The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says 19 countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, including Bahrain, Georgia, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, are in the advanced “proof-of concept” stage for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). “We support policymakers evaluating the need to issue a CBDC and help them craft strong policies and regulatory frameworks […]
Putin Criticizes U.S. Dollar’s Lack of Gold Backing, Calls for Alternative Payment Systems
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the United States for its abandonment of the gold standard, remarking in a Sputnik-released video that the U.S. dollar is now a trust-based currency without tangible backing, a decision underscored by the absence of gold equivalence. This critique arrives during efforts by BRICS countries to diminish reliance on the U.S. […]
Study: Half of Surveyed Germans ‘Imagine Using a Digital Euro as an Additional Payment Option’
A new report has found that half of Germans who participated in a survey study can “imagine using a digital euro as an additional payment option.” However, the study also revealed that some three-quarters of the respondents view the “aspect of privacy in connection with the use of the digital euro as very important or […]
Paypal Expands PYUSD to Solana Blockchain for Better Payment Solutions
Payments giant Paypal has made Paypal USD (PYUSD) available on the Solana blockchain, making the stablecoin “faster and cheaper to use.” Platforms like Crypto.com, Phantom, and Paxos are among the first to offer PYUSD on Solana, alongside Paypal and Venmo wallets. Paypal Makes PYUSD Available on Solana Blockchain Paypal Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: PYPL) announced at […]
Lightning Labs CTO Conducts First Mainnet Multi-Hop Asset Payment via Taproot Asset Channels
Olaoluwa Osuntokun, co-founder and CTO of Lightning Labs, recently executed the first successful mainnet multi-hop asset payment using Taproot Asset channels, marking a new development in asset transfer capabilities over the Lightning Network. Asset Transfer Achieved on Lightning Network Using Taproot Channels The transaction, conducted by Osuntokun, involved a multi-hop payment using a digital asset […]