Mastercard’s CBDC Partner Program Gains Momentum as Adoption Challenges Persist

Mastercard, a leading payments company, believes that customers are too comfortable with traditional forms of money to readily adopt Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). According to Ashok Venkateshwaran, a representative from Mastercard, the challenge lies in getting people to adopt CBDCs and use them as easily as they use cash today. To address this, Mastercard […]

Commerzbank Receives License for Crypto Custody Services, Leading the Way in Germany

The Commerzbank, Germany’s fourth-largest bank, has been granted a license by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) to custody crypto assets. This makes Commerzbank the first universal bank in Germany to receive such a license. The license allows the bank to custody cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether, as well as tokenized securities issued on the […]

Singapore Launches Pilot Program for Central Bank Digital Currency

Singapore’s Monetary Authority (MAS) has launched a pilot program for the live issuance of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) based on the Singapore dollar. This move represents a significant departure from previous simulations, as MAS collaborates with local banks to practically test the use of CBDCs in real-world domestic payment scenarios. The pilot program […]

Singapore Launches Pilot Program for Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced a pilot program for a Singapore Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) for bank settlements. This marks a shift from previous simulations to real-world trials with local banks, aiming to enable instant settlement of payments among commercial banks using the CBDC. Unlike Singapore, the US has been less […]

Singapore’s Central Bank Launches Pilot Program for Wholesale CBDC

Singapore’s central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), has announced a pilot program for a live Singapore dollar-based central bank digital currency (CBDC). This wholesale CBDC will be used by local banks for settlements. MAS Managing Director Ravi Menon revealed the plan during the Singapore Fintech Festival. Previously, the MAS had only simulated the […]

New York Department of Financial Services Issues Updated Crypto Listing and Delisting Regulations

The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) has issued updated regulations for the listing and delisting of virtual currencies. These regulations build upon previous rules and include clearer definitions of certain terms. Companies that previously had an approved cryptocurrency listing policy must now have both listing and delisting policies approved by the regulator before […]

Hong Kong Exchanges Enhance Security Measures and Seek Altcoin Listings, The Block Receives $60 Million Investment, Chinese Court Rules Against Crypto Protection, Philippines to Issue Tokenized Bonds

Hong Kong-based crypto exchange Hashkey has introduced insurance coverage for its clients’ assets stored in hot and cold wallets. The policy will cover 50% of assets in cold wallets and 100% of assets in hot wallets, with a potential payout of $50 million to $400 million in the event of a claim. Hashkey is also […]

Philippines Introduces Tokenized Treasury Bonds, Paving the Way for Digital Finance Era

The Philippines is making a significant move towards a digital era in finance by introducing tokenized treasury bonds. The Bureau of the Treasury plans to offer 10 billion pesos (approximately $179 million) in one-year tokenized bonds to institutional buyers. These bonds, issued by state-owned institutions, will have a minimum denomination of 10 million pesos and […]

South Korean Politician Agrees to Liquidate Bitcoin Holdings Amid Conflict of Interest Allegations

Representative Kim Nam-Kuk, a lawyer and politician from South Korea, has agreed to sell his cryptocurrency assets in response to allegations of improprieties and a conflict of interest. The decision comes as Kim faces an investigation regarding the withdrawal of $4.5 million worth of WEMIX tokens. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the Financial Services […]