Russian Blockchain Alternative to SWIFT to Prevent Disconnection of Nations, Banks

A Russian university is ready to test its blockchain-based analogue to the global payment messaging network SWIFT, from which Russian banks were cut off as part of Western sanctions. The developers say their system would not allow the disconnecting of countries and banks. Russian Developers Create SWIFT Substitute Using Blockchain Experts from the Competence Center … Read more

Russia’s Industrial Giant Rostec Announces Blockchain-Based Alternative to SWIFT

Rostec, the Russian manufacturing and technology conglomerate, has developed a system allowing the processing of international settlements and storage of digital currency. The blockchain-based platform has been announced as an alternative to SWIFT, which is unavailable for some Russian banks. Rostec Employs Distributed Ledger Technology to Substitute SWIFT Russian state-owned corporation Rostec has built a … Read more

SWIFT Is Experimenting With Decentralized Technologies to Allow CBDC Interconnection

SWIFT, the interbank payments protocol and messaging system, has announced it is working to connect the different central bank digital currency (CBDC) protocols in development today. The company has partnered with Capgemini, a digital services provider, making a series of experiments to ensure that the new set of CBDCs have cross-border payments and remittance capabilities. … Read more

Finder’s Fintech Specialists Predict XRP Jumping to $2.55 by December 2022

On May 4, the product comparison platform finder․com published a ripple price prediction report that polls 36 fintech specialists. According to findings stemming from the participating panelists, ripple could jump to $2.55 per unit by December 2022. However, the prediction relies on Ripple Labs winning or settling its lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange … Read more

Co-Founder of Bitmex Predicts Gold Rising to $10K, Bitcoin Marching to $1 Million

On March 16, Arthur Hayes, the co-founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Bitmex, published a blog post called “Energy Cancelled,” which describes the economics behind the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Hayes explains in his 26-minute long opinion piece that historians may point to February 26, 2022, as the time in history when the “Petro Dollar / Euro … Read more

EU Targets Crypto Assets in Widened Sanctions Against Russia, Belarus

The European Union is extending the scope of sanctions introduced in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with the latest agreement between member states specifically mentioning crypto assets. Russian oligarchs, senators and Belarusian banks have been targeted. Europe’s Sanctions Classify Crypto Assets as Securities to Close Loopholes for Russia On Wednesday, the European Commission welcomed … Read more

Visa and Mastercard Suspend Operations in Russia as Part of Sanctions Over Ukraine

The world’s leading payment processors Visa and Mastercard have joined sanctions against Russia over its military invasion of Ukraine. The American companies announced suspension of operations in the Russian Federation although Russians will be able to use their cards inside the country. Card Payment Giants Visa and Mastercard Add to Pressure on Russia Over Ukraine … Read more

While the Fed Monitors the ‘Ukraine Situation Closely,’ Powell Still Expects a Series of Quarter-Point Rate Hikes

Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell still expects to see interest rate hikes starting in March, but the Fed chief further stressed that the central bank will “need to be nimble.” In remarks prepared for members of U.S. Congress, Powell discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine, noting that the “implications for the U.S. economy are highly … Read more