Tag: financial technology

SEC's Crypto Embrace A Trap? 5 Unintended Consequences of FIT21

SEC's Crypto Embrace A Trap? 5 Unintended Consequences of FIT21

• Commentary

Now returning to SEC Chair for a third time, Paul Atkins appears to be willing to work with Congress to make crypto work. He promises welcome clarity, touts entrepreneurs who deserve rules, and even gives a shout out to Hester Pierce, crypto’s favorite commissioner. Congress’ FIT21 is on the table,...

India's Digital Leap and Crypto's Role: A Balancing Act

India's Digital Leap and Crypto's Role: A Balancing Act

• Web3 Projects

The Indian government’s ambitious Digital India initiative, launched in 2015, has not produced desired results. Its vision is to make the country digitally empowered in all the aspects of the economy. Nevertheless, India still has more than 15 million cryptocurrency holders—second only to the United States. Furthermore, the country’s dynamic...

El Salvador's Crypto Playbook: Can the SEC Finally Learn to Innovate?

El Salvador's Crypto Playbook: Can the SEC Finally Learn to Innovate?

• Commentary

El Salvador. A tiny nation. A David facing a Goliath. Here, David’s foe is epic-Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), shackled as it is by decades of tradition. At the same time, El Salvador races toward the front of the pack in the cryptocurrency competition. What’s really revolutionary though, is that...

The Evolution of DEXs From Trading Tool to On-Chain Ecosystem Driver

The Evolution of DEXs From Trading Tool to On-Chain Ecosystem Driver

• Web3 Projects

Decentralized exchanges (DEXs) like Uniswap, Curve or SushiSwap have grown into a multi-billion dollar ecosystem worth far more than just simple trading venues. Now, DEXs have changed in tremendous ways since EtherDelta brought the “first principle” to life. Today, they act as liquidity onramps, protocol orchestrators, and interchain swap engines,...

Kenya's Bold Step Towards Crypto Regulation: A Model for Africa?

Kenya's Bold Step Towards Crypto Regulation: A Model for Africa?

• Regulation

Kenya is taking a commendable, proactive step to regulate its digital asset ecosystem. The country has passed the Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASP) Bill. The bill seeks to bring much-needed clarity, safety, and structure to our nation’s fast-expanding crypto marketplace. Kenya is already making moves to protect its digital economy....

The Shocking Truth: Is Bitcoin Really the Key to US Global Dominance?

The Shocking Truth: Is Bitcoin Really the Key to US Global Dominance?

• Commentary

The whispers are growing louder. The unthinkable is becoming…plausible. Is the same US government that a few years ago called Bitcoin a failure now scheming to weaponize it? Are they really trying to achieve global superiority? Forget decentralization. Forget financial freedom. Have we become so accustomed to Silicon Valley’s predation...

GreenLedgers' DeFi Gamble: Will Global Regulators Let It Pay Off?

GreenLedgers' DeFi Gamble: Will Global Regulators Let It Pay Off?

• Commentary

GreenLedgers’ audacious leap into DeFi and NFTs looks like strolling into a high-tech poker game. So they’re betting the farm every time. Are they preparing their next strategic step, or are they soon to be surprised by a tsunami of fresh regulations? The promise is tantalizing: democratized finance, unique digital...

SEC's Salvador Experiment Is This Crypto Regulation or Just Cheap Data?

SEC's Salvador Experiment Is This Crypto Regulation or Just Cheap Data?

• Commentary

The SEC’s joint work with El Salvador on crypto “regulatory sandboxes” is frankly kind of fishy. Two pilot programs, totaling less than $10,000 combined, to educate the SEC’s new Crypto Task Force on digital assets? That’s less than what the average American pays for a used car of modest quality....

Andreessen Horowitz Deepens Crypto Commitment with Strategic Investments

Andreessen Horowitz Deepens Crypto Commitment with Strategic Investments

• Web3 Projects

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is one of the most active investors in cryptocurrency and fintech. They are proving time and again that they’re the dominant player in the digital asset space. The firm has already made a number of strategic investments. This step demonstrates its bold confidence in the long-term promise...

Bitstamp Eyes Global Expansion and Enhanced User Experience in 2025

Bitstamp Eyes Global Expansion and Enhanced User Experience in 2025

• Regulation

Bitstamp, the world’s first and longest-standing cryptocurrency exchange, is looking toward a bullish 2025. They’re just getting started, intent on going global, improving the user experience—and staying ahead of regulators. The exchange is well-known for its security and mature industry approach. It aims to continue its integration with Robinhood, grow...

Japan's "New Capitalism 2025" Plan Signals Regulatory Embrace of Bitcoin and Web3

Japan is strategically positioning itself as a global leader in digital innovation with its updated "New Capitalism 2025" plan, released on April 13. Taken together, this plan represents a major regulatory turning point event toward welcoming Bitcoin and Web3 technologies. The initiative aims to leverage digital assets to solve social...

Japan's Bitcoin Revolution: A Boon for Artists and Web3 Creators?

Is Japan on the verge of accidentally unleashing a tsunami of creative destruction and financial liberation onto the rest of the emerging markets? I know this seems like a tall order, but hear me out. Japan’s regulatory change to officially recognize Bitcoin as a financial product. This step is a...

5 Ways This Crypto Bill Empowers Southeast Asian Artists, Not Wall Street

Let’s be honest, when you hear about crypto regulation, your first thought probably isn't Southeast Asian artists finding new avenues for creative expression. Surely visions of Wall Street honchos and inscrutable derivatives dance in your head. Well, what if I told you that the Senate’s Banking Committee just released their...

Senate Republicans Forge Ahead on Crypto Market Structure Framework

Republican senators working on a new framework for digital assets legislation, riding the positive bipartisan wave in the Senate as of late. This announcement follows the Senate’s passage of a bill to regulate stablecoins last week. It was passing with overwhelming bipartisan support.Senators Tim Scott, Cynthia Lummis, Thom Tillis, and...

Crypto's 'Light-Touch' Regulation Gamble Will It Protect You?

The Senate Committee’s proposed “light-touch” regulatory framework for crypto is a long high-stakes poker game. Are we all truly holding a winning hand, or are we collectively bluffing our way into a future financial crisis? It’s a question every investor, every innovator, and frankly, every citizen should want to know....

Trump Jr. at KBW2025: Web3's Punk Rock Moment or Sellout?

Or I think about Nandar, a wonderful Burmese artist that I met in Yangon, sharing with me her latest NFT collection. Each work exploded with vivid imagery, bravely fighting back against the junta’s repressive hold. She began selling them directly to supporters around the world, allowing her to cleverly sidestep...

Donald Trump Jr. Headlines Korea Blockchain Week 2025

Korea Blockchain Week (KBW) 2025, Asia’s largest and most influential Web3 conference, is returning to Seoul this coming September. The collaborative innovation summit recently announced its second wave of speakers and lead partners. You can expect big names such as Donald Trump Jr., Keone Hon from Monad Foundation, Guy Young...

KBW2025: Is Trump Jr. Web3's Trojan Horse or its Savior?

Donald Trump Jr. at Korea Blockchain Week? It's a head-scratcher, isn't it? About as easy as locating a MAGA hat at a Burning Man soirée. Before we put this down as just another short-lived publicity stunt, let’s take a closer look at what this could IoTally Web3 means. Cynical ploy...