The IMF has expressed its concerns about the possible outcome of the confiscation of Russian assets abroad as a consequence of the ongoing military conflict between the nation and Ukraine. Julie Kozack, a spokesperson for the institution, called for these actions to have a proper justification to avoid threatening the world’s financial system. IMF Calls…
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On Friday, April 26, Acinq announced that its Lightning Network bitcoin wallet, Phoenix, will cease services for U.S. residents from May 3, 2024. This announcement followed closely on the heels of the Samourai Wallet indictment and what is perceived as a targeted U.S. government effort against financial privacy and non-custodial solutions. Lightning Network Platform Phoenix…
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Jim Rickards, a famous economist and investment lawyer, has predicted a year of turmoil for global economies in 2024. According to Rickards, the U.S. Federal Reserve will be unable to pull off a soft landing scenario, prompting a global recession. Also, according to Rickards, a new banking crisis involving medium-sized regional banks will develop. Jim…
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North America leads in terms of cryptocurrency usage despite the ongoing regulatory uncertainty, blockchain forensics firm Chainalysis revealed. Meanwhile, stablecoin-related activity has been decreasing with users shifting away from U.S.-based services. The region’s share in decentralized finance (defi) usage has declined as well. Institutional Crypto Activity Plays Bigger Role in North America Than Other Regions,…
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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has asked a judge to reject Coinbase’s attempt to have the regulator’s lawsuit against it dismissed. The exchange had alleged that the agency overstepped its authority and abused its discretion in claiming that digital assets offered on the trading platform were unregistered securities. SEC Adds Arguments to Support…
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Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken announced new achievements in implementing its strategy to pursue expansion on the European market. The U.S. trading platform for digital assets said it has received regulatory nods from the monetary authorities of Ireland and Spain, two of the EU nations with relatively clear rules for the industry. Another Major U.S. Crypto Exchange,…
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The world’s debt has surged to a record high level in the second quarter, according to the Institute of International Finance (IIF). The increase has also helped lift the global debt-to-GDP ratio which had been declining for seven quarters but is now projected to reach 337% by the end of this year. Major Markets Behind…
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Asset manager Franklin Templeton has joined the race to issue America’s first exchange-traded fund (ETF) that invests directly in bitcoin. The company applied with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), following in the footsteps of other major investment firms like Fidelity and Blackrock. Franklin Templeton Files for Spot Bitcoin ETF With U.S. SEC California-based…
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America’s leading cryptocurrency exchange, Coinbase, plans to expand its business in jurisdictions that are adopting clear regulations for the sector. These include markets in Europe, Asia and the Americas as opposed to the United States which, the company says, is enforcing existing rules and new regulation through courts. Coinbase Eyes ‘Crypto-Forward Markets’ Like EU, Singapore,…
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The popular Ethereum wallet Metamask has introduced a new feature allowing users to convert crypto to major fiat currencies. The “Sell” option currently supports cashing out ether (ETH) and is available to users in the U.S., the United Kingdom, and some European markets. New Feature of Metamask Wallet Allows Users to Sell Ether for Fiat…
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