Indian payments body dismisses Coinbase launch

The National Payments Corporation of India, which maintains the country’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), released a voluntary statement saying it did not know of any crypto exchange using UPI. This came after Coinbase announced its launch in the country featuring UPI support.

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Can NFTs help rebuild Ukraine?

Can NFTs help rebuild Ukraine?

Ukraine’s government has raised more than $600,000 through the Ukrainian MetaHistory NFT-Museum. The proceeds will be used to rebuild museums and other cultural institutions that have been damaged or destroyed by the Russian invasion of the country.

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E.U. to outlaw anonymous crypto transactions

E.U. to outlaw anonymous crypto transactions

European Union lawmakers have voted to apply AML regulations to crypto, while also requiring ID verification for payers and recipients of any amount of cryptocurrency. The E.U. may also cut off unregulated crypto exchanges from financial systems if they fail to comply.

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Morgan Stanley doubts DeFi growth

Morgan Stanley doubts DeFi growth

In a research report, Morgan Stanley said it expects growth within decentralized finance to slow down. It cited regulation and overcollateralization as the two primary factors affecting DeFi’s deceleration.

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What’s the place of celebrities in crypto?

What’s the place of celebrities in crypto?

FTX announced that tennis star Naomi Osaka will become a brand ambassador for the crypto exchange. She will get an equity stake and be compensated in crypto as well.

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New Jersey to restrict NFTs as gifts to public officials

New Jersey to restrict NFTs as gifts to public officials

In an update to the state’s bribery- and corruption-prevention laws, the New Jersey General Assembly may soon vote to prevent public officials from receiving NFTs and virtual currency as gifts. The bill was approved by the Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee last week.

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4 regulatory showdowns affecting the future of finance

4 regulatory showdowns affecting the future of finance

From cannabis to cryptocurrency, the future of fintech lies in the hands of regulators. Find out how alternative payments rails, smart contracts, and securities enforcement can potentially change everything.

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Worldcoin runs into real-world problems

Worldcoin runs into real-world problems

The billion-dollar startup, which wants to distribute cryptocurrency to every human being by imaging their eyes, recently suspended operations in at least seven countries. It’s now delayed its launch date for a second time.

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How will new cybersecurity rules affect fintech?

How will new cybersecurity rules affect fintech?

Yesterday, President Biden signed the Cyber Incident Reporting For Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022. The law shortens reporting timelines for cybersecurity incidents and names the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) as the leading government body for enforcement.

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Stripe recommits to crypto payments

Stripe recommits to crypto payments

On Thursday, Stripe CEO John Collison announced that Stripe is re-entering the crypto space. FTX US said it will use Stripe to automate KYC processes, approvals, and crypto purchases from debit cards and ACH transactions.

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Crypto awaits judgment on LBRY coin

Crypto awaits judgment on LBRY coin

LBRY, a blockchain-based file sharing and payment network, has been the subject of a yearslong case by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The government body claims that LBRY’s token, LBC, is a security.

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Biden executive order calls for unified crypto regulation

Biden executive order calls for unified crypto regulation

Today, President Biden issued an “Executive Order on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets.” The order calls for a holistic approach to crypto across government branches, while also protecting consumers, minimizing volatility, safeguarding national security, and expanding financial inclusion efforts.

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Grain-backed crypto challenges “stablecoin” definition

Grain-backed crypto challenges “stablecoin” definition

Agrotoken, an Argentinian startup tokenizing grain by the ton through cryptocurrency, announced that its soy-, corn- and wheat-backed coins will be accepted as collateral by Santander. Agrotoken has also launched a 1,000-farmer test with Santander.

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Binance debuts Bifinity

Binance debuts Bifinity

Binance announced this morning that it would launch Bifinity, a payments technology company and fiat-to-crypto payments provider. Bifinity will partner with payments platform Paysafe as well as Checkout.com to scale its operations.

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SEC eyes NFT regulation

SEC eyes NFT regulation

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is looking into fractional NFTs, in which assets are broken down into tradable pieces. Such NFTs may qualify as securities under the Howey test; investors fund these NFTs with the intention of making a profit.

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