STABLECOIN
A stablecoin (or stable coin), as its name indicates, is a stable cryptocurrency designed to be resistant to the type of price volatility synonymous with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether. The key is to understand "stable": what is "stable"? which references are pegged to make its value "stable"? In terms of what we measure the "stability".
HKUST Vice-President Urges Hong Kong to Issue Stablecoin HKDG
According to TKWW, key figures including HKUST Vice-President suggest that the Hong Kong government should issue its own stablecoin, referred to as HKDG, as a strategic move to bolster the city's digital economy.
IMF: Latin America and the Caribbean Embrace CBDC and Crypto Assets
Interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) is on the rise in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), with several countries making significant advancements in their adoption, according to IMF.
TrueUSD (TUSD) Strives to Resume Minting with Prime Trust
In recent updates, the TrueUSD (TUSD) team has announced that they are actively engaged in efforts to resume TUSD minting on Prime Trust. This announcement was made following an unexpected pause in TUSD minting via Prime Trust, an event that took place on June 10.
Heath Tarbert Joins Circle as Chief Legal Officer and Head of Corporate Affairs
Circle Internet Financial has appointed Heath Tarbert as its new chief legal officer and head of corporate affairs, effective from July 1, 2023.
Tether Ventures into Sustainable Energy Production and Bitcoin Mining in Renewable-Rich Uruguay
Tether, the company renowned for powering the world's foremost stablecoin, announced today its ambitious venture into energy production and sustainable Bitcoin mining in Uruguay.
NY Fed New Rules Cast Uncertainty on Circle's Access to Reverse-Repurchase Program
The New York Federal Reserve has updated its rules for reverse repurchase agreements (RRP), potentially hindering Circle's access to the Fed's reverse-repurchase program. The Circle Reserve Fund is a money market fund only available to Circle and could be deemed ineligible under the Fed's updated guidelines.
US Crypto Crackdown Hurts USD Coin
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire has blamed the declining market capitalization of USD Coin (USDC) on the cryptocurrency crackdown by US regulators. Allaire cited global concern about the US banking system and regulatory environment as major factors.
Visa New Crypto Initiative
Visa is developing a new crypto product to promote the adoption of public blockchain networks and stablecoin payments. The company is seeking software engineers with experience in programming, Web3 technologies, and Solidity to build the product.
Terraform Labs Co-Founder Indicted for Terra Stablecoin Collapse
Shin Hyun-seong, co-founder of Terraform Labs, has been indicted along with nine other individuals for the collapse of the Terra stablecoin ecosystem. They are accused of fraud, breach of trust, and embezzlement, with illicit profits of nearly $350 million suspected. Prosecutors have seized assets worth a total of $180 million.
Terraform Labs co-founder defends against SEC allegations
Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs, has defended himself against allegations of fraud from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Kwon’s lawyers have requested the dismissal of the lawsuit, claiming that the SEC's allegations are unfounded and that US law prohibits regulators from asserting jurisdiction over the digital assets in question. The lawyers also argued that the SEC failed to prove Kwon’s involvement in the collapse of Terra’s stablecoin, UST.
Terraform Labs Co-Founder Argues Against SEC Lawsuit
Terraform Labs co-founder, Do Kwon's lawyers have argued in court against the SEC's lawsuit for illegally offering unregistered securities. The lawyers claim the SEC's acquisitions are unfounded and that the stablecoin in question is a currency, not a security. Additionally, Kwon's arrest and subsequent extradition remain uncertain.
BTG Pactual Launches Stablecoin Backed by USD
Brazilian investment bank BTG Pactual has launched its own stablecoin, BTG Dol, which is pegged to the value of the US dollar on a 1:1 ratio. The stablecoin will allow customers to "dollarize" a portion of their equity and will facilitate interaction between traditional finance and the digital economy.
Bermuda Remains Committed to Crypto Despite FTX Collapse
Bermuda's Premier and Finance Minister, Edward Burt, stated that despite the collapse of crypto exchange FTX in nearby Bahamas, Bermuda will continue to accommodate digital asset and blockchain technology companies due to the benefits they offer. The territory, which implemented a regulatory framework for digital assets, recently released its first stablecoin powered by the Polygon blockchain.
MakerDAO Keeps USDC as Primary Collateral for Dai
MakerDAO has voted to keep USDC as the primary collateral for Dai, rejecting a proposal to diversify into GUSD and USDP. The decision was made based on reduced risks from a cascading bank run in the US and USDC's return to a $1 peg.
Mastercard Enables USDC Spending in Asia
Mastercard has partnered with Stables to allow retail customers in the Asia-Pacific region to spend and save USDC through its network. Meanwhile, worldwide banking turmoil has not slowed the blending of traditional and decentralized finance (DeFi). Global payment provider Mastercard has expanded its partnership with the Australian stablecoin platform, Stables, to enable retail customers in the Asia-Pacific region to spend and save USDC anywhere Mastercard is accepted. The wallet will accept deposits in several stablecoins, including Tether (USDT) and Binance USD (BUSD), with all deposits automatically converted into USDC. This move comes as worldwide banking turmoil and regulatory crackdowns continue to impact the crypto space.