Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin and a leading player in the digital asset industry, has made a strategic investment of $18.75M in XREX Group, a fully regulated, blockchain-enabled financial institution. The investment aims to drive innovation in the digital asset industry and facilitate USDT-based cross-border payments in emerging markets. XREX will use the…
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Financial giant Mastercard has initiated its first real-world application of the Crypto Credential system, a system aimed at facilitating easier and more secure peer-to-peer (P2P) cryptocurrency transactions. The service, which allows users to transfer cryptocurrencies using simple aliases, has gone live across several exchanges in Europe and Latin America. Mastercard Launches Crypto Credential, Aiming for…
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The fiat and bitcoin payments app, Strike, has launched its “first fully-featured region outside the U.S.” According to Jack Mallers, the founder and CEO of Strike, the African continent presents “immense opportunities for financial innovation and economic freedom.” High Inflation and Costly Remittances Render Africa a Favorable Market for Strike Strike, a payments app supporting…
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The Y Combinator-backed Nigerian fintech startup has reportedly raised $1.5 million in pre-seed funding. Tolu Alabi, the CEO of Cleva, expressed confidence in her and fellow co-founder Philip Abel’s ability to navigate the competitive fintech market, citing their background as a factor that counts in the startup’s favor. Cleva Founders ‘Uniquely Qualified’ Nigerian fintech startup…
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Ripple has expanded its payments network to more than 70 crypto and traditional payout markets. “Accumulatively this adds up to 90% of the global foreign exchange market,” the company explained, highlighting that the Ripple network has facilitated over $30 billion in payment volume to date. Latest Iteration of Ripple’s Payments Solution Ripple announced at its…
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Ripple, a leading blockchain and cryptocurrency company, has acquired Fortress Trust, a Nevada-licensed financial services provider for the crypto industry. The purchase expands Ripple’s regulatory licenses and infrastructure to bolster its position in enterprise blockchain solutions. Ripple Acquires Fortress Trust The acquisition provides Ripple with Fortress Trust’s financial, regulatory, and technological infrastructure to serve the…
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A BRICS common currency will be challenging to initiate and maintain, though efforts to dethrone the US dollar could have an impact on Bitcoin, says investment strategist Lyn Alden. Macroeconomist Lyn Alden has cast doubt on a proposal that would see five countries work together to develop a common BRICS currency — arguing it will…
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Among the 300 finance professionals surveyed across 45 countries, 97% believe that blockchain will play a crucial role in faster payment systems within the next three years. Blockchain has the potential to save financial institutions approximately $10 billion in cross-border payment costs by the year 2030, according to a recent report. Published by digital payment…
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While the adoption and use cases of China’s central bank digital currency are expanding, the digital yuan still only represents 0.16% of China’s monetary supply. Nearly $250 billion worth of transactions have taken place using China’s digital yuan in the one-and-a-half years since the start of its pilot, the country’s central bank governor has claimed.…
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Bank of Russia plans to pilot cross-border payments using digital assets and central bank digital currencies, according to a deputy governor. The top executive believes these alternative instruments could increase efficiency in foreign trade while such settlements will not be permitted inside Russia. Russian Government Backs Initiative to Test Digital Assets in Payments Abroad The…
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