Latam Insights: Argentine Peso Plunges, Venezuela and Russia to Develop SWIFT Alternative, Bitcoin Mining Still Paused in Venezuela

Welcome to Latam Insights, a compendium of the most relevant crypto and economic development news from Latin America during the last week. In this issue: the Argentine Peso plunges against the U.S. dollar, Venezuela and Russia agree to develop a joint SWIFT alternative, and Bitcoin mining is still paused in Venezuela. Argentine Peso Plunges 10% … Read more

Jeffrey Tucker Says Dollar Will Be Dethroned, Russian Official Speaks on De-Dollarization, and a Look at Historic Fractional Reserve Banking in Italy — Week in Review

Bitcoin proponents eyeing fiat failures are in no shortage of news on the topic as of late, as multiple officials, economists, authors, and analysts from around the world have been weighing in on “de-dollarization” in a prolific fashion. Author and libertarian Jeffrey Tucker said recently: “The dollar’s just not going to be king,” and Russia’s … Read more

Russia to Work With Digital Currencies of Other Nations

The platform developed for the digital ruble will be able to operate with different state-issued digital currencies, the Bank of Russia said. Mechanisms for interaction with digital coins minted by the central banks of other countries are already under development, the monetary authority unveiled. Digital Ruble Platform to Support Integration With Other CBDCs, Bank of … Read more

Global Reserves Held in US Dollars Fell to Less Than 50% — Official States It Has Become a ‘Toxic’ Currency

The percentage of reserves held in U.S. dollars by central banks has fallen to less than half of the global total of reserves, according to a note from Eurizon SLJ Asset Management. The note states that the recent sanctions enacted by the U.S. against the Bank of Russia have eroded trust in the dollar as … Read more

Bank of Russia Has Stockpiled Reserve Comprised of Non-US Sanctioned Assets, Governor States

Elvira Nabiullina, governor of the Bank of Russia, has affirmed the bank has stockpiled reserves in assets that are not susceptible to being affected by U.S. sanctions. The official clarified that Russia has built a “safety cushion” in these assets while it continues working on creating new reserves in non-U.S. sanctioned assets. Russia Built Bank … Read more

Dollar Dominance Fading Amid Growing China Trade, Russia Sanctions Risks, Ray Dalio Says

Fewer nations are willing to hold the U.S. dollar as America’s share in the global economy becomes smaller while China’s role in international trade expands, billionaire Ray Dalio noted. The founder of the world’s largest hedge fund also said that Western sanctions on Russia have highlighted new risks of keeping dollar assets. ‘Dollar Is Debt,’ … Read more

Russia Developing Payment Gateways With Partners Like Turkey, Mulling Crypto Settlements

Bank of Russia is building a system of gateways with foreign payment networks and is now working with Turkey in this field. Russia’s monetary authority would also allow the experimental use of cryptocurrencies in foreign economic activities, its head was quoted as saying. Russia’s Central Bank ‘Actively Working’ With Turkey on New Payment Gateways The … Read more

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Explains ‘Multipolar’ World View in Brazil

Sergey Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, started his tour of Latin America on April 17, landing first in Brasilia to hold high-level talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio ‘Lula’ da Silva and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira. Lavrov insisted that Russia was building a “multipolar” world, while Vieira rejected the unilateral sanctions enacted against Russia. … Read more