Cryptocurrency exchange OKX has rolled out new USD-denominated stablecoin payment and savings services in Brazil via OKX Pay and the OKX Card. This initiative is designed to simplify cross-border transactions for Brazilians and provide a hedge against local currency inflation. Key Features of the New Services: Instant Conversion: Users can now instantly convert Brazilian Reais … Read more
The traditionally conservative Czech National Bank (CNB) has made an unexpected move: its first-ever direct purchase of digital assets, including Bitcoin (BTC). The bank acquired a $1 million test portfolio to gain hands-on experience with the evolving digital finance world. Purpose of the Portfolio: Learning, Not Speculating Components: The $1 million portfolio includes Bitcoin, a … Read more
Brazil’s central bank has introduced new regulations that extend established financial sector standards—including governance, risk control, and customer protection—to all cryptocurrency service providers in the country. The move is designed to curb fraud, money laundering, and illicit financial activities. Key Requirements and Changes: Mandatory Authorization: All digital asset intermediaries, custodians, and brokers must now obtain … Read more
Cash App is launching a new feature that will allow users to make Lightning Network payments using their cash balances without needing to pre-own Bitcoin (BTC). Seamless Cash-to-Crypto Payments New Use Case: Cash App will now handle payments on BTC rails. Users can initiate a payment in U.S. dollars from their cash or direct balances, … Read more
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin believes that the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) sector is evolving into a credible alternative to the traditional banking system, capable of serving as users’ primary bank account and a viable savings option. DeFi’s Maturation and Purpose Primary Bank Account: Speaking at a Dromos Labs event, Buterin suggested that increasingly, people and institutions … Read more
Payments giant Visa has announced a new pilot program in the U.S. that enables businesses to send US dollar-pegged stablecoin payouts, like USDC, directly from their fiat-funded accounts. The pilot, announced at the Web Summit in Lisbon, integrates stablecoin functionality into Visa Direct, its digital payments network. Key Details of the Pilot: Functionality: U.S.-based businesses … Read more
Brazil’s central bank, Banco Central do Brasil (BCB), has completed its regulatory framework to subject crypto companies to banking-style oversight. Key components of the new regulations (Resolutions 519, 520, and 521) include: Treating Crypto as Foreign Exchange (FX): Certain virtual asset activities, such as stablecoin transactions, international crypto payments, and specific self-custody wallet transfers (where … Read more
Tangem, the cryptocurrency hardware wallet company, has introduced Tangem Pay, a new virtual Visa card that allows users to spend their stablecoins directly at millions of global merchants. Key Details of the New Payment Solution Direct Stablecoin Spending: Developed in partnership with US payment infrastructure company Paera, the card initially supports spending Circle’s USDC stablecoin … Read more
Kazakhstan’s Central Bank, under Deputy Governor Berik Sholpankulov, is exploring a strategic, landmark policy shift: investing a portion of the nation’s national funds and reserves into cryptocurrencies. Policy Shift and Financial Goals This move, disclosed during a session in the Kazakh parliament, signals a definitive step toward formalizing digital assets within the country’s national financial … Read more
Mastercard is partnering with Ripple and Gemini to pilot a groundbreaking method for settling credit card transactions using the RLUSD stablecoin on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The Project’s Core Innovation The plan involves connecting Gemini’s credit card (issued via WebBank) directly to a blockchain-based settlement system. Instead of the typical slow, behind-the-scenes bank transfers, RLUSD, … Read more