Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Friday Afternoon 7-19-24

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

State Street Panning Tokenized Deposits and Stablecoin – Report

Today Bloomberg reported that State Street is exploring participating in various digital currency initiatives. The bank is already an investor in Fnality, the interbank DLT payment solution backed by 20 institutions. Bloomberg cited a source saying it was exploring participating in other DLT payment consortia, as well as tokenized deposits and a stablecoin.

While the mention of tokenized deposits is no surprise, it’s the stablecoin plans that stand out. It’s highly unlikely that U.S. banking regulators would sanction the bank issuing a stablecoin. However, State Street has a significant asset management subsidiary, so that could be a different story.

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) recently partnered with Galaxy Asset Management to launch crypto-related ETFs. Notably, Galaxy is collaborating on the AllUnity Euro stablecoin with another bank-affiliated asset manager, Deutsche Bank’s DWS.

The need for asset manager stablecoins
The settlement of tokenized assets triggers the need for a stablecoin. It’s likely SSGA may want to tokenize funds. Many of the incumbents that have launched tokenized funds on public blockchain support settlement using stablecoins, including Franklin Templeton.

ETF issuer WisdomTree, which is also a Fnality stockholder, is planning to issue its own stablecoin and recently received a trust license to do so.

If asset managers are willing to offer redemptions using stablecoins, then they ideally have to have a significant stablecoin balance. However, stablecoins don’t pay interest. On the other hand, if the asset manager has its own stablecoin, it will earn the interest on the Treasuries that back the stablecoin.

While BlackRock doesn’t have its own stablecoin, stablecoin issuer Circle has offered to buy back any BlackRock BUIDL tokens – BUIDL is the asset manager’s tokenized money market fund. BlackRock is both an investor in Circle and manages most of its reserves.

Tokenized deposit initiatives
Turning to tokenized deposits, JP Morgan has its JPM Coin and Citi has its Citi Token Services. That’s useful for multinational companies that deal with the same bank in different countries. But the interesting work is happening for payments involving more than one bank.

There are numerous initiatives, but State Street isn’t involved in the high profile ones. For example, in the U.S. there Regulated Settlement Network is starting another round of trials co-ordinated by SIFMA. Participants include JP Morgan, Citi, Wells Fargo, Visa and Mastercard. State Street’s biggest competitor, BNY Mellon, is a project contributor.

Time will tell which projects State Street plans to join.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Ledger Insights 

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IS THE RUSSIAN RUBLE PEGGED TO GOLD?

Vladimir Putin’s gold strategy explains why sanctions against Russia have failed.

"In early 2022, Russia pegged its currency, the ruble, to gold, and 5,000 rubles will now buy an ounce of pure gold. The plan was to shift the currency away from a pegged value and into the gold standard itself so the ruble would become a credible gold substitute at a fixed rate."

"Since 2013, Russia has been preparing for western sanctions and managed to isolate its economy from transactions requiring American dollars. There are more than 16,000 sanctions imposed against Russia. "

"The U.K., the United States and Canada will not touch Russian gold. But others will. The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) imported 96.4 tonnes (US$6.2 billion) of Russian gold in 2022 following the British sanctions. That’s up 15 times from the 2021 imports of only 1.3 tonnes (US$84.5 million)."

"The other big client of Russian gold is Switzerland.

In 2022, Switzerland imported 75 tonnes of Russian gold (US$4.87 billion). In 2023, it imported about US$8.22 billion in gold from the U.A.E., which doesn’t produce its own but buys enormous sums from Russia, and US$3.92 billion from Uzbekistan, Russia’s next-door neighbor. Billions upon billions of dollars of Russian gold is being freely traded at top dollar while avoiding every one of those 16,000 sanctions."

"That’s why global sanctions against Russia haven’t derailed a thing. In order for Putin’s plan for economic resilience through gold to work, however, gold needs to increase in value. His long-term goal is that gold, not the U.S. dollar, will be the global trading currency."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  The Conversation

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Fact Check: Is The Russian Ruble Already Backed By Gold?

"Russia’s central bank has resumed buying gold at a set fixed price of 5,000 rubles ($52) per gram and analysts say this could be the starting point for a shift to a new gold standard across the world."

"Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Finance also referred to gold as an “ideal alternative” to the U.S. dollar.

“This is potentially a very big deal. This is basically pegging the ruble to gold,” said Joseph Brown of Heresy Financial in a YouTube video. If Russia is at the point of having enough gold to back up the ruble, “then they can price oil in gold and then accept gold or the ruble for payment,” Brown said. “They can literally take this, in just a few steps, and force the whole world into a new gold standard. Like a new Brenton Woods.”

"Russia’s fixed price for gold is reminiscent of what the U.S. did during the “gold standard” years — 1879 to 1914 — when one ounce of gold would represent $21. In the 1930s, the U.S. banned gold ownership and raised the value of the dollar in gold from $20.67 to $35 per ounce."

"In 1971, Richard Nixon put a halt on the U.S. dollar’s convertibility into gold, making it difficult for other countries to redeem dollars for gold. This marked the end of the gold standard."

"By pegging its currency to gold, Russia has effectively ratcheted up the ruble’s value against the dollar. Pegging one gram of gold to 5,000 rubles means one troy ounce of gold (32 grams) would now cost 158,183.78 rubles in Russia. At the current exchange rate, 32 grams of gold would cost roughly $1,600 in Russia instead of the $1,928 it cost outside Russia."

"“Russia’s intention would be for the value of the ruble to be linked directly to the value of gold,” Gainesville Coins precious metals expert Everett Millman told Kitco News. “Setting a fixed price for rubles per gram of gold seems to be the intention. That’s pretty important when it comes to how Russia could seek funding and manage its central bank financing outside of the US dollar system.”

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Moguldom 

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EU, UK regulators launch consultations on digital asset data reporting and wallets

Tech consultation season has kicked off in Europe, with regulators from the United Kingdom and the European Union seeking feedback on digital asset-related issues.

On July 15, the European Banking Authority (EBA), an independent EU Authority in charge of prudential regulation and supervision across the European banking sector, launched a consultation on draft guidelines for digital asset issuer reporting requirements.

The same day, the U.K. Payments Systems Regulator (PSR) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced they were jointly seeking views on the benefits and risks digital wallets bring to people and businesses.

EBA guidelines on reporting requirements

The EU banking regulator is seeking feedback on draft guidelines aimed at ensuring that “competent authorities” have enough information to supervise the compliance of digital asset issuers with the Markets in Crypto Asset Regulation (MiCAR)—parts of which came into force this June, with the full provisions scheduled to kick in by the end of the year.

The landmark MiCAR provides rules for offering and admission to trading asset-referenced tokens (ARTs), e-money tokens (EMTs), and other types of digital assets, as well as rules for those providing digital asset services in the EU. It sets out a range of regulatory requirements, including authorizations, conduct, and prudential requirements for issuers and mandates for issuers of certain tokens to report “data points” to the authorities.

When MiCAR’s stablecoin rules came into force on June 30, issuers of ARTs—stablecoins that purport to maintain a stable value by referencing another value or right—and EMTs—stablecoins pegged to a fiat currency—had several new obligations, including a requirement to be authorized by the Central Bank, prudential requirements, and conduct and governance requirements around marketing, dealing with conflicts of interest, and disclosure of information.

Regarding this latter obligation, the EBA has decided that the reporting requirements placed on issuers of ARTs and EMTs were “not enough to allow competent authorities and the EBA to discharge their supervisory tasks and the significance assessment tasks under MiCAR.”

Having identified these so-called “data gaps,” the banking regulator is consulting on draft guidelines specifying common templates and instructions for issuers to provide the necessary information to fill the gaps.

In addition, the draft guidelines include common templates and instructions that issuers should use to collect the data they need from the relevant Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs).

The EBA said it would accept comments on the consultation paper up to October 11, 2024.

PSR and FCA call for information on digital wallets

Meanwhile, across the pond, the FCA—the U.K.’s top finance sector watchdog—and the PSR—its independent subsidiary focused on payment systems—are seeking views on the benefits and risks of digital wallets.

Building on the PSR’s previous work on contactless mobile payments and the FCA’s work on big tech activity in financial services, this consultation aims to better understand the impact on consumers and businesses that digital wallets’ increasing popularity creates.

“The use of digital wallets has grown rapidly over the last few years, and it’s likely that more than half of UK adults now use one. With Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal being three of the most widely used digital wallets in the UK today” said Monday’s announcement.

The PSR said it was particularly interested in understanding how digital wallets impact consumers’ choice of payment options at checkout.

“Digital wallets are steadily becoming a go-to payment type and while this presents exciting opportunities, there might be risks too,” said David Geale, the PSR’s Managing Director.

“ We look forward to hearing views and evidence from a wide range of stakeholders throughout this process.”
The regulators hope to hear from stakeholders across the payments and wider financial services landscape, including digital wallets, technology providers, and their service users.

The call for information is open until September 13. After that, the regulators said they would analyze all responses received and provide an update by Q1 2025.

FCA Chief Executive Nikhil Rathi stated. “We want to make sure we can maximise the opportunities and benefits for consumers and businesses while protecting against any risks this technology may present.”

@ Newshounds News™ 

Read more:  CoinGeek

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ASSET TOKENIZATION TODAY AND TOMORROW

The estimated worth of asset tokenization today is as much as $3.5 billion. And with projections that it could reach $16 trillion by 2030, the tokenization market represents a massive opportunity. So, what’s holding the technology back from fully realizing its potential? That was the question posed during the London Tokenization Policy Summit held earlier this year hosted by Ripple and the Imperial College Business School’s Centre for Financial Technology.

Tokenization Use Cases: The “Real Deal” of Digitization

With a promise to remove payment gateway intermediaries; improve payment processor efficiencies; ensure data protection, data privacy and transparency; and enable real-time settlement, tokenization is championed as the “real deal” function of blockchain technology. It's potential for significant impact across a broad range of sectors is massive.

Tokenized mortgages, consumer loans and microloans have all helped make private credit and debt the second fastest growing sector, while property purchases and treasury notes also stand to benefit. Additional tokenization use cases include enhanced capital flows for small- and medium-sized enterprises, improved efficiencies in carbon credit trading and better price discovery compared to traditional assets.

But despite tokenization’s potential as a new asset class, challenges to mainstream adoption persist. A lack of well-established Special Purpose Vehicles makes it difficult to tokenize real-world assets. Cross-chain protocols are needed to improve interoperability. Limited liquidity in secondary markets means an elevated risk on investment. And there is a clear need for providers that can simplify tokenization into a single offering to help break down silos between financial ecosystems.

To overcome these hurdles and scale tokenization, there are three key areas of emphasis: 1. collateralization, 2. valuation and 3. passkeys. Ensuring that tokens are backed by sufficient reserves, hold the same value internationally and are protected through secure passkeys and proper key management will help to foster trust and—ultimately—adoption.

A New Financial Framework
Central to the topic of tokenization is the importance of a robust regulatory framework to underpin the tokenized economy. Once in place, this framework would provide the necessary structure, safeguards and confidence needed for sustainable growth and development.

Looking Ahead
One thing is abundantly clear: tokenization is more than just a buzzword, it’s a rapidly growing movement that is poised to reshape the financial landscape.

Banks, traditional finance players and regulators are all key to furthering this adoption of tokenization.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Ripple

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Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Thursday Evening 7-18-24

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

An Update on Vietnam’s Quest for Crypto Regulation

An article by Hudson Reporter dated April 21, 2024 titled:  Vietnam’s Path to Crypto Regulation by 2025:  A Governmental Necessity, gives an update on Vietnam's quest for Crypto Regulation.

The article states that Vietnam plans to develop a legal framework for cryptocurrency regulation by May 2025 to address ownership risks and prevent illegal activities such as money laundering

Key Takeaways from the article:

1.  Cryptocurrencies are not banned in Vietnam but regulation is urgently needed.
2.  The Finance Ministry has been tasked to draft a regulatory framework by May 2025.
3.  Measures against misuse, like money laundering, are also being studied.

@ Newshounds News™

To learn more:  Hudson Reporter

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DE-DOLLARIZATION CONTINUES TO BE THE THEME OF BRICS NATIONS

"All are trying to make themselves safe. Information leaked not long ago that in the environment when the United States and the whole collective West want to steal Russian money Saudi Arabia is thinking how to reduce dependence on the dollar. THE PROCESS OF DE-DOLLARIZATION IS UNDERWAY, IT CANNOT BE STOPPED, he said."
Quote from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  X

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Crypto Regulations in Vietnam 2024

The post Crypto Regulations in Vietnam 2024 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Vietnam, a socialist country in Southeast Asia, has a population of 99.46 million and covers 331 thousand square kilometers. It has developed a strong market economy with socialist influences, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in terms of GDP. This economic growth has attracted significant foreign investment.

Vietnamese Government on Cryptocurrencies

Cryptocurrency is not banned in Vietnam, but a legal framework is needed to ensure its proper development and mitigate risks, according to a representative from the Ministry of Justice. Cao Dang Vinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Economic and Civil Legislation, noted on April 12 that there are varying understandings of virtual assets, digital currencies, and cryptocurrencies, with different countries adopting diverse management approaches.

Cryptocurrency is not banned in Vietnam: Ministry Cao Dang Vinh noted global variations in cryptocurrency perspectives and the absence of specific regulations in Vietnam. Vietnam lacks a legal framework for cryptocurrencies, stressing the need for regulation.

Cryptocurrencies carry risks that can lead to appropriation or money laundering. Vietnam currently lacks regulations to manage their development, and cryptocurrency is not considered a legal asset. Vinh emphasized the need for a legal framework to prevent these risks and illegal activities. The Ministry of Finance will provide specific proposals, and the Ministry of Justice will offer detailed opinions accordingly.

In addition to this, the Vietnamese state authorities are working on the possible applications of blockchain technology in the country.

Blockchain for Vietnam’s Cashless Society

The deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Vuong Dinh Hue signed out a policy decision in 2017,  setting out the government’s plan to reduce the cash transactions in the country to less than 10%. The State Bank of Vietnam also announced the development of $700 million cashless payment network in collaboration with South Korean payment service provider Alliex.

Another bank, Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank(TPBank) moving one step further in the use of blockchain technology, joined hands with Japan’s SBI Ripple Asia to develop Ripplenet blockchain-based global payment network for processing cross-border transactions.

Launch of the First Money Transfer Service between Japan and Vietnam that Utilize Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT).  TPBank is the latest financial institution supported by SBI Ripple Asia to leverage Ripple

Cryptocurrencies law

In Vietnam, cryptocurrencies were not considered legal means of payment but could be bought, held, and traded. The government continued to reevaluate its approach to the crypto space, with the central bank maintaining that cryptocurrencies were not legal tender.

Cryptocurrencies were categorized as assets or goods under the 2015 Civil Code and the Commercial Law of 2005. These laws defined property broadly to include objects, money, valuable papers, property rights, and movable property, including future assets, allowing cryptocurrencies to be traded within the country.

What led to look over the need of Regulations?

The government of Vietnam cites many official reasons for the need for regulations and ban them as a means of payment,

—The crypto industry has no government supervision and therefore prone to illegal activities.

—Cryptocurrencies lack customer protection as they are volatile in nature which leads to price instability, security concerns, and market manipulation.

—Cryptocurrencies are open to illegal activities such as tax evasion, money laundering, terrorist funding and hacking.

The cryptocurrencies might possess the capacity to destabilize existing financial systems which can affect the nation’s economy.

Regulatory RoadMap of Cryptocurrencies

Vietnam has made several efforts to regulate the country’s cryptocurrency space. On 21 August 2017, the Prime Minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc approved a project to complete the legal framework for managing digital assets and their activities.

On April 11, 2018, a directive was issued to the relevant authorities to manage crypto transactions in order to analyse the negative impact on the nation’s economy. In the directive, Bitcoin and similar cryptocurrencies were banned for using them as a mode of payments for any goods or services. But the users were free to invest in Cryptocurrencies. Those who found guilty would be penalised with a fine up to VND 200 million ($ 9,000).

In February 2019, The Ministry of Justice also filed a report that reviewed the current legislation on crypto-related business in the country. They proposed three different policies that the government could consider and start working on the policy selected by the government. They are:

1.  Floating and lax Regulatory approach

2.  Straightforward approach

3.  Legislation of digital Assets transactions under specific conditions.

Recently on May 11 2020, the Vietnamese Finance Ministry has approved to establish a research group to review, analyse and develop various regulatory policies around crypto-assets.  The research group would be comprised of nine members of the group of the following departments,

—General Department of Taxation

—National Institute of Finance

—General Department of Vietnam Customs

—Department of Banking and Financial Institutions of the State Bank of Vietnam

The research group would be led by the Vice-Chairman of State Securities Commission, Pham Hong Son.

Authorities in Vietnam to Establish Crypto Research Group to Evaluate Policy. On May 11, the Ministry of Finance in Vietnam said it will come up with a research group responsible for examining & making policy proposals about crypto and virtual assets

1.  Taxation and Mining

2.  Taxes on Cryptocurrencies

As you have already aware of the fact that, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are not considered as legal tenders and are banned to use them as a mode of payment, the tax policies are also not framed yet. Cryptocurrency taxation in Vietnam remains uncertain due to the lack of a clear legal framework.

The tax authorities have lost a lawsuit against a local citizen who was been taxed on the Bitcoin earnings. As the cryptocurrencies are not considered as a legal asset under Vietnamese law, the court ruled the authorities that they have no right to tax him.

Mining of Cryptocurrencies

The Cryptocurrencies remain illegal as of now and restricted with the use of payment methods and so the mining. It is also considered illegal  The government has also has passed a law which bans the import of bitcoin mining equipment into Vietnam.

However, the Ministry of Industry and trade expressed displeasure towards the ban and also showed concern over the decline in the mining business. The ministry sent a proposal to the Prime Minister of Vietnam, called the Document 5964 / BTC – TCHQ, mentioning that the mining pieces of equipment are not listed in the banned list of import or unsafe list. Hence the import should be allowed which was accepted by the government.

12-04-2024: Vietnam Does Not Ban Cryptocurrency, Confirms Ministry of Justice

A Ministry of Justice representative clarified that while cryptocurrency isn’t banned in Vietnam, there’s a need for a legal framework to guide its development and mitigate risks. Cao Dang Vinh, Deputy Director of the Economic and Civil Legislation Department, noted varying global perspectives on virtual assets, digital currencies, and cryptocurrencies.

Concluding Note

The Vietnamese Government has now acquired a progressive approach towards regulating the cryptocurrencies and initiated various steps. The various other approaches, however, are still vague and lack clarity.

More laws and reforms are required to ascertain the secured flow of cryptocurrency transactions in the country so that no scams or fraud occur risking the investor’s funds. The future of the cryptocurrencies are more secure and reliable in the country when these regulatory frameworks are put in place.

Read more:  Binance

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BASEL 3 AND GOLD REGULATIONS

"Basel III is a set of financial reforms developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. It introduces stricter capital requirements to increase the resilience of banks. The main focus is on improving the quality of capital, particularly Tier 1 capital, which is essential for absorbing losses."

The Significance of Gold in Basel III Regulations

"Gold’s role in Basel III significantly changes how banks handle this asset. With the new Basel III Bank Accords, gold is taking center stage again as an important asset for financial institutions. The most significant change is that Basel III regulations treat gold held in vaults as a zero-risk asset, a status previously reserved for cash. This change elevates gold’s importance in ensuring the stability and liquidity of banks."

Impact on Liquidity and Stable Funding

"Gold significantly impacts banks’ liquidity. Under Basel III’s measures, banks must maintain a specific Liquidity Coverage Ratio (LCR) to ensure they have enough high-quality liquid assets to survive financial stress. Gold can be considered part of these High-Quality Liquid Assets (HQLA)"

"Basel III regulations make gold a more attractive asset for banks by allowing bullion held in vaults or on an allocated basis to be treated as cash with a 0% risk weight. "

"Basel III demands that financial institutions hold a higher proportion of physical gold, rather than trading in derivatives. This change increases financing costs and demands more robust liquidity buffers. Banks must now hold physical assets to meet liquidity requirements, pushing the preference for tangible gold. As a result, this regulation stabilizes the gold market by reducing reliance on paper gold and emphasizing the importance of physical gold holdings. This shift supports higher demand and potentially boosts the price and stability of gold in the long term."

"With Basel III, gold is now considered a High-Quality Liquid Asset (HQLA)"

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Metals Edge

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BASEL 3 ENDGAME

"Many parts of Basel III are already in place worldwide, including the U.S. However, the final changes, called Basel III Endgame and agreed upon in 2017, have been delayed for years by the COVID-19 pandemic and banks calling for more time to adjust to and lobby against the new regulations."

"12 Deadlines have come and gone, with mid-2025 the latest date for when the rules are supposed to go into effect in the U.S., which means announcing them months earlier to provide regulators, banks, and other stakeholders the time needed to prepare to meet the new standards. Banks would start using the rules on July 1, 2025, with the goal of having them fully in place three years later."

What Affect Would Basel III Have on Small and Medium-Sized Banks?
"While Basel III primarily targets very large, internationally active banks, critics charge that its regulations would also affect small and medium-sized banks. "

When Does Basel III Go Into Effect?

"Since the Basel III Endgame process began, bank requests for more time to digest and comment on the plans, COVID-19, and shifts in the post-pandemic economy have all pushed back the deadlines. As it stands now, the regulations should start taking effect July 1, 2025, followed by a three-year phase-in period to give banks time to transition to the new rules. While previous deadlines have come and gone, the commentary period is over, which offers U.S. federal regulators more room to maneuver in going ahead with implementation."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Investopedia  

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Chainlink’s tokenization sandbox cuts trials to days instead of months

The sandbox could lead to more financial institutions adopting asset tokenization solutions.

Chainlink is ushering in a new turnkey solution for institutions looking to conduct tokenization trials in the latest development for the tokenization industry.

Chainlink has introduced its new Digital Assets Sandbox (DAS) for financial institutions, which aims to accelerate digital asset innovation.

DAS will enable financial institutions to quickly experiment with new revenue-generating opportunities, like bond tokenization, with improved time-to-market and greater overall efficiency.

According to Angela Walker, the global head of banking and capital markets at Chainlink Labs, the new sandbox was born due to institutional demand for secure digital asset experimentation environments.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Coin Telegraph

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Thank you Dinar Recaps

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Wednesday Afternoon 7-17-24

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

OPEC Plus alliance agreement enhances the balance of the global oil market in the second half of 2024

Russia announced that the global oil market will be balanced in the second half of the year and beyond thanks to the OPEC Plus alliance agreement on production.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said that the OPEC Plus alliance, which includes the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies including Russia, has been implementing a series of production cuts since late 2022 to support the market.

The Alliance agreed on June 2 to extend the previous cut of 2.2 million barrels per day until the end of September and gradually remove it starting in October.

The US Energy Information Administration said last week that global oil demand will exceed production by about 750,000 barrels per day in the second half of 2024 due to the decline in OPEC Plus production.

The OPEC report last week also indicated a deficit in oil supplies in the coming months and in 2025.

Novak explained that the global oil market will be balanced thanks to Russia’s moves.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Iraq News Gazette

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TOKENIZED GOLD- WHAT IS IT?

" Tokenization of gold is one of the recent blockchain use cases quickly gaining popularity among crypto enthusiasts, investors, and businesses. The present-day market cap of tokenized gold has already reached 1.17 billion, which is a firm upward trend reflecting the rising prices of physical gold. "

" But is investing in a gold-backed cryptocurrency as safe as physical gold? What are the benefits of tokenized gold, and what risks are involved?"

"Investment in ETFs is a safer option in terms of pure gold investment. Yet, ETFs are not stocks, bonds, or other securities that you may hold in your bank account and exchange for physical gold. Like any other ETFs, gold-backed ones are only derivatives of the stock exchange instrument that an owner doesn’t actually own. That’s why such investments are also a risky strategy with limited investor control. "
"When it comes to investment in tokenized gold, things are much more transparent and simpler for investors here. The scheme works as follows: "

1. The project acquires a certain amount of physical gold and stores it securely in its deposits.

2. The company issues tokenized gold coins, the cumulative number and value of which equal the amount of gold in its vaults.  

3. The coins get into circulation and are used by traders, project users, buyers, and sellers. Their price is stably pegged to the price of gold, and in some cases, the coins may be exchanged for the respective amount of physical gold at any moment the owner claims such a possibility.

"This way, you may perceive digital gold as gold ownership tokens – securities that verify your right to a specific amount of physical gold."

THE ROLE OF BLOCKCHAIN IN GOLD INVESTMENT
"All of the risks and challenges with digital gold security, liquidity, and fungibility have given rise and popularity to the tokenized gold market. Digital gold is equivalent to physical gold stored in a safe location by the coin’s issuer, which frees you from the need to take care of the gold storage solutions."

"At the same time, every coin you own comes with the ownership right for physical gold, giving you direct ownership rights, unlike those of gold ETF investments. These are the reasons why tokenization of precious metals has become so popular in the crypto space. "

"All in all, gold investments open many exciting opportunities for you.."
1.  First, you can address inflation by investing in this conservative instrument with fewer risks and limitations.
2. Second, you can take advantage of the rising gold prices similar to traditional gold investments.
3. Third, getting some digital gold to your portfolio is always a great diversification measure that can protect your assets from rapid price turns in the crypto market.  

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:   4 IRE Labs

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Study: Digital Wallets to Overtake Debit Cards for In-Store Payments by 2027

Digital wallets have revolutionized the payment space in recent years. They provide an easy, contactless and secure way to make purchases and transfer money through the convenience of smartphones.

The method is the fastest-growing payment option in the United States, which is especially true among younger consumers. Most Americans say they use digital wallets more often than traditional payment methods. Even more intriguingly, consumers who use this payment method tend to spend more than nonusers. According to a new Worldpay report, the payment method will overtake debit cards in transaction value in North America for in-store payments by 2027.

Digital wallets’ popularity and payment values make them a priority tool for businesses to incorporate into their payment suites. However, merchants have some catching up to do to keep pace with this unstoppable trend. Some notable stumbling blocks — including perceptions about security, complexity and legacy technology — are still holding many back.

The “Money Mobility Tracker®” examines the meteoric rise of digital wallets. It also looks at how payment providers can help small merchants overcome concerns about security, complexity and technology to offer this payment method to their customers.

—Convenience Translates to Higher Use — and Spending
—Broadening Merchant Adoption of Digital Wallets
—Consumers Crave Additional Uses and Features in Digital Wallets

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  PYMNTS 

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HOW DO YOU INVEST IN TOKENIZED GOLD AND SILVER?

"In recent years, the concept of tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) has gained significant traction in the world of finance and investment. RWAs refer to the process of representing physical or financial assets on a blockchain through the use of tokens. This innovative approach has opened up new opportunities for investors, particularly in the realm of precious metals."

REMEMBER THIS TERM- (RWA) Real World Assets)

"By incorporating tokenized precious metals into a well-balanced investment portfolio, investors can potentially mitigate risk and protect their wealth from the erosive effects of inflation."

The Process of Investing in Tokenized Precious Metals
"Investing in tokenized precious metals is a straightforward process, but it requires careful consideration and due diligence."

1. The first step in investing in tokenized precious metals is selecting a reputable platform or issuer. It is crucial to choose a provider with a proven track record, strong security measures, and transparent operations.

2. Understanding the custody and storage of the underlying physical assets is another critical factor when investing in tokenized precious metals. Reputable issuers should provide clear information about the location and security of the vaults where the physical precious metals are stored.

3. Once you have selected a reputable platform and evaluated the regulatory compliance, the next step is purchasing and storing the tokenized precious metals. Investors can typically buy tokenized precious metals directly from the issuer or on secondary markets, such as cryptocurrency exchanges.

4. Finally, some tokenized precious metals platforms offer the option to redeem the tokens for physical precious metals. This feature provides investors with the flexibility to convert their digital holdings into tangible assets if desired.

"One of the primary risks associated with tokenized precious metals is regulatory uncertainty and the evolving legal landscape. As highlighted in The Legal Roadmap: Tokenizing Commodities within Regulatory Frameworks, the regulatory environment for tokenized assets varies across jurisdictions, and there is a lack of clear global consensus."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Block Apps

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Why is XRP price up today?

XRP has outperformed the broader crypto market, boosted by its underbought RSI and whale interest.

Crypto market rebound boosts XRP higher
On July 17, XRP price jumped by nearly 7% to $0.618, its highest in three months, despite the sell-off fears led by the ongoing Mt. Gox reimbursement. The XRP/USD pair has climbed by around 62.20% when measured from its local low of $0.381 established on July 5.

Interestingly, the crypto market capitalization has vastly underperformed XRP’s rebound, rising by about 24.50% in the same period. In fact, XRP/USD is still down 1.71% year-to-date compared to the crypto market’s 40% returns.

This puts XRP holders in a good position to benefit from such a catch-up rally, particularly with growing interest rate cut chances in September.

"We might be on the verge of witnessing one of the most significant breakouts in crypto history," stated pseudonymous crypto trader Crypto Michael on X. He highlighted a bullish pennant pattern forming on XRP’s price chart over seven years, a rare occurrence where the price consolidates within a triangle pattern following a strong upward movement.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Coin Telegraph

~~~~~~~~~

Hong Kong to Prepare Stablecoin Legislation as Public Consultation Ends

Hong Kong authorities plan to introduce a bill into the Legislative Council before year-end.

—Hong Kong's regulators published the conclusions from their consultation on a stablecoin regime.
—The next step is to prepare a bill for the Legislative Council.

Hong Kong's financial regulators said they plan to present a bill on fiat-referenced stablecoins to the Legislative Council later this year.

The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau (FSTB) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) published the results of a consultation, and concluded that the stablecoin regime would "primarily focus on representations of value which rest on ledgers that are operated in a decentralised manner" in which "no person has the unilateral authority to control or materially alter its functionality or operation."

The consultation paper for stablecoin guidelines published at the end of last year received 108 submissions from stakeholders. The regulators plan to take suggestions from respondents before finalizing the bill for the legislative process.

The regulators confirmed their initial proposal that any person who issues a stablecoin in Hong Kong must obtain a license. While they say keeping reserve assets with banks licensed in Hong Kong could provide greater user protection, they are open to considering proposals on placing reserve assets in other jurisdictions.

Foreign entities intending to apply for a license will be required to establish a Hong Kong subsidiary and have key management personnel, including a CEO, in the territory.

After considering the responses, the HKMA said it is "inclined to reduce the frequency of public disclosure." It had proposed monthly attestation by an independent auditor, and will continue discussions on the matter.

Hong Kong is trying to keep pace with other major jurisdictions in becoming a leading crypto hub. Europe's MiCA stablecoin regime came into force this month and members of Congress in the U.S. are actively attempting to push forward stablecoin bills.

In March, the HKMA started a regulatory sandbox to give potential stablecoin issuers immunity in testing certain operations. In today's announcement, the HKMA said it is processing the applications for the stablecoin issuer sandbox and will announce more shortly.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Coindesk, HKMA,  Coindesk Policy

~~~~~~~~~

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Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Tuesday Afternoon 7-16-24

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

FIVE CENTRAL BANKS HAVE INTERCONNECTED THEIR INSTANT PAYMENT SYSTEMS

"Five central banks have interconnected their instant payment systems, creating a framework for faster and more affordable cross-border payments globally.

These include the central banks of India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand."

CLICK THE LINK TO WATCH THE SHORT VIDEO- VERY INFORMATIVE

While watching the video remember that Ripple is a member of the BIS cross-border Payments interoperability and Extention (PIE) taskforce.

@ Newshounds News™

Read and See more:  Twitter

~~~~~~~~~

IRAQ RESUMES NEGOTIATIONS TO JOIN WTO

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Iraqi Minister of Trade, Atheer Al-Ghurairi, declared on Monday that discussions to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) had resumed after more than a 16-year break.

A statement issued by the Trade Ministry revealed that Iraqi negotiating teams began their preparatory meetings at the WTO’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, in preparation for the third meeting that will discuss Iraq’s accession, the Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported.

During his participation in the 13th Ministerial Conference of the WTO held last February in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, Al-Ghurairi affirmed that Iraq fulfilled the conditions necessary to become a member of the WTO following the completion of economic reforms and the enhancement of the investment climate.

The Iraqi Trade Minister indicated that Baghdad finalized issues related to goods and services in accordance with the deadlines set for integration into the international trade system.

The Iraqi government expressed interest in joining the WTO after submitting a request to do so in 2004. Iraq needed to be a member of the multilateral international trade system in order to regain its place as a major player in the global economy.

In addition to debating the future of the global trade movement in light of current challenges, Al-Ghurairi said that the conference sends a strong message to the countries of the world about the value of joining this organization.

The Iraqi official added that Iraq is attempting to expand its commercial and economic connections around the world in order to create new opportunities for collaboration.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Iraw News

~~~~~~~~~

Japanese tokenized deposit platform DCJPY starts production testing

DeCurret DCP, the company behind the DCJPY tokenized deposit network, said it has started production testing of the network. It expects to go into production in August. DeCurret runs the Japanese Digital Currency Forum, which has more than a hundred corporate and government participants who are exploring a broad range of applications that use digital currencies for settlement. DeCurret also raised significant funding from several big names, including MUFG, SMBC and SBI Holdings.

However, they are not participants in the first application, which uses on-chain bank deposits to pay for tokenized renewable energy certificates (RECs). The Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ) recently became a member of the Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX) to procure RECs on behalf of its data center clients. Now it plans to convert the RECs into digital tokens and settle transactions with tokenized deposits from GMO Aozora Net Bank.

In the future DeCurret DCP wants to expand the application by including electricity retailers, power companies and carbon trading exchanges.

The key benefits of on-chain payment is it eliminates settlement risk because the asset and money exchange simultaneously. Another advantage is automation, with programmability payments enabling a vast range of use cases.

The DCJPY Network consists of two separate blockchains, a Business Zone(s) and a Financial Zone. Only banks are present in the Financial Zone and this is where they tokenize the deposits and the DCJPY transfers actually happen. The transfer of the asset is recorded in the Business Zone. However, so are the instructions to transfer the DCJPY (but not the actual transfer). This requires synchronization between the two blockchain zones. DeCurret DCP uses the Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol (IBC) from Cosmos.

Meanwhile, a recent DeCurret DCP survey showed a luke warm appetite for digital currencies from enterprises. Out of 100 companies surveyed, 26% aim to use digital currency in one to three years. Just over two thirds of those with plans are members of the Digital Currency Forum.

Japan’s approach to digital currencies
Japan is one of the most advanced economies in terms of legal support for digital currencies. It passed legislation that supports three types of stablecoins. These include two bank related ones – stablecoins backed by bank deposits and third party reserve backed stablecoins where the reserves are managed by trust banks. Hence, in the realm of digital currency, DCJPY faces competition at launch.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Ledger Insights

~~~~~~~~~

BRICS: EVERY AFRICAN COUNTRY PREPARING TO JOIN the ALLIANCE

"Former Ethiopian speaker of the house Agegnehu Teshager revealed that all African countries are interested in joining the BRICS alliance. His statement comes at a time when developing countries are looking to sideline the US dollar and use local currencies."

"Developing countries are finding the BRICS de-dollarization agenda lucrative as the initiative can boost their native economies and local currencies. "

"“Africa is a great potential for BRICS, most African countries have an appetite to be a member of the alliance,” he said. The former speaker continued, “Africa’s economy is developing and the continent is interested in the BRICS alliance.”  

"Ethiopia is the new entrant in the BRICS alliance and is the second African nation apart from South Africa to be a part of the grouping. The bloc might invite many other countries during the 16th summit and expand the alliance in 2024. However, there is no clear information on which countries might receive the invitation."

NOTE: JUST BECAUSE A COUNTRY EXPRESSES INTEREST IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF BRICS DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE AUTOMATICALLY A MEMBER. THERE IS A PROCESS TO MEMBERSHIP..  

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Watcher Guru

~~~~~~~~~

Cardano (ADA) Price Surges 40% as $240M TVL and Ethereum ETFs Emerge Bullish Catalysts

Cardano (ADA) has experienced a significant price surge, trading at $0.44, up 40% over the last ten days, fueled by several internal and external factors that are generating renewed investor interest and optimism.

Cardano Price Crosses $0.45 First Time in 10-Days

After having dropped to historic lows on Friday July 5, a positive shift in the US macroeconomic environment has provided a favorable backdrop for ADA’s recent rebound phase.  Positive Non-Farm Payroll (NFP) and Consumer Price Index (CPI) data have bolstered investor confidence in the economic outlook, supporting the overall cryptocurrency market.

Furthermore, the anticipation of Ethereum ETFs expected to launch soon has spilled over into the altcoin market, including Cardano, as investors look for promising opportunities beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

@ Newshounds News™

Reas more:  The Crypto Basic

~~~~~~~~~

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Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Monday Evening 7-15-24

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

UNITES STATES CONSULTING FIRM SIGNS CONTRACT FOR IRAQ DEVELOPMENT ROAD

"By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhibis Al-Saadawi, announced the signing of a contract with Oliver Wyman, a consultancy firm, to provide advisory services for the Development Road project. Al-Saadawi stated that the consultancy will assist the ministry in marketing the project and overseeing investment opportunities. The contract, signed by Younis Khalid Jawad."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Iraq Business News

~~~~~~~~~

What is IOTA?

IOTA (MIOTA) is one of only 8 ISO 20022 compliant coins.

Iota aims to be the economic layer for the Internet of Things, bringing microtransactions and data storage to a network of connected devices. It uses a distributed ledger technology called the Tangle, which is based on directed acyclic graph technology rather than blockchain.

Iota began as a pivot from an IoT microprocessor venture called Jinn. The Jinn team held a crowds ale in September 2014, promising holders of its native Jinn token a share in the company’s profits.

 The team pivoted following concerns around the regulatory soundness of Jinn tokens. In 2015, the project announced Iota, a cryptocurrency network for IoT devices that utilized some of the cryptographic techniques researched and developed at Jinn.

Iota does not have blocks, miners or transaction fees as are featured in most public blockchain networks like Bitcoin or Ethereum. This is to allow the scalability and speed necessary for machine-to-machine microtransactions, which are denominated in its native token, MIOTA. Instead, each transaction validates the previous two transactions, achieving consensus first locally, then globally.

The Iota Foundation, a German nonprofit, is currently building out the Iota ecosystem.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  CoinTelegraph

~~~~~~~~~

Cardano and XRP Win Fresh Listing

Horizon Protocol, a leading innovator in the DeFi derivatives space, has announced, in a tweet, the much-anticipated listing of XRP, Cardano (ADA), and Chainlink (LINK) on its flagship derivatives platform, Horizon Futures.

This exciting development, approved through Horizon Improvement Proposal 16 (HIP-16), signifies a significant step forward for Horizon Protocol in its mission to enhance user experience and expand access to diversified trading opportunities.

The upcoming launch, scheduled for Thursday this week, will allow users to leverage Horizon Futures’ robust features to trade XRP, ADA, and LINK with competitive advantages. This includes access to low fees, a user-friendly interface, and the ability to leverage positions up to 27.5 times.

Horizon Protocol emphasizes the importance of community involvement and acknowledges the valuable role its users played in the approval of HIP-16. This collaborative approach underscores Horizon’s commitment to fostering a thriving DeFi derivatives ecosystem.

Strategic Listings Bolster DeFi Offerings
Horizon Protocol views the listing of XRP, ADA, and LINK as a strategic move to bolster its existing suite of offerings and cater to a wider range of investors. These cryptocurrencies, all boasting an established market presence and strong communities, represent a valuable addition to the Horizon Futures platform.

Their inclusion aligns perfectly with Horizon’s vision of enriching users’ trading strategies and providing them with the tools they need to navigate the dynamic DeFi landscape.

To ensure a seamless integration process, Horizon Protocol will implement necessary system adjustments to accommodate XRP, ADA, and LINK on Horizon Futures. The team will also closely monitor the performance of these newly listed assets to inform future enhancements and potential additions to the platform.

Building on a Strong Foundation...

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Times Tabloid

~~~~~~~~~

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Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Monday Afternoon 7-15-24

(Due to some unforeseen new computer glitches this afternoon post was delayed)

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

VND/USD EXCHSNGE RATE AS OF 7/15/24

"Reference exchange rate drops slightly at week’s beginning

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) set the daily reference exchange rate at 24,245 VND/USD on July 15, down 3 VND from July 13.

With the current trading band of +/- 5%, the ceiling rate applicable for commercial banks during the day is 25,457 VND/USD and the floor rate 23,033 VND/USD.

At commercial banks, the opening-hour rates also fluctuated slightly.

At 8:20 am, Vietcombank listed the rates at 25,237 VND/USD (buying) and 25,457 VND/USD (selling), both down 3 VND from the rates two days ago.

BIDV also cut both rates by 3 VND, listing the buying rate at 25,237 VND/USD and the selling rate at 25,457 VND/USD."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Vietnam Net

~~~~~~~~~

News Update: Fedwire ISO 20022 Timeline

News Update: Fedwire ISO 20022 Timeline

In 2022, the Fed announced that the Federal Reserve Banks planned to adopt the ISO 20022 standard for the Fedwire Funds Service in a single-day implementation strategy on March 10, 2025. 

ISO 20022 is a globally accepted messaging standardization approach introduced in 2005 by the International Organization for Standardization with the goal of using the same language for all financial communications. 

The Fedwire migration marks a significant turning point in the modernization of the American payment system that complies with best practices and international standards.

Here are three key updates you need to know about the upcoming migration schedule/planned timeline.

Compliance Window:
At the end of October 2024, the compliance testing window will officially close. Any financial institution that wants to remain in compliance with ISO20022 needs to complete its testing with the Federal Reserve by that time.  

Post-Launch Integration
Compliance testing will resume two weeks following the launch (around late March).

Managing Non-Approvals
Organizations may choose to keep using the current method without paying penalties if they have not achieved compliance by the testing deadline. It's crucial to remember that ongoing use of Fedwire Direct requires compliance with ISO standards if a third-party solution is used for data loading. Therefore, financial institutions might not be able to use the solutions that are already available if these standards are not adopted and will be forced to manually load their wire transactions to the Fedwire Direct portal.

In partnership with the Federal Reserve, Alacriti has been proactive about ISO 20022. Alacriti’s solutions have all APIs built to the ISO 20022 standard, which is imperative for the RTP® network and the FedNow® Service, and also to accommodate the implementation that Fedwire has planned for 2025.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Alacriti, ISO 20022 Timeline 

~~~~~~~~~

SAB 121 IN THE NEWS AGAIN?

"The crux of the problem is the accounting rule forces assets under custody to be disclosed as both an asset and liability on the balance sheet, contrary to accounting convention.
This expands the size of the balance sheet on which banks have their capital requirements assessed. Hence, providing crypto custody would require banks to set aside large amounts of capital, making it prohibitively expensive."

"The saga has taken up a considerable legislator time. In May both the House (228 v 182) and Senate (60 v 38) voted in favor of a resolution to cancel SAB 121, followed by a Presidential veto. Last year the Government Accountability Office (GAO) ruled that SAB 121 was a rule that should have received Congressional approval. Plus, legislators wrote to bank regulators about SAB 121 multiple times."

"In March 2022 the SEC published SAB 121, apparently without consulting banking regulators. The rule impacts all listed firms, not just banks. However, if the potential impact on banks was immediately obvious to journalists, it’s odd that the SEC didn’t consider it."

"The issue is bigger than cryptocurrency. It’s widely believed that tokenization – of securities, funds and other real world assets – will see the rewiring of the financial system. The Bank of International Settlements, the central bank of central banks, frowns on crypto but is making a big push on tokenization.
In order for tokenization to progress in an institutional framework, it’s essential for assets to be held in custody by banks. The world’s largest custodian banks are American. BNY Mellon, State Street, JP Morgan, Citi and Northern Trust provide custody for $160 trillion in assets."

"While the United States prides itself on its sophisticated markets, institutional work on tokenization is happening elsewhere."

"Several U.S. firms are involved in the Singapore and European work. Resolving the custody issue could see a significant acceleration in activity on home soil."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Ledger Insights

~~~~~~~~~

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Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Sunday Afternoon 7-14-24

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

ARE THE LARGEST BANKS IN THE WORLD STARTING TO INVEST IN CRYPTO?

"The largest investment banks in the world are rolling out crypto services and investing in crypto companies.
JP Morgan. BNY Mellon. Goldman Sachs. They all foresee global adoption in the IMMEDIATE FUTURE
From consumers to financial institutions the world is getting ready to use crypto as money."

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Twitter

~~~~~~~~

XRP Climbs 10% In Bullish Trade

XRP was trading at $0.4968 by 00:26 (04:26 GMT) on the Investing.com Index on Saturday, up 10.07% on the day. It was the largest one-day percentage gain since March 11.

The move upwards pushed XRP's market cap up to $27.5901B, or 1.29% of the total cryptocurrency market cap. At its highest, XRP's market cap was $83.4407B.

XRP had traded in a range of $0.4738 to $0.4968 in the previous twenty-four hours.

Over the past seven days, XRP has seen a rise in value, as it gained 15.53%. The volume of XRP traded in the twenty-four hours to time of writing was $1.7086B or 3.08% of the total volume of all cryptocurrencies. It has traded in a range of $0.4036 to $0.4968 in the past 7 days.

At its current price, XRP is still down 84.90% from its all-time high of $3.29 set on January 4, 2018.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Investing 

~~~~~~~~~

Ripple Finds a Spot in a Very Prestigious List: Details

“The digital asset space was buoyed in 2024 by strong price movements in cryptocurrencies,” CNBC and Statista noted.

Ripple was named one of the top 250 fintech companies for 2024 in the “digital assets” category by CNBC and Statista.

The company has received multiple awards, including the PAY360 Award and recognition as a top workplace by Fortune Magazine.

Ripple’s Latest Recognition
The American business news channel – CNBC – and the global industry statistics database – Statista – conducted a mutual study to find out the top 250 fintech companies for 2024. One of the awarded firms in the “digital assets” section is Ripple. It is one of the three entities placed on that list last year, with Coinbase and OpenSea being the others.

CNBC and Statista explained that the “digital assets” category comprises firms that make it “easier to access and use” cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based applications. They also noted the industry’s success in 2024, reminding that Bitcoin (BTC) hit an all-time high price of over $70,000 in March.

The entities revealed that 116 of the top 250 fintech companies are located in the United States (including Ripple, which is headquartered in San Francisco). The United Kingdom follows next with 30 firms, while India is home to 11 entities on the list.

The Previous Awards
This is not the first time Ripple has found a place in such a category. In October last year, it won the payment prize in the UK – the PAY360 Awards. The company topped the ranking for being the leader in digital currencies/assets in financial services.

One of the people acknowledging the achievement was Sendi Young – Managing Director of Ripple’s European operations. “Such an honour to win in this UK’s most prestigious payments awards,” she said at the time.

Prior to that, Fortune Magazine placed Ripple in the 13th position (out of 50) as “the best workplace in technology” for 2023. According to the business magazine, 94% of the firm’s employees consider it “a great place to work.” 98% of the staff said they were warmly welcomed upon starting their journey at the company, while 96% were supportive of the management team.

Last but not least, People Magazine included Ripple in its list of “top 100 companies who care for employees and society.” Other well-known corporations that were part of that club were American Express, NVIDIA, Deloitte, MasterCard, and more.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Crypto Potato

~~~~~~~~~

Five Major Reversal Indicators for Crypto Market in July: Goldman Sachs, ETH ETF S-1 filings and More

U.Today - The crypto market is gearing up for a potential turnaround in July, which will be fueled by several crucial factors. Here are five major indicators to watch:

Federal Reserve's potential rate cuts
The Federal Reserve may cut interest rates as early as September, according to recent rumors, and again in December. The markets will gain liquidity from these cuts, according to analysts, and cryptocurrencies might benefit from another positive CPI print.

Progress on Ethereum ETF S-1 filings
The Ethereum ETF issuers received their S-1 forms back from the SEC recently, with a request for small changes. Before being approved, these issuers must respond to the criticisms and resubmit, passing at least one more review round. It is a result of drawing in more institutional investors.

CFTC chair's stance on crypto regulation
According to recent comments made by the CFTC chair, between 70% and 80% of cryptocurrencies are not securities, underscoring the necessity for the CFTC to regulate these assets in accordance with the Commodities Exchange Act. This position may end the protracted discussion about whether cryptocurrencies are better classified as commodities or securities, providing much-needed regulatory clarity and enhancing investor confidence.

Goldman Sachs' tokenization projects
By the end of the year, Goldman Sachs wants to introduce three tokenization initiatives, with an emphasis on U. S. as well as European markets. These initiatives, which are led by tokenization and cryptocurrency enthusiast Mathew McDermott, have the potential to attract major institutional interest and investment into the crypto business.

JPMorgan's optimistic Bitcoin outlook
In a report released today, JPMorgan forecasts a bullish bounce for Bitcoin in August. In spite of recent market downturns, the bank is still bullish about Bitcoin's prospects. The analysis emphasizes that less downward pressure is anticipated as the recent wave of cryptocurrency liquidations fades. To better reflect the current state of the market, JPMorgan has also lowered its estimate of the year-to-date crypto net flow from $12 billion to $8 billion.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Investing

~~~~~~~~~

Gold Prices Forecast: Bullish Momentum Builds on Rate Cut Expectations

Key Points:
—Gold surges above $2,400 as Fed rate cut expectations soar. Inflation data fuels rally, with markets now pricing 96% chance of September cut.

—Fed officials turn dovish, boosting gold's appeal. Daly and Goolsbee signal potential rate cuts as disinflation trend resumes. Third weekly gain for gold.

—Global uncertainties support gold's safe-haven status. Central banks continue buying spree. Traders eye potential new record highs amid dovish sentiment.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  FX Empire

~~~~~~~~~

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Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Saturday Afternoon 7-13-24

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

NIGERIAN MINISTER URGES SEC TO TACKLE CRYPTO REGULATION CHALLENGES

Nigeria’s cryptocurrency regulations are currently being updated.

The Nigerian Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, has called on the newly inaugurated Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) board to address the complexities of cryptocurrency regulation.

According to local media, Edun emphasized the need to ensure stringent oversight, especially in fast-moving and complex areas such as cryptocurrencies, to maintain market integrity in Nigeria’s capital market during the board’s inauguration in Abuja.

Minimal registration requirements
Edun warned that companies might exploit minimal registration requirements to falsely claim they are licensed, undermining market integrity. Highlighting the potential for regulatory arbitrage, he urged the SEC to implement top-notch corporate governance practices, swiftly identify and disclose conflicts and adhere to global best practices.

The minister also encouraged the newly inaugurated SEC board members to adopt innovative strategies to regulate the country’s capital market effectively. He stressed the importance of staying informed and proactive amid rapid developments in artificial intelligence, digital currency and overall digital transitions.

“Unlike basic industries with settled technologies, the financial sector is rapidly evolving with innovations in fintech, AI and crypto. To provide necessary approvals and guidance, the SEC must stay informed and adaptable.”

SEC pledges innovation and growth
In response, the Chairman of the SEC board, Mairiga Katuka, assured the minister that the board would leverage its collective expertise, innovation and passion to drive growth.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  CoinTelegraph 

~~~~~~~~~

RIPPLE's APPEAL TO CENTRAL BANKS:  SPEED, SECURITY, AND DIGITAL INNOVATION  

—Ripple’s appeal to central banks lies in its promise of speed, security, and digital innovation, challenging traditional banking methods with blockchain technology for instant global transfers.

—Ripple positions itself as a key player in CBDC solutions, offering infrastructure for governments to deploy their digital currencies.

For many decades, the global central banks have maintained unchallenged control of the global economy by following traditional banking methods. However, with blockchain seeing rising adoption, players like Ripple have come to the forefront offering instant settlement solutions for global transfers.

Last year, Ripple unveiled its own CBDC platform that serves as a one-stop solution allowing governments to deploy their CBDCs providing all the necessary infrastructure for deploying and maintaining the currencies.

Central banks are considering Ripple for its speed, security, and modern appeal. Traditional transfer methods, once slow and cumbersome, can now be transformed into swift, secure blockchain transactions. Moreover, Ripple enables transaction settlements in fractions of a second instead of days, with cryptographic security ensuring maximum protection. This innovation has even the most conservative bankers excited about the possibilities Ripple brings to the table.

By adopting Ripple solutions, central banks have the opportunity to transition into new-age technological platforms instead of being perceived as outdated institutions. This could bring a fundamental change in the way we conduct global transactions more efficiently and securely.

The adoption of CBDCs on Ripple’s platform has the potential to revolutionize the financial industry. Central banks now stand at a crossroads, with the opportunity to lead the digital transformation of finance.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Currency Insider 

~~~~~~~~~

HEDRA HASHGRAPH LEADS BLOCKCHAIN INNOVATION WITH NEW SCALABILITY BREAKTHROUGH

—The Hedera Foundation has launched two pilot Request for Proposals (RFPs) aimed at addressing specific ecosystem needs, inviting global developers to apply for grants.

—The initiative aims to enhance transparency and collaboration, providing up to 10 million HBAR in support, to accelerate the growth and development of the Hedera ecosystem.

On Thursday, July 11, the HBAR Foundation announced its pilot Request for Proposal (RFP) to deliver a more transparent and community-supported element to grant giving. Hedera stated that they are piloting two separate RFPs for building solutions thereby meeting specific ecosystem needs. Besides, this development comes as Hedera has been leading in crypto development activity, per the CNF update.

The Hedera Foundation is launching two pilot RFPs aimed at addressing specific needs within the ecosystem. they have also invited developers from across the globe to apply for these grants, with the selection process incorporating open and public community input.

The goal of this pilot is to gather insights from the initial RFPs to enhance and formalize the foundation’s grant program. This would ultimately accelerate the growth and development of the Hedera ecosystem.

We’re excited to announce the launch of our pilot Request For Proposal (RFP) process to to deliver a more transparent, #Hedera community-supported element to grant giving 🤝 pic.twitter.com/VNnatTK5GY

— HBAR Foundation (@HBAR_foundation) July 11, 2024

Hedera Targets Lending Markets With RFP Pilots
The pilot initiative will include two distinct RFPs designed to meet specific requirements:

Credit Market Development: This grant will follow the structure of a standard THF development grant, with funding allocated based on the completion of well-defined development milestones.

Credit Market Liquidity: This grant will be modeled after a network utilization incentive pool. The incentive pool will be evergreen and may be replenished based on ecosystem needs.

The Foundation is initially committing up to 10 million HBAR in support, available to eligible teams. Given the evergreen nature of the pool, project teams can apply multiple times depending on their liquidity needs. Each proposal must align with specific growth objectives, and applicants are required to outline milestones and goal KPIs. The Hedera Foundation also mentioned some of the benefits of conducting the pilot which include:

Increased Transparency and Clarity: By clearly outlining funding intentions, the Hedera Foundation (THF) can provide more timely updates to the community about key priorities. This approach offers further clarity to teams who may not qualify for a grant, not due to inadequacy but because their proposals might not align with the network’s most pressing needs.

Enhanced Ecosystem Collaboration and Diversification of Ideas: By inviting broader participation, THF aims to foster greater collaboration between itself, applicants, and the community, all working together to find better solutions. Additionally, creating more opportunities for builders to share their visions, ideas, and educational insights directly with the community before launching products or platforms will add significant value throughout the development cycle.

Moreover, the Hedera blockchain has been part of some key projects. As reported by Crypto News Flash, Sweden’s central bank tested its retail banking solutions on the Hedera network. Additionally, consulting giant Deloitte also joined hands with Hedera to build next-generation blockchain solutions, per the CNF update.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Crypto News Flash

~~~~~~~~~

DWS MOVES TOWARD FIRST GERMAN-REGULATED EURO STABLECOIN

German asset management company DWS has launched a new company in a step towards creating the first German-regulated cryptocurrency.

Deutsche Bank-owned DWS announced the launch of the company as part of their wider plan to go live with the new euro stablecoin next year, marking a significant step for the European financial sector considering DWS manages assets worth €941 billion.

The cryptocurrency is set to be regulated by Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) as DWS looks to be the first company being granted a German e-money licence for a stablecoin.

The newly created company, AllUnity, is a collaboration between DWS, Flow Traders, and Galaxy Digital, working together to introduce the new stablecoin.

Stefan Hoops, CEO of DWS, commented that the stablecoin will gain interest from a broad range of clients, including digital asset investors and industrial applications.

“In the short term, we expect demand from investors in digital assets, but by the medium term we expect wider demand, for instance from industrial companies working with ‘internet of things’ continuous payments,” Hoops stated.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Currency Insider

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JAPAN'S CURRENCY HAS STEADILY LOST VALUE AGAINST THE USD OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS

Japan likely conducted a $22 billion intervention yesterday to support its currency.

Japan spent a record $62 billion in May to prop up the yen.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Twitter

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Ripple’s Appeal to Central Banks: Speed, Security, and Digital Innovation

"Ripple positions itself as a key player in CBDC solutions, offering infrastructure for governments to deploy their digital currencies.

For many decades, the global central banks have maintained unchallenged control of the global economy by following traditional banking methods. However, with blockchain seeing rising adoption, players like Ripple have come to the forefront offering instant settlement solutions for global transfers."

"Last year, Ripple unveiled its own CBDC platform that serves as a one-stop solution allowing governments to deploy their CBDCs providing all the necessary infrastructure for deploying and maintaining the currencies."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Crypto News Flash

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CENTRAL BANKS ARE BUYING GOLD TO PREPARE FOR A NEW GOLD STANDARD

"Record buying of gold by central banks, which are matching their gold reserves relative to GDP with other countries, revived the debate about the possibility of a reboot of the current monetary system based on a new gold standard."

"Global central banks have been buying record amounts of gold since the beginning of 2022. The pace and regularity with which central banks accumulate gold is unprecedented, as they have been mostly sellers of the precious metal throughout history. This extraordinary demand for gold by central banks, the largest in 55 years, is attributed to a desire to diversify their reserves and reduce dependence on the dollar."

"But beyond the intrinsic capacity of physical gold to maintain its value in the face of economic uncertainty, some indicators suggest that this accumulation of gold by central banks is just the prelude to a restart of the international monetary system and a possible return to the gold standard."

"The bad monetary policies that caused the housing bubble and the way fiat currencies have been managed since the 2008 crisis, depreciating the dollar and exporting US domestic problems to the rest of the world, along with economic sanctions on countries not aligned with Western geopolitical and economic interests, have undermined the credibility of the international monetary system. An alternative based on a new, multipolar, more stable and less inflationary gold standard seems closer than ever, and global central banks want to be included."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  11onze

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JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo Suffer $3,500,000,000 in Losses As US Banks Report Massive Surge in Bad Debt

Two of the largest banks in the US are declaring a loss on a staggering $3.5 billion in debts that customers can’t pay back.

JPMorgan Chase says its net charge-offs, which are delinquent debts that banks do not expect to receive, hit $2.2 billion in the second quarter of the year.

That’s a $200 million increase from the previous quarter and an $800 million increase from Q2 of 2023.

Meanwhile, Wells Fargo says its net charge-offs surged from $764 billion in Q2 of 2023 to $1.3 billion last quarter – a 70% increase.

Although the pace of inflation has reduced, Wells Fargo’s chief financial officer Michael Santomassimo tells the New York Times that many customers are clearly struggling as their credit card balances rise and savings dwindle.

“[Inflation is] still cumulatively having a bit impact. The folks on the lower end of the wealth or income spectrum are struggling more than folks that are on the higher end.”

In addition to its charge-offs, JPMorgan declared an additional $500 million in losses from failing mortgage investments.

US banks have been sounding the alarm on its customers’ growing credit card balances and issues in the commercial real estate industry since last year.

In its new report, Wells Fargo says it earned a Q2 profit of $4.9 billion, although the bank’s shares tumbled 6% on Friday after net interest income fell short of estimates.

JPMorgan Chase reported a quarterly profit of $13.1 billion as its stock hovers near its all-time high.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  DailyHodl

~~~~~~~~~

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Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Friday Afternoon 7-12-24

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

CFTC CHAIRMAN TOLD AN ILLINOIS COURT THAT BITCOIN AND ETHEREUM ARE DIGITAL COMMODITIES

"CFTC Chair Rustin Behnam says 70-80% of cryptos are not securities."

"(Kitco News) – The battle over digital asset regulation appears to be heating up as Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chair Rustin Behnam told an Illinois court that Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are digital commodities under the Commodity Exchange Act and that 70-80% of tokens in the cryptocurrency market are not securities. "

"Behnam made the comments while testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry’s hearing on the oversight of digital commodities."

"Given the risks that this unregulated market poses to U.S. investors, I have consistently and publicly called for new legislative authority for the CFTC, including before this Committee. Congress must act quickly in order for regulators, like the CFTC, to provide basic customer protections that are core to U.S. financial markets.”

"Federal legislation is urgently needed to create a pathway for a regulatory framework that will protect American investors and possibly the financial system from future risk.”

"Dr. Roger Marshall, the Republican Senator from Kansas, brought up the turf war between the SEC and the CFTC over who gets to regulate digital assets, and asked Behnam, “Wouldn’t it be simpler if we put this whole thing under the CFTC's jurisdiction?”

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Kitco

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PUTIN SAYS THAT BRICS WILL LIKELY CREATE THEIR OWN PARLIAMENT while speaking at the 10th BRICS  Parliamentary Forum

"Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, speaking Thursday at the tenth BRICS Parliamentary Forum in St. Petersburg, indicated his openness to the creation of a BRICS Parliament. "

"Present were guests from 18 countries, including non-BRICS CIS States. This is the first such forum since the UAE, Iran, Egypt, and Ethiopia joined the group in January."

“BRICS does not yet have its own parliamentary institution, however, I believe that the idea will definitely be implemented in the future,” Putin said.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  The American Conservative

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OIL PRICES RISE AGAINST THE BACKDROPOF DECLINING INVENTORIES

Oil prices rose today, Thursday, against the backdrop of a decline in gasoline stocks and a decline in crude stocks after American refineries intensified processing operations, reflecting strong demand.

Brent crude futures rose 35 cents, or 0.4 %, to $85.43 per barrel.

US West Texas Intermediate crude rose 36 cents, or 0.5 %, to reach $82.47 a barrel.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

@ Newshounds News™

Read:  Iraq News Gazette

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JP MORGAN EXPECTS BITCOIN AND THE CRYPTO MARKET TO REBOUND IN AUGUST

"Investment banking giant JPMorgan recently said that Bitcoin and the greater cryptocurrency market will see a massive rebound take place in August. Indeed, the bank also noted that ongoing liquidations taking place in the market are expected to last through the end of July."

“The reduction in the estimated net flow largely driven by the decline in Bitcoin reserves across exchanges over the past month,” JPMorgan’s Nikolaos Panigirtzoglous said. The bank said that the $12 billion mark was highly doubtful. This is likely due to BTC price relative to the production cost and price of assets like gold."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Watcher Guru

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SILVER PRICE OUTLOOK: Will Strong Demand and Tight Supply Keep Prices Shining?

—Silver prices have risen due to a supply and demand gap, with demand outstripping supply for the fifth consecutive year.

—Industrial demand, driven by green energy, AI, and EVs, now accounts for 64% of global silver demand.

—A potential slowdown in China’s economy and prolonged high interest rates could dampen silver prices.

—Bullish Pennant pattern breakout hints at further upside. Will inflation data halt the move?

Silver prices have seen a remarkable rise this year, and with six months still to go, many are wondering just how high they could climb. One key factor to watch is the supply and demand dynamics, as demand for silver continues to outstrip supply.

According to the World Silver Survey, 2024 is the fifth year in a row with a silver shortage. In 2023, silver demand was higher than supply, leading to a market deficit of over 142 million ounces. By the end of 2024, this shortfall is expected to nearly double to 265 million ounces because of increasing industrial demand.

PIC

Silver Supply (Orange Line) and Demand (Green Line), 2019-2024 
Historically, half of the demand for silver was for industrial use and the other half for investment. Recently, industrial demand has grown significantly, now making up 64% of global silver demand, up 19% from last year.

This trend shows no signs of slowing. The primary drivers of the silver supply squeeze are the Green Energy Transition, particularly solar energy, and the high demand from the Artificial Intelligence and electric vehicle (EV) sectors. These industries are among the fastest-growing in the world today.

The only worry has been a recent dip in demand from China and the possibility of a slowdown in the Chinese economy. This could help balance the demand and supply gap. Prolonged higher interest rates from Central Banks could also dampen silver prices and possibly stop the rally. The sooner the US Federal Reserve cuts rates, the better it would be for silver prices.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Action Forex

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SATOSHI'S VISION STILL ALIVE.  BITCOIN IS SHIFTING TOWARDS MORE P2P PAYMENTS

On-chain data suggests Satoshi’s original vision is alive and kicking as the Bitcoin network has shifted towards smaller transactions.

Bitcoin P2P Payment Transfers Have Been Gaining Steam Recently
In a new post on X, CryptoQuant founder and CEO Ki Young Ju has talked about a pattern shift on the BTC network regarding transactions that may be classified as peer-to-peer (P2P) payments.

First, Ju has discussed the trend in the transaction fees on the Bitcoin network. The “transaction fees” here naturally refer to the fees that senders on the blockchain have to attach with their moves as compensation for the validators.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Bitcoinist 

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THIS ARTICLE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW 3 LETTER AGENCIES CAN LEGISLATE BY MAKING "RULES" THEN PROCEED TO "ENFORCE" THOSE RULES WITHOUT THEM EVER BECOMING LAW OR SOMETIMES SLIPPING THROUGH A REVIEW PROCESS BY LAWMAKERS

GAO Concludes SEC's SAB 121 Is Subject to Congressional Review Act

"The SEC’s staff accounting bulletin 121 says that when an entity has an obligation to safeguard crypto for its users, that entity ought to reflect a liability on its balance sheet to reflect its obligation to safeguard that crypto at the fair value of the crypto. SAB 121 also says that the entity should, in turn, recognize a corresponding asset on its balance sheet measured at the fair value of the crypto."

"SEC Chair Gensler has said he is “actually quite proud” of SAB 121."

So, bottom line, if a something is a “rule” for purposes of the CRA, Congress has to be given a chance to review and reject that rule under fast-track procedures.

The GAO Says SAB 121 Is a Rule

"In August 2022, Senator Cynthia Lummis asked the Government Accountability Office to determine whether SAB 121 is a “rule” for purposes of the Congressional Review Act.1"

"Today the GAO released an opinion concluding (over the objections of the SEC) that, yes, SAB 121 is a “rule” for Congressional Review Act purposes."

"SEC did not submit a CRA report to Congress or to the Comptroller General in regard to the Bulletin. In its response to us, SEC maintained that the Bulletin is not subject to CRA because it does not meet the APA definition of a rule as it is not an “agency statement” of “future effect.” Response Letter, at 2–4. For the reasons explained below, we disagree. We find that the Bulletin does meet the definition of a rule under APA and that no exception applies. Thus, the Bulletin is subject to CRA’s submission requirement."

"It is true that the fact that SAB 121 is a “rule” for Congressional Review Act purposes will, for a window of time,2 make this easier. As noted above, a resolution of disapproval brought under the Congressional Review Act cannot be filibustered, so Senator Lummis or another pro-crypto Senator could force a vote on it if they so choose. But legislatively overturning SAB 121 would still require a majority vote in the Senate and in the House, and then the President signing the resolution into law. That seems unlikely here, for obvious reasons."

THIS PARAGRAPH ABOVE IS WHAT TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY (7/11/24) WITH THE HOUSE TAKING A VOTE TO OVERTURN BIDEN'S VETO UNSUCCESSFULLY

"The bigger question though is, regardless of when SAB 121 becomes “effective,” what exactly does that mean? And, equally, what does it mean for SAB 121 to have been ineffective from the time it was issued until the time (presumably in the near future) that the SEC submits SAB 121 to Congress?"

"Here again, I am not sure. The SEC’s position, according to today’s GAO opinion, is that SAB 121 “at most” indicates “how the Office of the Chief Accountant and the Division of Corporation Finance would recommend that the agency act.” So, taking the SEC at face value, SAB 121 should not, on its own, and whether “effective” or otherwise, have been the basis for any action by the Commission."

THE ARTICLE REFERENCED WAS WRITTEN IN OCTOBER OF 2023. THIS SHOWS HOW LONG THE DEBATE OVER SAB 121 HAS BEEN GOING ON. FOR FURTHER CLARITY PLEASE READ THE FULL ATTACHED BLOG ARTICLE.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  BankRegBlog
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BRICS DEVELOPING A PAYMENT SYSTEM USING BLOCKCHAIN

"In March, we learned that BRICS is actively developing a payment system utilizing the blockchain.  Many countries are starting to link payment systems.
Russia and China have almost stopped using the dollar in their mutual trade."

'Trade between Russia and China surged by 26% to $240 billion in 2023, with over 90% of settlements conducted in their national currencies.

This is very significant as the blueprint has arrived.
China's trade with other BRICS members rose 11.3% year-on-year in the first quarter, underscoring the growing ties within the group."

"The result?
More and more countries are shifting to localize trade to become less dependent on the dollar.
They are starting to put their foot down.
This week, a Russian IMF rep said BRICS could offer an alternative currency in the event of the dollar's and the international monetary system's collapse."

"Gold reigns supreme on this reset's chessboard, serving as the most strategic piece in this intricate puzzle."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Twitter - Gold Telegraph

~~~~~~~~~

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3 Real Assets Primed For Growth In The Coming Inflation Bonanza

3 Real Assets Primed For Growth In The Coming Inflation Bonanza 

Notes From The Field  By James Hickman/Simon Black 7-11-24

After today’s inflation report showing ‘only’ 3% inflation, the Federal Reserve is all but guaranteed to start slashing interest rates.

The Fed Chairman essentially promised as much to Congress earlier this week, and has warned that if they don’t start cutting interest rates soon, “we could undermine the [economic] recovery.”

These guys still don’t get it. At this point it’s not even about 3% inflation (which is still too high) or 2% inflation. It’s about prices going back down to pre-pandemic levels… or just lower in general.

But that’s just never going to happen. The Fed doesn’t care about price reductions; they’re happy with a slower rate of price increases… which is totally out of touch with what people want and need.

They’ve been itching to cut rates for months… almost desperate. And in large part that’s because they’re terrified about the US government’s insolvency.

The national debt is about to pass $35 trillion. And high interest rates mean that the annual interest bill this year will exceed the US military budget-- more than $800 billion-- for the first time in nearly 250 years of American history.

The Fed knows that they have to slash interest rates as quickly as possible. With ultra-low rates (like 1.5%), the interest bill on a $35 trillion national debt is manageable… as long as the federal government can rein in spending and stop the debt from growing further.

Of course there are two key problems with this thinking:

First, there is zero evidence that the government will rein in spending. If anything, they seem primed to spend even more. I’ve mentioned several times before that even the US government’s own budget forecasts project more than $22 trillion in additional debt over the next decade.

Second, slashing interest rates will most likely result in significant inflation-- just like we saw in 2021-2022.

We’ve written before how real assets are a safe haven from inflation, and I wanted to briefly discuss three real assets that look especially promising.

The first is physical gold and silver, which serve as a store of value-- especially during inflationary times.

Higher inflation will likely trigger a surge in demand, making the price of precious metals not only keep up with inflation, but exceed it.

But there is another reason why gold will do especially well the worse inflation gets.

The worse inflation becomes, and the worse the US national debt becomes, the more likely the US dollar will lose its spot as the dominant reserve currency. And central banks all over the world-- India, Poland, Singapore, etc. have been feverishly buying up physical gold over the past few years, most likely to prepare for that potential change.

So if inflation picks up, it’s a good bet that central banks will keep buying up gold-- and driving prices higher.

Gold mining stocks should also do extremely well in that scenario due to their exposure to gold prices.

What’s interesting right now, though, is that despite gold being near an all-time high, share prices of many gold mining companies are incredibly cheap.

That’s because central banks-- which have driven gold prices to record highs-- only buy physical gold bullion. They do not buy gold stocks.

However, while the price of gold has already increased substantially, the stock prices of many great gold miners has not.

This is because most of the current demand for gold is coming from central banks. And central banks only buy physical gold— not gold mining stocks.

This means that gold stocks are currently a bargain-- with a LOT of upside potential.

Last, US natural gas is another compelling real asset primed for huge growth.

Right now, natural gas prices in the US are dramatically lower than they are in Europe… and it’s easy to understand why: the US has some of the biggest natural gas reserves in the world, while Europe has almost nothing by comparison. (This is why Europe is so reliant on Russian gas).

And since Joe Biden has banned new LNG (liquefied natural gas) export terminals from the US, it’s difficult to move that US natural gas to Europe.

This is why prices in the US are less than $3, versus more than $10 in Europe. If US producers were free to export, prices in the US would rise, prices in Europe would fall, and the global natural gas prices would be more or less the same, similar to oil.

In terms of energy equivalence to oil, $3 per million BTU natural gas is the equivalent of paying around $15 - $20 for a barrel of oil. That’s cheap. And it means US natural gas is the most underpriced conventional energy commodity in the world.

But it probably won’t stay that way for long.

First, large tech companies, which are building massive, energy-hungry AI data centers, are also looking at putting in their own power plants… which will most likely be powered by natural gas.

Second, the new export terminal ban probably won’t last. There are lawsuits, legislation, and an upcoming election, any one of which could restart new LNG exports. When this happens, US natural gas prices could quickly rise.

In either case, natural gas producers stand to benefit substantially from higher prices. And it just so happens that shares of many of the best quality producers right now are laughably cheap, with low multiples relative to earnings, book value, and Free Cash Flow.

Looking at the overall investment landscape now, with many conventional stocks and indexes near all time highs, these three sectors strike me as some of the most promising investments for an inflationary environment.

To your freedom,   James Hickman  Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/investing/3-real-assets-primed-for-growth-in-the-coming-inflation-bonanza-151138/

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Thursday Afternoon 7-11-24

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

BIOMETRIC PASSPORTS BY GOOGLE

"Google Wallet is rolling out support for American biometric passports. Users scan their passport with Google Wallet to add it as an ID pass, and can then perform identity verification by connecting their phone to an NFC scanner or scanning a QR code generated by the ID pass. They are still recommended to carry a physical copy of their passport, however."

"Google Wallet also added support for 29 more banks to its payment feature in June, and is up to 170 added this year alone, indicating the focus remains on payments, for now. Mobile driver’s licenses from several states are already available in Google Wallet."

"In Europe, where member states are working towards launching interoperable digital wallets for all citizens, they will store national ID cards that function as travel IDs within the EU."

LIKE IT OR NOT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE DIRECTION THAT TECHNOLOGY IS TAKING US. ALL THE MORE REASON FOR LEGISLATION THAT PROTECTS THE PRIVACY AND SECURITY OF INDIVIDUALS.

@ Newshounds News™
Read more:  Biometric Update
~~~~~~~~~

DONALD TRUMP IS SCHEDULED TO SPEAK AT THE ANNUAL BITCOIN CONFERENCE IN NASHVILLE IN JULY

"President Donald Trump has been officially announced as a speaker at Bitcoin 2024, the world’s largest Bitcoin conference, taking place in Nashville, Tennessee, July 25-27. This announcement marks a significant milestone for the event, which has earned a reputation for historic news and major industry announcements."

"With two U.S. Presidential candidates, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump, both slated to speak, Bitcoin 2024 is poised to be a pivotal event, potentially shaping the future of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency policy in the U.S."

"In May, Trump said he would ensure that the future of Bitcoin and crypto will be made in the USA, while also promising to protect the right to self-custody to the nation's 50 million crypto holders, if elected president."

WE'RE SEEING A DISTINCT DIVIDING LINE POLITICALLY IN THE STANCE OF REPUBLICAN VERSES DEMOCRAT IN REGARDS TO BITCOIN AND THE FUTURE OF CRYPTO LEGISLATION

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Bitcoin Magazine

~~~~~~~~~

BRAD GARLINGHOUSE COMMENTS REGARDING THE LAWSUIT AGAINST RIPPLE

"As many have noticed - and some have already pointed out - there have been numerous misleading and some factually inaccurate headlines describing the decision made by a California judge yesterday in the class action lawsuit about XRP. (I’m happy to see some correcting them - I wish I could tag / link them all here)
****************************
To be absolutely clear, this is a big win – all class action claims in the suit were DISMISSED, and absolutely nothing in the decision negates or changes the fact that XRP is, in and of itself, not a security (per the NY Court decision). The CA ruling dismissed all allegations that Ripple had somehow violated federal securities law by selling XRP.

As for the single state law claim that will now be scheduled for trial: the sole plaintiff didn’t buy XRP directly from Ripple and can’t say if he even heard the statement before he traded and only owned a couple hundred XRP. This was a clear example of the trolls that unsuccessfully tried to take advantage of the US legal system and distort statements to seek 100’s of millions in class action settlements."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  BGarlinghouse

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UNISWAP LABS PRESSES SEC TO DROP RULES REGARDING DECENTRALIZED EXCHANGES

"Since at least April 2023, the SEC has proposed expanding the definition of what qualifies as an exchange in the Exchange Act of 1934 — explicitly arguing that it should include crypto market participants in DeFi. Uniswap has been among those arguing against it. In a July 9 letter, Uniswap added further arguments following a comment letter it sent last month, calling for the SEC to drop its proposed amendments. "

"Its new argument is that with the Chevon decision — made during the Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo Supreme Court case on June 28 — courts are no longer required to defer to federal agencies to interpret ambiguous laws. Uniswap said this means the SEC will be merely wasting “limited resources” trying to get the definition of “exchange” amended, which had already been “likely to draw, and unlikely to survive, a judicial challenge” even before the Chevron decision. "

"“For all of these reasons, the Commission should not adopt the proposed amendments,” said Uniswap. “The Commission drafted the proposed amendments against a legal backdrop that no longer exists.”

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Coin Telegraph

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Fideum FI
Integration of traditional finance and the digital asset ecosystem

Introduction
Fideum is a fintech company focused on accelerating the digital transformation of financial institutions, banks, and small—to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through its eponymous blockchain infrastructure. With the strategic backing of Mastercard Europe and a recent win at the Mastercard Lighthouse program, Fideum aims to position itself as a reliable partner for entities seeking to delve into and capitalize on digital assets.

Founded in 2018, the project initially made waves with its non-custodial mobile wallets, amassing a user base of over 80,000.

In response to the 2022 bear market, Fideum pivoted towards serving institutional clients, developing white-label solutions that cater to high-net-worth individuals and larger entities. This shift, leveraging existing infrastructure, led to profitability by 2023 and cemented Fideum’s position as a fintech innovator, continually adapting to market needs and regulatory landscapes.

This report delves into Fideum’s market, technology, tokenomics, team, partnerships, audits, roadmap, and the risks and opportunities it faces.

Technical specifications:
Fideum’s technical stack is designed to provide security and scalability. The platform has a microservice architecture that ensures flexibility and modularity, allowing for various services to be incorporated seamlessly.

—Backend technologies: The core backend is developed using Java OpenJDK 17, with Spring Boot and Hibernate to streamline development and manage database interactions.

—Frontend technologies: The web and mobile user interfaces are built using React and Expo, with Firebase providing real-time database and authentication services. TypeScript enhances code quality and maintainability.

—Blockchain infrastructure: The platform supports ERC20, BEP20, and TRC20 standards, ensuring compatibility with major blockchain networks such as Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Tron.

—Smart contracts: The use of smart contracts automates transactions and agreements, reducing the need for intermediaries and enhancing efficiency.

—On-chain monitoring solutions: Fideum provides real-time insights into blockchain transactions and activities, allowing for proactive monitoring of suspicious activities.

—Database management: PostgreSQL is used for data storage and management.

—Additional technologies: Kafka is used for real-time data processing, and Minio provides scalable storage for unstructured data.

@ Newshounds News™

Read the full Report Here:  Crypto Slate

~~~~~~~~~

European stablecoin market declines under newly imposed MiCA rules.
Stablecoins trading momentum have slowed amid a broader crypto market downturn.

The market capitalization of European stablecoins declined in June due to the implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, according to CCData’s latest stablecoin report.

The market cap of Euro-based stablecoins fell by 2.51%, hitting a seven-month low of $307 million, the lowest since November 2023. During this period, Tether’s EURT stablecoin’s market cap dropped by 26%, mainly due to delistings from major exchanges like Bitstamp.

CCData noted that MiCA’s implementation spurred interest in stablecoins that comply with local laws. MiCA, the EU’s comprehensive crypto regulation package, was recently enacted. It allows firms licensed by one member state to operate throughout the EU.

However, stablecoin issuers like Tether have criticized the rules for their stringent requirements, such as limits on trading volumes for certain stablecoins.

Despite these challenges, several issuers and their stablecoins, including Circle’s USDC and EURC, Societe Generale’s EURCV, Monerium’s EURe, Membrane’s EUROe, and Quantoz’s EURD, are recognized under the law.

Stablecoins volume fall

In June, the global stablecoin market cap rose by 0.53% to $161 billion, marking a nine-month growth streak and the highest stablecoin market cap since April 2022.

CCData said:

“Stablecoin market dominance is currently at 6.83%, rising from 6.22% in May. The increase in the stablecoin dominance highlights the negative price action of digital assets, with Bitcoin and Ethereum retracing the gains made following the surprise approval of spot Ethereum ETFs in the US.”

Despite the growth, stablecoin trading momentum has slowed amid a downturn in the digital asset market.

Stablecoin trading volume on centralized exchanges fell by 18% to a seven-month low of $907 billion in June. Similarly, on-chain transfer volume decreased for the second consecutive month by 7.5% to $1.8 trillion, the lowest since February 2024. This decline aligns with ongoing bearish market sentiments.

The report also highlighted that USDC had the highest on-chain transfer volume in June, surpassing USDT and DAI.

CCData stated:

“Among the top five stablecoins on Ethereum, USDC leads with $786 billion in on-chain transfer volume, representing 43.6% of the market share. USDT and DAI follow with transfer volumes of $616 billion and $334 billion, accounting for 34.2% and 18.5% of the volumes.”

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Crypto Slate

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CENTRAL BANK OF IRAQ (CBI) INTERESTED IN FURTHERING THEIR POSITION ON E-REGULATION

"Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq, Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), chaired a meeting on the regulation of e-commerce in Iraq, with participation from relevant authorities.

The meeting discussed controls and consumer protection measures, focusing on registration procedures and obtaining licenses for e-commerce activities.

The committee defined service providers and established a licensing process through an electronic platform to be developed by the Ministry of Commerce. Committee members emphasized the importance of licensing regulations to safeguard all parties involved in e-commerce."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Iraq Business News

~~~~~~~~~

FTC MAKES A STATEMENT ON CRYPTO AS ASSETS ENTER NEW PHASE

"The chairperson of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Rostin Behnam is warning that the crypto industry is likely to face more headwinds from regulators over the coming months.

Speaking at the 2024 Milken Institute Global Conference, the CFTC chair says that the crypto industry will “probably see in the next six to 18 months or six to 24 months another cycle of enforcement actions” amid “asset appreciation and [renewed] interest by retail investors.”

"Without a regulatory framework, without that transparency, without those tools that we typically use as regulators, you are going to continue to see this fraud and manipulation.

And putting aside the legitimacy and where this technology may go and what role it might play in our economy and commerce, the internet, digital assets generally… we just have to think about things from a regulatory and consumer protection standpoint. And I think that needs to be our guiding light in terms of driving this conversation, filling these regulatory gaps and creating this framework that’s ultimately going to protect American investors.”

IF CRYPTOS ARE CLASSIFIED AS COMMODITIES INSTEAD OF SECURITIES, THEY WOULD FALL UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF THE CFTC INSTEAD OF THE SEC

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Daily Hodl

~~~~~~~~~

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Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Wednesday Afternoon 7-10-24

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

IS THE US MILITARY CONSIDERING BLOCKCHAIN ADOPTION?

"The United States Senate Committee on Armed Services has taken a significant step towards integrating advanced technology into national defense. As part of the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) report, the committee has directed Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to investigate potential applications of blockchain technology within the military. This directive, issued on July 9, focuses particularly on enhancing supply chain management and strengthening national security."

"Secretary Austin is required to provide a briefing by April 1, 2025, outlining plans for blockchain integration in national security applications. The briefing must address pilot programs, benefits and risks, current adoption in industry and by foreign countries, and implementation feasibility."

"This move coincides with growing political interest in cryptocurrencies. The Republican National Committee recently included support for Bitcoin mining and digital asset self-custody in its draft policy platform. This development signifies increasing recognition of blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies in U.S. government and military planning, potentially shaping future national security strategies."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  CoinGape

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MICA REGULATIONS GAIN TRACTION IN ITALY

"The Bank of Italy is preparing to implement the European Union’s (EU) Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. Notably, this significant move aims to preserve the smooth functioning of the payment system, according to recent reports. Besides, the upcoming guidelines by the bank will clarify how the new rules will apply, signaling a transformative phase for Italy’s crypto market."

"Besides, this strategic move by the Bank of Italy underscores its commitment to integrating crypto assets into the traditional financial system. By implementing MiCA, Italy aims to create a regulated and secure environment for crypto transactions. The guidelines will provide clarity and direction for market participants, fostering confidence in the evolving digital asset landscape."

WHERE DOES THE US STAND WITH CRYPTO REGULATION? There seems to be a lagging behind in the United States compared to the rest of the world.

@ Newshounds News™

May I go in

Read more:  Coin Gape

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STABLECOINS GAINING ACCEPTANCE IN THE PHILIPPINES

"Gaming-centric sidechain Ronin announced Monday the launch of the first Philippine peso-pegged stablecoin on its network. "
“Over 80 million Filipinos transact online using the Philippine Peso, but the financial infrastructure available is often slow and expensive. That’s why Coins.PH is launching PHPC on Ronin,” Ronin said."

"PHPC’s launch comes as the Philippines prepares to introduce a crypto regime. The country’s Securities and Exchange Commission said in May that it would be ready by the second half of this year."

 @ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Daily Coin

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JANET YELLEN ADMITS TO DE-DOLLARIZATION

"When US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday testified before the House Financial Services Committee, she said that one of her concerns is how best to protect the international status of the US dollar as US financial sanctions have pushed more countries seek alternative financial transaction methods that do not involve the US dollar, VOA reported."

 "The remarks from Yellen have shed light on growing concerns regarding US dollar hegemony. Experts believe that the weaponization of the US dollar will reduce its dominance as the world moves toward local currency settlements and accelerate policies to facilitate de-dollarization. China and other countries are actively promoting local currency settlements and multilateral cooperation, offering more choices and possibilities for the global financial order."

"For a long time, the US has abused its dollar hegemony, shifting domestic crises and harvesting global wealth by damaging the economic and financial stability and well-being of other countries. It is also used as a tool to impose financial sanctions, isolating other countries from the dollar payment system."

"In June, Saudi Arabia joined a central bank digital currency initiative for international trade, which may set the stage for wider local currency payments for oil trade between China and Saudi Arabia and reduce the reliance on the US dollar."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Global Times

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WHOLESALE CBDC's ARE GAINING GROUND IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE

"Last week China’s President Xi Jinping visited Kazakhstan.  The Chinese government reported that the country supports Kazakhstan becoming a member of BRICS and President Xi penned an article in a Kazak newspaper. The National Bank of Kazakhstan and the People’s Bank of China signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on digital currency"

"Last October China signed a similar agreement with the UAE and used the digital renminbi to settle a crude oil transaction later that month. The UAE is also a founding participant of mBridge the cross-border central bank digital currency (cross-border CBDC) project where China developed the technology. Additionally, the UAE was the first to execute a live transaction on mBridge, making a Dirham 50 million ($13.6m) payment to China in January."

"The National Bank of Kazakhstan is not a participant in mBridge but is an observer on the project, alongside another 22 central banks. The country has been working on CBDC, with plans to go live next year. When it released a status report last year it said the initial focus was retail CBDC for consumer transactions with a clear path to production. However, it said it was researching wholesale CBDC and its use for interbank settlements and cross border payments."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Currency Insider

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WILL THE US HAVE A CBDC AND IF SO WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE?

Newshounds News has been reporting on CBDC's and their implementation around the world but the United States has yet to introduce either a wholesale or retail version.

"A U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC) would be a tokenized and blockchain-based version of the U.S. dollar, maintained and issued by the Federal Reserve. This form of digital fiat money would be similar to cryptocurrencies in that a blockchain would be used, but a CBDC would be regulated by the Federal Reserve, recognized as legal tender, and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government."

"The United States doesn't yet have a CBDC as of 2024, but it's important to understand the concept with this option under discussion, as well as the benefits and risks attached and steps taken so far."

"Fiat currency is a government-issued currency that's not backed by a physical commodity such as gold or silver. It's backed by the government that issues it. This type of money is the dominant means of making transactions in most countries. People use it to facilitate the exchange of goods and services in an economy. Generally, a country's central bank issues fiat currency for the nation's use. The Federal Reserve plays this role in the U.S."

"A U.S. CBDC would serve as a complement to existing central bank reserve account balances and widely used fiat currency. As a bonus, it should provide a medium for executing instant and seamless cross-border transactions. "

WHAT US CITIZENS ARE LOOKING FOR IS A CBDC THAT'S BACKED BY GOLD AND NOT THE FIAT DOLLAR.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Investopedia

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JANET YELLEN SAYS TREASURY NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR 'QUARTERBACKING' BETWEEN SEC, CFTC OVER CRYPTO RULES

"Yellen also responded to questions about concentrated risk and Russia potentially bypassing US sanctions via crypto and stablecoins."

"US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen said the Treasury is not responsible for ‘quarterbacking’ between the CFTC and the SEC regarding their opposing positions toward crypto regulation."

"Yellen made the statement during a July 9 hearing before the House Financial Services Committee."

Opposing positions

"House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill said that the SEC and CFTC have taken opposing legal positions in federal court on crypto and asked if the Treasury’s Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) is working to unite the two regulators."

"Hill said the council is “supposed to quarterback for financial risk.” However, Yellen disagreed, stating:

“It’s not the job of the Financial Stability Oversight Council to adjudicate.”

She noted that the Treasury had published a report on crypto risks, partly addressing risks arising from a lack of agreement between regulators.

"Earlier in her testimony, Yellen told Hill she remains committed to achieving a regulatory framework for digital assets and hopes the efforts “reach a good conclusion.”"

Concentrated risk, Russian stablecoins
"Yellen also responded to other questions related to crypto. Congressman Mike Flood asked Yellen whether decentralized trading protocols require a different approach to regulation from centralized services."

Yellen answered that the SEC and CFTC are looking at the issue and added that some matters “may fall under the regulatory umbrella of the banking agencies as well.”

"Flood also questioned whether SEC rulemaking could reduce custodial options for crypto. He asked Yellen if a limited number of approved custodians available to registered investment advisors (RIAs) for Bitcoin ETFs would introduce concentrated risk."

"The Treasury secretary responded that the trend could pose a “potential” risk but declined to answer with certainty without more details."

"Congressman Brad Sherman commented on the Russian central bank’s plans to bypass Western sanctions with crypto. Yellen said that the Treasury is “very attentive” to the use of crypto and stablecoins but does not believe that Russia’s activities are substantial."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  Crypto Slate

~~~~~~~~~

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Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Tuesday Afternoon 7-9-24

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

RUSSIA'S PROSPERITY INCREASES AFTER US SANCTIONS
DE-DOLLARIZATION CONTINUES

"Russia, one of the leading nations in the world, has now added one more feather to its cap. The nation’s GDP has reportedly exploded post-sanctions. Russia is now one of the most prosperous nations in the world, with its per capita income ranging from $14,250 annually. The nation is also spearheading efforts to derail the US Dollar by echoing the multipolar currency narrative."

"It is particularly interesting to note, considering that the US has sanctioned Russia by cutting its access to the SWIFT payment system. Despite encountering a major financial blow, the Russian economy is projecting an upward ascent, displaying its mettle against global nations."

"Russia is exclusively heading the de-dollarization agenda. Being an active part of the BRICS alliance, the nation, alongside China, India, Brazil, and South Africa, is currently planning to launch an independent currency system rivaling the USD’s prestige. At the same time, Russia is also conducting active trade proceedings with China in local currency, ditching USD usage in every possible way."

© Newshounds News™

Read more:  Watcher Guru

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BRICS duplicating THE BRETTON WOODS structure?

"Jim Rickards: Notice what the BRICS are doing, they COPIED the World bank AND the IMF…they are DUPLICATING the Bretton Woods structure.
They're also building underseas {fiber optics} telecom channels so they can BYPASS channels like SWIFT & others that are controlled by the West."

BRICS has been building this infrastructure for 15 years.

© Newshounds News™

Read more:  Twitter
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SAB 121 SET FOR VETO VOTE ON WEDNESDAY

"The US House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on significant crypto legislation on Wednesday, July 10. This vote might override President Joe Biden’s veto of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) resolution to repeal Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB 121)"

"The SEC issued SAB 121 in 2022, which mandates that banks holding cryptocurrency must disclose these assets as liabilities on their balance sheets. Many in the crypto industry have questioned this accounting treatment, claiming that the additional regulatory burden deters banks and other institutional actors from dealing with digital assets."

"Ron Hammond of the Blockchain Association highlighted the unusual political dynamics at play, noting that “crypto has now found itself to be a campaign issue.”

© Newshounds News™

Read more:  Bitcoinist  

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BITCOIN ETF'S GAINING ACCEPTANCE IN AUSTRALIA

"Australia's leading stock exchange, the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), has approved listing the second Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) on its platform. On July 9th, the ASX gave the green light to digital asset manager DigitalX to launch a spot Bitcoin ETF. The new ETF will begin trading on July 12th under the ticker BTXX."

"The flurry of new Bitcoin investment vehicles hitting the Australian market reflects the growing interest in Bitcoin exposure. Investors are increasingly looking to gain Bitcoin exposure through regulated fund structures rather than direct ownership."

"ETFs provide an easy avenue to invest in the asset class without needing to custody Bitcoin directly. Many expect more countries to approve Bitcoin ETFs as the instruments gain traction and regulatory acceptance expands.

"By greenlighting another Bitcoin ETF, Australia's main securities exchange demonstrates a favorable shift in attitudes toward Bitcoin assets within one of the world's top financial markets."

© Newshounds News™

Read more:  Bitcoin Magazine

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"Banque de France partners HKMA to explore interoperability between wholesale CBDC infrastructures"

WE'RE SEEING EUROPE JOINING IN WITH CHINA AND THE EAST LINKING WHOLESALE CBDC'S

"The Banque de France (BDF) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) to explore how their differing infrastructures can support cross-border settlement using wholesale central bank digital currencies (wCBDCs), building on their mutual participation in the European Central Bank’s (ECB) Eurosystem CBDC exploratory project."

"The testing will focus on “real-time cross-border and cross-currency payments”, according to the central bank, and will explore the optimization of settlement efficiency by strengthening the compatibility of financial market infrastructures between different jurisdictions. From this month up until November, the group will be tasked with exploring the mock settlement of domestic payments, foreign exchange PvP transactions and “a wide set of securities-related use cases”, as per the ECB’s June announcement."

© Newshounds News™

Read more:  Currency Insider

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GLOBAL RACE FOR CRYPTO REGULATION SPEEDING UP

"HK maturing, Singapore cautious, Dubai pragmatic, EU comprehensive, US promising"

"There has been a marked recognition amongst global regulators that to build the guardrails to protect investors - we must collaborate. And policymakers have listened, supported and reacted."

Hong Kong advances crypto regulation with strategic developments
"Over the last 12 months, Hong Kong has pushed forward a raft of regulatory announcements in a bid to develop a tightly regulated home for the digital asset industry. From implementing a licensing regime for virtual asset trading platforms, to working on a framework for fiat-referenced stablecoins."
A major milestone was reached with the introduction of bitcoin and ether ETFs.

In December 2023, the Securities and Futures Commission, alongside Hong Kong’s Monetary Authority (HKMA) released a joint statement in which they detailed the requirements that must be met for the regulator to approve ETFs with more than 10% of holdings in crypto. Within four months of this circular, spot crypto investment products in Hong Kong received the green light."

Singapore strengthens crypto ecosystem with robust regulations
"Meanwhile, Singapore continues to enhance its regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies. While cryptocurrency trading and possession are legal, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) maintains a cautious approach, particularly concerning the public advertisement of crypto services. 

Against this regulatory backdrop, Singapore is spearheading forward-thinking initiatives like Project Guardian. This project, a distinct yet complementary approach to Hong Kong’s e-HKD program, also explores blockchain’s potential across different financial sectors and demonstrates how tokenization can significantly enhance market and transaction efficiencies."

Dubai attracts crypto firms with a defined regulatory framework
"The UAE has signalled its intent to become a global hub for the sector by outlining clear guidelines for firms looking to operate in the region. In 2022, Dubai established the world’s first independent regulator for virtual assets, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), to serve as a transparent and trusted guiding authority for the emerging world of crypto. Firms operating in the cryptocurrency space in the UAE must obtain a licence from the Securities and Commodities Authority, ensuring they meet the required AML and know-your-customer standards."

Europe presents unified approach through MiCA
"Europe has taken a proactive stance with the introduction of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.

This comprehensive framework is the first of its kind globally. The crypto measures aim to create a unified regulatory landscape across 27 countries in the EU, ensuring consumer protection, facilitating legal certainty for businesses and attracting more investment to the region."

Promise of progress in the United States
"In the United States, the recent passage of the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21) by the US House of Representatives is a landmark development, after large industry players quit the country due to regulatory crackdown and uncertainties that have made investments in the US higher risk.

FIT21 aims to clarify the regulatory responsibilities of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission over digital assets and update existing securities and commodity laws to accommodate blockchain technology applications, including decentralized protocols. It categorizes digital assets into restricted digital assets, digital commodities, and permitted payment stablecoins, each with distinct regulatory oversight."

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  The Asset

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WHY IS TOKENIZATION OF TRADE FINANCE TRANSFORMATIVE FOR INVESTORS? 

Standard Chartered and Synpulse paper explains why digital assets are critical to addressing financing requirements of companies

Institutional investors are always looking for new, fast-growing markets.  Trade finance tokenization provides exposure to emerging market assets.  For banks, "tokenization can help raise their net interest income and optimize their capital structure."

Standard Chartered Bank's new paper titled “Real-World Asset Tokenization: A Game Changer for Global Trade” written in collaboration with global consulting company Synpulse gives some insights into tokenization of trade finance.

"In its simplest form,

TOKENIZATION  --- is —   the process of issuing digital representations of real or traditional assets in the form of a token on a distributed ledger which can be fractionalized into smaller and transferable units. "

"This ability to produce bite-sized assets for ownership is a game changer for asset classes that are struggling to secure funding and liquidity."

"Tokenizaboutation could support companies in need of trade financing by opening a viable channel for institutional investors such as asset management companies and sovereign wealth funds to provide capital.  MMEs are especially active in fast-developing regions such as the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. They represent a vast and largely unaddressed market, offering an immense yet unrecognized opportunity for investors."

"Banks stand to gain from increased tokenization of trade finance assets as well. With the increased pressure to comply with Basel IV requirements by 2025 on the calculation of risk-weighted assets, banks need to be strategic with their balance sheets."

"Through tokenization, banks can adopt an originate-to-distribute model for trade finance by distributing trade finance instruments they have initially financed to the capital markets and the emerging digital asset markets, thereby providing companies in need of trade financing, access to a global pool of institutional investors seeking returns."

Learn more about the role of banks in the tokenization of trade finance and how the tokenization of trade finance is a win-win for both banks and institutional investors globally by reading the entire article and pdf below.

@ Newshounds News™

Read more:  The Asset

Read more:  Real-World Asset Tokenization: A Game Changer for Global Trade

~~~~~~~~~

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