Iraq Economic News and Points to Ponder Thursday AM 12-5-24

Warning Against The Consequences Of Canceling The Dollar Selling Platform In Iraq.. The Green Currency Is Hostage To Jordan And The Gulf States

Financial and economic affairs expert Mustafa Akram Hantoush warned today, Thursday (December 5, 2024), of the consequences of canceling the dollar selling platform to merchants during the next stage, according to what was announced by the Central Bank of Iraq.

Hantoush, a journalist, said, "The Central Bank of Iraq must know very well that the collapse of the Iraqi banking system and the punishment of (32) Iraqi banks without a clear charge over a period of a year and a half is not normal, and from the perspective of banking work, this may be the first incident in the world of this kind."

He added, "The worst thing is the lack of serious solutions from the Central Bank of Iraq to this situation, but rather the move towards cancelling the (fitr) platform by the end of 2024 and handing over the dollar file to banks affiliated with foreign investors and banks (Jordanian and Gulf), which gives the impression that this matter was planned from the beginning."

He continued, "The failure of the Central Bank of Iraq to find solutions for the Iraqi banking sector will fire the mercy bullet at the entire Iraqi banking system and it will become punished as a whole, which will lay off nearly 100,000 workers in the Iraqi private banking sector in favor of Jordan and the Gulf countries," noting that "in the absence of banking competition, the stability of the exchange rate becomes difficult due to the monopoly of the dollar by certain banks and may lead to new fluctuations in the exchange rate."

Hantoush wondered: "Why is the work of the (Fitr) platform not being extended in coordination with the new US administration? Also, why are Iraqi banks not guaranteed to open an account for themselves in correspondent banks in dollars (Citibank/JP Morgan) as the countries of the region have done?"

He pointed out that "the surprising thing is that, until now, the mechanism for cooperation and auditing with Ernst & Young has not been determined or announced regarding transfers in currencies other than the dollar (euro - yuan - lira - dirham), nor have the results of the agreement and contract with Oliver Wyman regarding the (32) sanctioned banks and what their fate will be have not been announced. This means that the banking situation in Iraq is facing many major crises, and the dollar will be difficult to control in the parallel market."    https://burathanews.com/arabic/economic/453500

US Ambassador: We Affirm Our Commitment To The Growing Partnership Between The United States And Iraq

Thursday 05 December 2024 21:23 | Politics Number of readings: 53 Baghdad / NINA / US Ambassador to Baghdad Alenia Romansky affirmed, today, Thursday, her country's commitment to the growing partnership between the United States and Iraq.

The ambassador said in a post on the X website: "Today we celebrated the American National Day at the US Embassy in Baghdad, affirming our commitment to the growing partnership between the United States and Iraq." / End    https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1173084

Iraq Buys Gold In Large Quantities.. And An Expert Reveals The Reason

Time: 2024/12/05 Read: 2,691 times  {Economic: Al Furat News} An economic expert revealed the reason behind Iraq’s import of large quantities of gold.

Manar Al-Obaidi said in a statement received by {Euphrates News} that "according to data on exports from countries, specifically the UAE, which has become the largest exporter to Iraq in terms of value, we find that more than 42% of the UAE's exports to Iraq are gold."

He explained that "the main reason for importing these quantities is due to its use as an alternative to the dollar in trade exchange with some countries that are prohibited from dealing with banks, and as a result of the lack of cash dollars in the markets, it is replaced by importing gold from outside Iraq, and then trade is carried out using this metal."

He pointed out that "the expected value of gold from the UAE until the end of 2024 will be between 12-18 billion dollars, in addition to mobile phones, the volume of their exports from the UAE alone ranges between 6-8 billion dollars."

Al-Obaidi continued, "There are approximately 20-24 billion dollars in goods that are imported, which are not used for local consumption, but are reused in foreign trade exchanges."

He pointed out that "inflation rates in Iraq have decreased to less than 3% as a result of the ability to import goods from various entities that are prohibited from dealing with banks using gold and mobile phones."

He stressed that "the hedge that citizens are looking for for their savings in times of crisis tends to buy gold instead of keeping the local currency and also the disappearance of the cash dollar from the market."

The economic expert said, "As a result, Iraq has no alternative except by establishing an electronic clearing system between it and the countries that are prohibited from dealing with banks, and then there will be no need for these complex mechanisms to cover trade exchange without the need to go through the global banking system and the inability to cover imports from these countries."

The World Gold Council announced on November 6 that Iraq had raised its gold holdings to more than 152.5 tons.

According to a table published by the council for November 2024, "Iraq ranked 29th out of 100 countries listed in the table with the largest gold reserves," indicating that "Iraq ranked third in the Arab world after Saudi Arabia and Lebanon."

He added, "Iraq increased its gold holdings to 152.6 tons, after it had held 152.5 tons, which represents 11.5% of its remaining reserves."   LINK

Gold Steady Amid Anticipation Of US Wage Data

Thursday 05 December 2024 08:47 | Economic Number of readings: 168

Baghdad / NINA / Gold prices stabilized on Thursday, as investors awaited data on wages in the United States, to get more signals on the path of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy (the US central bank).

Spot gold recorded $ 2,648.89 per ounce, and US gold futures fell 0.1 percent to $ 2,672.60.

The US wage report is scheduled to be released tomorrow, Friday, followed by inflation data for November next week.

As for other precious metals, silver fell 0.1 percent to $ 31.31 per ounce, platinum fell 0.2 percent, recording $ 939.07, and palladium lost 0.3 percent, recording $ 975.48. / End https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1172937

 Oil Rises After OPEC+ Extends Output Cuts Until 2026

Arabic and international   Economy News - Follow-up  Oil prices rose slightly on Thursday after OPEC+ decided to postpone an increase in production until April 2025 and postpone the complete cancellation of cuts by a year until the end of 2026.

By 1424 GMT, Brent crude futures were up 40 cents, or 0.55 percent, at $72.71 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 40 cents, or 0.58 percent, at $68.94 a barrel.

OPEC+, which includes OPEC members and allies such as Russia, had planned to start easing production cuts from October 2024, but slowing global demand and rising production from outside the group have forced it to postpone those plans more than once.

"This will not lead to a supply shortage next year and a surplus is still expected," said Tamas Varga of oil broker PVM.

The gradual removal of the 2.2 million barrels per day cut will begin from April 2025, in monthly increments of 138,000 barrels per day, according to Reuters calculations, and will continue for 18 months until September 2026.

In the United States, a larger-than-expected drop in U.S. crude inventories last week provided some support to prices.

In the Middle East, Israel said on Tuesday it would return to war with Hezbollah if the truce between them collapsed, in which case it would launch attacks deep inside Lebanon and target the state itself.

US President-elect Donald Trump's Middle East envoy has traveled to the region to visit Qatar and Israel to push diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages before Trump takes office on January 20, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

 45 views   Added 12/05/2024 - https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=50584 

Central Bank Governor: Prime Minister's Support Accelerated Progress Of Rafidain Bank Restructuring Project

Banks  Economy News – Baghdad  The Governor of the Central Bank, Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq, confirmed today, Thursday, that the support of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani accelerated the progress of the Rafidain Bank restructuring project.

The bank's media office stated in a statement received by "Al-Eqtisad News" that "the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq, chaired an expanded meeting to discuss the project to restructure Rafidain Bank," noting that "the committee for this project included officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank, the Prime Minister's advisor, and the head of the World Bank mission in Iraq, in addition to members of Ernst & Young as an expert auditor and consultant in the restructuring process."

He added that "the World Bank's Regional Director in Iraq, Emmanuel Salinas, explained the reality of work on this project, in which he presented the opportunities available within the banking work environment in Iraq and the mechanism for developing the restructuring plan in its operational and financial aspects."

According to the statement, Ernst & Young’s restructuring project expert, Firas Kilani, explained that “the project has made great progress since it began in September 2024 and has currently reached 74%, and the next phase of the scope of work will be completed at the end of this month, moving to an advanced stage in this project.”

The governor stressed that "the support of the Prime Minister in this regard has positively accelerated the progress of the project, to reach important stages in the restructuring and development process at Rafidain Bank." 227 views Added 2024/12/05 -  https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=50562

Parliamentary Finance Committee Discusses The Draft Law Amending The First Budget Law

Chairman of the Parliamentary Finance Committee Atwan Al-Atwani  Money and business  Economy News – Baghdad  The Parliamentary Finance Committee discussed, on Thursday, the draft law amending the first law of the Federal General Budget Law (2023-2025).

The committee's media office stated in a statement, which was reviewed by "Al-Eqtisad News", that "the Parliamentary Finance Committee, headed by Atwan Al-Atwani and attended by a number of its members, held its fifth meeting to discuss the draft law of the first amendment to the Federal General Budget Law (2023-2025)."

The statement added that "the meeting discussed the aspects related to this amendment; with the aim of maturing it and preparing it in the best possible way to ensure its implementation and end the problem of the oil dispute between the central government and the regional government and resume oil exports."

The statement explained that "the attendees decided to submit an official request to the Presidency of the Council of Representatives to remove the second reading from the agenda of today's session; in order to complete the discussion of this law, as the Finance Committee is still waiting for the Ministry of Finance to provide the data required of it, regarding the mechanism for financing the amounts related to the costs of producing and transporting the region's oil, according to what was stipulated in the draft law sent from the government to Parliament."

The statement continued, "The meeting also discussed the problem of delayed financing of the governorates, as the representatives indicated - during their interventions - that there was a clear shortcoming in the performance of the Ministry of Finance," stressing "the importance of reconsidering the path of building the general budget, and transforming it from a planning budget to a realistic budget."  85 views   Added 12/05/2024 https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=50583

For current and reliable Iraqi news please visit:  https://www.bondladyscorner.com/

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Thursday Afternoon 12-05-24

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

CITI, JP MORGAN, OTHERS COMPLETE TOKENIZATION SETTLEMENT TRIALS

Ten institutions completed simulated trials of the Regulated Settlement Network (RSN), exploring the use of a shared DLT network to settle tokenized transactions. It was an extension of previous trials of the Regulated Liability Network conducted last year, which included tokenized commercial bank money and tokenized central bank money on the same network.

This time tokenized Treasuries and investment grade bonds were also on the shared ledger, enabling delivery versus payment for wholesale transactions. The trials also explored interoperability with external DLT networks.

Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) acted as coordinator for the institutions involved, which were Citi, J.P. Morgan, Mastercard, Swift, TD Bank N.A., U.S. Bank, USDF, Wells Fargo, Visa, and Zions Bancorp, led by SIFMA.

The group published three reports on the business, technology and legal aspects and will hold a virtual briefing on the RSN trials at 1pm Eastern Time.

The Benefits of Shared DLT Ledgers

Shared institutional networks for tokenized assets are attracting attention for several reasons. If a tokenized Treasury is settled using central bank money on the same ledger, settlement risks are eliminated almost entirely. Smart contracts enable automation and straight through processing. And always-on networks allow for settlement outside of working hours and batch cut off times. That could prove especially convenient to assist overseas clients.

Five thoughtful use cases each demonstrated different benefits. While immediate settlement of Treasury transactions is risk free, institutions prefer net settlement to reduce cash demands.

Today just 20% of repo transactions are centrally cleared, but new SEC rules will require a far larger proportion. Hence, one of the use cases ran a central counterparty (CCP) using the shared ledger that offered multiple settlement windows during the day. That allows firms to settle intraday and take advantage of netting.

While the RSN could become a major network, the group recognizes it won’t be the only DLT network. So other trials explored interoperability with non RSN networks, either using Swift orchestration or via direct APIs.

For example, Mastercard has its Multi Token Network (MTN) which tested payments between two banks using MTN. The interbank settlement was performed on the Regulated Settlement Network (RSN) using central bank money.

Meanwhile, RSN trials used the Canton DLT from Digital Asset. Deloitte assisted SIFMA in coordinating the project and Sullivan & Cromwell provided legal input.

Contributors included BNY Mellon, Broadridge, the  Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC), International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), Tassat Group, and the non profit MITRE Corporation. The New York Innovation Center (NYIC) at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York participated as a technical observer.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Ledger Insights

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VANCOUVER MAYOR PUSHES BITCOIN AS RESERVE ASSET IN BOLD FINANCIAL PLAN

Vancouver is the latest city to join the discussions on adding Bitcoin to the government’s financial reserves. At a city council meeting on November 26th, Mayor Ken Sim submitted his notice of motion, where he plans to introduce his proposed Bitcoin bill on December 11th.

The city’s proposal is titled ” Preserving the city’s purchasing power through diversification of financial resources: Becoming a Bitcoin-friendly city. ” It aims to integrate Bitcoin into the city’s financial system and make Vancouver a “Bitcoin-friendly city,” using Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation and promoting economic development.

Vancouver Makes A Move Towards BTC Adoption

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is taking the necessary steps to prepare the city for the blockchain. 

As a Bitcoin supporter, Sim is pushing for widespread adoption to hedge against inflation and promote economic development. In a November 27th meeting, Mayor Sim filed a motion of notice detailing his plan to present the proposal to adopt Bitcoin on December 11th.

Under the proposal, Vancouver will transform into a “Bitcoin City” and authorize the city government to diversify its resources to include Bitcoin. If the council approves, residents of Canada’s third-largest city can purchase Bitcoin.

However, it isn’t clear in the proposal if Sim also authorizes setting up a Bitcoin strategic reserve, similar to the one being pushed by US senator, Cynthia Lummis.

Mayor Sim And His Campaign For Bitcoin

Sim is one of the country’s most vocal supporters of Bitcoin. During the campaign, Sim’s party announced it would accept cryptocurrency donations. He explained that their commitment to blockchain technology demonstrates their plan to accept crypto as donations. He also teased the electorate that he will push for crypto-related policies if he wins.

Sim became Vancouver’s mayor in October 2022. During his tenure as city mayor, he rarely gave speeches or talks on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. Interestingly, a book titled “The Bitcoin Standard” by Saifedan Ammous was seen in the mayor’s office during his interview with Global News on November 25th. Many observers pointed to this item in his office as evidence of the mayor’s interest in crypto.

Push For BTC Mainstream Adoption Intensifies

Today, Bitcoin continues to surge in price thanks to a growing mainstream adoption. Sim’s move to integrate Bitcoin into Vancouver’s financial system is just one of the many proposals reported recently. According to Jeff Booth, a blockchain author, Mayor Sim’s proposal aims to promote the adoption of Bitcoin as a reserve asset.

Aside from Vancouver, a few states and governments are working overtime to fast-track Bitcoin’s mainstream adoption.

 For example, the state of Florida plans to tap a portion of its pension funds and use it to buy crypto. Pennsylvania is also planning to set up a Bitcoin reserve. Then, there’s the city of Detroit, which teases a plan to accept Bitcoin as a payment option.

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Source:  Bitcoinist   

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MARTIAL LAW VS DEMOCRACY WHICH IS BETTER FOR FREEDOM?  |  Youtube

South Korea's Martial Law and its effects.  It was overturned and only lasted for 6 hours.

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Source:  Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts

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Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Thursday Morning 12-05-24

Good Morning Dinar Recaps, 

MISSOURI BILL WOULD BAN CBDCS, MAKE GOLD AND SILVER LEGAL TENDER

Missouri lawmakers have been trying hard to pass an anti-CBDC bill, and one of these days, they may succeed.

Attempts continue in the US state of Missouri to prohibit the potential use of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). The state has seen several bills this year to stave off the digital currency, which does not currently exist in the United States.

Bullion yes, CBDC no

Republican Senator Rick Brattin pre-filed Senate Bill (SB) 194 on Dec. 1. The bill introduces changes to state law that would prohibit public entities from accepting a CBDC or participating in any testing of a CBDC. It also changes the definition of money in the state’s Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) to exclude CBDCs.

In addition to the provisions on CBDCs, the bill would require the state treasurer to keep at least 1% of state funds in gold and silver. It would also exempt the sale or exchange of gold and silver from the state capital gains tax and make gold and silver legal tender.

“The act declares that gold and silver shall be accepted as legal tender at their spot price plus market premium […] in the state of Missouri. Costs incurred in the course of verification of the weight and purity of any gold or silver […] shall be borne by the receiving entity.”

Massive legislative anti-CBDC push

The bill’s provisions on CBDC are similar or identical to those in other bills introduced in Missouri earlier this year.

SB 1352 would make numerous changes to the state UCC, including a prohibition on CBDCs. It is still in committee. House Bill 2780 would also ban CBDCs and affect a variety of commercial transactions. It passed a House vote and has been forwarded to the state Senate.

SB 826 concerned CBDCs alone and failed to pass. SB 736 and its companion bill in the state House of Representatives concerned CBDCs and gold and silver and failed to pass. Brattin had previously introduced SB 866, which contained substantially identical provisions with differences in wording. It died in committee.

Anti-CBDC legislation is being passed in an increasing number of US states. Louisiana and North Carolina have passed laws to that effect in recent months.

The struggle against CBDC has been taken up on the national level as well. The US House of Representatives passed the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act on May 23.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  CoinTelegraph

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BITCOIN ENDORSED BY US FED CHAIR POWELL AND RUSSIA’S PUTIN IN HISTORIC SHIFT

In an unprecedented turn of events, Bitcoin received endorsements from two of the world’s most influential leaders yesterday. US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and Russian President Vladimir Putin independently acknowledged the cryptocurrency’s growing significance during separate events on December 4, 2024. Their remarks signal a potential paradigm shift in the global financial landscape, as Bitcoin continues to gain mainstream acceptance.

Jerome Powell Compares Bitcoin To Gold

During the New York Times DealBook Summit, Jerome Powell engaged in a  conversation with Andrew Sorkin about the role of cryptocurrencies in the banking system. When questioned about Bitcoin’s rising prominence and talks in Washington about creating a strategic BTC reserve, Powell outlined the Federal Reserve’s perspective.

“From the jobs that we have, what’s relevant is really two things,” Powell said. “One is just, you know, what role should crypto assets be allowed to play in the banking system. We try to keep the banking system safe and sound. We regulate and supervise banks, and we would want the interaction between the crypto business and the banks to not threaten the health and wellbeing of the banks.”

Powell added that the other task of the US Federal Reserve is consumer protection. “We would want the public to know crypto products and things like that. There’s sort of a consumer protection aspect of it. They need to understand exactly what it is. But we don’t regulate it directly and we don’t have that big of a role.”

When asked if he would ever own Bitcoin himself, Powell succinctly replied, “I’m not allowed to.”

Sorkin then suggested that BTC might symbolize people’s faith—or lack thereof—in the US dollar or the Federal Reserve. Powell responded by likening Bitcoin to a traditional store of value: “I don’t think that’s how people think about it. I mean, people use Bitcoin as a speculative asset, right? It’s like gold.

It’s just like gold, only it’s virtual. It’s digital. People are not using it as a form of payment or as a store of value. It’s highly volatile. It’s not a competitor for the dollar. It’s really a competitor for gold. You know, that’s really how I think of it.”

Vladimir Putin Highlights Bitcoin’s Resilience

On the same day, President Vladimir Putin spoke at the Russia Calling forum, where he discussed the diminishing dominance of the US dollar and the rise of alternative financial instruments. Putin emphasized the inevitability of new technologies like BTC in reshaping the global economy.

“The use of the dollar as a world currency gives the US a lot of money,” Putin stated. “Thanks to the dollar, the US continues to exploit other economies of the world for their benefit.

One thing is to prohibit the use of dollars and the other thing is not to use it. That is why we see (economic) processes with the use of other instruments.”

He pointedly added, “For instance, who can ban Bitcoin? Nobody. And who can prohibit the use of other electronic means of payment? Nobody. Because these are new technologies.

And no matter what happens to the dollar, these tools will develop one way or another, because everyone will strive to reduce costs and increase reliability.”

Putin also commented on the global shift away from the dollar: “Even the countries that are allies of the US reduced their currency reserves in dollars and in euros.”

Reactions From Community

The endorsements from Powell and Putin sparked immediate reactions from prominent figures in the cryptocurrency space. Vijay Boyapati, a former Google engineer and author known for his book The Bullish Case for Bitcoin, took to X to express his thoughts: 

“Jerome Powell calling Bitcoin digital gold is the biggest endorsement of Bitcoin yet, if you understand where financial power lies. Bigger than Fink or even Trump.”

David Bailey, CEO of BTC Inc and advisor to former President Trump’s team—who was instrumental in turning Trump pro-Bitcoin —also weighed in via X: “The Bitcoin Space Race is here. […] It couldn’t be more clear what’s happening. It must be a national priority to stand up the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve in the first 100 days of the Trump admin. We need an aggressive plan to grow USA’s proportional ownership of the Bitcoin supply.”

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Bitcoinist   

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“Tidbits From TNT” Thursday Morning 12-5-2024

TNT:

Tishwash:  Parliament session agenda for Thursday

The House of Representatives will hold a regular session tomorrow, Thursday, in which it will read the second reading of the amendment to the financial budget law for the years {2023, 2024 and 2025).

Reading verses from the Holy Quran

First: Voting on the draft law of the National Intelligence Service. Security and Defense Committee. Article 36 (The National Intelligence Service. Affairs).

Neutrality Second: Voting on the proposed law amending the first law of Passports Law No. 32 of 2015. (Security and Defense Committee) (5) Article).

Third: Report and discussion of the second reading of the draft law amending the first law of the Federal General Budget Law of the Republic of Iraq for the fiscal years (2023 - 2020 - 2025) No. (13) of 2023. Finance Committee). 2024

Fourth: Report and discussion of the second reading of the draft law amending the fifth amendment to the Civil Aviation Law No. 148 of 1974. (Transport and Communications Committee).   link

Tishwash:  Government advisor: The budget is hedged by the oil price at $70 and the deficit is 64 trillion dinars

The financial advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed today, Wednesday, that "the federal general budget No. 13 for the year 2023 (the three-year budget) is hedged by the price of a barrel of oil at $70.

Saleh told Al Furat News Agency, "Any increase in oil prices, assuming fixed production and export quantities, will lead to reducing the hypothetical budget deficit gap of 64 trillion dinars."

He  explained that "despite the above, reducing Iraq's share of production within OPEC + is supposed to remove any potential glut in the supply of crude oil in the energy market, which leads to prices being higher than what is estimated in the budget and may even compensate for the shortfall in the quantities of oil produced that were reduced at the same time."

The House of Representatives is scheduled to begin its session tomorrow, Thursday, with the second reading of amending the three-year budget law.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, during his hosting of today's session, called on the House of Representatives to expedite amending the budget law. link

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Tishwash:  The Finance Committee decides to host Taif Sami to complete the amendment of the budget law

On Wednesday, the Finance Committee held a meeting at its headquarters to discuss the report on the draft law amending the second amendment to the Federal General Budget Law for the years 2023 - 2024 - 2025, No. (13) of 2024.

A statement by the committee stated that the meeting was held in the presence of its chairman and all members, and began by emphasizing “the exceptional efforts made by the committee to amend the budget items related to the costs of producing and exporting oil from the Kurdistan Region and the obligations associated with them.”

The statement added that the committee chairman "stressed the importance of setting applicable provisions and obligating the relevant authorities to implement them, while pointing out the need to obtain clarifications from the Ministry of Finance regarding the mechanism for financing the amounts and financial allocations."

According to the statement, the committee discussed the draft report of the second budget amendment law, reviewed and approved members’ comments, and held detailed discussions on how to calculate production and transportation costs, appropriations and contracts, in addition to the mechanism for managing accounts. 
 
The Finance Committee decided to host the Ministry of Finance to complete the procedures related to amending the law, while the meeting discussed the committee’s report on hosting the Ministry of Oil and the results drawn from this hosting.  link

Mot . Finally! - MY Day!!! 

Mot: Earl and the vacuum

MilitiaMan & Crew-Iraq Dinar News-Executive & Legislative Authority Integration-Full Support-Government Program

MilitiaMan & Crew-Iraq Dinar News-Executive & Legislative Authority Integration-Full Support-Government Program

12-4-2024

The Crew:  Samson, PompeyPeter, Petra, Daytrader, Sunkissed, GIGI and Militia Man

Be sure to listen to full video for all the news……..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdKStLLJe7A

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Wednesday Evening 12-04-24

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

FED CHAIR POWELL VIEWS BITCOIN AS DIGITAL GOLD, NOT A DOLLAR COMPETITOR

Powell reiterated his remarks on Bitcoin being used solely for speculative purposes, not being a competitor for the US dollar.

The Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell dismissed the notion of Bitcoin as a replacement for the U.S. dollar, instead framing the leading crypto as a speculative asset comparable to gold.

Powell shared his insights during an appearance at The New York Times DealBook Summit in Manhattan, emphasizing Bitcoin’s volatility and limited use as a form of payment or store of value.

According to Powell:

“It’s just like gold, only it’s virtual… It’s very volatile, it’s not a competitor for the dollar, it’s really a competitor for gold. That’s how I think of it.”

Powell’s comments come amid heightened speculation about Bitcoin’s growing influence in global finance. Crypto recently achieved a market capitalization of $1.92 trillion, surpassing silver, valued at $1.75 trillion, to become the world’s eighth most valuable asset. However, it remains far behind gold, which holds an estimated market value of $18 trillion.

This is not the first time Powell has used this comparison to address Bitcoin. In 2021, the Fed chair said that crypto is not useful as a store of value due to its intrinsic volatility, with Bitcoin being “essentially a substitute for gold, rather than for the dollar.”

Under President Joe Biden’s administration, the Fed is accused of being pivotal in Operation Chokepoint 2.0, an alleged plan to hinder the progress of the US crypto industry.

In August, following a Fed mandate directed at crypto-friendly Customers Bank urging tighter risk management and compliance measures, Gemini co-founder Tyler Winklevoss stated that the initiative “is alive and well.”

DeFi as ally
Despite Powell’s conservative tone toward Bitcoin and crypto as an asset class, Fed Governor Christopher J. Waller recently praised DeFi as an ally.

At the Vienna Macroeconomics Workshop on Oct. 18, Waller argued that intermediaries are still fundamental for the financial markets. However, he acknowledged that DeFi applications presented technologies that offer efficiency to traditional financial instruments.

He recognized the benefits of distributed ledger technology (DLT), tokenization, and smart contracts, which can enhance the speed and accuracy of financial transactions.

Moreover, Waller recognized at The Clearing House Annual Conference 2024 on Nov. 12 that central bank digital currencies (CBDC) are not helpful for payments, questioning whether the payments system has a problem that CBDCs could solve.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Crypto Slate

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RIPPLE’S RLUSD STABLECOIN SET TO LAUNCH TODAY, WHAT’S NEXT FOR XRP?

The highly anticipated launch of Ripple’s dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, is expected to take place today, December 4, 2024. However, Ripple is reportedly awaiting approval from the New York Department of Financial Services, according to local media reports.

What is RLUSD?
Ripple USD (RLUSD), a 1:1 USD-backed stablecoin, offers transparency and stability on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum. With the launch of RLUSD, Ripple aims to leverage both its stablecoin and native token, XRP, to enhance its cross-border payment solutions.

At present, Ripple Labs has warned investors and institutions to avoid engaging with any token claiming to be RLUSD or Ripple USD before its official launch to prevent falling victim to scams. Despite this warning, RLUSD is currently listed on the cryptocurrency data platform CoinGecko.

Since August 2024, Ripple has been beta testing its RLUSD stablecoin on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and Ethereum’s mainnet. The firm has shared plans to gradually expand RLUSD to more blockchains and DeFi protocols in the future.

Will RLUSD Impact XRP Price?
Despite the RLUSD launch, Ripple’s native token XRP, has already gained significant attention over the past week. Furthermore, experts anticipate a notable upward momentum for XRP once RLUSD becomes available on exchanges.

Currently, XRP is trading near $2.55 and has registered a price decline of 2.55% in the past 24 hours. During the same period, its trading volume dropped by $28%, indicating lower participation from traders and investors amid a bullish outlook.

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Source:  Coinpedia

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THE SURPRISING TRUTH ABOUT BITCOIN GOLD NOBODY TELLS YOU  I  Youtube

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Source:  Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts

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Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Wednesday Afternoon 12-04-24

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

WHY HEDERA STANDS OUT: GOVERNANCE, INSTITUTION-FOCUS, TOKENIZATION, AND MORE—IS HBAR A SLEEPING GIANT?

▪️Hedera has been highlighted as one of the notable institution-focused distributed ledger technologies with incredible use cases.

▪️An analyst has spotted the formation of a golden cross, which could soon send HBAR to $1.

Hedera (HBAR) has been impressive so far, as it prints a staggering 669% surge on its monthly price chart and a 139% surge on its weekly price chart. At press time, the asset was trading at $0.329. However, its 24-hour trading volume has declined by 36%, with $4.6 billion changing hands.

Subjecting Hedera to critical analysis, crypto, and stock rating platform, Weiss Crypto has pointed out that the asset is backed by efficient technology and an evolving ecosystem that makes it exceptional amid competitors.

Firstly, Weiss Crypto highlighted that Hedera is one of the most “notable institution-focused distributed ledger technologies. According to the post, Hedera’s governing council is made up of 32 major financial institutions, including IBM (IBM), Google, Dell (DELL), Boeing (BA), and Deutsche Telekom.

On the blockchain, the platform explained that Hedera’s network is permissioned, unlike the permissionless blockchains. 

This implies that it only facilitates the approval of entities that can become nodes. Additionally, this makes it a perfect match for Real-World Asset (RWA) use cases. The post also highlighted its active involvement in asset tokenization.

Hedera is actively involved in tokenizing assets like commercial real estate, securities, carbon credits, and even diamonds. Through these applications, Hedera is positioning itself as one of the leading players in the adoption of blockchain technology for institutional use.

More About Hedera (HBAR

Hedera is strengthening its position in the Web3 ecosystem by sealing jaw-dropping partnerships and introducing cutting-edge solutions. Recently, NoviqTech strengthened its partnership with Hedera by acquiring an additional 490,622 HBAR tokens for $150,000, increasing its holdings to 1.5 million.

According to NoviqTech’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Freddy El Turk, Hedera has extensively contributed to the success of its Carbon Central environmental monitoring platform.

Our growing investment in Hedera is a clear testament to our belief in its transformative potential. Hedera provides the perfect platform to power Carbon Central’s mission of delivering unparalleled transparency and efficiency in ESG compliance and traceability and we look forward to deepening this partnership as we continue to invest in its ecosystem and align our innovative solutions with its cutting-edge technology.

Recently, CNF reported that Hedera has been integrated into the Federal Reserve’s FedNow payment platform via Dropp. As we disclosed, it would facilitate real-time payment with increased security and efficiency.

Ripple has also partnered with Hedera for USD transactions. However, Ripple is waiting for regulatory approval to launch its stablecoin RLUSD. 

Also, there has been growing optimism around the spot HBAR Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) filed by Canary Capital to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). With the SEC chair Gary Gensler stepping down, this product could be approved and send the price skyrocketing.

According to analysts, HBAR is currently forming a golden cross pattern as its 50-day (SMA 50) trends above the 200-day (SMA 200) simple moving averages. A validation of this thesis could see the asset hitting $1

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Crypto News Flash

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BRICS NEWS:  BRICS TO ADOPT BITCOIN FOR TRADE SETTLEMENTS?

In a new sit-down interview, BRICS Member Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, sang praises for the recent growth of the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. Speaking on Russian TV, Putin said that Bitcoin & digital assets will continue to develop.

In the past, the alliance has revealed plans that align with the crypto industry, particularly surrounding its new currency under development. Indeed, BRICS proposed the use of Bitcoin for international payments at its 2024 Summit. Now, one of the bloc’s leaders, Vladimir Putin, says that Bitcoin is inevitable.

When discussing the potential regulation of Bitcoin, Russia’s president rhetorically asks “Who can ban Bitcoin,” before quickly answering “Nobody.” “These are new technologies, and no matter what happens to the dollar, these tools will develop one way or another,” he adds. As the world strives “to reduce costs and increase stability,” in Putin’s eyes, methods like Bitcoin are becoming more popular. This message is also eerily similar to that of the BRICS currency, one set to rival the US dollar upon launch.

The economic alliance has continued to find new ways to promote local currencies through its policies. Moreover, there has been discussion that cryptocurrencies could factor into that in a massive way. Bitcoin could be set to play a big part in the BRICS bloc over the next several years, especially after Putin’s recent comments.

BRICS Member Russia Recognizes Bitcoin and Crypto’s Potential

Furthermore, according to recent reports, digital currencies are now formally recognized as a type of property in international trade settlements. This falls under a new law that has now been approved in Russia by Putin. The president has jumped into the crypto scene by embracing digital assets for trade, including Bitcoin. 

Other members of the bloc: including China and Brazil, have also recently begun backing Bitcoin and crypto. Most notably, a bill was introduced in Brazil to develop a Bitcoin treasury reserve. The bill is currently being reviewed by Brazil’s government.

By establishing a legal framework, Russia’s legislation is expected to accelerate the adoption of digital assets within its financial ecosystem. Putin’s latest comments further reflect Russia’s strategic interest in leveraging Bitcoin for geopolitical and economic advantages.

 During the Ukraine conflict, Bitcoin was utilized to mitigate the impact of Western sanctions. Russia is also in talks to digitalize the Ruble on the XRP Ledger.

In the future, the digital asset industry, led by Bitcoin, will likely shake up the BRICS bloc and how it sees trade. As a result, de-dollarization could see a new level brought by cryptocurrency.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Watcher Guru

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TOP 5 REASONS TO INVEST IN IRAQI DINAR RIGHT NOW  |  Youtube

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts

~~~~~~~~~

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BRICS is Moving Forward to Create Dollar Alternative

BRICS is Moving Forward to Create Dollar Alternative

Gregory Mannarino:  12-3-2024

In a dramatic assertion, former President Donald Trump recently warned that the emerging economic alliance of BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—poses a substantial threat to the dominance of the U.S. dollar.

Speaking at an event, Trump’s fiery rhetoric emphasized a growing urgency in response to BRICS’ ambitious plans to develop an alternative to the dollar for international trade.

BRICS, formed as a coalition of rapidly developing economies, has been making headlines for its efforts to redefine the global financial landscape. With its members representing over 40% of the world’s population and approximately 25% of global GDP, the bloc is increasingly seen as a formidable economic powerhouse.

Over the past few years, BRICS nations have been robustly advocating for a diversified monetary system, one that could potentially bypass the dollar, thereby altering the way international trade and investment are conducted.

Trump’s warning comprehensively reflects concerns within U.S. financial and political circles. The U.S. dollar has maintained its status as the world’s primary reserve currency for over seven decades, a position that has allowed the United States to exert significant influence over global trade and finance.

 A shift away from the dollar towards a multi-currency system could undermine American economic power, lead to inflationary pressures, and affect the ability of the U.S. government to finance its debt.

Economists have highlighted that if BRICS successfully establishes a viable alternative currency for trade, the ramifications could be profound. Countries may pivot away from dollar-denominated transactions, reducing demand for the currency. This scenario could lead to a decline in the dollar’s value and economic instability that could ripple worldwide.

Trump’s remarks underscore a broader narrative being shaped not only among his supporters but also among some policymakers who see the BRICS initiative as a strategic challenge to U.S. hegemony. His use of the phrase “All hell to pay!” reflects a staunch belief that the U.S. must not only recognize these developments but also take proactive measures to maintain its economic leadership.

In light of these developments, discussions surrounding U.S. foreign policy, trade agreements, and economic strategies are likely to come to the forefront. Lawmakers may face pressure to reassess relationships with BRICS countries and explore ways to bolster the dollar’s position globally.

In response to concerns like those expressed by Trump, BRICS nations continue to advance discussions regarding a common currency and the concept of trade in local currencies. Their recent meetings have underscored a commitment to engineering a financial framework that diminishes dependency on the dollar. This direction could potentially revolutionize how countries interact financially on the world stage.

As BRICS moves forward with practical steps to establish this alternative framework, it is evident that the geopolitical landscape is evolving. In a world increasingly characterized by multipolarity, the U.S. must navigate these challenges deftly to sustain its influence.

Trump’s warning encapsulates an evolving reality where traditional power dynamics are being challenged. The BRICS alliance could be a pivotal player in this transformation, igniting discussions on economic sovereignty and national security.

As the global financial architecture continues to change, the United States faces critical decisions on how to respond to emerging threats, ensuring its dollar remains at the forefront of international commerce.

The next few years will be crucial in determining the future of the dollar and the potential reshaping of global economic norms.

https://youtu.be/OGHgi8jjGjQ

Iraq Economic News and Points to Ponder Wednesday AM 12-4-24

Minister of Finance discusses joint cooperation with World Bank representative in Iraq

Tuesday 03 December 2024 | Economic Number of readings: 352  Baghdad / NINA / Minister of Finance Taif Sami Mohammed discussed today, Tuesday, with the World Bank Representative in Iraq, Jean-Christophe Carret, ways to enhance cooperation between Iraq and the World Bank to support development projects and economic reforms.

The Minister of Finance stressed to the Bank Representative: "The importance of partnership with the World Bank in financing programs aimed at achieving sustainable development, expressing at the same time her welcome to Emmanuel Salinas, who was appointed as the new representative of the Bank to Iraq instead of Richard Abdel Nour, whose duties in Iraq ended last November, wishing him success in his new tasks and supporting development relations between the two sides in a way that achieves the interests of Iraq and its people.

The Minister stressed: "The Iraqi government's keenness to implement financial and economic reforms to ensure the stability of the national economy. It is working to implement these reforms with the aim of enhancing sustainable growth, improving the management of financial resources, combating corruption, and strengthening transparency in government institutions.

For his part, the World Bank representative praised the Iraqi government's efforts to improve the economic environment and implement programs that enhance transparency and efficiency, expressing the bank's readiness to provide more technical and financial support in line with Iraq's development priorities.

The two sides agreed to continue coordination and joint work to achieve strategic goals and enhance economic stability in the country. /  https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1172536

Iraq Stock Exchange Trades Shares Worth More Than 2.5 Billion Dinars

Stock Exchange  Economy News – Baghdad  Today, Tuesday, the Iraq Stock Exchange recorded an increase in the value of traded shares, while the number of listed deals reached 816 deals.

The Iraqi market traded more than 2.3 billion shares, with the value of traded shares reaching 2.5 billion dinars.

The number of deals listed during today’s trading session reached 816 deals, with a change rate of 1.50%.

Five banks were the most active companies in terms of the number of shares traded and the traded value, with the International Islamic Bank coming in first place with more than one billion shares traded, followed by Al-Mansour Bank with more than 385 million shares traded.

United Investment Bank ranked third with more than 182 million shares traded, while Gulf Commercial Bank ranked fourth with more than 171 million shares traded. The Bank of Baghdad ranked fifth, after trading more than 102 million shares.

107 views  Added 12/03/2024 - 3:15 PM  https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=50497

Oil Prices Fall Slightly Ahead Of OPEC+ Meeting.. Brent Below $72

Energy  Economy News - Follow-up  Oil prices fell slightly amid mixed signals in the market on Tuesday, as traders awaited the outcome of this week's OPEC+ meeting.

Brent crude futures were down 9 cents, or 0.13%, at $71.74 a barrel by 0205 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 14 cents, or 0.21%, at $67.96.

“Investors are in a wait-and-see mode ahead of the OPEC+ meeting,” analysts at ANZ said in a note.

OPEC+ sources said the alliance of OPEC countries and allies led by Russia will extend the latest round of output cuts until the end of the first quarter at its meeting on Dec. 5.

OPEC+ had aimed to roll back the cuts in the first quarter of 2025, but expectations of oversupply weighed on prices.

OPEC+ pumps about half of the world's oil.

Researchers and analysts say that demand for oil in China is expected to peak next year, widening the gap between demand and supply.

Concerns that the Federal Reserve will not cut interest rates at its December meeting kept oil prices in check, offsetting some positive signals from China where the purchasing managers' index rose to a seven-month high in November.

Oil prices on both sides of the Atlantic fell by more than three percent last week.

In the Middle East, violations of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah continued, with nine people killed in strikes on two towns in southern Lebanon shortly after Hezbollah fired rockets at an Israeli military post in the disputed Shebaa Farms area on Monday.   https://economy-news.net/content.php?id=50479

The Minister Of Finance Discusses With The Representative Of The World Bank In Iraq Joint Cooperation
 
Tuesday 03, December 2024 | Economical  Number of readings: 512   
Baghdad / NINA / Minister of Finance, Taif Sami Muhammad, discussed, today, Tuesday, with the representative of the World Bank in Iraq, Jean-Christophe Carré, ways to enhance cooperation between Iraq and the World Bank to support development projects and economic reforms. The Minister of Finance stressed to the bank representative:
 
“The importance of the partnership with the World Bank in financing programs that aim to achieve sustainable development, while at the same time expressing her welcome to Emmanuel Salinas, who was appointed as the new representative of the bank to Iraq, replacing Richard Abdel Nour, whose duties in Iraq ended in November.” last year, wishing him success in his new duties and supporting development relations between the two sides in the interest of Iraq and its people. The Minister stressed:

 “The Iraqi government is keen to implement financial and economic reforms to ensure the stability of the national economy.
 
It is working to implement these reforms with the aim of
 
     promoting sustainable growth,
     improving the management of financial resources and
     combating corruption, in addition to
     strengthening transparency in government institutions.”
 
For his part, the representative of the World Bank
 
     praised the efforts of the Iraqi government to improve the economic environment and
     implement programs that enhance transparency and efficiency,
     expressing the Bank’s readiness to provide more technical and financial support in line with Iraq’s development priorities.
 
The two sides agreed to continue coordination and joint work to achieve strategic goals and enhance economic stability in the country.    https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1172536   

Iraq’s Central Bank strikes cooperation deal with Frankfurt School
 
    Amr Salem December 3, 2024 104 2 min
The Frankfurt School’s headquarters in Germany. Photo: Lupp
 
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) said on Tuesday that it signed a cooperation agreement with the Frankfurt School in coordination with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
 
Under the agreement, CBI staff will get training and approved professional certifications as part of a program financed by the European Union and the German government to develop public finance and financial markets in Iraq, according to a statement released by the CBI.
 
The CBI became the first Iraqi institution to formalize a cooperation agreement with the Frankfurt School.
 
This partnership aims to bolster financial education and capacity building within Iraq’s banking sector, focusing on improving access to finance for small and medium enterprises.
 
The main goal of the partnership is to improve the abilities of Iraqi financial professionals.

This includes specific training courses that cover significant issues such as credit analysis and risk management.
 
One of the biggest development organizations in the world, GIZ is distinguished by its dedication to promoting sustainable development via cooperation with an extensive network of partners.
 
The GIZ’s encompassing strategy tackles difficult global issues while advancing a future that is beneficial for people everywhere. https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq/iraqs-central-bank-strikes-cooperation-deal-with-frankfurt-school/

The Central Bank Signs A Memorandum Of Cooperation With Frankfurt School
 
December 03, 2024   Based on the principles drawn up by this bank in developing and developing the skills of its employees,
 
a memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Central Bank of Iraq and (Frankfurt School) in coordination with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), a project to strengthen public finances and financial markets in Iraq (FFM), which is funded by the Union.
 
The European Union and the German government will train the cadres of the Central Bank of Iraq in various specializations, as well as work to obtain accredited professional certificates. Thus, the
 
Central Bank of Iraq will be the first Iraqi institution to sign a memorandum of cooperation with (Frankfurt School) The Director of Development and Training stressed the importance of this cooperation and what
 
it will contribute to the process of developing the Central Bank’s cadres and the extent to which this will reflect on the Iraqi banking sector in all its fields. Central Bank of Iraq  Media office December 3, 2024  https://cbi.iq/news/view/2727  

For current and reliable Iraqi news please visit:  https://www.bondladyscorner.com/

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economic Updates Wednesday Morning 12-04-24

Good Morning Dinar Recaps, 

CRYPTO COMPLIANCE ‘NO LONGER OPTIONAL’ UNDER AUSTRALIA’S NEW DRAFT GUIDELINES

Sweeping proposed changes would force most crypto firms in Australia to obtain financial licensing, which some worry could drive innovators offshore.

Crypto exchanges and firms dealing with digital assets in Australia would no longer be able to avoid costly licensing under proposed guidance from the country’s corporate regulator.

On Dec. 4, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) released a consultation paper on proposed guidance for crypto, placing many digital assets under the category of financial products requiring in no uncertain terms that most firms dealing in crypto must be licensed.

“It’s a bit of a wake-up call,” Kate Cooper, CEO of Australia and head of APAC at the Standard Chartered-backed crypto custodian Zodia Custody told Cointelegraph.

“Compliance really is no longer optional for the industry, and a lot of the players, both local and international [...] are going to have to really look at and take an audit of what they’re doing from a custody and compliance management perspective.”

In Australia, businesses offering financial services and dealing in financial products need an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL), while platforms facilitating the trading of financial products may also need an Australian Market License.

The new guidance would require crypto exchanges and many other crypto firms to get one or both licenses.

Some worry that ASIC’s draft guidance could hang crypto startups out to dry and cause an exodus of crypto firms from the country.

“Obviously, the bigger businesses will be better able to withstand all of that regulation, all of that legal cost, compliance cost that is associated with it. Smaller businesses may struggle,” Liam Hennessy, a partner at Clyde and Co law firm and adjunct professor at the University of Sydney, told Cointelegraph.

Joni Pirovich, a crypto lawyer, wrote on LinkedIn that the updated guidance will make launching in Australia “on par or more expensive than launching offshore.”

“From a timing perspective, Australian innovators that want to launch now will likely do so offshore. Those that are based here face a significant step up in compliance costs,” she wrote.

Block Earner co-founder and CEO Charlie Karaboga, who was sued by ASIC for offering an unlicensed crypto-yield product in 2022, said it was an “amazing direction around clarity” but shared concerns about his business, which has just 13 employees, according to Pitchbook.

“I think ASIC underestimates the requirements needed to be met for an AFSL,” Karaboga told Cointelegraph, adding that firms need to hold millions of dollars on their balance sheets.

“Asking us to hold that much money basically could kill all the startups like us.”

“What’s clear is that this guidance will have significant implications for pockets of the local crypto industry,” Swyftx CEO Jason Titman said in a statement sent to Cointelegraph. “We’re not aware of any other countries that regulate exchanges like bourses. Rightly or wrongly, Australia is going it alone.”

ASIC provides much-needed crypto clarity
The silver lining, according to the executives, is that the regulator has finally released much-needed clarity for crypto — even if it is harsh.

“It is a significant piece of regulatory guidance to the market,” said Hennessy. “Anything which gives regulatory clarity is a good thing for the market.”

ASIC is considering a significant expansion of what it considers a financial product or service, including stablecoins, native token staking services, exchange tokens and wrapped tokens.

On the other hand, memecoins, gaming-linked NFTs, Bitcoin  and Ether may be able to escape the classification.

“I think it is quite an expansive view that has been taken as to what constitutes a financial product in the market,” said Zodia’s Cooper.

ASIC has invited feedback on the proposed updates until Feb. 28, 2025.

“We want to promote the growth of responsible financial innovation while ensuring consumer protection,” ASIC Commissioner Alan Kirkland said in a statement. “A well-regulated financial system benefits everyone in the community as it supports consumer confidence, market integrity and facilitates competition and innovation.”

“We encourage all stakeholders to engage with the consultation process,” he added.

A final version of the guidance is expected to come in mid-2025 after considering the feedback.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  CoinTelegraph

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XRP LAWSUIT NEWS: CAN GENSLER’S REPLACEMENT PAUL ATKINS DISMISS RIPPLE CASE?

▪️Paul Atkins Appointed SEC Chair: Trump selects pro-crypto figure Paul Atkins as SEC chair, sparking debate on his impact on crypto regulation.

▪️XRP Lawsuit Update: Ripple’s legal battle continues as the SEC appeals the ruling, while Paul Atkins' appointment raises questions on crypto policy.

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Paul Atkins, a pro-crypto figure, to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), according to reports by Unchained. 

Current SEC Chair Gary Gensler announced he will step down on January 20 when Trump is inaugurated. Atkins, who served as an SEC commissioner under President George W. Bush, is well-respected in conservative legal circles and among the Republican establishment.

One major case before the federal courts is the ongoing Ripple (XRP) lawsuit, in which the SEC claims Ripple violated securities laws by issuing XRP. 

In July 2023, Judge Analisa Torres ruled that XRP was not a security when sold to retail investors on exchanges but was a security in institutional sales.

The SEC initially sought a $2 billion fine against Ripple but was instead given a $125 million penalty. In October 2024, Judge Torres rejected the SEC’s request to appeal, saying they didn’t have strong enough reasons. Despite this, the SEC appealed to the Second Circuit Court, arguing the decision went against Supreme Court rulings.

‘Paul Atkins is not what Trump Needs’

John Deaton recently explained that Paul Atkins would be a very traditional choice, one that Wall Street would likely approve of. He stated that Atkins is someone who respects the SEC and its staff, but what is truly needed is someone who challenges the SEC’s actions.

Deaton believes the SEC has harmed investors, rather than protecting them, and that a change in attitude is necessary. While Deaton would support Atkins if chosen, he feels he’s not the right fit if President Trump aims to bring change to crypto regulation.

Attorney Jeremy Hogan mentioned the cons of Atkins’ appointment and wrote,

“He won’t be the bull in the china shop many in the crypto space want. He will make measured and deliberate changes. Overall, I give his appointment a B+ for the digital asset industry, and that was good enough to get me a law degree so, yeah!”

FAQs

Who is Paul Atkins and why is he important for crypto regulation?
Paul Atkins is a pro-crypto figure nominated as SEC chair by Trump, potentially influencing crypto policies and regulations.

What happened in the SEC vs Ripple case?
The SEC sought a $2 billion fine against Ripple but was given a $125 million penalty. The SEC continues appealing the decision in higher courts.

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Coinpedia

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RIPPLE LABS IS ABOUT TO USE XRP TO TURN REAL ESTATE UPSIDE DOWN  |  Youtube

@ Newshounds News™

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IRAQI PARLIAMENT MEETING TURNS INSANE!  |  Youtube  

@ Newshounds News™

Source:  Seeds of Wisdom Team RV Currency Facts

~~~~~~~~~

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“Tidbits From TNT” Wednesday Morning 12-4-2024

TNT:

Tishwash:  Al-Sudani in Parliament.. The economic file is on the agenda and the numbers "highlight" the reality

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani will be a guest of Parliament today, Wednesday, at his request, for the first time in two years, as he will be under the dome of Parliament for only the second time as Prime Minister after the first time his government won confidence in October 2022, and while this hosting comes at the request of al-Sudani specifically, this means that he has a lot to show before the House of Representatives.

Although the talk about the situation in Syria and security in the region is the most prominent, as official statements say, the statements also indicated that the talk will include the economy, services, and the Sudanese government program.

It is well known that the space of "political bidding" in Iraq, especially in the past few years, is very profitable in the fields of economy and services, because it shows the political forces keen on the interests of citizens and some groups, so it is very expected that the parliament will witness talk and discussion about economic and service issues related to Al-Sudani's government.

Contrary to the sustainable crisis, non-oil revenues compete with oil revenues

When talking about the economy during Al-Sudani’s era, it witnessed many fundamental changes. In fact, some economic indicators were a “permanent blot” on the face of the Iraqi economy for 20 years, specifically non-oil revenues and the percentage they constitute of total revenues.

During the current year and until last September, non-oil revenues constituted 11% of total revenues and amounted to more than 12.4 trillion dinars, while oil revenues constituted 89%.

This percentage is absolutely unprecedented in the past years, when non-oil revenues did not exceed 5% of total revenues at best. In 2023, the percentage of non-oil revenues reached 7%, and in 2022 it reached 5%.

The second most persistent crisis is shaking up... Flared gas is declining

As for the flared gas, which is also one of the biggest economic crises in Iraq, the government has achieved an increase in the percentage of gas invested and stopped the flared gas.

Previously, Iraq was producing 2,700 cubic meters of associated gas per day, investing 1,500 cubic meters of it, and burning 1,200 cubic meters per day. Now, Iraq produces 3,000 cubic meters of gas per day, investing more than 2,000 cubic meters of it per day, and burning only 1,000 cubic meters, which means that the gas investment rate is 66%, while the burned rate is 34%, while in previous years the invested gas rate was between 50 and 55%, and the burned rate was between 50 and 45%.

Iraq exports derivatives, not imports them

In addition, the issue of exporting crude oil and returning to importing fuel and derivatives is one of the most problematic issues that were considered “shameful” for Iraq, as the second largest oil producer in OPEC imports oil derivatives, as Iraq used to import derivatives worth more than $3 billion annually.

Iraq was importing about 15 million liters of gasoline per day, 10 liters of kerosene per day, and about two million liters of kerosene per day.

But within less than two years, Iraq's import of kerosene and kerosene has stopped completely, and Iraq has even started exporting kerosene, while gasoline imports have decreased by about 70% from 15 to only 5 million, and it is hoped that gasoline imports will stop completely starting next year, with the completion of the opening of isomerization units in ongoing projects in some Iraqi refineries.

Years of debts... reduced by half in two years

One of the indicators that also worried Iraq was the debt file, but despite the fact that current and mandatory operating expenses increased significantly during the past two years to reach about 120 trillion dinars annually, and recording an actual deficit rate, the government balanced the borrowing story, so that external debts decreased by half within two years.

While external debt was about $20 billion in 2022, it decreased to about $16 billion in 2023, and recently decreased in 2024 to less than $9 billion.

Unemployment and employment crisis

 The government has also taken pivotal steps regarding the unemployment crisis and the dual pressure on government employment. The legislation of the Social Security and Workers’ Retirement Law is one of the most important factors in the balance between the public and private sectors. From only 19,000 insured workers, the number of workers registered in Social Security and Workers’ Retirement has reached about half a million workers so far.

The measures related to employment and facilitating project support caused poverty rates to drop from 23% to 17.6%, and the unemployment rate dropped from 16.5% to 14.4%, according to the latest survey conducted by the Ministry of Planning, which lasted from mid-2023 to mid-2024. link

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Tishwash: Iraq's financial revenues exceed 114 trillion dinars in 9 months

The Federal Ministry of Finance revealed, on Wednesday, that the size of Iraqi revenues in the general budget during 9 months of the current year 2024 exceeded 114 trillion dinars, indicating that non-oil revenues amounted to 11%.

Shafaq News Agency followed up on the data and tables issued by the Ministry of Finance in December, for the accounts of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August and September of the current fiscal year, which showed that oil is still the main resource for Iraq's general budget, reaching 89%, indicating that the rentier economy is the basis of the country's general budget.

The financial tables indicated that the total revenues for the nine months of the current year amounted to 114 trillion, 349 billion, 735 million, 335 thousand, and 311 dinars, indicating that the total advances amounted to 15 trillion, 796 billion, 51 million, 63 thousand, and 162 dinars.

According to the financial tables, oil revenues amounted to 101 trillion, 944 billion, 446 million, and 923 thousand dinars, which constitutes 89% of the general budget, while non-oil revenues amounted to 12 trillion, 405 billion, 292 million, and 412 thousand dinars, which constitutes 11% of Iraq’s general budget.

For his part, economic expert Mohammed Al-Hasani told Shafaq News Agency, "The defect of the Iraqi economy is that it is rentier and depends mainly on oil, and that Iraq has not activated the customs tariff that contributes to raising financial revenues properly."

He added that "attempts to support the agriculture, industry and tourism sectors in order to be a second tributary to oil were timid, and each sector did not contribute more than 4% of the gross domestic product," calling for "activating a number of laws that encourage the local and foreign private sector to enter the Iraqi market, including customs tariff laws, consumer protection and anti-monopoly laws."

In March 2021, the Prime Minister's advisor for financial affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed to Shafaq News Agency that the reasons for the economy remaining rentier are due to the wars and the imposition of an economic blockade on Iraq during the past era, and the political conflicts we are witnessing today, which led to the dispersion of economic resources.

The continued reliance of the Iraqi state on oil as the sole source of the general budget puts Iraq at risk from global crises that occur from time to time due to the impact of oil on them, which makes the country turn every time to cover the deficit through borrowing from abroad or domestically, and thus indicates the inability to manage the state’s funds effectively, and the inability to find alternative financing solutions.  link

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Tishwash:  On the occasion of World Banking Day.. A call for a comprehensive review of the work of banks in Iraq

The Federal Ministry of Finance revealed, on Wednesday, that the size of Iraqi revenues in the general budget during 9 months of the current year 2024 exceeded 114 trillion dinars, indicating that non-oil revenues amounted to 11%.

Shafaq News Agency followed up on the data and tables issued by the Ministry of Finance in December, for the accounts of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August and September of the current fiscal year, which showed that oil is still the main resource for Iraq's general budget, reaching 89%, indicating that the rentier economy is the basis of the country's general budget.

The financial tables indicated that the total revenues for the nine months of the current year amounted to 114 trillion, 349 billion, 735 million, 335 thousand, and 311 dinars, indicating that the total advances amounted to 15 trillion, 796 billion, 51 million, 63 thousand, and 162 dinars.

According to the financial tables, oil revenues amounted to 101 trillion, 944 billion, 446 million, and 923 thousand dinars, which constitutes 89% of the general budget, while non-oil revenues amounted to 12 trillion, 405 billion, 292 million, and 412 thousand dinars, which constitutes 11% of Iraq’s general budget.

For his part, economic expert Mohammed Al-Hasani told Shafaq News Agency, "The defect of the Iraqi economy is that it is rentier and depends mainly on oil, and that Iraq has not activated the customs tariff that contributes to raising financial revenues properly."

He added that "attempts to support the agriculture, industry and tourism sectors in order to be a second tributary to oil were timid, and each sector did not contribute more than 4% of the gross domestic product," calling for "activating a number of laws that encourage the local and foreign private sector to enter the Iraqi market, including customs tariff laws, consumer protection and anti-monopoly laws."

In March 2021, the Prime Minister's advisor for financial affairs, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed to Shafaq News Agency that the reasons for the economy remaining rentier are due to the wars and the imposition of an economic blockade on Iraq during the past era, and the political conflicts we are witnessing today, which led to the dispersion of economic resources.

The continued reliance of the Iraqi state on oil as the sole source of the general budget puts Iraq at risk from global crises that occur from time to time due to the impact of oil on them, which makes the country turn every time to cover the deficit through borrowing from abroad or domestically, and thus indicates the inability to manage the state’s funds effectively, and the inability to find alternative financing solutions.  link

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