ISRAEL
Israel Approves First Shekel-Pegged Stablecoin by Bits of Gold
Israel's regulator approves BILS, a shekel-pegged stablecoin, marking a milestone in crypto oversight after a two-year pilot program.
Crypto Adoption Trends in MENA: Türkiye, Israel, Iran, and UAE Lead the Charge
The MENA region's crypto markets reveal unique adoption patterns amid geopolitical and economic pressures. Türkiye, Israel, Iran, and UAE showcase diverse crypto usage trends.
Israel's Innovative Edge: Opportunities in Tech Investment
Israel's vibrant startup ecosystem, robust R&D, and government support make it a compelling investment destination. Discover the opportunities in Israeli tech and innovation.
Japan Freezes Assets Linked to Hamas Funding
Japan has frozen the assets of nine individuals and a cryptocurrency firm accused of financing Hamas, following US sanctions. This move is part of a global effort to disrupt militant group financing channels, focusing on the challenges of virtual currencies in facilitating illicit financial flows.
FinCEN Issues Alert to Counter Financing to Hamas and its Terrorist Activities
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued an alert to financial institutions, urging vigilance in identifying and reporting suspicious activities related to the financing of the terrorist organization Hamas. The alert comes in the wake of a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which was funded through various means, including virtual currency.
Tether Intervenes on Terrorism Funding, Freezing 32 Cryptocurrency Addresses
Tether has frozen 32 cryptocurrency addresses tied to terrorism funding in Israel and Ukraine, manifesting the growing partnership between crypto firms and global law enforcement to combat digital-financed crime.
Coinbase Legal Chief Urges Swift US Crypto Legislation Amid Israel-Hamas Tensions
Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, emphasized the importance of preventing cryptocurrency misuse and advocated for sensible crypto legislation in the US amidst geopolitical unrest involving Israel and Hamas. Grewal highlighted Coinbase's proactive measures like KYC checks and law enforcement partnerships to curb illicit activities on its platform. The discourse also spurred reactions from the crypto community regarding asset seizures and the role of other crypto exchanges like Binance.
Hong Kong and Israel Central Banks Collaborate on Retail CBDC Prototype
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Bank of Israel (BOI) have collaborated on a report titled "Project Sela – An accessible and secure retail CBDC ecosystem". The project aims to create a retail central bank digital currency framework that encourages competition and innovation in digital payments.
Scammers Target Australians in Cryptocurrency Call Center Scheme
An Israeli-run cryptocurrency fraud targets Australians, according to a raid on Eastern European scam call centers.
The Development of Blockchain Chips
The new "fully homomorphic encryption" chip will let users operate on data without decrypting it.
BIS Launches Project Icebreaker with Central Banks to Explore CBDC
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has rolled out Project Icebreaker with the central banks of Sweden, Norway, and Israel to see how CBDCs can be utilized for international remittance and retail payments.
Crypto Firm Bits of Gold Obtains Capital Markets License from Israeli Regulator
Bits of Gold is the first crypto firm to receive this license, which will enable it to work with local banks and financial institutions.
Leumi to Become 1st Israeli Bank Facilitating Crypto Trade
Bank Leumi's digital platform Pepper Invest announced that the bank is set to become the first Israeli bank to facilitate cryptocurrency trading - following a partnership with US blockchain firm Paxos.
Coinbase Acquires Cryptographic Security Company Unbound, Strengthening Presence in Israel
Coinbase has made another strategic acquisition to expand its business capabilities. The exchange is joining forces with the Unbound team to offer an even better value proposition to the Unbound customers in Israel.
Burnt Ether Tops $2B as Ethereum 2.0 Deposit Contract Continues to Grow
Burnt Ether stands at 608,567 ETH worth $2.089 billion since the London Hardfork or EIP 1559 upgrade went live on August 5.