The People’s Bank of China emphasized the Mbridge platform’s role in improving cross-border payments through the use of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), aiming to reduce inefficiencies and avoid new barriers. The platform, which targets underserved regions like ASEAN, could reshape global finance and challenge the U.S. dollar’s dominance while requiring careful coordination to maintain…
Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov announced new BRICS initiatives to increase the use of national currencies in trade, backed by financial infrastructure developments like a BRICS-wide platform and special clearing systems. This move aims to simplify transactions between member nations and reduce trade costs. Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov highlighted ongoing Western efforts…
Ripple has been named a Platinum Winner for Best Cross-Border Payments Platform in Juniper Research’s 2024 Future Digital Awards for Fintech & Payments. Other winners included Huawei for mobile money, SAP Fioneer for banking-as-a-service, and Paymentology for embedded finance, highlighting a year of varied fintech advancements. Ripple Wins at 2024 Future Digital Awards Juniper Research…
Paypal has made a significant step in corporate payments by completing its first transaction using its stablecoin Paypal USD (PYUSD). This milestone highlights the role digital currencies can play in streamlining cross-border transactions, with Paypal partnering with Ernst & Young LLP. Paypal Completes First PYUSD Stablecoin Business Transaction Paypal Holdings Inc. has completed its first…
Ripple is expanding its digital payments service in Brazil, partnering with Mercado Bitcoin to offer faster, cheaper cross-border transactions. This move positions Ripple Payments as a key player in the region’s crypto landscape, helping businesses move funds 24/7. With plans to streamline treasury operations between Brazil and Portugal, the service also aims to benefit corporate…
Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Alexander Babakov proposed creating a unified BRICS exchange using blockchain and virtual currency for inter-bloc settlements. Babakov stated that such an organization “will be the key to the economic sovereignty and independence of our countries,” while sidestepping the use of third-party payment networks. Newly Proposed BRICS Unified Exchange May…
North American, European, and Asian banks will start conducting live bilateral transactions in digital assets on the SWIFT network in 2025. This is a great leap forward toward incorporating digital currencies and assets into existing financial systems. The pilot will allow international financial institutions to process transactions with digital currencies and other assets using the…
Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani has introduced a bill to legalize cryptocurrency payments for state and local taxes. Emphasizing the importance of cryptocurrency in the present economy, the bill requires Ohio to accept digital currencies like bitcoin and allows state retirement systems to invest in them. Antani highlights Ohio’s historical role in cryptocurrency adoption. Ohio…
Russian President Vladimir Putin has revealed plans for an independent payment system in collaboration with BRICS nations to secure foreign trade transactions. This move reflects a strategic shift aimed at increasing Russia’s and BRICS’s autonomy in global trade amid broader economic changes. Russia Announces Independent Payment System with BRICS for Foreign Trade During the Russian…
Elvira Nabiullina, head of Russia’s central bank, has highlighted challenges in cross-border settlements, including payment issues and falling trade volumes. She emphasized the importance of finding new solutions, such as using digital currencies and cooperating with global partners, to address these issues. Russia Faces Cross-Border Payment Issues Amid Declining Trade Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira…
China’s digital yuan initiative has advanced considerably, backed by over a decade of research and four years of pilot experimentation, according to Lu Lei, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC). Trials for the Chinese central bank digital currency (CBDC) have been conducted in 17 different areas, accumulating a total transaction value of…
Russia’s central bank is expanding its digital currency pilot program, involving 9,000 individuals and 1,200 companies. New features for the digital ruble, including payments via QR code, will be tested. Full-scale implementation is expected by late 2025. According to officials, demand for the digital ruble is growing, with successful integration anticipated due to ongoing sanctions….
Anatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma’s Financial Market Committee, has discussed the use of national digital currencies for bilateral settlements between Russia and China. In a recent interview with Russian media, Aksakov stated that these instruments will be considered for such settlements as soon as the regulatory and technological platforms for this task are…
Sberbank, Russia’s largest financial institution, plans to join a cryptocurrency settlement pilot program this fall. The bank also aims to serve clients using digital rubles by 2025. Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov supports regulatory efforts to legitimize cryptocurrencies for international payments and mining. He highlighted cryptocurrencies as effective payment methods, especially for small businesses, amid global…
Payments in national currencies among Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members have reportedly increased from 40% in 2022 to 92%, signaling a move away from reliance on the U.S. dollar. Similar to the BRICS economic bloc, the SCO, which includes Russia, China, India, and recently added Iran, is encouraging the use of local currencies to strengthen…
Lightspark, a Bitcoin Lightning Network financial services company, has announced the release of its UMA Extend feature, which focuses on increasing the interaction between crypto and legacy rails in the U.S. With UMA Extend, businesses can opt in for a direction that can be linked to an account, allowing them to instantly receive LN payments…
Naveen Mallela, global co-head of Onyx, JPMorgan’s blockchain and digital currency unit, highlighted the rapid adoption of blockchain technology in India, particularly after the 2022 launch of the central bank digital currency (CBDC), the e-rupee. He noted that CBDCs represent a significant advancement for Indian payments, positioning them as the next step in the evolution…
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong reflects on the past decade of the cryptocurrency industry, highlighting his initial expectation that payments would be the primary application for crypto. Instead, trading became the dominant force. Looking ahead, Armstrong remains optimistic about the future of crypto payments, citing advancements in stablecoins, layer two technologies, and simpler onboarding processes as…
The Bank of Russia is exploring the use of stablecoins in cross-border transactions, considering them as digital financial assets (DFAs) under existing regulations if they have a responsible entity. The initiative may involve a limited group of qualified investors and would require testing for regulatory feasibility. Bank of Russia Explores Stablecoin Use for Cross-Border Transactions…