Report Reveals Hundreds of US Banks at Risk of Failure Amid High Interest Rate Environment

Following the dramatic bank failures last year and the recent collapse of Philadelphia’s Republic First Bank last week, an analysis by Klaros Group indicates that hundreds of U.S. banks are at risk of failure. The study reveals that smaller and regional banks are experiencing stress due to burdensome commercial real estate loans and the current … Read more

Latam Insights: Bolivia Sells Gold for Dollars, Argentina Bans Fintech Crypto, Fitch Upgrades El Salvador’s Credit Rating

Welcome to Latam Insights, a compendium of the most relevant crypto and economic development news from Latin America during the last week. In this issue, Bolivia passes a law to sell gold for dollars, the Central Bank of Argentina bans fintech companies from using crypto, and Fitch improves El Salvador’s credit rating. Bolivia Passes Law … Read more

Moody’s Warns of Potential Financial Disruption Spillover Beyond US Banking Sector

Roughly ten days ago, the credit agency Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the U.S. banking sector from “stable” to “negative.” In a recent update on Thursday, the company stated that there is still a risk to the U.S. economy. The managing director of credit strategy at Moody’s explained that the country “will be unable to curtail … Read more

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele Takes Aim at Bitcoin Detractors, Says the Ones Who Are Afraid ‘Are the World’s Powerful Elites’

It’s been over a year since El Salvador codified bitcoin as legal tender in the Latin American country, and by popping the ‘orange pill,’ the country was propelled into the international spotlight. At the end of September, the 41-year-old Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele penned an opinion editorial that takes aim at the detractors who think … Read more

Bitcoin-Embracing El Salvador President’s Re-Election Declaration Slammed

Just over a year after overseeing El Salvador’s adoption of bitcoin, the Central American country’s 41-year-old president, Nayib Bukele, recently declared his intention serve another five-year term. The announcement has been criticized by some who have been quick to remind Bukele that El Salvador’s constitution prohibits presidents from serving consecutive terms. Re-Election of Presidents a … Read more

Fitch Ratings Downgrades El Salvador Deeper Into Junk Status Citing Bitcoin Risks

One of the largest rating agencies in the U.S., Fitch Ratings, has downgraded El Salvador’s long-term default rating deeper into junk status, citing risks from adopting bitcoin as legal tender as a key reason. “The adoption of bitcoin as legal tender has added uncertainty about the potential for an IMF program that would unlock financing … Read more

Big Three Credit Agency Fitch Says Stablecoin Growth Could Be ‘Disruptive’ to Securities Markets

American credit rating agency Fitch Ratings, one of the ‘Big Three’ credit rating agencies, has published a report that says stablecoin growth could affect securities and commercial paper (CP) markets. The agency says stablecoins could be “disruptive” and “stablecoin-related turbulence” could “transmit shocks” to other markets. Fitch Ratings: ‘Stablecoins Could Be Disruptive for CP Markets’ … Read more

The Big Three Credit Agencies Critique El Salvador’s Bitcoin Adoption — S&P Global Warns of ‘Immediate Negative Implications’

All of the ‘Big Three’ credit agencies have said that El Salvador’s adoption of bitcoin could affect the country’s credit rating in a negative manner. After both Moody’s and Fitch Ratings published reports on the matter in El Salvador, S&P Global said that the bitcoin adoption has had “immediate negative implications for its credit rating.” … Read more

Big Three Credit Agency Fitch Warns El Salvador Adopting Bitcoin Will Negatively Affect Insurers

Fitch Ratings, the American credit agency and member of the ‘Big Three’ credit agencies, has published a paper on El Salvador’s adoption of bitcoin and making the crypto asset legal tender in the country. Fitch believes that after the country enforces the new tender law it will face “volatility risk” alongside “regulatory and operating risks” … Read more