Bahamas Ranks First as The Country with Most Advanced Retail CBDC Development

The Bahamas narrowly beats Cambodia because its CBDC is available to all citizens.

Sri Lanka's central bank issues warning regarding cryptocurrency risks

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has warned its citizens to be wary of crypto investments.

What Is China’s Digital Currency and Why Are Others Racing To Do the Same?

Countries across the globe are busy exploring digital currencies, but China is on the cusp of releasing a CBDC to its 1.4 billion citizens.

Japanese Regulator Warns Teens Who’ll Soon Be Able to Buy Crypto

The top financial regulator in Japan, the Financial Services Agency (FSA) has sent a warning of the possible risks involved with crypto investment for younger citizens after new legislation is set to effectively lower the crypto age of consent to 18. Back in 2018, the Japanese Diet voted in favor of a legal amendment to the country’s Civil Code that will officially

Singapore warns citizens against the use of unregulated crypto platforms

The cryptocurrency space has been gaining momentum over the past couple of years.

South Korea to Introduce Blockchain-Powered COVID-19 “Vaccine Passports”

In order to revive cross-border travel and keep infection risks under control, the South Korean government seeks to issue blockchain-backed COVID-19 “vaccine passports” to immunized citizens.

South Korea to launch blockchain-based vaccine passports

The Prime Minister of South Korea has announced a blockchain-based vaccine certificate will launch later this month, but the concept has proven controversial across the world. South Korea will introduce blockchain-powered vaccine passports via a smartphone app later this month, the country's prime minister said Thursday. South Korea is joining a number of other nations in introducing vaccine certificates that enable cross-border travel while mitigating the risk of infections. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun suggested there could be substantial benefits for citizens at home too: “The introduction of a vaccine passport or ‘Green Pass’ will only allow those who have been vaccinated to experience the recovery to their daily lives,” he said during a daily inter-agency pandemic response meeting. The government developed the app using blockchain technology as a way to provide security against the possibility of identity theft.

South Korea Crypto Scammers Targeting People in Their 50s & 60s

Source: Adobe/jon_chica “Crypto” fraudsters in South Korea are increasingly preying on citizens in their fifties and sixties, a new report has found, with crypto-flavored multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes now running wild. Per EDaily, the regulatory Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) says there was a rise of 41.6% in the number of instances of suspected crypto-themed fraud cases reported

Chinese Citizens Can Now Apply for the Digital Yuan Wallet Through 6 State-Owned Banks

Following the interview with Ma Changchun, the head of the People’s Bank of China-run Digital Currency Research Institute, a recent report indicates that residents from Beijing and Shanghai can now apply for a digital yuan wallet.

Chinese Citizens Can Now Apply To Banks for Digital Yuan Wallets

Six banks owned by the Chinese government are allowing Shanghai and Beijing citizens to apply for a digital yuan wallet.

Skrill to Enable US Citizens to Buy Bitcoin Following a Coinbase Partnership

By partnering with Coinbase, Paysafe's Skrill digital wallet will enable Americans in 37 states to buy and sell BTC, LTC, ETH, BCH, and more crypto assets.

Are emerging markets missing out on DeFi due to gas fees?

Developed economies dominate the traffic rankings for the top DeFi protocols by TVL, with the US and UK topping the charts. Despite grand visions of enabling farmers in Vietnam access to the world of global finance via Decentralized Finance, emerging markets could represent as little 10% of visitors engaging with the top DeFi DApps.  Proponents have long hoped crypto and DeFi would allow citizens around the world a means to circumvent the barriers created by economic underdevelopment, however the data suggest users from the world’s largest economies dominate the DeFi rankings by online traffic. A new report from The Defiant examines the top five geographical sources of traffic for the 10 largest DeFi platforms by Total Value Locked in February, with the data provided by web traffic aggregator SimilarWeb. The analysis finds that US traffic dominates eight of the 10 largest DApps by TVL, representing between roughly 10% and 27% of traffic on MakerDAO, Compound, Aave, SushiSwap, Uniswap, Synthetic, Bancor, and BadgerDAO respectively.

Nigerian Citizens Are Not Banned From Trading Bitcoin and Crypto, Says Central Bank

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reportedly clarified that Nigerians can freely trade Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies.

Turks Turn to Exploring Bitcoin, Ethereum, And Tether as Lira Plummets

As Turkish lira (TRY) plummeted once again amidst massive economic uncertainty and opposing views over solutions, the country's citizens turned to Google to explore bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptoassets.

Charles Hoskinson: Cardano Can Help Millions of Africans Have Digital Identities

Cardano is working with several African governments to enable citizens to create digital identities linked to wallets or property by employing its blockchain, said Hoskinson.

Between 7%-10% of Americans Plan to Buy Bitcoin with their Stimulus Checks: Poll

Two polls determined that up to 10% of US citizens plan to use their $1,400 stimulus checks to buy bitcoin and other cryptocurrency assets.

Thai Central Bank Issues Stern Warning about Thai Baht Digital (THT) Stablecoin

The Bank of Thailand is warning citizens against using the illegal THT stablecoin.

Thailand’s central bank warns against ‘illegal’ THT stablecoin

The Baht-pegged stablecoin produced by Terra has come under fire from Thai bankers. The Bank of Thailand has issued a stern warning against a privately issued stablecoin pegged to the national currency, the Thai Baht. According to a Bangkok Post report on March 18, the central bank has told citizens that Thai Baht Digital (THT) has no legal assurances or protection and that users could be at risk of cyber theft or money laundering Citing a sixty-year-old law, the central bank's assistant governor of the legal group, Pruettipong Srimachand, stated that any activities involving the stablecoin are considered illegal: “The creation, issuance, usage or circulation of any material or token for money is a violation of Section 9 of the Currency Act 1958.” The stablecoin is issued on the Terra platform which has produced various other stablecoins including the TerraUSD, first issued in September 2020, and TerraKRW.

Latest Deutsche Bank Poll Leaves Bitcoin Prone to Hitting New Record High

Bitcoin expects to extend its prevailing bull run in the sessions ahead just as the US begins another vast spending program, including direct payments to its citizens who will receive up to $1,400 per person depending on their income and tax filing returns.

30% of UK Citizens Feel They Have Missed the Bitcoin Boat: Survey

Despite believing that the COVID-19 pandemic legitimized bitcoin, 30% of UK poll participants won't invest in it because they have "missed the boat."

Binance reportedly under CFTC investigation over US-based trading activity

The world's largest cryptocurrency exchange is reportedly being probed by the CFTC over concerns it facilitated crypto derivatives trading for US-based customers. Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trade volume, is reportedly under investigation by the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission regarding possible trades made by US-based customers. Binance Holdings Ltd is being investigated by the watchdog concerning possible derivatives trades made by American customers, Bloomberg reported on Friday, after being tipped off by an anonymous source. The exchange has not yet been accused of any wrongdoing, however, regulators are now reportedly seeking to determine whether cryptocurrency derivatives were bought and sold by US citizens on the Binance platform. A Binance spokesperson told Cointelegraph, “We do not comment, as a matter of policy, on communications with any regulators.

Thai Cinema Chain Accepts Bitcoin Amid Thailand Tourism Crypto Push

A movie theatre in Thailand has started accepting Bitcoin, while the Thai SEC moots blocking crypto for most citizens.

First $1,200 US Stimulus Checks Put in Cardano Worth $45,000 Today

If US citizens used the first $1,200 stimulus checks received in April 2020 to buy Cardano (ADA), they would have ended with nearly $45,000 less than a year later.

Biden’s $2 Trillion Relief Package the Largest Stimulus Payments to-Date, Plan Showers Money on the Bureaucracy

On Saturday, politicians in the US approved the massive $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package dubbed President Biden’s “American Rescue Plan.” The stimulus plan will see American citizens earning $75k or less eligible to receive $1,400.

IRS Answers Critical Question on Bitcoin and Crypto Tax Reporting for US Citizens

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is addressing critical questions related to the taxation of virtual currencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) in the US.

Bybit to Cease Services for UK Citizens Following the FCA Ban on Crypto Derivatives Trading

Singapore-headquartered digital asset exchange Bybit will suspend its services to UK citizens following the FCA ban on crypto derivatives trading. 

Crypto Exchange Bybit To End Trading for UK Customers

The exchange said it was complying with new regulations around crypto derivatives offered to UK citizens.

Americans Can Now Buy Dogecoin from 1,800 Crypto ATMs Across the Country

American citizens can purchase Dogecoin from 1,800 crypto ATMs in 46 states after CoinFlip added the meme token to its growing network.

DOGE is now supported at 1,800 ATMs in 45 US states

US citizens can now purchase Dogecoin from ATMs in 45 of the country’s 50 states. Famous meme crypto Dogecoin (DOGE) can now be accessed through 1,800 ATMs across the United States. Leading Bitcoin ATM provider Coinflip announced the support for Dogecoin on Mar.

Digital Yuan Scammers Gathering Momentum as Token Rollout Nears

Police in China are warning that digital yuan-themed scams are starting to appear in the country with more regularity – as opportunistic fraudsters attempt to trick citizens out of their money with central bank digital currency (CBDC)-themed get-rich-quick schemes. The digital token is nearing issuance, with the latest pilot seeing thousands of citizens receive bona fide

Voting evolved: Blockchain tech outshines paper ballots and e-voting

The right kind of synergy between blockchain and biometrics will unleash the power of decentralized voting. Voting is a very important part of any democracy, as it gives its citizens the chance to participate in the democratic governance process.

First US Stimulus Check Now Worth Almost $9,000 if Invested in Bitcoin

If American citizens used their $1,200 stimulus checks to buy BTC in April 2020, they would have seen a return of over 620%.

American Political Leaders Playing High-stakes Bitcoin Pledge War

Andrew Yang. Source: a video screenshot, Youtube/Andrew Yang Politicians appear set to use bitcoin (BTC) and altcoins as tools to score points with crypto-keen voters and citizens in some of the USA’s biggest cities – as would-be New York mayor Andrew Yang and current Miami mayor Francis Suarez appear keen to outdo each other with far-reaching new promises and manifesto pledges that can also

Bitcoin is More Attractive Than Gold and ETFs to Americans: Survey

Comparing citizens of the US and Japan, a survey revealed that Americans are much more attracted to cryptocurrencies than to gold and ETFs.

Spanish Tax Body Will Force Citizens to Declare Overseas Crypto Holdings

The Spanish Tax Agency – known in the nation as the Hacienda – has announced its intentions to step up its monitoring of crypto, and will move to force citizens and residents alike to declare their bitcoin (BTC) and altcoin holdings, even if those are held on overseas-based platforms. Per El Economista, the Hacienda has recently outlined its plans for 2021, and

Google Searches for Bitcoin Are Skyrocketing in Argentina

Citizens of the Latin American country have faced an ongoing economic crisis for years.

eToro Halts XRP Trading For US Citizens Following The SEC Charges

Israeli multi-asset exchange eToro to halt XRP trading for customers based in the United States starting from January 24th.

Kraken Halts XRP Trading For US Users Following The SEC Charges

The list of cryptocurrency exchanges to halt XRP trading from its services for US citizens continues to grow with the addition of Kraken.

Europeans Warn ECB Not To Mess With Privacy in Digital Euro

Over 40% of Europeans who participated in a recent consultation want a digital euro to ensure privacy protection – a suggestion that EU citizens will not take kindly to a digital currency that involves Big Brother-like monitoring of their transactions by central bankers.

Indian Doctors Warn of Illegal Covid-19 Vaccine Sales for Bitcoin: Citizens Urged to Wait for Government Approved Vaccine

Indian doctors have warned that the sale of unauthorized Covid-19 vaccines on the black market, where vendors ask for bitcoin as payment, is illegal.

State-owned Chinese bank rolls out ATMs for digital yuan

The Agricultural Bank of China has launched an ATM pilot program that enables citizens to convert cash and savings to and from the digital yuan.

Traders flock into altcoins as Bitcoin price trades sideways

Altcoins are surging higher as Bitcoin price consolidates and the prospect of a $3 trillion economic stimulus package sparks confidence in crypto investors. The bullish momentum seen throughout the week has spilled over into the weekend as the majority of the top-100 tokens listed on CoinMarketCap are posting double-digit gains.  Bitcoin (BTC) entering a brief consolidation period and the possibility of a third round of stimulus checks for American citizens are two possible reasons for today’s bullish price action.

BRRR: Biden Readies a New $3T Stimulus Package

What a new package including more direct payouts to citizens plus big infrastructure spending mean for bitcoin and markets as a whole.

Novogratz predicts young people will buy Bitcoin with their stimulus checks

Mike Novogratz claims that many people bought Bitcoin after the last round of federal stimulus checks, and thinks they're likely to again. Amid a long battle over whether or not United States citizens will get their $2,000 stimulus checks to help them to weather the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mike Novogratz has weighed in on what the news could mean for the stock and crypto markets. The CEO of Galaxy Digital spoke to CNBC Squawk Box amid the surreal image of a Wall Street apparently unfazed by the commotion in the Capitol yesterday.

FinCEN Plans to Force Americans to Report Offshore Crypto Holdings

A proposed amendment to the Bank Secrecy Act FBAR filing requirements would require US citizens to disclose overseas crypto holdings over $10,000.

US Citizens Would Have to Disclose Offshore Crypto Holdings of $10K+ Under FinCEN Proposal

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network wants US persons who hold crypto in offshore accounts to report holdings over $10,000.

Power-starved Abkhazians Face Internet Restrictions in Crypto Mining Crisis

After months of power shortages leading to blackouts, brownouts, planned multi-hour electricity shutdowns and a blazing inferno at a power substation, citizens in Abkhazia are now set to be restricted in their internet activities as the government wages a confused war against crypto mining. After a series of seemingly mind-boggling u-turns and law changes, the government of

Hong Kong crypto group warns new law will restrict people’s access to Bitcoin

Crypto proponents in Hong Kong say incoming cryptocurrency regulations could preclude citizens from using Bitcoin ATMs.

US authorities eager to deter citizens from unregistered crypto exchanges

Pressured by US authorities, more foreign exchanges are blocking American investors, but are vague US regulations the real problem? Many overseas cryptocurrency exchanges would be happy to have US traders as clients, but these days, American residents might as well have a sign around their necks reading “Danger: high voltage!” That’s been the case since Oct.

Room For Growth? Only 10% of UK Citizens Have Purchased Bitcoin

Only 10% of UK citizens have bought BTC but the asset is largely popular in London as one in four residents have purchased it, survey says.

As Citizens Suffer Central Banks Flush Trading Houses With Trillions, Ease Corporate Strains

Central banks across the world have been increasing stimulus and letting inflation run high in order to combat the disastrous economic effects of the coronavirus outbreak response.