In 2024, gold-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced outflows for the fourth consecutive year as investors preferred to shift to more lucrative alternatives. According to Bloomberg, the rise in gold prices and the Fed’s easing measures were insufficient for traders to maintain their gold positions, as these funds experienced a decline of over 2.5% in their […]
BRICS Payment Platforms Gain Momentum as US Dollar Alternatives, Says Russian Official
BRICS’ new payment platforms, which offer alternatives to the U.S. dollar and euro, are attracting global attention, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. These systems enable countries to conduct economic activities without relying on currencies used as political tools by Western powers. The Russian official noted increasing interest in these platforms as a way […]
China-Russia International Trade Payments Situation Worsens: Crypto and Barter Rise as Alternatives
Chinese regional banks, which were once used as bridges to process payments from Russia to China, have begun rejecting these payments for fear of secondary sanctions. To facilitate these transactions, cryptocurrency and even barter schemes have emerged as options to continue trading outside the dollar-dominated financial system. Crypto Considered for Settling Trade Transactions Between China […]
Wallet of Satoshi Exits US Market Amidst Record-Breaking Month, Leaving Customers to Seek Alternatives
On Friday, Wallet of Satoshi, a provider of Lightning Network payment services, announced its departure from the U.S. market, though it refrained from providing specific reasons. The firm informed its U.S. clientele that they could “withdraw and transfer” their funds to a different wallet. Wallet of Satoshi Halts U.S. Operations A recent update on X […]
Local Currencies Are Not Alternatives to the Dollar but the System, BRICS Bank Chair Says
The development bank founded by the BRICS bloc of emerging economies aims to promote a multipolar financial system, its head, Dilma Rousseff, has indicated. As part of these efforts, the institution seeks to expand lending in local currencies, those of member states in particular, such the South African rand and the Brazilian real. BRICS Development […]