trade
Oman Oil & Orpic Group and HSBC Digitize Trade Finance with the Execution of their First Blockchain Trade Transaction
Oman Oil & Orpic Group and HSBC Bank Oman have succeeded in carrying out their first trade transaction via blockchain technology.
BNY Mellon Joins Marco Polo Trade Finance Consortium
The Bank of New York Mellon, which boasts nearly $2 trillion under management, is the 28th bank to join the Marco Polo trade finance consortium. And according to CoinDesk, the bank is quite eager to go “live:”
South Korea Is Looking to Put Trade Finance on the Blockchain
The South Korean government wants all trade to be on the blockchain, Coindesk reports.
CIMB Bank Singapore Collaborates with iTrust for First-Ever Blockchain Trade Financing
CIMB Bank Singapore and iTrust have collaborated in the first-ever successful blockchain trade financing transaction.
Standard Chartered Undertakes First Cross-Blockchain Trade Transaction Between Hong Kong and Mainland China
Standard Chartered has made a milestone by completing its first cross-blockchain trade finance pilot transaction between Hong Kong and China.
Russian PM Considers Digital Assets for Cross Border Payment
Mikhail Mishustin, the Prime Minister of Russia, has hinted at the need to incorporate digital assets into the country’s economy as a way to ensure sustainable payment for goods and services in international trade.
What Is a Bitcoin ETF?
Bitcoin ETF is a type of security that tracks the overall price of Bitcoin and enables investors to trade and purchase shares of it on traditional exchanges.
PayPal Flags User’s Cryptocurrency Trades as “Risky” and Freezes Remaining Funds
A PayPal user leveraging the financial payment platform’s new crypto features is left indignant after his digital currency trades were flagged.
Argo Bitcoin Miner Sells 637 BTC to Offset Costs & Outstanding Loans
Despite the market plunge, Argo Blockchain recorded increased Bitcoin mining revenues in June. Argo said the success has been attributed to the increased Bitcoin mining produced by S19J Pro machines.
Switzerland’s New Regulations for Blockchain And DLT Trading Facilities Usher In A New Era Of Clearer And Lighter Regulatory Regimes
A short article piece submitted by Christoph Besmer, Trade Commissioner, Investment Promotion Switzerland.
Crypto Bank Anchorage Digital To Make Entry into Asia
Crypto Bank Anchorage Digital is making an entry into Asia with five new partnerships, including crypto exchange Bitkub, asset management firm Dream Trade, blockchain investment firm FBG Capital, venture firm IOSG Ventures and digital assets financial services provider Antalpha.
China’s Central Bank to Develop Blockchain-Based Trade Finance Platform for the Greater Bay Area
China’s Central Bank, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) announced its development plans for outlining a blockchain-based trade finance platform for the Greater Bay Area that links Hong Kong, Guangdong, and Macao. Governing entities in China, including the PBoC, China Banking Regulatory Commission, China Securities Regulatory Commission, and the Foreign Exchange Bureau came together to issue the official document for the proposal. The entities submitted their suggestions on financing the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, focusing on global trade and finance.
Global Supply Chain Financing: A New Era of Resilience and Diversification
Citi's 2024 report on supply chain financing highlights a shift towards resilience and diversification in global trade, emphasizing technological innovations and the adoption of the China Plus One strategy.
Meta's Digital Assets Expansion: A Scrutiny by Maxine Waters
Congresswoman Maxine Waters scrutinizes Meta's trademark applications, filed in March 2022, suggesting the company's continued involvement in the digital assets ecosystem, despite previous assurances of no ongoing projects in this area.
Biden's Budget Proposal Includes Crackdown on Crypto Wash Sales and Doubling of Capital Gains Tax for Certain Investors
U.S. President Joe Biden's fiscal 2024 budget plan proposes a crackdown on crypto wash sales and a doubling of the capital gains tax for certain investors, which could raise $24 billion. The proposed changes to crypto tax treatment aim to reduce the deficit by nearly $3 trillion over the next decade. The budget proposal seeks to eliminate the tax-loss harvesting strategy used by crypto traders, which allows them to sell assets at a loss for tax purposes before immediately repurchasing them. The proposal also aims to raise the capital gains tax rate for investors making at least $1 million to 39.6%.
IBM Joins Trade Finance Blockchain Platform We.Trade As New Shareholder
IBM has announced a new collaboration with blockchain-based trade finance platform, we.trade to enhance network capabilities and accelerate the global growth of the platform. We.trade was designed to connect buyers, sellers, banks, insurers, and other organizations in a network, simplifying cross-border trading. Built on the latest version of the IBM Blockchain Platform, IBM has been the platform’s technology partner since the beginning. We.trade was also the first enterprise blockchain consortium to go live, back in early 2018.
JPMorgan Partners with DBS Group and Temasek to Develop Blockchain-Powered Trade Platform
JPMorgan has partnered with DBS Group Holdings and Singapore-based investment company Temasek to create a blockchain-enabled foreign exchange platform.
Yearn.finance Appeals to Arbitrage Traders for $1.4 Million in Recovery Funds After Multisig Error
Yearn.finance seeks the return of $1.4 million from traders after a multisignature scripting error drained its treasury.
Mongolia’s Oldest Bank Will Soon Offer Comprehensive Crypto Services
Mongolia’s Trade & Development Bank (TDB Bank), one of the oldest and largest banks in the nation, has announced plans to enter the crypto space.
Lightning Labs and Tari Labs agree to halt Taro protocol development
Lightning Labs and Tari Labs agreed to halt the development of the Taro protocol, after a temporary restraining order was converted into a preliminary injunction by the courts. The order was issued due to Tari Labs' claims that the name Taro infringed on its trademark rights. Lightning Labs is now unable to update or announce any milestones of the protocol until a court decision is reached.
Bank of China Achieves Groundbreaking $14 Million e-CNY CBDC Settlement in Gold
The Bank of China's Shanghai branch successfully settled a $14 million e-CNY CBDC for gold, marking a significant advancement in digital currency's role in international trade.
May 7: The Traders' War... New vs Seasoned...
Bitcoin is now up close to 3% past 24 hours as it spiked through $9400 for a bit even as U.S. equities traded poorly, leaving me with the thesis that BTC is starting to break away from moving in lockstep with S&P 500 until and after the havling event. In fact, the 1-year rolling correlation between Gold and Bitcoin is nearing all-time high, so we could start seeing it behave more like Digital Gold.
Accenture Forms Strategic Partnership with TradeIX, Joining the Marco Polo Network
Professional services firm Accenture has partnered with TradeIX to create new use cases for the buyers and sellers in the trade finance market. TradeIX, a trade finance blockchain startup, previously launched the Marco Polo Network along with R3.
“We Can’t Let China Beat Us,” Document shows US Regulators Want to Pass a National Blockchain Bill
Lawmakers in the US are coaxing the federal government to consider a national blockchain strategy for regulation and growth, citing China’s Blockchain Service Network as an example.
NFT Market Sees Upward Trend with Steady Increase in Weekly Ethereum Volumes
The NFT market has seen a significant recovery, with weekly Ethereum volumes increasing from 29,704 ETH to 68,342 ETH, with marketplaces like Blur and BAYC experiencing high trade activity.
Purpose Ether ETF Inflowed Surge Past 50,000 ETH
The world’s first Ether Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) by Purpose Investments surpassed 50,000 ETH recently.
Vodafone DAB and Chainlink Labs Unveil Blockchain Solution to Streamline Global Trade
Vodafone's Digital Asset Broker and Chainlink Labs, in partnership with Sumitomo Corporation and InnoWave, have developed a proof of concept to improve the global trade ecosystem. The initiative aims to facilitate the seamless exchange of trade documents across various platforms and blockchains, reducing fragmentation and inefficiencies. The collaboration uses Chainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol for security and interoperability, paving the way for smart contract, blockchain, and AI applications.
ConsolFreight Releases New Proof Of Concept To Advance The Role Of Logistics Providers In Trade Finance
"Banks are short-sighted in determining and validating the value of the goods being financed. They have drawn a very distinctive line between Logistics and Financial institutions, where the value of the assets is entirely disconnected from the process. Thus, leaving an untapped market of unfulfilled credit demand estimated at $1.6 trillion," says ConsolFreight's CEO, Ernesto Vila.
Trade Finance Platform We.Trade on the Brink of Liquidation, Report says
We.trade, a trade finance platform, established as a joint venture among multinational firms, including 12 banks is on the brink of liquidation, local media reports.
Invesco Mutual Fund Files to the India‘s SEC to Invest in Blockchain Fund
The fund management giant Invesco Mutual Fund has submitted documents to the SEC of India to invest in Invesco Elwood Global Blockchain UCITS Exchange Traded Fund.
BitTrade Announces First-Ever Domestic Listing of EOS
BitTrade, Japan's cryptocurrency exchange, will be listing EOS, a decentralized application platform, for the first time domestically starting September 13, 2023. EOS is used for smart contracts, staking, NFT purchases, and game payments.
Luxury Luggage Brand Hermes Files for Crypto, NFT and Metaverse Trademarks
In December last year, luxury giant Hermes sued NFT project MetaBirkins for allegedly using its brand to sell digital collectables, joining other luxury fashion companies trying to gain a foothold in the virtual online world.
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.
Fujitsu Files Trademark for Crypto Brokerage Services
Japanese tech giant Fujitsu has filed a trademark application for a new branding that aims to offer financial services, including cryptocurrency brokerage services, to customers. Fujitsu has been showing growing interest in Web3 technology and launched a Web3 acceleration platform in February to support startups and partner companies in creating a diverse ecosystem of Web3 applications. The move comes as financial regulators in Japan call for stricter banking rules for the crypto sector.
Crypto Scams Have Swindled At Least $1B From Nearly 50,000 People Since 2021 - FTC
Despite crypto penetrating the masses from Bitcoin ATMs to Super Bowl ads, scams in this sector have been going through the roof because more than $1 billion has been lost since 2021, according to a study by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Trademark Applications Show Western Union Entering Crypto Space
Western Union has registered trademark applications associated with cryptocurrency and related financial instruments.
NFT, Metaverse Trademark Applications for 2022 Has Surpassed 2021
According to US Trademark lawyer Mike Kondoudis, the Web3.0 and Metaverse trademark-related applications for this year have already surpassed the total recorded in 2021.
Multinational Corporations Continue to File Trademarks in Web3, NFTs, and Metaverse
Multinational corporations, including General Motors, Lacoste, and Walmart, have continued to file trademark applications in Web3, NFTs, and the metaverse, despite the broader market downturn. In February alone, General Motors filed for two new trademark applications covering Chevrolet and Cadillac brands, while Lacoste filed five trademark applications for "CHAMPS-ELYSEES." Walmart also filed trademark applications for the "SamsClub" name and logo. Even amid the bear market, record numbers of trademark applications have been filed for NFTs, metaverse, and crypto-related products in 2022.
Rogue Validator Outsmarts MEV Bots, Resulting in a $25 Million Loss
MEV bots attempting sandwich trades lost $25 million worth of digital assets to a rogue validator. The loss included Wrapped Bitcoin, USD Coin, Tether, Dai, and Wrapped Ether. Blockchain security firm CertiK explained that the attack was due to the centralization of power with validators, making them vulnerable to such attacks.
US Declares China a 'Currency Manipulator' while Bitcoin Sees Growth
The US Treasury Department officially designated China as a “currency manipulator” on Monday following the largest stock market losses the U.S has seen in 2019.
China’s First National Level Blockchain Cross-Border Financial System Goes Live
China Guangfa Bank (CGB), a major Chinese bank, has officially launched the blockchain-based cross-border financial service platform on June 15, with the guidance of the Guangdong Branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
India's Largest Shipping Port Operator Adopts Maersk-IBM Blockchain Platform
In the latest development, India’s largest port operator announced on May 27 it is adopting blockchain technology through its shipping and invoicing business.
Ant Group Launches Blockchain-Powered System to Help SMEs in Cross-Border Trade
China's Ant Group established a blockchain-enabled smart contract platform Trusple to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for cross-border trades.
KuCoin Becomes the First Centralized Exchange to Start Offering NFT ETFs
KuCoin said the launch of its ‘NFT ETF Trading Zone’ aims to improve the liquidity of NFT assets and lower the investment threshold of major NFTs to its over 20 million users.
NanoLabs sues Coinbase over Nano trademark infringement
NanoLabs, the company behind digital currency Nano, has filed a legal complaint against Coinbase in the California Northern District Court for alleged trademark infringement. The complaint states that Coinbase's Nano Bitcoin futures contract and Nano Ether futures contract products infringe on NanoLabs' trademark rights, causing economic damage and harm to its brand identity. NanoLabs is seeking at least $5 million in damages, an injunction against Coinbase, and forfeiture of all profits made using Nano trademarks.
Singapore to Pump $8.9 Million Into National Blockchain Ecosystem
The Singaporean government has deployed a US$ 8.9 million national blockchain initiative dubbed the Singapore Blockchain Innovation Program (SBIP).
UAE Rolls Out Blockchain-Powered Trade Finance Platform to Fight Fraud
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched a blockchain-enabled trade finance platform dubbed UAE Trade Connect to curb economic crimes like money laundering, under-invoicing, and fraud.
Uniswap Tops $50 Billion in Trading Volume but Its Sources of Liquidity Are Questioned
Uniswap has recently made headlines with its total trading volume surpassing $50 billion.
5200 Vendors Now Accept Bitcoin Payments For Tobacco Purchases
Keplerk, a French-based cryptocurrency startup has relaunched it's Bitcoin for tobacco service in as much as 5200 outlets across France starting from October 10th.
UK Fund Managers Urge Regulators to Approve Blockchain-Traded Funds
UK fund managers urge regulators to approve blockchain-traded funds, suggesting this move will help the UK in line with advances in the financial ecosystem.
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).
China and EU Trade Talks Included the Potential Cooperation of Central Bank Digital Currencies
The European Union and China recently had trade and economic discussions regarding topics including central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and supply chain.
R3's Marco Polo Network Welcomes First Indian Corporate as Asia Serves as a Key Area of Growth
The Marco Polo Network announced on Thursday that India’s leading provider of digital transformation, Tech Mahindra became the first corporate in India to join the R3’s open-source blockchain-based Marco Polo Network for facilitating cross-border transactions.
Goldman Sachs Applies for a DeFi and Blockchain ETF to Optimize Investment Results
Banking giant Goldman Sachs applied for an exchange-traded fund (ETF) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission intended to maximize investment results based on the performance of the Solactive DeFi and Blockchain index.
Ford Makes NFT Entry With Trademark Applications
American automobile giant Ford Motor Company is making a grand entry into the metaverse and Web3.0 ecosystem through its targeted trademark applications.
HSBC Undertakes Blockchain-based Trade Finance Transacntion for Automotive Sector in the Middle East
Through the blockchain technology supported by the Contour platform, HSBC conducted a trade finance transaction between SAIC Motor and Taajeer Group.
Belt and Road in Hong Kong: the Emergence of Digital Gold in IoT
A US dollar global economy has led to the underwhelming volume of growth of Chinese goods being traded among the Belt and Road countries and corridors since the initiative began in 2013. GoldZip is the exciting new digital tool allowing countries to barter goods based on their digital gold values.
OpenTrade and WOO X Unite to Offer Tokenized T-Bills to Asian Investors
OpenTrade collaborates with WOO X to unveil access to tokenized T-Bills for Asian investors. This partnership, leveraging Circle Research’s Perimeter Protocol, is a response to the escalating demand for tokenized T-Bills over DeFi yields. Concurrently, WOO X advances its strategic footprint in South Korea, aligning with CODE compliance solutions to broaden its product accessibility in the region.
Trader Spends $118k in Ether on Memecoin
A single trader has spent $118,000 in gas fees on the Ethereum network to purchase $155,000 worth of memecoin called Four (FOUR). The trader paid $119,157 in Ether (ETH) for a Uniswap trade of 84 Wrapped Ether (WETH) for 13.8 billion FOUR tokens. The rise in gas fees has caused debates in the crypto community over its impact on mass adoption.
US' 2022 Web3 Trademark Filings 3 Times Over 2021's Total So Far
In 2021, a total of 2,142 NFT-related trademarks were filed, but by the end of September 2022, there were at least over 6,000 such trademarks submitted, data shows.
American Express Weighs Entry into Metaverse and NFTs Business, Trade Filing Shows
American Express could get into the field of metaverse and NFTs, which have become a key value driver within the financial industry.
Nissan Expands Web3 Efforts with Trademarks and Metaverse Auto Sales
Nissan has filed four new Web3-related trademarks in the US and is experimenting with auto sales in the metaverse in Japan. The trademarks cover its Infiniti, Nismo, and Nissan brands and include plans for virtual goods and a nonfungible token (NFT) marketplace. Nissan Japan is conducting a three-month "demonstration experiment" of its virtual store "Nissan Hype Lab," allowing customers to "study, consult, test drive and purchase Nissan vehicles" while in the metaverse. The company's moves are in line with other car manufacturers, including General Motors and Ford, who have also been actively filing trademark applications for Web3, crypto, NFTs, and the metaverse.
German Deutsche Borse Exchange Seeks to Launch New Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product for Trading
Bitcoin the world’s largest cryptocurrency is making another notable milestone in crypto history as it will be the first crypto asset listed as an exchange traded product (ETP). The company announced the exchange-traded product, popularly known as the Bitcoin exchange-traded crypto (BTCE) - is Bitcoin-backed security that would be listed and traded on Deutsche Borse’s Xetra market-based in Germany. ETP is a financial instrument whose value is based on the underlying security (such as currencies, bonds, and stocks) and is traded on stock exchanges.
CoinGecko: Top NFT Traders Made Profits of $9.60 Million to $101.63 Million
Top NFT traders made profits of $9.60M to $101.63M, with CryptoPunks accounting for 70.6% of gains.
Strategies for Trading Bitcoin in 2021
Almost everybody that uses the internet knows about Bitcoin trading. And, the Bitcoin market doesn't seem like it will slow down any time soon. So, if you're yet to venture into Bitcoin trading, you need to consider making a move.
China Construction Bank Announces Updates of Blockchain Platform After $50B Transacted
One of China’s four largest banks, China Construction Bank (CCB) has officially released the second version of its blockchain platform for trade finance, reaching 360 billion yuan ($50 billion) in cumulative transaction volume. CCB announced the release of “BCTrade 2.0,” focusing on digitizing trade and financial services between 54 domestic and overseas CCB branches and 40 external organizations. Reported by Xinhua news, these organizations include state-owned banks and foreign banks.
Majority of China's Tech Startups Are Exploring Blockchain Technology, Report Reveals
South China Morning Post's Report shows Chinese firms are growing in the adoption and integration of blockchain technology
China Issues New ‘Bejing Action Plan’ to Accelerate the Inclusion of Blockchain in the Economy
The Chinese government issued a new “Beijing Action Plan” aiming to accelerate the inclusion of new emerging technologies in the country’s economy. China aims to leverage new technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, industrial internet, blockchain, big data, and others to promote the steady growth of Beijing’s economy post-pandemic.
Australia Uses Blockchain to Enhance Cross Border Trade With Singapore
The Australian Border Force (ABF) is launching a blockchain trial that is targeted at enhancing cross border trades with Singapore
Grayscale Hires Former Alerian CEO Davi LaValle As Global Head of ETFs
Grayscale Investments has announced the hire of Davi LaValle as the head of its ETF business.
IKEA Permits Invoice-Payment through Ethereum Blockchain
IKEA recently permitted an invoice to be paid from Nordic Strore through the Ethereum blockchain.
DBS Bank Joins R3-Backed Blockchain Trade Finance Network Contour Built on Corda
Singapore’s biggest bank, DBS Bank joined R3-backed Contour Network known for digitalizing global trade processes. Previously known as Project Voltron, Contour is a blockchain-based trade finance platform, built over R3’s Corda blockchain and was founded by R3 and major global institutions, including HSBC, ING, Standard Chartered, Citi Ventures, BNP Paribas, and Bangkok Bank, Bain & Company, and CryptoBLK. DBS Bank became the first Singaporean bank to join the network.
JPMorgan, UBS, and Goldman Sachs Back Polkadot (DOT) with an ETP Investment
As institutional investors enter the cryptocurrency scene, investor appetite may not be limited to Bitcoin and Ethereum.
South Korea Sees Surge in New Blockchain Platforms for Trading of Unlisted Stocks
South Korea’s progressive-thinking and liberal attitude on blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies got another boost on May 11. Industry sources revealed the upcoming launch of two new blockchain-based exchanges to bolster the financial trading of unlisted equities.
HSBC Becomes the First Bank to Finance Transaction via Hyperledger
Multinational banking giant, HSBC has reportedly become the first bank to complete a financial transaction using the blockchain trade platform, we.trade based in Europe.
Open Interest in Bitcoin Futures Extends Gains, Nearing All-time High Reaching Over $5 Billion
According to data published by Bybt cryptocurrency futures and information platform, the current Open Interest in Bitcoin futures contracts has hit $5.35 billion.
Thai Cafe Welcomes Traders to Offer Crypto Advice
A cafe in the northeastern of Thailand has become popular with cryptocurrency traders, this restaurant now welcomes people to offer advice to the industry.
Google Sues Unknown Entities for Malware Scheme Disguised as AI Chatbot Bard
Google is suing individuals for a malware distribution scam involving false AI chatbot ads, aiming to protect users and intellectual property amid growing digital security challenges.
Crypto Open Interest and Trade Volume Reach Levels since March
Open interest and trade volume in the crypto market have increased based on the latest surge in prices.
US Regulators Overreach to Protect US Dollar Supremacy with TON Decision, Will Bitcoin be next?
If the last two years have revealed anything about our global monetary system, it is that the US Federal Reserve and President Donald Trump really do not want a competitor to the US Dollar.
US-China Cold War Could Benefit Bitcoin
An internal Chinese report presented to Chinese Leader Xi Jinping and his top party members on May 4, concluded that anti-China sentiment is currently at its highest since the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown according to Reuters.
The Bitcoin price surge has led to a market FOMO among small BTC addresses
Small BTC addresses surge in 2023, boosting bitcoin market enthusiasm.
Chicago Board Options Exchange Files Trademark for NFT & Crypto Services
The Chicago Board Options Exchange has filed for a trademark application for CBOE DIGITAL, NFT trademark, according to its attorney Michael Kondoudis's announcement through a tweet.
Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce Signs a Blockchain Alliance Proposal to Foster Trade And Finance
Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce had signed a written proposal giving the Shanghai government departments and six financial companies an opportunity to establish an E-port area blockchain alliance with the sole aim of fostering international trade and financial services.
CBOE Seeks SEC Approval to List First Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Product in US
Equities market operator, CBOE global markets, has submitted a filing proposal to the SEC to list and trade shares of VanEck’s Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund (ETF).
U.S. Air Force Files Trademark Application for Digital Metaverse 'SpaceVerse'
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) files a trademark application for "SpaceVerse" with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to expand military training into the metaverse.
Exclusive: Deloitte Blockchain Lab on the Three Areas of Collaborations with HKMA
We were delighted to interview Dr. Paul Sin, leader of the Deloitte Asia Pacific Blockchain Lab, who shared with us its development goals and the collaborations with HKMA across the Greater Bay Area and Europe.
Reserve Bank of India Says Banks Are Authorized to Provide Accounts to Cryptocurrency Traders
The Reserve Bank of India recently responded to an information query, saying that Indian banks are not prohibited from dealing with crypto businesses.
Iran Joins BRICS to Reduce Reliance on Western Economic Systems
Iran joins BRICS, aiming to mitigate US sanctions and challenge Western economic dominance, amidst mixed reactions and uncertain benefits.
Jimmy Fallon Fights Subpoena in NFT Legal Battle
Lawyers for Jimmy Fallon have filed a petition to quash a subpoena requiring him to testify in the Yuga Labs Inc. v. Ripps et al. case, stating that he has no connection to the dispute. Meanwhile, Getty Images has partnered with NFT platform Candy Digital to offer rare photos in NFT form, starting with photographs from its 1970s music and culture collection. The NFT market is experiencing growth, with marketplace volume increasing for the fourth consecutive month in February. To provide more comprehensive insights into the NFT economy, Forkast Labs has launched a series of NFT indexes, including the Forkast 500 NFT index that measures performance across 21 blockchains.
China expands digital yuan usage for cross-border trade
China is promoting the use of its digital yuan, also known as e-CNY, for cross-border trade in its Belt and Road initiative. The city of Xuzhou plans to allow the use of e-CNY to pay for services and storage charges for goods carried by cross-border trains, with plans to extend its usage to pay taxes and utility services in the city. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is also testing the digital yuan as a cross-border payment tool in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, while the Chinese government ramps up its CBDC efforts amid a shift away from the U.S. dollar in international trade markets.
NFTs Trading Volume Between May and June Fell 74%: The Block
NFTs' trading volume between May and June fell 74%, data from The Block Research showed.
Iran to Allow Digital Currency Payments for International Trade
Iran is notably about to double down on its love for digital currencies as a local media platform, Mehr News reports the country is on track to accept cryptocurrencies for international transactions.
Canada Security Regulator Approves Three Ethereum ETFs In A Single Day
The Ontario Securities Commission has made history again by approving three Ethereum exchange-traded funds in one day.
HK's Official Blockchain Platform eTradeConnect to Terminate Operations
eTradeConnect, a blockchain-based trade finance platform supported by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and twelve banks, is set to cease operations by the end of the month. Initially launched to digitalize trade documents and streamline operations, it has seen a decline in usage, leading to its impending closure.
China and Malaysia discuss Asian Monetary Fund
China and Malaysia are discussing the creation of an Asian Monetary Fund as a way to move away from U.S. dollar hegemony. The fund was proposed at a forum in Hainan, China, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has stated that China is open to the proposal.
RBI and Central Bank of UAE sign MOU on CBDC bridge
The Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of UAE have signed an MOU to collaborate on CBDC interoperability, specifically for the development of a CBDC bridge to facilitate remittances and trade.
Russian Finance Ministry on Track to Legalize Crypto for Cross-Border Payments
The current economic landscape in Russia is forcing both the Central Bank and the Ministry of Finance to rethink their approaches to cryptocurrencies.
Iran Transacts World's 1st International Import Order Worth $10M Using Crypto
Iran has made the first-ever importation of goods using crypto, according to Alireza Peyman-Pak, the Vice Minister of Industry, Mine & Trade.
FIFA Files Metaverse-Linked Trademark Applications for 2026 World Cup
Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the world’s giant football governing body, has reportedly filed for trademarks as it seeks to join the metaverse space in the 2026 World Cup.
TradeSanta Review: Automated Crypto Arbitrage Trading Tools
TradeSanta is a cloud cryptocurrency trading software that can be connected to your exchange of choice to automate and execute your trading strategies.
Goldman Sachs Trades First Over-the-Counter Crypto Transaction with Galaxy Digital
Goldman Sachs has become the major US bank to conduct the first over-the-counter crypto trade.
ETC Group to Launch New ETP Based on Upcoming Ethereum Hard Fork
ETC Group has joined a growing list of firms that will list products associated with Ethereum’s potential forked ETHW token.
US Awaits Recession While Bitcoin Becomes the Last Resort
The trade-war worries affected the financial markets on Wednesday, while stocks and commodities tumbled in Europe and the United States. Equities declined more than 1% in the United States after the S&P 500 Index fell 2.93%, the NASDAQ shed 3%, and the Dow Jones tumbled over 3%.
Solidus Labs Reports $2 Billion in Wash Trades on Decentralized Exchanges
Solidus Labs has revealed that at least $2 billion worth of cryptocurrency has been wash-traded on Ethereum-based decentralized exchanges (DEXs) since 2020. The study analyzed 30,000 DEX liquidity pools, finding 67% were tainted by wash traders. Solidus Labs has developed tools to identify and counteract market manipulation, including Token Sniffer and DEX-based A-A Wash Trading Detection. The partnership aims to ensure safe crypto trading across both centralized and DeFi markets.
South Korea and U.S. Set for High-Level Crypto Regulatory Talks in January
South Korea's FSS Chief, Lee Bok-hyun, is set to meet with SEC Chair Gary Gensler in January to discuss cryptocurrency market regulation in light of global market changes.
What Would it Take For a Genuine Crypto Revolution to Occur
Whether you are a fan of cryptocurrencies and digital assets or not, at the very least you can agree that we are on the cusp of what appears to be a blockchain revolution. Cryptocurrencies are undoubtedly the most high profile of the blockchain-based technologies out there, and the ones that stand to do both the most harm and good, and so are deserving of the most attention.
Bitcoin Will Likely Never Trade Below $20,000 Again, Says Economist
Bitcoin will likely never trade under 20K again as market corrections diminish sharply based on increased institutional adoption, according to lead economist Alex Kruger.
South Korea Declares Andong City as Blockchain Free-Trade Zone to Boost Medical Hemp Production
The South Korean government has designated Andong City as a free trade zone for hemp production, leveraging a blockchain network.
HSBC and Wave Facilitate Blockchain-Powered Trade Between New Zealand and China
HSBC and Wave facilitated a blockchain trade transaction for the shipment of milk powder from New Zealand dairy processor Fonterra to China’s Sichuan New Hope Trading.
R3 - Revolutionizing Trade Finance with Blockchain
R3 leads the largest blockchain ecosystem in the world, creating initiatives using distributed ledger technology. Carl Wegner, the Managing Director and Head of Asia at R3, elaborates on the consortium’s reach with its broad ecosystem, on initiatives that are built on Corda, including, Project Voltron, Project Inthanon, Project LionRock, and Project Ubin in Asia.
BNY Mellon Joins the Marco Polo Network to Develop a More Open and Connected Trade Finance Network
The Marco Polo Network announced a new strategic partnership with the Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) to create a vast financial atmosphere that will ensure economic as well as trade growth, making BNY Mellon a member of the top network of financial institutions which leverage blockchain technology for trade finance.
Trump Administration May Consider Placing China’s Ant Group on Trade Blacklist
The US State Department recently submitted a proposal to add Ant Group to a trade blacklist, inhibiting the fintech giant’s business operations within the US.