Webus International has secured a major partnership with Air China to explore integrating XRP as a payment option for flights and loyalty rewards. The collaboration will give Webus direct access to Air China’s extensive PhoenixMiles loyalty program, which boasts over 60 million members. The partnership aims to leverage XRP’s speed and low transaction costs to … Read more
Fireblocks, a key player in crypto infrastructure, has introduced the Fireblocks Network for Payments. This new platform is designed to make it easier for financial and crypto companies to move stablecoins between each other and develop stablecoin-based products. The network has already attracted over 40 participants, including major players like Stripe‘s recent acquisition, Bridge, and … Read more
The Bank of England has updated its stablecoin regulations, allowing systemically important stablecoin issuers to hold a portion of their reserves in interest-earning assets. This change, announced by Deputy Governor Sarah Breeden, is expected to benefit large issuers by enabling them to generate revenue from their reserves. The new regulations also integrate stablecoins into the … Read more
US Bank, the fifth-largest bank in the US, has restarted its cryptocurrency custody operations after a four-year break. The bank is now offering custody services for Bitcoin and Bitcoin ETFs, specifically targeting institutional investment managers. The bank had originally entered the crypto custody space in 2021 but paused the service in 2022 due to regulatory … Read more
Sygnum, a Swiss crypto banking group, is extending its asset management services to institutional and large-scale investors in Germany and Liechtenstein. This move follows its successful registration in Liechtenstein last September and is part of its broader strategy to expand across Europe. With existing hubs in Zurich and Singapore, along with offices in Abu Dhabi … Read more
BasedApp, a cryptocurrency startup based in Singapore, announced it’s ending its Visa debit card services and withdrawing its application for a payment services license in the city-state. The company is citing a strategic shift toward focusing on its self-custodial wallet software and international growth. Starting November 15, all of the company’s Visa debit cards will … Read more
According to PANews, the luxury travel industry is increasingly accepting cryptocurrency payments, a shift driven by the demand from young, wealthy entrepreneurs in the crypto space. Companies like FXAIR, Jetcraft, and FAI Aviation are now integrating digital currencies to cater to this high-net-worth clientele. This trend is seen as a way to modernize payment systems … Read more
Japan Post Bank plans to introduce its own digital currency, possibly called DCJPY, by 2026. The bank is partnering with the fintech firm DeCurret DCP to develop this new currency, which will be pegged 1:1 to the Japanese yen. The primary goal of the DCJPY is to facilitate immediate and transparent settlements for blockchain-based financial … Read more
Circle, the issuer of USD Coin (USDC), is taking a major step toward integrating stablecoins into traditional finance through new strategic partnerships with Mastercard and Finastra. These collaborations are among the most significant efforts to date to expand stablecoin use in everyday financial services. Mastercard’s USDC Settlement Pilot Mastercard is launching a pilot program that … Read more
Ripple is developing a new oracle designed to directly pull data from traditional bank ledgers. This move positions Ripple to compete with Chainlink, the current market leader in blockchain oracles, by providing a unique solution for financial institutions that want to integrate with blockchain technology. Crypto researcher SMQKE points out that Ripple’s long-standing relationships with … Read more