Russia plans to launch international cryptocurrency payments by the end of the year to counter Western sanctions, according to the governor of the Bank of Russia. The central bank is prepared to be flexible and is already discussing the conditions of this initiative with various ministries, agencies, and businesses.

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Neonomad, the South African hybrid exchange platform, is set to launch Zarcoin, a stablecoin tied to the South African Rand. This innovative stablecoin epitomizes the seamless integration of regulatory safety with decentralized efficiency. Neonomad’s platform will also facilitate multiple offerings, including in the decentralized finance space.

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In 2023, Africa’s share of global blockchain venture deals rose marginally to 1.3%, but the continent’s total funding dropped from 1.6% to 1.3%. Only South America’s share of blockchain funding ranks below Africa’s share. The continent achieved an all-time high in blockchain venture funding deal share, accounting for 6.4% of all venture funding and 12.5% of total deals.

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Grayscale Investments has announced the launch of the Grayscale Decentralized AI Fund, aimed at providing exposure to blockchain-based artificial intelligence (AI) protocols. The fund, available to accredited investors, includes a basket of decentralized AI crypto protocols, rebalanced quarterly.

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Former U.S. President and presidential candidate Donald Trump has announced Senator JD Vance as his running mate. Vance has advocated for clear cryptocurrency regulations and criticized the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) enforcement-based regulatory approach.

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Former U.S. President and current presidential candidate Donald Trump was shot at a rally in Pennsylvania. Gunfire erupted while he was speaking, prompting Secret Service agents to rush him off the stage. Trump was seen with blood on the side of his head and ear.

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Dubai’s border protection agency announced the launch of a secure and efficient blockchain network, which is expected to improve efficiency and transparency within the United Arab Emirates city. The blockchain platform will also strengthen Dubai’s position as a hub for entrepreneurship and global competitiveness.

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Based on data from the past four days, 14 distinct artificial intelligence (AI), cryptocurrency and blockchain startups and projects secured approximately $207.28 million in investor funding. The leading entity for July is Sentient, an open-source AI platform, which garnered $85 million from Founders Fund, Framework Ventures, and Pantera Capital.

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Indian crypto exchange Coindcx is expanding globally by acquiring the Middle Eastern digital asset platform Bitoasis. This strategic move enhances Coindcx’s presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region while allowing Bitoasis to retain its branding and leadership, signaling a new phase of growth and maturity for both companies.

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The crypto market is heating up in July – and meme coins are leading the way. Let’s examine the prospects of Pepe, Brett, and PlayDoge, three joke tokens that might be set for big things this month.

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While June was a lackluster period for crypto assets as many experienced double-digit losses against the U.S. dollar, the stablecoin market also saw minimal growth over the past 30 days. Ethena’s USDE led the growth, with its supply increasing by 21.4% since May.

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Marathon Digital’s CEO has shared his insights on the future of the  crypto industry and the potential impact of the upcoming presidential election. The executive observed that the Biden administration has historically been hostile to bitcoin and  crypto through its various agencies.

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Parfin, a financial technology company, has created a new blockchain system to be used as a privacy solution for the Brazilian CBDC, drex. Rayls, the new blockchain, will offer the possibility of operating in a permissioned way and also linking itself to other public blockchains using Rayls Public Chain, a native Ethereum layer two (L2).

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Despite several bullish indicators, including a significant bitcoin purchase by Microstrategy and optimistic projections by notable figures, bitcoin’s price action remains subdued. Market analysts at QCP Capital shed light on the underlying factors contributing to this paradox.

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Ethiopian Airlines Group has partnered with Loyyal to leverage the latter’s blockchain infrastructure for its customer loyalty program. The partnership, which is earmarked for Ethiopian Airlines’ Shebamiles members, enables them to earn rewards daily, driving further engagement and loyalty.

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The meme coin economy is thriving on Wednesday, ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve meeting, as the sector saw nearly $4 billion injected over the last 12 hours. Several meme tokens experienced substantial gains, with BENJI rising 36.9%, MAGA increasing 23.2%, and the runes-based DOG gaining 22.1%.

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Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman advocates for global consensus on cryptocurrency regulation, highlighting the need for international cooperation, particularly within the G20. She noted that while Indian regulators have differing opinions regarding how to treat crypto, there is currently no significant confusion.

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Over the past 35 days, the total value locked in decentralized finance (defi) protocols has expanded by $11.89 billion, recovering from a low of just over $83 billion on April 13. Although it has not yet reached the $100 billion mark, the value locked in defi is approaching that milestone after hovering just below it.

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Stakeholders in Nigeria’s cryptocurrency sector argue that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s previous decision to exclude cryptocurrency entities from the banking ecosystem has fueled the growth of peer-to-peer crypto trading. Nigerian authorities are reportedly seeking to ban peer-to-peer crypto trading.

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A recent report by Citi, a global financial institution, has put Brazil at the top of the nations leading the digital money initiatives in Latin America. The report states that Brazil features a combination of factors that ease the adoption of digital money such as government support and digital payment solutions.

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According to a recent survey, half of Canadian institutional investors and financial services organizations have actively offered at least one type of cryptocurrency asset product or service to clients in the past year.

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Cryptocurrency markets operate continuously, trading every day of the week, around the clock. In a similar vein, reports indicate that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is exploring the possibility of shifting to 24/7 operations. The data team at NYSE has conducted a survey among its investors, revealing a strong interest in the availability of overnight trading options.

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Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary, aka Mr. Wonderful, has revealed that cryptocurrencies now represent about 11% of his portfolio. He stressed that he owns crypto coins directly and would never buy spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). “I would never do that. Why would I pay the fees?” he emphasized, adding that he owns bitcoin and a few other cryptocurrencies.

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According to Nick Yushkevich, standardization of blockchain data formats is crucial as it enhances the interoperability of distinct protocols and fosters broader adoption of the technology. Yushkevich, the director of product at blockchain infrastructure provider Quicknode, added that such standardization helps to improve communication between systems.

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Families with a net worth of up to $100 million exhibit a strong preference for algorithmic cryptocurrencies over tokens (4.32% versus 0.92%), a new study has found. The study cites statistics indicating that ownership continuity is disrupted in 91% of cases involving a transition from crypto to fiat and vice versa.

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According to the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Securities and Exchange Commission is responsible for regulating cryptocurrencies. However, the governor said the central bank will collaborate with law enforcement agencies and regulators overseeing the Nigerian crypto sector.

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According to Kevin Lu, social finance, or “socialfi” — a combination of social media and decentralized finance — is an innovation that extends Satoshi Nakamoto’s vision of a decentralized financial system to social media.

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Four months ago, a total of 179 decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) boasted treasuries exceeding $1 million or more each. As of today, this figure has climbed to 211 distinct DAOs meeting the same criteria. Furthermore, since Nov. 1, 2023, the collective value of DAO treasuries has expanded by more than $20 billion across a period of 145 days.

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Per the most recent data, we are a month away, or precisely 30 days, from the fourth Bitcoin halving event. This significant milestone will cut the mining rewards from 6.25 bitcoins per block to 3.125 bitcoins per block after the halving.

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This week, the popular American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member, Ghostface Killah, declared his intention to release exclusive tracks on the Bitcoin blockchain. The influential hip-hop artist mentioned that this issuance will encompass a 10,000-piece collection, granting owners the rights to the music.

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