China’s Digital Yuan Little Used, Former Central Bank Official Says

Trials of the digital yuan have produced disappointing results, according to a report quoting the former head of research at the Chinese central bank. The new form of national fiat has brought no benefits to the banks and should expand beyond being employed only as a substitute for cash, the banker believes. Common People Used … Read more

Bank of Russia Proposes Wide Ban on Cryptocurrency Use, Trade, Mining

True to its hardline stance on decentralized digital money, the Central Bank of Russia is now pushing for a wide-ranging ban on crypto-related activities such as issuance, exchange, and mining. A consultation paper published by the regulator cites threats to financial stability and citizens’ wellbeing among the main reasons for the proposed restrictions. Russia’s Central … Read more

China Offers Medics Digital Yuan Insurance Policy for Covid-19

China’s first insurance policy using the digital yuan for settlement has been issued in Shenzhen, local media reported. The new product, targeting medical personnel exposed to coronavirus risks, is offered by the country’s largest insurer, Ping An. The financial giant also has fintech and healthtech entities under its umbrella. Ping An Teams Up With Bank … Read more

Latin America and Turkey Have the Most Cryptocurrency Users, Poll Shows

Cryptocurrency usage has been expanding globally and a new survey confirms that trend. The poll conducted by Statista shows that the citizens of troubled countries tend to exploit the benefits of decentralized digital money far more readily than the citizens of thriving nations. Also read: VPN Providers Defy Order to Connect to Russia’s Internet Censor … Read more

Canada Encourages Cannabis Sector to Transact Discreetly

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has published a document advising Canadian citizens to use cash to conduct transactions pertaining to cannabis in order to protect personal information. In response to the guidance, Etoro market analyst Mati Greenspan has predicted the liberalization of Canada’s cannabis sector will bolster local privacy coin adoption. Also … Read more

Exchanges Roundup: UK MP Quits Ironx After Four Days, Daily OTC Volume Estimated at $250M

In recent news regarding cryptocurrency exchanges, a member of the British Parliament has quit his role with a cryptocurrency exchange just four days after joining the company, analysts have estimated the daily volume of the over-the-counter (OTC) cryptocurrency markets to be $250 million, and Poloniex’s new terms of use have banned residents of Germany, China, Pakistan, … Read more

The Daily: Proxy Bitcoin, Simjacking, Zencash Becomes Horizen

In today’s Bitcoin in Brief, we’ve got details of a new interoperability alliance to create proxy tokens such as bitcoin that can be represented on a single blockchain. There’s also news of UAE’s first Shariah-compliant exchange, more simjacking shenanigans, and Zencash has a makeover. We’ve got a lot to chew over, so let’s tuck in. … Read more

Australian Bank Bans Use of Mortgage Funds for Crypto Speculation

One of Australia’s oldest financial institutions, Bank of Queensland, has prohibited the use of home equity loans for virtual currency speculation. The move has been attributed to concerns pertaining to the growing regulatory oversight of the cryptocurrency sector in Australia. Also Read: Tether Announces Appointment of New Chief Compliance Officer Bank of Queensland Cracks Down on … Read more

Hanoi Prohibits Use of Cryptocurrencies in E-commerce Transactions

The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade has prohibited organizations and individuals involved in e-commerce business in the city from using bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. This follows a directive signed by the country’s prime minister intended to strengthen the legal framework of cryptocurrencies. Also read: Yahoo! Japan Confirms Entrance Into the Crypto Space Banning Crypto Use … Read more