India’s HDFC Bank Launches New UPI and CBDC Features

HDFC Bank, a leading private sector bank in India, has introduced new features for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and central bank digital currency (CBDC) to enhance digital banking for its customers. Announced at the Global Fintech Fest 2024 in Mumbai, India, these innovations, developed in partnership with fintech companies like Kreditpe, Tonetag, and Payu, aim … Read more

Plastic Surgery Fails to Help Crypto Scammer Evade Arrest After 10 Months

South Korean police arrested a man in his 40s for orchestrating a cryptocurrency scam that defrauded 158 investors of 16 billion won ($12 million). Operating from November 2021 to June 2022, he promised an 18% monthly return on investments in a fake cryptocurrency mining business. The scam resulted in individual losses ranging from 1.2 million … Read more

Russian Economy Sees Growth Despite Western Sanctions and Declining Imports

The Russian economy has experienced substantial growth across various sectors, with unemployment rates remaining historically low, despite ongoing Western sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict. Industrial production, driven by military manufacturing, saw a 3.3% increase in July, and the GDP growth rate for the first half of the year reached 4.6%, compared to 1.8% in … Read more

Court Approves BTC Loan for Bankrupt Bitcoin Mining Firm

Rhodium Encore LLC, a bankrupt bitcoin mining company, has received court approval for a unique debtor-in-possession financing plan that allows borrowing in either U.S. dollars or bitcoin. Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd., a blockchain firm led by Mike Novogratz, has offered to provide Rhodium with a loan of either $30 million in dollars or 500 bitcoin. … Read more

Canadian Court Orders Man to Repay $1.2 Million in Bitcoin Loan Dispute

A court in British Columbia, Canada, has ordered Daniel Tambosso to repay Hung Nguyen $1.2 million for a loan of 22 bitcoins made in 2021. Nguyen, a Canadian real estate agent, claimed the loan constituted his entire savings, and Tambosso’s failure to repay has severely impacted his finances and mental health. Tambosso, claiming to be … Read more

JPMorgan Executive Sees Big Future for India’s CBDC Initiative

Naveen Mallela, global co-head of Onyx, JPMorgan’s blockchain and digital currency unit, highlighted the rapid adoption of blockchain technology in India, particularly after the 2022 launch of the central bank digital currency (CBDC), the e-rupee. He noted that CBDCs represent a significant advancement for Indian payments, positioning them as the next step in the evolution … Read more

India’s Central Bank Governor Discusses CBDC Progress and International Strategy

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is actively exploring the potential of central bank digital currency (CBDC) on an international scale, according to Governor Shaktikanta Das at the Global Fintech Fest. The RBI is focusing on enhancing CBDC’s interoperability with existing retail payment systems like the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) to facilitate seamless cross-border transactions. … Read more

Durov Unaware of French Arrest Warrant — Macron Denies Knowledge of Durov’s Visit

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was reportedly unaware of an arrest warrant issued against him in France, according to a source from the Paris prosecutor’s office. The French investigation was not linked to any U.S. actions. Neither President Emmanuel Macron nor the French foreign ministry were informed in advance of Durov’s arrest or presence in France. … Read more

Missouri Man Arrested for Extorting Former Employer With Bitcoin Ransom

A Missouri man, Daniel Rhyne, was arrested for attempting to extort his former employer, a New Jersey-based industrial company. Rhyne, a former core infrastructure engineer for the company, allegedly sent an extortion email on Nov. 25, 2023, claiming to have locked out or deleted the company’s IT administrators from its computer network and deleted server … Read more

Bitfarms Takes Control of Its First US Mega-Site to Expand Bitcoin Mining Capacity

Bitfarms Ltd., a bitcoin mining company, announced on Tuesday that it has taken control of its new data center in Sharon, Pennsylvania. “This site represents Bitfarms’ first mega-site in the U.S. with access to up to 120 MW,” the company said. Located in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland (PJM) grid, the site offers low-cost, flexible power ideal … Read more