Melania and Donald Trump launch their own cryptocurrency meme coins

Melania Trump has launched a meme coin called ‘Melania’ The meme coin was announced on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration as president of the United States. It comes days after President-elect Donald Trump launched his own meme coin, ‘Official Trump.’ In a disclaimer on the meme coin’s official website, potential buyers are told that Melania …

Singapore to pilot use of wholesale central bank digital currencies in 2024

It was reported Friday 17th November 2023 by the city-state’s central bank that Singapore will be piloting the live issuance and use of wholesale central bank digital currencies in 2024. During the pilot, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, (MAS) will partner with local banks to pilot the use of wholesale CBDCs to facilitate domestic payments. …

IMF says now is the time for central bank digital currencies

IMF’s Kristalina Georgieva reportedly said that the public sector should keep preparing to deploy central bank digital currencies (CBDC’s) and related payment platforms in the future. But according to data from the Atlantic Council, only 11 countries have adopted CDBC’s thus far. Alternative to cash Central bank digital currencies (CBDC’s) have the potential to replace …

European banks in discussion with cryptocurrency companies

Bitstamp Bitstamp has reportedly disclosed its ongoing discussions with a number of European banks about assisting them in launching cryptocurrency services. These discussions are expected to come to fruition in early 2024. Bitstamp’s Negotiations with Top European Banks Bitstamp’s negotiations underscore the growing acceptance of digital assets within the European financial sector. This news comes …

Ripple suggests U.S. banks will want to use XRP cryptocurrency for fast international money transfers, after July 2023 ruling

Banks may use XRP Ripple as a payment system to replace SWIFT XRP Ripple is a payment settlement system and currency exchange network that can process transactions globally. It is designed to facilitate cross-border payments by using XRP, a cryptocurrency, as a bridge currency between different fiat currencies. XRP advantage is cost and speed XRP Ripple …

Bitcoin surges to record high as investors pause for breath to take profits

Bitcoin hit a new milestone on 14th July 2025, reaching an unprecedented $123,091.61. This marks the digital currency’s highest level to date, building on months of momentum driven by institutional buying, regulatory optimism, and a flood of capital from exchange-traded funds. The rally comes amid growing confidence in cryptocurrencies as lawmakers in Washington debate the …

The mystery surrounding the origin of Bitcoin

Bitcoin’s origin is one of the most captivating mysteries of the digital age. The cryptocurrency was created in 2008 by an unknown individual or group under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Despite numerous investigations, the true identity of Nakamoto remains shrouded in secrecy. Story The story of Bitcoin begins with the release of a whitepaper titled …

Crypto firms introduce risk assessments and finance tests in response to strict new rules in UK

New rules and risk assessments for UK Crypto traders Coinbase and Gemini, for example, are among cryptocurrency exchanges that now require U.K. users to fill out risk assessments. These questionnaires are designed to test their financial knowledge. The measures are a response to new rules in the UK. The rules require crypto companies to clearly …

SEC finally approves Bitcoin ETF

After years of regulatory rejection, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday 10th January 2024 finally approved the Bitcoin EFT. It has approved what are known as ‘spot’ Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), which can be purchased by anyone from pension funds to retail investors. This now means that some of the biggest asset managers in the …

Some of the stock market’s biggest gains in 2023 came not from crypto but from crypto related businesses

For true cryptocurrency bulls, the most lucrative investments in 2023 were in the stock market. While Bitcoin rallied over 150% for the year, shares of Coinbase, Marathon Digital, MicroStrategy and the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, which are all tied closely to the digital currency, did substantially better, rising more than 300% in value. Bitcoin miner Marathon Digital soared some 688%. Outperform Not only have …

Bitcoin bounce and retrace as ETF news breaks

Bitcoin ETF approval? The price of Bitcoin is influenced by many factors, such as supply and demand, market sentiment, news events, regulations, and technical analysis. One of the recent news events that affected the price of Bitcoin was the speculation about the approval of a Bitcoin ETF by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). …

Ripple obtains full licence to operate in Singapore

XRP Cryptocurrency company Ripple said on Wednesday 4th October 2023 that it has obtained a full licence to operate in Singapore, its Asia-Pacific headquarters since 2017. ‘We have hired exceptional talent and local leadership, doubling headcount over the past year and plan to continue growing our presence in a progressive jurisdiction like Singapore,‘ CEO Brad …

Singapore among world’s first to agree stablecoin crypto regulation – the race is on…

Big news for the crypto industry Singapore’s financial regulator has reportedly said it had finalised rules for a type of digital currency called ‘stablecoin’, placing it among some of first the regulators worldwide to do so. Stablecoins are a type of digital currency designed to hold a constant value against a fiat currency. Many claim …

FedNow: A New Instant Payment System for US Banks

New FED Payment System The FEDNOW payment system is a new instant payment infrastructure developed by the Federal Reserve that allows financial institutions of every size across the U.S. to provide safe and efficient instant payment services.  Live system It went live on July 20, 2023 and enables individuals and businesses to send and receive money in near real-time, …

What is Crypto?

Cryptocurrency Crypto, short for cryptocurrency, is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography for security and operates independently of a central bank. Cryptocurrencies are decentralised currencies, meaning they’re neither issued nor governed by a central bank.  Some cryptocurrencies are issued by their developers, while others are generated by their respective network algorithms. They exist and operate …

Changpeng Zhao Walks Free: Crypto’s Controversial King Returns

Changpeng Zhao, better known as CZ, has been released from prison following a high-profile pardon by President Donald Trump. The Binance founder had served a four-month sentence after pleading guilty to violating U.S. anti-money laundering laws—a conviction that formed part of a $4.3 billion settlement with the Department of Justice. CZ’s release marks a dramatic …

India’s GDP: High growth amid global headwinds

India’s economy continues to defy gravity, posting a robust 7.8% year-on-year GDP growth in the April–June quarter of 2025—the fastest pace in five quarters. This surge, driven by strong domestic consumption, infrastructure investment, and a booming services sector, beat market expectations and reaffirmed India’s position as the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Government-led infrastructure spending has …

Asia’s shift away from the U.S. Dollar gains momentum

The global financial landscape is undergoing a significant transformation as Asian economies accelerate their move away from the U.S. dollar. This trend, known as de-dollarisation, is driven by a combination of geopolitical uncertainties, monetary policy shifts, and efforts to reduce reliance on the greenback in trade and investment. The forces behind de-dollarisation For decades, the …

British Fintech Revolut Surpasses $1 Billion in Profit – Eyes UK Banking Expansion

British fintech giant Revolut has achieved a major financial milestone, reporting £1.1 billion ($1.5 billion) in net profit for 2024, marking a 149% increase from the previous year. The company’s revenue also saw significant growth, surging 72% to £3.1 billion, driven by a combination of subscription services, wealth management, and interest income. One of the …

Bitcoin and ether drop amid grim inflation outlook – tariff uncertainty

Crypto faces market turmoil mid economic concerns The cryptocurrency market has been rocked by significant declines in two of its flagship assets, Bitcoin and Ether. This downturn reflects mounting concerns over broader economic challenges, including inflationary pressures and uncertainties surrounding Trump’s global trade tariffs. Bitcoin, often seen as a digital gold and a hedge against …

Trump Media shares gain after Crypto.com announce ETF deal

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) has made headlines with its latest announcement of a partnership with Crypto.com to launch a series of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and related products. This news has sparked a surge in TMTG’s stock, which rose by approximately 9% in after-hours trading, despite a challenging year that saw the stock down …

‘A pig in lipstick’ – Trump’s strategic Bitcoin reserve criticised

The announcement of Donald Trump’s Strategic Bitcoin Reserve has sparked a wave of criticism and debate, with detractors likening the initiative to ‘a pig in lipstick’ – a superficial attempt to dress up a flawed concept. The reserve, which aims to stockpile or create a strategic reserve Bitcoin seized through criminal and civil forfeitures, has …

Trump’s U.S. Bitcoin reserve plan falls short of expectations

The cryptocurrency market faced a significant downturn following the announcement of President Donald Trump’s U.S. Bitcoin reserve plan The initiative aimed to position the United States as a global digital asset leader fell short of market expectations, triggering a wave of selloffs. Bitcoin, the flagship cryptocurrency, experienced a 3% drop, trading at $87,586.86 before dipping …