Putin Calls to ‘Seize the Moment’ to Kickstart Digital Ruble and Crypto Adoption In Russia
President Vladimir Putin declared it was time for Russia to create the environment needed to increase the adoption of digital assets and the Russian CBDC, the digital ruble, as part of the country’s economic tissue. He also reported that over 30,000 transactions have been made in the pilot test phase of the digital ruble, with […]
Hong Kong Regulators Say Proposed Stablecoin Regulation Has Received Positive Stakeholder Feedback
Hong Kong regulators announced the conclusion of a stablecoin regulation consultation phase that saw stakeholders provide 108 submissions. The regulators claimed that the proposed regulatory requirements received positive feedback from stakeholders. Stakeholders Support Introduction of Stablecoin Regulatory Regime On July 17, Hong Kong regulators—the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Hong Kong […]
Kraken Expands Crypto Custody Services to Institutions in UK and Australia
Crypto exchange Kraken has expanded its custody services to institutional clients in the UK and Australia, marking the first international expansion following its successful U.S. launch in March. Kraken Institutional, already established in the UK and Australia, now offers its custody solution to both existing and new clients in these countries, emphasizing security and client […]
Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands, and HKT Join Forces on Hong Kong’s Stablecoin Sandbox
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd. (SCBHK), Animoca Brands, and Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) have united to participate in the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s (HKMA) stablecoin issuer sandbox, announced in March. Leveraging Zodia Custody’s digital asset capabilities, the collaboration aims to promote sustainable and transparent growth in the digital asset market. Zodia is Standard Chartered’s […]
FBI Seizes $2.5M in Crypto From Thailand-Based Pig Butchering Scam Targeting Americans
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has launched a civil forfeiture action to reclaim cryptocurrency seized by the FBI from international fraudsters involved in “pig butchering” schemes. This initiative aims to return the stolen funds to victims and hold criminals accountable. “The rate at which bad actors are using elaborate pig-butchering scams to defraud innocent people is […]
Potential Ban on Cryptocurrency Mining in Certain Regions Disrupts Regulatory Efforts in Russia
The potential for a ban on cryptocurrency mining in regions classified as ‘energy deficient’ has hindered the ability to reach a consensus on the approval of cryptocurrency mining regulations in Russia. The proposed bill, which is expected to pass in August, would give authorities the power to declare mining operations in these regions illegal, based […]
Triple-A: Argentina and Brazil in the Top Ten Of Countries With Most Cryptocurrency Ownership
Argentina and Brazil are part of the top ten countries with the most crypto ownership, according to a recent report issued by Triple-A, a provider of digital currency white-label payment solutions. Argentina took the fourth place in the list, with 18.9% of its population holding cryptocurrency, while Brazil appears in sixth place with 17.5%. Argentina […]
Venezuelan Crime Organization Tren De Aragua Gets Sanctioned by OFAC on Crypto Money Laundering Allegations
Tren de Aragua (Aragua’s Train), a criminal gang with Venezuelan origins, has been sanctioned by OFAC as a transnational organization engaging in kidnapping, human trafficking, extortion, and other illegal behavior. The U.S. Department of the Treasury also stated that the organization had used cryptocurrency to launder the proceedings of their activities to some extent. OFAC […]
President Bukele Eliminates Basic Food Products’ Import Duties for a Decade In El Salvador
President Nayib Bukele has announced a new measure in his battle against speculation and price gouging in El Salvador, eliminating import duties for certain basic foods and supplies for a decade. While some of these products did not pay duties due to a previously approved bill, critics argue that this will exacerbate reliance on imports, […]
Tangem Launches Ring-Shaped Hardware Cryptocurrency Wallet
Tangem announced the launch of its Tangem Ring cryptocurrency hardware wallet on Wednesday, touting it as “the world’s first ring-shaped crypto wallet,” designed to “transform how people interact with cryptocurrencies.” The company stated that users can now wear their crypto, providing instant access to over 6,000 assets and various services directly on their fingers. The […]
