China’s Digital Yuan Nears $1 Trillion in Transactions, PBOC Official Reveals

China’s digital yuan initiative has advanced considerably, backed by over a decade of research and four years of pilot experimentation, according to Lu Lei, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC). Trials for the Chinese central bank digital currency (CBDC) have been conducted in 17 different areas, accumulating a total transaction value of … Read more

Russia Expands Digital Ruble Pilot With New Features: Widespread Use Expected in 2025

Russia’s central bank is expanding its digital currency pilot program, involving 9,000 individuals and 1,200 companies. New features for the digital ruble, including payments via QR code, will be tested. Full-scale implementation is expected by late 2025. According to officials, demand for the digital ruble is growing, with successful integration anticipated due to ongoing sanctions. … Read more

Head of the State Duma’s Financial Market Committee: National Digital Currencies to Be Considered for Bilateral Settlements Between China and Russia

Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma’s Financial Market Committee, has discussed the use of national digital currencies for bilateral settlements between Russia and China. In a recent interview with Russian media, Aksakov stated that these instruments will be considered for such settlements as soon as the regulatory and technological platforms for this task are … Read more

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