Alvaro Rosenblüth, treasury and exchange manager at Banco de Crédito de Bolivia, stated that the Central Bank of Bolivia lifted the ban on cryptocurrency operations out of necessity. Stablecoins are now acting as a dollar proxy, enabling remittances and payments to combat the dollar shortage. Bolivia’s Crypto Pivot Was Executed out of Necessity, Says Bank […] Source
More Australians reported using cryptocurrency to pay for goods and services in 2026 compared to the year before, but banking friction has continued to weigh on crypto users, according to a new report by crypto exchange Independent Reserve. The annual survey of 2,000 “everyday Australians” was conducted between Jan. 12 and Jan. 30. It found that the share of Australians using crypto to buy goods or pay for services doubled from 6% to 12%, with the report suggesting “more Aussies are viewing crypto as a practical payment method rather than just…
Versabank has launched an initiative to integrate foreign exchange capabilities and rewards functionality into its proprietary Versaview blockchain interface to support the commercialization of tokenized deposits. Versabank announced on March 17, 2026, that it is adding foreign exchange (FX) functionality to its Real Bank Tokenized Deposits (RBTDs) through an enhancement of its Versaview blockchain interface. […] Source
The Basel III rules, which govern bank capital requirements, are set to be updated in 2026, and if Bitcoin (BTC) receives a lower risk rating in the revised rules, it could potentially trigger a “huge” influx of liquidity into BTC, according to market analyst Nic Puckrin. Under the current Basel rules, BTC and similar digital assets are given a 1,250% risk weight, meaning banks must hold reserve assets at a 1:1 ratio to back any Bitcoin held on their balance sheets, Puckrin said. These restrictive capital requirements make it “almost…
The Bank of England’s (BOE) position on stablecoins is evolving to a more friendly stance, but according to the bank’s deputy governor, constructive dialogue with the industry is still lacking. The UK’s central bank launched a consultation on stablecoins in November last year. Some of the proposed requirements drew the ire of crypto industry representatives, who claimed they could stifle innovation. Over the past few months, the bank has been working with industry groups to develop its stance on stablecoins. These include revising backing requirements and rethinking account limits. Some…
Amina, a Swiss-regulated crypto bank, has joined a blockchain-based settlement platform for tokenized securities operating under the European Union’s DLT pilot regime, marking another step toward integrating digital asset infrastructure with traditional capital markets. The Zug, Switzerland-based company announced Monday that it has become a listing sponsor on the EU-regulated platform 21X, making Amina the venue’s first fully regulated bank participant. Amina said the move will allow it to support companies issuing tokenized securities on 21X through its partnership with Tokeny, a Luxembourg-based company that provides technology for creating and…
Canada has completed a pilot program testing the use of distributed ledger technology in bond markets, culminating in the issuance of the country’s first tokenized bond, according to a Friday announcement from the Bank of Canada. The experiment, known as Project Samara, involved the Bank of Canada, Export Development Canada, Royal Bank of Canada and TD Bank Group, and explored if blockchain-style infrastructure could streamline bond issuance, trading and settlement. As part of the pilot, Export Development Canada issued a $100 million Canadian dollar ($73.6 million) bond with a maturity…
Kazakhstan’s central bank plans to begin investing as much as $350 million from its gold and foreign exchange reserves into a crypto-linked portfolio, with the first purchases expected in April or May, senior officials reportedly said during a Friday news briefing. According to Reuters, National Bank Governor Timur Suleimenov said the bank is compiling a list of instruments for the portfolio. He said the basket would include crypto-linked assets and did not rule out direct cryptocurrency exposure, though officials indicated the initial emphasis would be on listed instruments tied to…
In a report published Thursday, Reuters said the long-anticipated crypto market structure legislation, known as the CLARITY Act, may be at risk of not being signed into law in 2026. The uncertainty comes as opposition from the banking sector intensifies, particularly over key provisions tied to stablecoin regulation. Deadlock In Crypto Legislation Per the report, the legislation has run into a fresh stalemate after banks declined to support a compromise proposal advanced by the White House. That breakdown in negotiations has cast serious doubt on whether Congress can move the…
The United Arab Emirates’ banking system remains fully operational despite escalating regional conflict between the US, Israel and Iran, the country’s central bank said, as authorities moved to reassure markets following missile and drone attacks on the country this week. In a statement, Central Bank of the UAE Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama said banks, financial institutions and insurers “continue to operate with full efficiency and stability,” adding that the sector is showing “the highest levels of resilience and stability.” The statement comes as the UAE’s role as a regional financial…