated that it aims to bring inflation down to the 2% target, and the increases to the federal funds rate are intended … Read more

Report: Nigerian Central Bank Spent Over $1.8 Billion Managing Local Currency

During her appearance before Nigerian lawmakers, Aisha Ahmad, the deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), told lawmakers that out of the nearly $1.8 billion used to manage the local currency, over 90% of this total was reportedly used to fund expenses associated with the production of banknotes. The Growing Cost of Maintaining … Read more

IMF Blog: Better Regulation of Africa’s Growing Crypto Market Urgently Needed

A well-regulated African cryptocurrency market is needed in order to protect users as well as help countries stop bad actors from using digital assets to circumvent capital controls, the latest post on the IMF blog has said. The blog post reiterated the IMF’s belief that risks to a country are “much greater if crypto is … Read more