Mastercard will let banks and merchants in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa settle payments using Circle’s USDC and EURC stablecoins. The move aims to speed up cross-border transfers and cut costs for trade and remittances in the region.
AnaisHong Kong launched the Hong Kong Virtual Asset Listing Association (HKVALA) to bring together industry and government for digital finance development. The group aims to promote cooperation, talent development, and investor protection while supporting the city’s push into tokenised assets and Web3.
WeatherlyARK Invest bought $15.6 million worth of BitMine shares, raising its total investment in the company to over $300 million. BitMine is building a large Ethereum treasury, now holding 1.71 million ETH worth nearly $8 billion.
WeatherlyA former cryptocurrency trader was kidnapped near Paris on 26 August and released the next day with injuries, despite a €10,000 ransom demand. The attack is part of a rising trend of crimes targeting people linked to digital assets in France.
AnaisPhilippine Senator Bam Aquino has proposed putting the country’s entire national budget on blockchain so citizens can track all government spending. The plan builds on existing blockchain initiatives but faces technical and political challenges before it can be fully implemented.
AnaisThe U.S. CFTC has confirmed that offshore crypto exchanges can register under its FBOT framework and legally serve American traders. This clears years of confusion and could see major platforms like Binance and Bybit return to the U.S. market.
WeatherlyChina plans for 70 percent of its population to use AI-powered devices by 2027, aiming for nearly a billion regular users. The initiative spans industry, services, governance, and daily life, with full integration into an intelligent economy expected by 2035.
AnaisEliza Labs has sued X Corp, claiming the company copied its AI technology and forced it into paying high fees. The startup says X banned its account after taking confidential ideas, causing serious harm to its business.
WeatherlyLuxxfolio has filed to raise up to $100 million in Canada as it pushes a new strategy built around Litecoin. The firm is short on cash and hopes the funds will support its goal of holding one million LTC by 2026.
AnaisUS banks processed $312 billion in suspicious transactions linked to Chinese money laundering networks between 2020 and 2024. Despite regulatory focus on crypto, most illicit funds still move through traditional banks, not digital platforms.
Weatherly
