Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Africa to Trial Cross-Border Digital Currency Payments

The central banks of Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Republic of South Africa have set out to test the use of state-issued digital currencies in cross-border payments. The trial, led by the Bank for International Settlements, aims to establish whether they can simplify transactions and make them cheaper. Reserve Bank of Australia Teams Up With … Read more

Digital Yuan to Promote International Use of Chinese Currency, Experts Say

The new digital yuan, currently undergoing trials, can help to increase the international usage of China’s national fiat, experts have stated. As the renminbi (RMB, CNY) is becoming one of the world’s most important currencies, the People’s Bank of China is planning to conduct cross-border tests with the yuan’s digitized version, the e-CNY. Digital Yuan … Read more

Bank of France, Swiss Crypto Bank Test Securities Settlement Using CBDC

The Bank of France has successfully completed an experiment involving the use of CBDC to settle listed securities. The test has been carried out with the help of an alliance of partners led by SEBA Bank, a digital asset banking provider based in the Swiss crypto valley. Central Bank and Crypto Company Conduct Successful CBDC … Read more

Russian Foreign Minister States Crypto Might Play a Significant Role in Settlements

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov talked about the future importance of cryptocurrencies as an international settlements layer at the Primakov Readings Forum. Lavrov referred to these assets as having a “significant role” in the future. Russia has been striving to de-dollarize some of its activities, and this statement might offer a glimpse into future … Read more

Kalashnikov Eyes Digital Ruble Settlements as Russia Aims to Replace ‘Dirty Money’

Kalashnikov Group, the Russian firearms manufacturer, is ready to transition to settlements in digital currency. The announcement came from the international economic forum in Saint Petersburg where the central bank of Russia reaffirmed its intention to replace “dirty” and “infectious” paper cash with the digital ruble that’s currently under development. Russia’s Kalashnikov Concern Looks Forward … Read more

Over 900 Retailers Worldwide Now Accept Bitcoin Cash

The number of online retailers accepting bitcoin cash (BCH) has swelled to more than 945 stores in the last few months. According to Marco Coino, which provides a directory of merchants that accept payments in BCH, more than 670 bricks and mortar retailers also now handle transactions in the cryptocurrency. In October, that figure stood … Read more

Regulations Roundup: U.S. Govt. Pays $5.7 Million for Blockchain Analysis, Amit Bhardwaj’s Assets Seized

In recent regulatory news, a report published by Diar has found that U.S. government agencies have paid approximately $5.7 million USD to blockchain analysis contractors, India’s Enforcement Directorate has seized $5.9 Million worth of assets linked to the case of Amit Bhardwaj, and the Bank of International Settlements finds cryptocurrencies to “not, at this point, … Read more

License Needed for Crypto Trading, Circulation, and Settlement in Cambodia

Three Cambodian government bodies have jointly announced that the propagation, circulation, buying, selling, trading, and settlement of cryptocurrencies without obtaining a license are illegal activities. The agencies have also outlined four main risks associated with crypto trading or investing. Also read: Yahoo! Japan Confirms Entrance Into the Crypto Space License Needed The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), … Read more

Retail Adoption of Crypto Would “Bring the Internet to a Halt” – BIS Report

The Bank of International Settlements (BIS) has leased a chapter from its forthcoming annual report that delivers a critical appraisal of bitcoin and cryptocurrency. The report attacks virtual currencies from several main standpoints: claiming that cryptocurrencies do not effectively perform monetary functions due to price volatility, that the retail adoption of blockchain-based payment mechanisms would … Read more

BIS GM Argues New Cryptos Are “the Alchemy of the Age of Innovation”

The Bank of International Settlements (BIS), a transnational institution owned by and comprised of central banks that seeks to “fosters international monetary and financial cooperation and serves as a bank for central banks,” recently published its quarterly review of “International banking and financial market developments” for June 2018. The report includes an op-ed written by … Read more