Chair of EU Parliament’s Committee on Budgets Calls for Crypto Ban Amid Banking Turmoil

A European lawmaker has urged authorities to impose a ban on cryptocurrencies citing the current crisis in the banking sector as a reason. Johan Van Overtveldt, former finance minister of Belgium, believes these assets bring no economic or social value. Belgium’s Ex-Finance Minister Suggests Ban on Decentralized Digital Currencies Member of the European Parliament, Johan … Read more

Bakkt Shifts Focus to B2B Technology Solutions, Plans to Discontinue Consumer App

Bakkt Holdings Inc. announced Monday that it will solely focus on business-to-business technology solutions and discontinue its consumer application. The company stated that the app will officially be discontinued on March 16, 2023, and app users will continue to have access to all of their assets. Bakkt Consumer App to Sunset, Loyalty Points Still Accessible … Read more

Federal Reserve Raises Benchmark Interest Rate by 0.25%, Disinflationary Process ‘Early,’ Says Powell 

The U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark federal funds rate by 0.25% on Wednesday after markets priced in near 100% certainty the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) would codify the quarter-point increase. The FOMC statement further detailed that ongoing rate increases are anticipated to bring inflation down to the target range of 2%. FOMC Outlines … Read more

Brazil Registers Record Number of Institutions Declaring Cryptocurrency Holdings

Brazil registered its highest number of companies and institutions declaring ownership of cryptocurrencies in August. The numbers, which come directly from the Brazilian Tax Authority (RFB), show that more and more institutions are eager to purchase cryptocurrency, and also indicate that the most significant volumes are moved using Tether’s stablecoin usdt. Institutions Are Holding More … Read more

Putin Warns Cryptocurrencies Carry Risks, Admits They May Have Future

Russian President Vladimir Putin has again spoken about cryptocurrencies, noting the “high risks” associated with the virtual assets. However, the Russian leader has also acknowledged that digital currencies may have a future and it’s necessary to follow their development. Russia’s Putin Still Cautious About Crypto Russian President Vladimir Putin has made another comment regarding cryptocurrencies. … Read more

G7 Finance Ministers and Bankers Adopt Guidelines for Central Bank Digital Currencies

Any digital currency issued by a central bank must support financial and monetary stability, finance leaders from G7 member states have insisted. State-issued coins should also ensure privacy, transparency, and data protection, the officials stated. The forum adopted 13 public policy principles for retail digital currencies and stressed that “CBDCs are not ‘cryptoassets.’” CBDCs Must … Read more

Bitcoin Will Not Become Legal Tender in Uzbekistan, Central Bank Official Insists

Cryptocurrency cannot be adopted as a means of payment in Uzbekistan, a high-ranking official from the country’s central bank has recently stated. Speaking to local media, the regulator’s representative also noted that unlike cryptocurrencies, the national fiat is backed by the bank’s assets. The statement comes in spite of Tashkent’s crypto-friendly moves in the past. … Read more

Russia Not Ready for Bitcoin as Legal Tender, Putin’s Spokesman Peskov Says

Russia has no reason to recognize bitcoin, President Putin’s press secretary has noted after El Salvador became the first country to adopt the digital coin as legal tender. In a statement to the press, Dmitry Peskov revealed he is convinced that such a move would not bring any benefits to the Russian Federation. Kremlin Not … Read more

Musk Trolls Buffett With Fake Quote on Twitter, Then Deletes It

Elon Musk went after Bitcoin hater Warren Buffett recently, sharing what looked like a bullish crypto quote attributed to the billionaire investor. The tech entrepreneur, whose comments on social media have been moving crypto markets this year, later removed the post with the obviously fake Buffett statement. Elon Musk Finds Buffett’s ‘Best Financial Advice’ Tesla … Read more