Former Goldman Sachs Staff Launch DeFi Platform Ondo with $4M Funding Round
Two former Goldman Sachs staff have developed a new DeFi protocol Ondo to enhance how users interact with DeFi products, which has raised $4 million through an equity funding round.
Ethereum Layer 2 Startup Optimism Raises $150m in Series B Round
Ethereum scaling startup Optimism has secured a $150 million Series B round co-led by Andreessen Horowitz and Paradigm.
White House Budget Urges Legislation to Return Secret Service to Treasury Due to Crypto Crime Surge
Cryptocurrencies, and other technological advancements, projected as a threat to the international financial marketplace, the department believes has contributed to more groups of criminal organizations and more links between financial and electronic crimes combined.
Shenzhen Warns Against the Resurgence of Illegal Activities Owing to the Promotion of Blockchain Technology
The Office of the Leading Group for Special Remediation of Internet Finance Risks in Shenzhen has warned about the seeming resurfacing of illegal activities as a result of interest in cryptocurrency.
Indian Minister Reveals Crypto Regulatory Measures to Tame Terrorism
G. Kishan Reddy, India’s Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs disclosed that the nation would incorporate the standards of the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to deter terrorism by cutting off funding sources, especially cryptocurrencies.
China’s First National Level Blockchain Cross-Border Financial System Goes Live
China Guangfa Bank (CGB), a major Chinese bank, has officially launched the blockchain-based cross-border financial service platform on June 15, with the guidance of the Guangdong Branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
ISIS Is Not Hoarding $300M in Bitcoin War-Chest, Reports Chainalysis
Over the past week, the comments of a counter-terrorism think tank Director have indicated that ISIS has been using cryptocurrency platforms to conceal donations and bypass financial security measures and could be hoarding close to 300 million in Bitcoin. Experts initially made the revelation after identifying an increase in advertising for donations. However, a recent report from Chainalysis suggests that there is no evidence of ISIS's 300million BTC war-chest.
Former Fed Chair Janet Yellen Confirmed in Senate as new US Treasury Secretary
After being nominated by President Joe Biden, the United States Senate has now confirmed former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen to serve as Treasury Security.
Treasury Secretary Nominee Janet Yellen Plans to Encourage Legitimate Crypto Use
Biden's pick to lead the United States Treasury Department, Janet Yellen thinks crypto has potential to enhance the financial system and wants to encourage its legitimate use.
Iranian General Pushes for Crypto Use to Evade US Sanctions and After Being Blacklisted by the FATF
Saeed Muhammad, a commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ “Army of Guardians of the Islamic Revolution,” called for Iran to use cryptocurrencies to bypass sanctions imposed on his country by the United States.
US Congressmen Ask Federal Reserve to Create National Digital Currency
Two members of the United States House of Representatives Financial Services Committee recently asked the Federal Reserve if it has any plans to create a U.S. dollar digital currency.
MAS Proposes New Regulations to Tighten Crypto Business Activities
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has published a consultation paper proposing a new set of regulations that may stiffen the emergence and activities of crypto industries in the country. Despite the proactive strides of the MAS towards the development of the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), the apex bank is set to reinforce its regulations on digital currencies.