Sberbank to Join Russia’s Crypto Settlement Pilot This Fall, Executive Reveals

Sberbank, Russia’s largest financial institution, plans to join a cryptocurrency settlement pilot program this fall. The bank also aims to serve clients using digital rubles by 2025. Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov supports regulatory efforts to legitimize cryptocurrencies for international payments and mining. He highlighted cryptocurrencies as effective payment methods, especially for small businesses, amid global … Read more

Payments in National Currencies Surge to 92% Among SCO Members

Payments in national currencies among Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members have reportedly increased from 40% in 2022 to 92%, signaling a move away from reliance on the U.S. dollar. Similar to the BRICS economic bloc, the SCO, which includes Russia, China, India, and recently added Iran, is encouraging the use of local currencies to strengthen … Read more

Lightspark Presents Solution Linking Lightning Network Payments to Bank Accounts in the U.S.

Lightspark, a Bitcoin Lightning Network financial services company, has announced the release of its UMA Extend feature, which focuses on increasing the interaction between crypto and legacy rails in the U.S. With UMA Extend, businesses can opt in for a direction that can be linked to an account, allowing them to instantly receive LN payments … Read more

JPMorgan Executive Sees Big Future for India’s CBDC Initiative

Naveen Mallela, global co-head of Onyx, JPMorgan’s blockchain and digital currency unit, highlighted the rapid adoption of blockchain technology in India, particularly after the 2022 launch of the central bank digital currency (CBDC), the e-rupee. He noted that CBDCs represent a significant advancement for Indian payments, positioning them as the next step in the evolution … Read more

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Predicts Payments Will Be Crypto’s Next Big Boom

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong reflects on the past decade of the cryptocurrency industry, highlighting his initial expectation that payments would be the primary application for crypto. Instead, trading became the dominant force. Looking ahead, Armstrong remains optimistic about the future of crypto payments, citing advancements in stablecoins, layer two technologies, and simpler onboarding processes as … Read more

Bank of Russia Eyes Stablecoins for Cross-Border Transactions

The Bank of Russia is exploring the use of stablecoins in cross-border transactions, considering them as digital financial assets (DFAs) under existing regulations if they have a responsible entity. The initiative may involve a limited group of qualified investors and would require testing for regulatory feasibility. Bank of Russia Explores Stablecoin Use for Cross-Border Transactions … Read more