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Facebook’s Libra Creating Shadow Monetary Ecosystem Warns FAC
Facebook’s creation of cryptocurrency Libra will spawn a ‘shadow banking’ system outside of sanctioned financial markets according to US banks.
Blockchain.News is now available on Dow Jones Factiva Database
Industry insights, analysis, and exclusive interviews from Blockchain.News are now available on Dow Jones Factiva—a database that aggregates more than 33,000 trusted, high-quality news and content sources from across the globe.
Facebook Faces New Hurdles as Brazil’s Central Bank Suspends New WhatsApp Mobile Payment Service
Brazil’s central bank has suspended WhatsApp’s payments feature in the country. The newly-launched system allows users of Facebook Inc’s WhatsApp instant messaging service to send money via chat.
ING Warns Facebook’s Ties With Banks May Be Breached Due To Libra Regulatory Concerns
Ralph Hamers, the CEO of ING, warned that Facebook's relationships with banks will probably be cut off due to its inability to address Libra regulatory issues, especially the money-laundering fears.
Facebook’s Libra Likened to 2008 Subprime Mortgage Fiasco
Senator Brown compared Facebook's Libra to the subprime mortgage scenario. His sentiments show the divided debate facing the Libra project.
Facebook, Google, Twitter Face $600 Million Class Action Lawsuit Over Cryptocurrency Ad Ban
The trio of Facebook, Google and Twitter have been slammed by a $600 million class-action lawsuit by a group of companies and individuals backed by Sydney based JPB Liberty
Singapore State Investor Temasek Joins Libra Association, Facebook’s Global Digital Currency Project
Singapore’s state investor, Temasek Holdings has officially been named a member of the Facebook-backed digital currency project Libra. Temasek as a portfolio value of 313 billion Singapore dollars (roughly $219 billion), making it one of the more prominent backers of Libra. The Libra Association, an independent group based in Switzerland has also welcomed crypto investor Paradigm and Slow Ventures, a private equity firm.
Facebook Libra: The Latest Crypto Used in Illegal Financial Activities?
“With the evolution of virtual currencies and new marketplaces, nefarious actors are continuously adapting to find new ways to engage in illegal financial activity.” said U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, during the briefing with Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on 27 June.
Libra Adds New Nonprofit Member Heifer International to Tackle World Hunger and Poverty After Enduring Months of Regulatory Scrutiny
The Libra Association has welcomed a new member, Heifer International, a nonprofit organization aimed to tackle world hunger and poverty. The addition of Heifer International brings the tally of members in the Libra Association to twenty-three.
Central Banks to Cross-Examine Libra’s Founders in Switzerland
The European Central Bank (ECB) officials and 25 global central banks will be meeting with Libra’s founders to assess the project.
Facebook Aims to Integrate NFTs in Novi Digital Wallet
Tech-giant Facebook is escalating its influence by integrating NFTs in its Novi Digital Wallet.
Facebook-Backed Association Picks Another Former HSBC Executive as Libra Network's CEO
James Emmett, the former HSBC executive, is joining Libra Networks as the new managing director. He will assume his new role on October 1.
Tether Says Will Not Block Tornado Cash until it is Directed by Authorities
Tether has affirmed it will not be blockchain addresses linked to Tornado Cash unless explicitly asked to do so by the government.
‘Big Four’ Tech Amazon, Google, Apple & Facebook Grilled During US Antitrust Hearing
In an antitrust hearing with the Judiciary Committee of US Congress, the CEOs of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google testified, as a continuation of an unfinished legal conversation with lawmakers.
Facebook Launches Fintech Product Group F2 to Run Payments Across All its Apps
Facebook has expanded its fintech horizons and announced the launch of a new product group dedicated to payments purposes.
Will Facebook Ever Be Able to Launch Libra?
In recent speculation, Facebook has acknowledged that there are several regulatory issues that are preventing the progress of launching Libra globally.
Digital Currency Group Lands $600M Debt Funding
Grayscale Investments’ parent company Digital Currency Group (DCG) said it has secured a $600 million credit funding, billed to power its many diverse operations.
US Treasury Fines Bittrex Exchange $29m for Multi-Year Sanctions Violation
The United States Treasury Department through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has fined Bittrex $29 million due to failure to prevent individuals in sanctioned jurisdictions from using its platform.
What is Bitcoin Ordinals?
Bitcoin Ordinals, introduced in January 2023 by Casey Rodarmor, are a way to inscribe digital content on the Bitcoin blockchain.
Facebook Moving Further Away From Libra, But Considering its Own Digital Token System
Facebook is now considering developing a system of digital tokens, pegged to different government-issued currencies including the US dollar and the euro. The new plan will still include Libra, although Libra Association, separately, will continue its work on the stablecoin pegged to a basket of global currencies.
Mastercard Still Betting on Blockchain Despite Pulling Out from Facebook’s Libra
Mastercard recently pulled out of the Libra Association, along with Visa and PayPal, however, it has been reported that the payment processor is not giving up on blockchain.
Gemini's Winklevoss Twins Willing to Dive into Facebook's Libra Project
Winklevoss twins, the Gemini Founders have made a revelation about a possible partnership with Facebook on the Libra Project.
Volkswagen's Skoda DigiLab Collaborates with Microsoft for Blockchain-Based Business Solutions
Skoda DigiLab, an innovation hub, has partnered with Microsoft and Lumos Labs for innovative blockchain-based solutions in the business arena.
Zuckerberg's Hearings with Congress and What the US Regulators Really Think
It has been more than three months since Facebook announced plans to launch its digital currency, Libra in June 2020; however, the social media giant has met with regulatory and political skepticism globally.
Swindlers are Using OTP Bots to Wipe Clean Crypto Accounts
Be cautious of fraudsters are becoming sophisticated by the day, with their latest tool being one-time password (OTP) bots used to wipe out cryptocurrency accounts.
What is CBDC?
CBDC stands for Central Bank Digital Currency, and represents the digital form of a nation’s fiat money (currency backed by trust or faith in the regulating government).
Facebook's Rebranding of Libra Stablecoin to Diem May Face Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
Facebook’s idea to rebrand its Libra stablecoin project to “Diem” may not be as smooth sailing as what the corporate firm had in mind.
Dr. Alicia Garcia-Herrero's Take on China’s CBDC and Facebook’s Libra
In Part 2 of the interview, Garcia-Herrero explained the disruption of China’s CBDC – digital currency electronic payment (DCEP) on China’s monetary system. She also commented on the basket of currencies that Facebook’s Libra supports and Libra’s potential threat to monetary sovereignty.
Fed Governor Warns ECB Forum that Libra Risks are Immense
The Governor of the Federal Reserve, Lael Brainard warned a European Central Bank (ECB) forum in Germany, that the risks posed by the potential mainstream adoption of the Facebook proposed stablecoin Libra, are too immense.
Exclusive: Arbitrage - the Key Business Opportunity Brought by Blockchain
Following the latest update of Paxful, Ray took a step back and shared to us his inspiration to set up Paxful and what he learnt from 11 failed startups! He then identified arbitrage as the key business opportunities by blockchain and instead of decentralization, peer to peer should be the core value preposition of Bitcoin!
Twitter and Facebook Grilled in Senate Hearing Over Social Media Censorship of US Presidential Election
Facebook and Twitter are facing heat from US Congress for how they handled political misinformation circulating on the social media platforms.
Meta's Metaverse Division Reports 3rd Quarter Loss of Over $3.7B
Meta's Facebook Reality Labs division has reported a third-quarter loss of over $3.7 billion, making only $285 million, according to its earnings report released on Wednesday.
eToro CEO: Central Banks will Inevitably Establish Digital Currencies
Yoni Assia, eToro’s CEO, recently weighed in on the issue of Central Bank Digital Currencies. He noted that this matter was no longer an issue of “if,” but of “how and when” because the development of digital currencies by central banks was inevitable.
OFAC to Begin Sanctioning Companies Facilitating Ransomware Payments
The OFAC may begin sanctioning US nationals and institutions that help facilitate payments in a ransomware attack.
Facebook Blocks President Trump from Its Platform as Protestors Storm Capitol Hill
Facebook’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Trump will now be blocked from using the social media platform.
Bitcoin Billionaires Movie to Tell the Winklevoss Twins’ Story
The Winklevoss brothers have teamed up with Stampede Ventures to bring their best-selling biography, ‘Bitcoin Billionaires’ to the big screen.
Chinese CBDC's Backend Developments are Complete, Revealed During 2020 FinTech Forum
The world’s attention is on China who has recorded a great advancement in the development of its central bank digital currency (CBDC). The Chinese CBDC project, also known as digital currency electronic payment (DCEP) entered its testing phase back in April with a test run billed for four major cities.
FinCEN Issues Alert to Counter Financing to Hamas and its Terrorist Activities
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued an alert to financial institutions, urging vigilance in identifying and reporting suspicious activities related to the financing of the terrorist organization Hamas. The alert comes in the wake of a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which was funded through various means, including virtual currency.
Women in Payments CEO Answers: Could Facebook Libra Be a Huge Threat to Visa and Paypal?
Kristy Duncan, the CEO of Women in Payments the company in 2012, looking to add value in a different way, to connect, inspire, and champion women who are working in the payments industry globally. In our interview with Duncan, she shared with us the changing payment landscape with the emerging technologies in the sector.
Facebook’s Libra Could Do to the Payment Sector What Elon Musk's SpaceX Did to the Space Industry, Binance Research Reveals
Libra has released its updated whitepaper, marking several significant changes towards providing individual stablecoins for major fiat currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, and Libra Coin.
Facebook and Calibra Head David Marcus: What Problems Would Wholesale CBDCs Even Solve?
During a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum which included the topic of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), David Marcus, Head of Calibra, highlighted that digital currencies are the key to innovate cross-border payments and solve the issues of the unbanked—regardless of if that digital currency is Libra or not.
Facebook Calibra Digital Wallet Gets a New Name – Novi
Facebook has renamed its digital wallet, Calibra, as Novi. Calibra was the digital wallet that the social media giant has been building to access Libra digital currencies. In a blog post, the company explained that the new name was inspired by the Latin words “novus” and “via,” meaning “new” and “way.” The digital wallet company, a subsidiary under Facebook will now be named Novi Financial. As previously reported by Blockchain.News, Libra has abandoned its original plan of a widely accessible permissionless digital currency aimed to solve financial inclusion issues, due to ongoing regulatory backlash.
Facebook Taps Coinbase to Offer Custody Services for Novi Digital Wallet Rollout
Facebook is launching Novi digital wallet. The social giant has hired Coinbase to serve as a custody partner.
Following Meta, Yahoo Announces Metaverse Activities in Hong Kong
Yahoo plans to launch a series of metaverse activities in Hong Kong to explore the use of immersive advertising technologies.
Microsoft’s Bill Gates on Big Tech Antitrust Hearing – Government Scrunity Inevitable with Tech Success
Bill Gates discussed the antitrust hearing opposing US congress and Big Tech - Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google (Alphabet) - and gave his input.
Blockchain Capital Joins the Libra Association as Newest Governing Member
Blockchain Capital investment company has joined the Libra Association as a governing member.
US Banking Giant Patents AI Fact Checker to Simplify Investing in Crypto
Capital One Services, a subsidiary of US banking giant Capital One has patented a new artificial intelligence system to guide human cryptocurrency traders through the complicated world of misinformation in the digital assets space.
Renault Deploys Blockchain for Vehicle Compliance Certification from Design to Production
Renault, a leading French automobile manufacturer, has established the XCEED blockchain system to ensure compliance of all car parts from design to production.
What are the 7 Key Takeaways from Facebook's Libra Hearings?
The debate on Facebook's Libra continues with the hearing with Senate Banking Committee on 16 July and the United States House Committee of Financial Services on 17 July. Here are the 7 key takeaways from the two hearings.
PwC: Crypto M&A and Fundraising in Asia Reports Major Growth
PwC previewed its latest white paper—PwC Global Crypto M&A and Fundraising Report—last Thursday at CoinDesk’s Invest: Asia event. This is the first report by PwC on the broader crypto ecosystem, but the firm will continue to publish updates twice a year moving forward.
Facebook Sets up $50M Investment Fund for the Development of Metaverse
Social media giant Facebook announced a two-year grant of $50 million to strengthen the interpersonal connection between reality and virtual reality, consumer hardware and promotion of Metaverse products' development.
Tether Implements Wallet-Freezing Policy Aligned with US Regulations
Tether's wallet-freezing policy, in line with US OFAC regulations, is a proactive approach to cybercrime, setting a new standard in the crypto industry.
Facebook’s Libra Developers Release Initial Roadmap
The developers behind Facebook’s cryptocurrency project Libra have released their initial roadmap outlining the milestones they plan to achieve prior to the mainnet launch of the Libra blockchain.
Court Upholds OFAC's Designation of Tornado Cash Under IEEPA
The US District Court upheld the OFAC's designation of Tornado Cash under the IEEPA, rejecting plaintiffs' claims of overreach and First Amendment violations, highlighting legal challenges for privacy-oriented blockchain entities.
MarketAcross is Named Korea Blockchain Week’s Official Media Partner
Tel Aviv, Israel / Seoul, South Korea (June 2, 2022) – MarketAcross, the world’s leading blockchain PR & marketing firm, has been appointed the official global media partner for the Korea Blockchain Week (KBW), Asia’s flagship blockchain event. The partnership will see MarketAcross manage the pre- and post-event marketing and PR efforts, bring prominent speakers, and help raise the profile of the prestigious event worldwide.
Libra Association Appoints Former Homeland Security General Counsel to Head Its Legal Services
Libra appoints Stevan Bunnell, former Homeland security department general counsel, as its own general counsel.
Fundstrat’s Thomas Lee Discusses: What Happens After the 10 Best Days for Bitcoin?
Thomas Lee, the Co-Founder, Managing Director, and Head of Research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, known for his opinions on the Bitcoin and crypto market has sat down with Blockchain.News to discuss his views on some macro trends and the Bitcoin industry we’re currently observing.
CoinList Settles with OFAC for $1.2 Million Over Crimea Sanctions Violations
CoinList settles with OFAC for $1.2 million over transactions for users in Crimea, promising to invest $300,000 in compliance enhancements.
Blockchain in Manufacturing Market Speculated to Generate $766.2m in Revenue by 2030
The blockchain in the manufacturing market is expected to render revenue worth $766.2 million in 2030, according to Verified Market Research.
Facebook Diem Project to Launch USD Stablecoin after Dropping Swiss License Application Plan
Diem Association is planning to move its main operations from Switzerland to the United States.
UK’s Argo Blockchain Buys 320 Acres in Texas to Build Bitcoin Mining Facility
London-based Argo Blockchain has joined an increasing number of firms seeking to construct crypto mining facilities in Texas, US.
Brock Pierce's Presidential Campaign Enlists Akon as Chief Strategist
Crypto entrepreneur Akon has announced that he will be endorsing Brock Pierce’s presidential campaign and joining the crypto venture capitalist’s campaign team.
Blockchain in Manufacturing Market Expected to Hit $17 Billion by 2027
The urge to streamline operations and track assets with unprecedented precision are some of the factors expected to make the blockchain in the global manufacturing market hit $17.047 billion by 2027, according to a report by Research and Markets.
OpenAI Suspends ChatGPT Plus Sign-ups Due to Overwhelming Demand
OpenAI has suspended new ChatGPT Plus premium sign-ups due to high demand, following a DDoS attack at its first development conference. The platform has reached 100 million monthly users in two months.
Libra Appoints New Chief Compliance Officer, Third C-Suite Executive Appointed with a Strong Compliance Track Record
The Libra Association appointed Sterling Daines as its new Chief Compliance Officer, who is currently the Managing Director and Global Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Credit Suisse. He is expected to leave his position at Credit Suisse and join the Libra Association later this year. Prior to Credit Suisse, he was the Managing Director and Deputy Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Goldman Sachs and has worked as a consultant to the US Department of Justice and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
Blockchain Payment Company Facepay Launches Facepay Crypto Service
Blockchain payments company Facepay Inc. announced the release of Facepay Crypto, bringing cryptocurrency payments to auto stores.
US Treasury Targets Hamas Financial Networks Post-Israel Attack
In a strategic move following the recent terrorist attack on Israel, the US Treasury designated ten key individuals and entities affiliated with Hamas, targeting their financial networks across several countries. This action accentuates the broader US initiative to choke off Hamas’s financial resources, while spotlighting the emerging challenges posed by virtual currencies in terror financing.
Coinbase Poaches Facebook’s Former Head of Product to be New CMO
Coinbase has hired Facebook’s former head of brand and product marketing, Kate Rouch, as its new chief marketing officer.
Misuse of Facial Recognition: The $10M Macy's and Sunglass Hut Legal Battle
Harvey Eugene Murphy Jr. sues Macy's and Sunglass Hut for $10 million over wrongful arrest and assault, highlighting flaws in facial recognition technology and its serious consequences.
Exclusive: Gerard Dache, on the Two Contradictions of Facebook Libra
In part 2 of the interview, Gerard walked us through some of the recommended bills to the government in fostering blockchain innovation, such as the “Blockchain Promotion Act”. He then shared his views on the nature of Bitcoin and two contradictions of Facebook’s Libra.
Paxos—Regulated and Rising above Trustless Tether and Lost Libra
In this second part of our interview with Cascarilla, he explains why the PAX stablecoin is ultimately superior to Tether and gives his thoughts on Facebook’s Libra project and the nature of money.
Paxful Exits Venezuela’s P2P Crypto Bitcoin Market Following US Sanctions
Paxful has withdrawn its crypto trading services from Venezuela after the country was classified as high-risk by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Tornado Cash Co-Founder Seeks Dismissal of Money Laundering Charges
Tornado Cash's co-founder, Roman Storm, has filed a dismissal motion for charges related to money laundering and violating the IEEPA.
UK Extends Stablecoin Regulation Consultation Period, Seeks Inclusive Feedback
The Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority have extended the feedback deadline for stablecoin regulation to February 12, aiming for a comprehensive, inclusive regulatory framework.
Vodafone Follows PayPal and Visa to Leave Facebook's Libra Association
Maybe what Facebook is not doing right that costs it to lose founding partners? Breaking news shows that Facebook’s Libra has lost another member of its council. This time round, Vodafone has confirmed to have left Libra Association.
China’s Central Bank Digital Currency DCEP to be Operational for Local Government Employees Starting in May
Local government employees in the city of Suzhou will be receiving China’s central bank digital currency, digital currency electronic payment (DCEP) in May, according to a local news outlet. China has been charging full speed with its digital currency development plans shortly after Facebook revealed its Libra stablecoin project.
HSBC Chief Legal Officer Stuart Levey Gets Appointed as Libra’s New CEO, Expert in Dealing with Regulatory Backlash
The Libra Association appointed its first CEO, Stuart Levey, the Chief Legal Officer at HSBC Holdings. Levey will be overseeing the Libra digital currency and payments system and holds a strong compliance track record and is expected to join Libra in the coming months. However, HSBC has not shown the same upright compliance record. Levey is also expected to “combine technology innovation with robust compliance and regulatory framework.” The Facebook-led project has invited scrutiny from global regulators, with concerns over its threat to national sovereignty with its potential launch. Many of Libra’s original members, including Vodafone, PayPal, and Visa have also chosen to leave the association.
Meta Users Can Now Post Digital Collectables on Instagram and Facebook
Meta Platforms Inc has announced that it has enabled the digital collectables features across its two major social media apps - Instagram and Facebook.
Facebook’s Head of Crypto David Marcus Is Leaving the Company after 7 Years
David Marcus, the head of Facebook’s crypto projects, has announced his intent to leave the firm at the end of the year.
Hong Kong's Highest-Profile FinTech Consultant: Libra Puts CBDCs to the Top of the Central Banks' Agenda
Blockchain.News interviewed Arslanian at the Asian Financial Forum held in Hong Kong earlier this month, where he was invited to speak on the development of FinTech.
What is DeepSwap?
DeepSwap is an AI-powered platform for face swapping in videos and photos. It offers tools like AI Video and Photo Generators, with a focus on privacy and safety.
Rep Emmer Demands Answers From Yellen Over Tornado Cash Sanction
Rep Tom Emmer, a United States Congress member and crypto advocate, is seeking answers from the United States Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen on the sanctioned Tornado Cash cryptocurrency mixing service.
Facebook’s Libra Launch Will Be Halted Until Proper Regulations Are Set, According to G7 Draft
A G7 statement showed that the financial leaders of the world’s seven largest economies will oppose the launch of Libra.
People’s Bank of China Announces Its Digital Currency is Ready
The central bank of China has announced that its digital currency can now be said to be ready. Speaking in a major event, the China forum as reported by local news site Shanghai Securities News on August 10, the deputy director of the people’s Bank of China (PBoC) Mu Changchun stated that over five years of rigorous research work has been put into creating a prototype that adopts the Blockchain architecture
Russian Cybercriminals Sanctioned by DoJ for Crypto Laundering Scam Generating More than $16.8M
TheDoJ has sanctioned two Russian nationals for their cybercrimes, where millions in cryptocurrency were accumulated through scamming and phishing schemes.
G7 Reports Stablecoins Like Libra Threaten Financial Security
According to the BBC, the G7 group of nations has drafted a report outlining nine major risks that digital currencies, such as Facebook’s proposed Libra, pose to the global financial system.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs: Transforming Crypto Investment Landscape
The SEC's approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs, including Valkyrie's, marks a pivotal moment for crypto investments, potentially attracting billions in inflows and indicating a surge in Bitcoin's mainstream acceptance.
Libra Forms Governing Board Despite Shrinking Membership
The Libra Association has reaffirmed its commitment in creating a payments-oriented stablecoin, holding its inaugural meeting yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland.
KuCoin Exchange Launches its Meta Office As KuCoin’s First step on Metaverse
KuCoin Exchange has announced it will launch virtual offices in a visually stunning virtual reality skyscraper called Bloktopia.
German Policymakers Cannot Accept Facebook’s Libra
The German cabinet is expected to adopt a comprehensive blockchain strategy with the aim of digitally enhancing its economy. The strategy also consists of plans to tackle risky new technologies such as Libra, which German policymakers fear could become an alternative currency.
Blockchain Investment Dropped 60% in 2019 despite Bitcoin's Bullish Run
Blockchain investment dropped 60% from a record 4.1 billion in 2018 to 1.6 billion this year, according to the findings of CB Insights reported on Bloomberg 18 July.
Donald Trump is “Not a Fan” of Bitcoin and Crypto, Citing High Volatility
“I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies, which are not money.” Donald Trump tweeted on 11 July.
Facebook to Launch Libra Cryptocurrency in January 2021, But in Limited Format
According to a new developing story, Facebook expects to launch its Libra cryptocurrency in January next year, but in a limited format.
Facebook Bans Bitcoin Content—A Push for Libra?
Facebook users have been reporting that there has been a new ban on Bitcoin-related content, however, other cryptocurrencies have been excluded from this ban.
Meta Lifts its Crypto Advertisement Banning Policy
The social networking giant meta, previously known as Facebook, said on Wednesday that it would withdraw its policy of banning most cryptocurrencies from advertising on its social platforms.
Bitcoins Used in Facebook Scheme to Scam Suicidal Victims Into Buying Drugs
A cybercriminal ring operation has been inciting Facebook users to employ Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, in exchange for drugs. This investigative report from the UK depicts the strategic techniques used to track down the unknown villains operating behind this devious scheme.
Bitcoin Miner Bitfarms Starts Production in Argentina
The new production facility marks Bitfarms’ 10th mining facility and Argentina as the fourth country where the firm conducts its mining activities, besides the U.S., Canada, and Paraguay.
Six Leading Central Banks to Brainstorm the Issuance of Digital Currencies in Mid-April
The leaders of six major central banks are scheduled to meet in mid-April to conceptualize on creating their own digital currencies as they can be instrumental in substituting the digital yuan or Facebook’s Libra.
US Congress Examines Draft Stablecoin Bill While Facebook Will Not Launch Libra Until US Regulators Approve
The United States Congress has been considering drafting a bill that argues that all managed stablecoins must be treated as investment contracts and hence are securities.
Whatsapp is Close to Launching Digital Payments in Indonesia
Whatsapp, the Facebook-owned messaging platform has been engaging in preliminary talks with multiple Fintech establishments to launch digital payments in Indonesia.
FTX CEO Breaks Down Zuckerberg's Intent To Invest $10B/Year Into Meta
FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried on Saturday took to Twitter to break down the reason behind Zuckerberg rebranding his company Facebook to Meta and his intent to pump $10 billion every year into Meta.
Ethereum is Getting Closed to Being Completely Censored Because of OFAC Regulations
Ethereum is becoming more compliant with OFAC sanctions per on-chain data
Ethereum Co-Founder: Facebook Not Fit to be Libra’s Driving Force
Joseph Lubin, Ethereum’s co-founder, has asserted that Facebook should not spearhead the Libra project based on the concerns raised about its reputation.
VTB Bank's Subsidiary Tokenizes Commercial Debt in Landmark DFA Transaction
Russia’s state-owned bank VTB's subsidiary, VTB Factoring has completed the country’s first commercial paper tokenization through a partnership with Lighthouse, an information system operator and startup.
Facebook’s Libra Encouraged to Exclude the Chinese Yuan Being Tied to the Stablecoin
While Facebook is facing regulatory approvals for its Libra project, Facebook told US senators that the initial group of currencies that Libra will be likely backed by the US dollar, Euro, Yen, British Pound, and the Singapore dollar.
Lazarus-Linked Blender.io Added to US Treasury's Sanction List
Bitcoin and cryptocurrency mixing service, Blender.io has been added to the sanctions list by the United States Treasury Department.
Uniswap Launches on Moonbeam Network, Extending to Polkadot
Uniswap v3 contracts are now live on the Moonbeam Network, a core component of the Polkadot ecosystem, facilitating a broader user base to engage with Uniswap via an Oku interface. This integration, spurred by community approval and secure cross-chain protocol Wormhole, underscores Moonbeam’s standing in multi-chain expansions and augments trading experience with enhanced features catering to liquidity providers.
US Congress’ Attack on Amazon, Google, Apple and Facebook Continues, Can Blockchain Benefit?
As the antitrust hearing with tech giants Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google (Alphabet) continues, the question of whether decentralization will subsequently rise as a result of the legal tech-policy hearing has been brought up.
World Bank Pushes to Raise the Bar for FinTech and DLT for Cross-Border Interoperability and Financial Inclusion
The World Bank Group has recently published a study, issued by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) on “Payment aspects of financial inclusion in the FinTech era,” highlighting the concepts derived using blockchain, including stablecoins, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
Meta Platform's CEO Gets Probed by Senators on Crime Combating Measures on its Apps
A group of U.S Senators wrote a letter to Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg on Thursday to inquire about strategies he is putting in place to mitigate the rise in fraud as a result of cryptocurrency use through Meta’s platforms such as Whatsapp, Facebook, and Instagram as reported by other social media platform
Facebook’s Calibra Aims to Create 50 New Jobs in Dublin To Scale Up Its Libra Project
Social media giant Facebook is seeking to create 50 jobs for its payment subsidiary Calibra. The new hires, which are targeted to begin work at Dublin office, Ireland by the end of 2020, will be responsible for creating a wallet for sending and storing Libra. Calibra was formed in 2019 to develop a digital wallet for the Libra payment team.
Bitcoin Miner CleanSpark Acquires 36 MW Facility, 3,400 Antminers for $25M
CleanSpark made the acquisitions to expand its operating presence while maintaining cost-effective production rates.
Singapore’s Central Bank Raises Alarm About a Bitcoin Scam
Singapore’s Central Bank enlightens the public about a Bitcoin Scam with a supposed initiative known as Bitcoin Loophole where investors’ trades are run.
How Blockchain Technology is Shaping Digital Advertisements
There are thousands of ads everywhere, in our phones, applications, websites, there is hardly anywhere you would turn to (digitally) today without bumping into an ad, even when using ad blockers. According to Forbes, an average person is exposed to about 4,000 to 10,000 digital ads every day. They aren’t cheap; the standard ads we see every day on our phones cost billions.
Calibra Head David Marcus Declares Libra as the Most Secure Payment Network
David Marcus, Head of Calibra, the digital wallet for Facebook’s Libra stablecoin explained at Money 20/20 conference in Las Vegas about how the network aims to transform the traditional payments industry.
Facebook Rebrands to Meta, Seeking to Develop the Metaverse
The pioneering social media giant, Facebook Inc, has rebranded its name to Meta as it seeks to foster the development of the metaverse, a term made famous by the current craze in the NFT ecosystem.
China’s Central Bank Accelerates R&D of its Legal Digital Currency
People's Bank of China, the Central Bank of China made an announcement of the acceleration of the development of its legal digital currency.
Bitwise: Facebook’s Libra Moved Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies Ahead by Three Years
A cryptocurrency index fund provider Bitwise based in the US is of the opinion that the Facebook-owned stable Libra has accelerated the growth of cryptocurrencies by three years.
Hut 8 Secures Enhanced $65M Credit Line with Coinbase
Hut 8 has amended its $65 million credit facility with Coinbase, demonstrating a significant shift in digital asset financing by using Bitcoin as collateral.
Canada, Netherlands, Ukraine Central Banks Say Blockchain Not Necessary for CBDC
In a conference hosted by National Bank of Ukraine, some central banks recently suggested that blockchain is unnecessary for digital fiat currency
CoinDCX Becomes India's First Crypto Unicorn after Receiving $90M Financing Led by the Founder of Facebook
CoinDCX, India’s largest crypto-enabled financial services company, has raised $90 million in financing led by Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin’s fund B Capital,becoming the first Indian crypto unicorn.
Bitcoin Miner CleanSpark Acquires Mawson’s Georgia Mining Facility, Rigs for Up to $42.5M
CleanSpark continues to pursue growth in a sector ripe for mergers and acquisitions amid a bear market.
Facebook Digital Currency Libra Rebrands Name to Diem Ahead of Its Dollar-Backed Stablecoin Launch
Facebook-backed Libra Association has rebranded its name to the Diem Association ahead of the proposed launch of its dollar-backed stablecoin.
Facebook’s Libra Move to Apply for Swiss Regulator FINMA License: A Failed Permissionless Network?
Libra is moving away from its original plan of permissionless digital currency, widely accessible for the public, due to ongoing unprecedented hardship. Libra will be moving towards a coin that would be subject to foreign exchange controls and regulations.
France Seeks to Block Development of Libra in Europe
While speaking at a recent conference in Paris on virtual currencies, Bruno Le Maire, French Finance Minister said, “In these conditions, we cannot authorise the developments of Libra on European soil.
Facebook Sues Bangkok 'LeadCloak' Software Developer Over Alleged Crypto Scams and Bogus COVID-19 Data
Facebook has sued a Bangkok software engineer whose firm offered software designed to bypass ad review systems and push deceptive ads to run on the media platform.
Binance Faces GitHub Data Leak
Binance has reported a significant data breach, revealing internal code, passwords, and security protocols on GitHub. Despite initial security concerns, the company is taking legal action against the responsible individual.
What Happened: US Committee Hearing with the SEC on Crypto and Libra
The United States House of Representatives Financial Services Committee held a hearing on Sept. 24 with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) five commissioners. Vital topics covered in the hearing include the consideration of cryptocurrencies as securities, regulation of Facebook’s Libra and Calibra, and insider trading.
Bitcoin and Libra’s Ultimate Underlying Value to be Determined by Central Banks, says Ex-RBI Governor
Former Indian central bank governor said that Bitcoin and Libra could play a role in a world where central banks are issuing their own digital currencies.
Why Facebook's Libra Is Not A Real Cryptocurrency
Facebook on Tuesday announced its Bitcoin rival called Libra, a cryptocurrency created by a Facebook subsidiary called Calibra that will be managed by an oversight body called the Libra Association. The Libra coin will not be available immediately, as the announcement only covers the vision and technology behind the Facebook blockchain. But the company says Libra will be private, mostly.
ShareRing Adopts NFC Technology to Enhance eKYC Solutions
ShareRing, a blockchain-based ecosystem providing digital identity solutions, has integrated near-field communication (NFC) technology to make the electronic know your customer (eKYC) process more secure and reliable.
Lightspeed Faction Unveils $285M Fund for Blockchain Innovation
Lightspeed Faction has launched a $285 million venture fund, focusing on early-stage blockchain projects, highlighting the growing importance and potential of blockchain technology in various sectors.
Trezor Produces In-House Chips to Speed Up Hardware Wallet Production
Trezor accelerates hardware wallet production by producing its own chip wrapper, reducing lead times and shipping delays caused by component supply and demand.
Greenidge Commits to Being 100% Carbon Neutral for Its Bitcoin Mining Facility Starting June 2021
Greenidge Generation Holdings Inc. plans to offset all carbon emissions from its Bitcoin mining facility, starting June 1st, 2021.
Facebook’s Libra Co-Creator Thinks Bitcoin is Not a Currency
Speaking as a guest on CNBC, David Marcus initially talked about Libra setbacks, stating that Libra, Calibra, and Facebook would need time to allow digital money access and services to form for users around the world as well as his thoughts on BTC.
Volvo Cars Invests in London-based Blockchain Firm to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Footprint
Volvo Cars, a leading Swedish car manufacturer, has invested in Circulor, a London-based blockchain company majoring in industrial supply chains. It sealed the deal through its venture capital investment arm called the Volvo Cars Tech Fund.
New Crypto Fraud Scheme In South Korea: What Rules Are in Place to Stop False Advertising?
The Ponzi scheme disguised as a crypto platform managed to acquire over $380 million USD for the CEO and other company staff. Corner Up was promising estimated returns of up to 200% to investors for each investment made.
Paraguay To Introduce Bitcoin law, Draft Leaks details
Reportedly, a leaked draft copy shows the detail of the proposing Bitcoin law in Paraguay. The South-American country is expected to be another country worldwide to propose Bitcoin law after El Salvador, promoting Bitcoin as Fiat Money.
Metaverse's MANA Token Price Leaps after Facebook Rebrand to Meta
The price of MANA token, a cryptocurrency that can be used in a metaverse has leapt 164% in 12 hours.
Bruno Le Maire Insists He Cannot Support Facebook’s Libra
Since the social media giant, Facebook announced its plan to launch its digital currency known Libra, one critic has repeatedly made his opinion known. Bruno Le Maire cannot and will not support the stablecoin project.
Binance Aids US Law Enforcement in Seizing $4.4 Million Linked to North Korean Cybercrimes
Leading cryptocurrency exchange Binance has assisted US law enforcement in seizing $4.4 million and freezing accounts associated with North Korean organized crime.
Bahamas’ Sand Dollar CBDC Begins Facial-Recognition Rollout to Authorize Mobile Payments
Millions of Bahamas smartphone users have started using facial recognition technology to authenticate Sand Dollar CBDC payments made through smart devices.
Crypto Twitter Explodes as Rumours of Facebook Hodling Twitter Spread
Is Facebook holding BTC on its balance sheet? There's a growing rumor that suggests so
Libra Association - Visa and MasterCard Have Second Thoughts
Libra internal struggles. Visa and MasterCard consider leaving.
Novi Digital Wallet Ready to Show on the Market, Facebook’s David Marcus Says
The head of Facebook Financial, David Marcus, has revealed that Facebook’s Diem cryptocurrency is ready for launch.
Singapore AGC Launches Tech and Crypto Crime Task Forces
Singapore's Attorney-General's Chambers has established two specialized task forces to combat technology-enabled and technology-facilitated crimes. These units, formed this year, consist of around 20 prosecutors trained in handling digital evidence and understanding the nuances of tech-related criminal activities.
HuggingGPT: Bridging AI Models for Advanced General Intelligence
HuggingGPT leverages ChatGPT to orchestrate AI tasks, marking a significant advancement in the journey toward artificial general intelligence.
Meta Introduces Digital Collectibles NFT Features on Instagram & Facebook
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced that everyone on Facebook and Instagram in the US can now connect their wallets and share their digital collectables.
Trump Outraged: Jack Dorsey Faces Senate Subpoena After Twitter Blocks Biden Ukraine Scandal
CEO Jack Dorsey is to testify about the recent incident where Twitter blocked a NY Post news disclosing sensitive information on Joe Biden's scandal in Ukraine.
Libra Association Appoints Former HSBC Executive Ian Jenkins As CRO and CFO Of Payment Systems
Libra Association has announced the appointment of former HSBC executive Ian Jenkins as chief risk officer and chief financial officer of Libra Networks.
Coinbase Welcomes New Chief Legal Officer from Facebook's Legal Team: Introducing Paul Grewal
Coinbase proudly announced in a July 8 blog post that a new addition will be made to the crypto exchange’s legal team. Paul Grewal, a former US magistrate judge in California and Deputy General Counsel for Facebook, will be joining the ranks of the digital currency exchange.
US Senator Sherrod Brown: Facebook is delusional
“Mark Zuckerberg has said that Facebook is more like a government than a company. That’s delusional.” US Senator Sherrod Brown said in a video tweet.
Understanding ETH/BTC Rate - Key Factors and Price Predictions
Bitcoin and Ethereum, the top cryptocurrencies, show unique market responses due to their distinct uses and supply methods. Their volatility and correlation patterns offer insights into the crypto market dynamics.
China’s Central Bank Rolling Out DCEP National Currency, While Saying ‘Libra Won’t Succeed'
China has been reportedly developing its central bank-issued digital currency for a while and is believed to be ready to launch by China’s central bank, People’s Bank of China (PBoC).
Facebook’s Metaverse “Will Misfire”, Says Vitalik Buterin
Vitalik Buterin disclosed that the Metaverse remains an undefined concept, and corporations such as Facebook will struggle to develop it.
Mark Zuckerberg's Sister Randi Zuckerberg Shows Her Support For Bitcoin & Ripple
Randi Zuckerberg, Mark Zuckerberg's sister has lately been showing her immense support and interest in the cryptocurrency market, particularly for Bitcoin and Ripple XRP. She runs a satellite radio show SiriusXM which hosted three cryptocurrency experts who were very bullish on Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market as a whole.
Switzerland’s New Stablecoin Guidelines: 3 Things You Should Know
The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) issued new guidelines for stablecoins added as a supplement to its existing guidelines for initial coin offerings (ICOs) to outline how stablecoins are treated under the Swiss supervisory law.
Huawei’s CEO Responds to Facebook: China Can Issue Its Own Libra
Ren Zhengfei, CEO of China’s Huawei believes that China can create their own digital currency in response to Facebook’s Libra.
Exclusive: Did Facebook Copy Hedera Hashgraph's Governance Model?
When Facebook released Libra’s whitepaper, Hedera Hashgraph allegedly “thanks” Facebook for imitating their governance model. What is the story behind?
Facebook Commences Trials for Digital Collectible Integration
Social media giant, Facebook has reportedly commenced trials for the integration of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) on its platform.
Aspen Creek Launches First Solar-Powered Bitcoin Mining Facility in Colorado
Aspen Creek said it was formed with a simple premise to develop a sustainable source of renewable energy to power its operations and put renewables back on the grid.
Google's Authenticator Update Raises Security Concerns
Google has released an update to its Authenticator app that allows users to store a one-time code in cloud storage. While this may help users who lose their authenticator app, it also makes them more vulnerable to hackers, who can gain access to the user's Google password and subsequently obtain full access to their authenticator-linked apps. Cybersecurity experts have also warned of complications that come with Google's cloud storage-based solution to two-factor authentication (2FA), raising concerns about security.
Mastercard CEO Answers: The Reasons Behind Leaving Facebook’s Libra Association
Mastercard’s CEO, Ajay Banga, stated the reasons behind the company leaving Facebook’s Libra Association in an interview with the Financial Times. Having left the Libra Association in October last year alongside Visa and other firms, the Libra Association has seen eight firms quitting the project.
Debunking Overblown Claims on Crypto and Terrorism Financing
Chainalysis debunks inflated claims on cryptocurrency's role in terrorism financing, emphasizing the predominant use of traditional fiat-based channels by terrorist groups. The analysis highlights the challenges and common misconceptions in tracing terrorist fund flows on the blockchain, particularly concerning service provider identification.