Brazil to Push Cryptocurrency as a Priority for International BRICS Trade

Brazil will push crypto initiatives, including a blockchain payment system, to expedite international trading as part of its presidency at BRICS this year. Local media stated this would be a priority for the South American giant’s plans for the organization. Brazil to Push Hard for Crypto Implementation in BRICS Trade The agenda of Brazil as … Read more

Bezos-Backed Stark Bank Rises as a Crypto Enabler in Brazil

Stark Bank, a startup backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has positioned itself as the go-to firm for serving cryptocurrency businesses in Brazil, filling the gap left by traditional institutions. The firm has built part of its business around this service offering, betting on the industry’s future as Brazilians become more comfortable with crypto. Bezos-Backed … Read more

Russia Begins Piloting Digital Gold System for International Settlements

The program, currently in its pilot stages, is part of a test to examine the feasibility of using gold assets for finalizing international exchanges involving Russia. Capital Lab partner Evgeny Shatov stated that digital gold assets can help the nation bypass sanctions and reduce its dependence on the dollar. Russia Is Testing Digital Gold-Based International … Read more

ECB Expands Digital Asset Settlement—A Major Shift in European Finance

The European Central Bank is advancing its digital asset settlement strategy, aiming to streamline transactions, enhance security, and strengthen financial stability across European markets. Digital Asset Settlement Transformed as ECB Embraces DLT Solutions The European Central Bank (ECB) announced on Feb. 20 an expansion of its initiative to facilitate the settlement of distributed ledger technology … Read more

Ripple Expands in Europe—Its Payments Solution Hits Portugal for the First Time

Ripple expands in Europe, bringing instant, low-cost blockchain payments to Portugal and revolutionizing transfers on the Portugal-Brazil corridor. Ripple’s European Footprint Grows—First Ever Launch of Its Payments Solution in Portugal Ripple announced a partnership with Unicâmbio, a Portuguese currency exchange provider, on Feb. 10 “to support instant cross-border payments between Portugal and Brazil using Ripple … Read more

Travala Partners With Trivago to Offer Cryptocurrency Hotel Bookings

Travala has integrated its hotel listings with Trivago, allowing users of the global accommodation search platform to book stays using cryptocurrency. Travala Expands Reach Through Integration With Trivago The collaboration merges Travala’s catalog of more than 2.2 million accommodations into Trivago’s interface. Travelers opting for a Travala-affiliated lodging via Trivago will seamlessly transition to Travala’s … Read more

Nearly 3 Million Have Enrolled in the Russian Unified Biometric System

About 3 million citizens have registered their personal data on the Russian Unified Biometric System. Authorities state that the population is warming to the use of these technologies, as 80% of registrations occurred last year. Russian Unified Biometric System Gets Closer to 3 Million Users Registered The Russian state biometric data cache is getting larger. … Read more

Alchemy Pay Secures Australian Registration

Singapore-based fiat-to-crypto payment solutions provider Alchemy Pay announced Jan. 27 that it had successfully registered as a Digital Currency Exchange Provider in Australia. Alchemy Pay Eyes Local Partnerships Singapore-based fiat-crypto payment solutions provider, Alchemy Pay, announced January 27 that it had successfully registered as a Digital Currency Exchange Provider in Australia. The registration, approved by … Read more

Russia to Launch Unified Facial Payment System

Russia will have a unified facial payment system by the second half of 2025, aiming to onboard millions as non-card payment systems gain preference. Sber and NSPK, which operates the Mir card payment system, will join forces to establish standards and achieve interoperability. Sber and NPSK Join Forces to Launch Facial Payment System in Russia … Read more