Euroclear launches digital securities issuance service, settles World Bank bond

Euroclear has launched a digital securities issuance service and settled a 100-million-euro ($106 million) digital World Bank bond. This is the first step in the Brussels-based settlement house’s digital infrastructure strategy, it said. The three-year bond, which is being called a digitally native note, was issued by World Bank lending arm International Bank for Reconstruction and Development to raise funds for sustainable development. It was listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and was completed on Oct. 23. Related: Europe drives institutional crypto adoption: Blockchain Expo Amsterdam Euroclear’s digital infrastructure is…

Wirex taps ZK-proofs for noncustodial crypto debit card issuance

Crypto payment service provider Wirex announced the launch of a zero-knowledge proof (ZK-proof)-based noncustodial crypto debit card service called W-Pay on Oct. 3. Wirex’s new decentralized solution utilizes zero-knowledge technology and is built on Polygon’s Chain Development Kit (CDK), promising increased scalability and security. Polygon’s CDK has been built with ZK-proofs in focus, enabling companies and users to develop their own ZK-powered layer-2 rail. ZK-proof-based scalability solutions have become popular in the crypto space as the ZK protocol allows one party to prove to another party that something is true without disclosing any…

Blockchain Technology Powers Brazil’s National Identity Card Issuance

Brazil initiates the use of blockchain technology in issuing the National Identity Card (CIN), enhancing the security of the new identity issuance process. The shared registration platform, developed by Serpro, facilitates secure data sharing between the Federal Revenue of Brazil (RFB) and Civil Identification Bodies (OICs). The adoption begins in Goiás, Paraná, and Rio de Janeiro, with a nationwide implementation deadline set for November 6, 2023, as per Decree No. 10,977 of February 23, 2022. Blockchain’s Edge in Security Blockchain technology plays a pivotal role in personal data protection and…

US Treasury Set for Debt Issuance Worth $1T Following President Biden’s Signing of Debt Ceiling Bill

Economists predict the US Treasury’s forthcoming debt issuance will hit $1 trillion and may eventually cause economic stiffness. US President Joe Biden’s assent and signing of the bill suspending the federal debt ceiling will trigger new debt issuance. Already, observers expect the Treasury Department to sell $1 trillion worth of debt. On Saturday, President Biden officially signed the bill, which removed the US debt ceiling until Jan 1, 2025. Biden’s signature followed a relatively hurried process of deliberations and votes in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Senate approved…

Ripple launches CBDC and stablecoin issuance platform

Ripple, a leading crypto solutions company, has introduced the Ripple CBDC Platform, a comprehensive solution for central banks, governments, and financial institutions to issue their own central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and manage the lifecycle of fiat currencies. Barely 24 hours after purchasing a controlling stake in Metaco, a Swiss-based firm specializing in tokenization and digital asset custody, Ripple, the fintech firm in charge of the XRP altcoin, has launched a new stablecoin and CBDC issuance platform. With over 90% of countries actively exploring CBDCs to enhance financial inclusion and…