MAS
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is Singapore's central bank. The mission of the MAS is to promote sustained non-inflationary economic growth, and a sound and progressive financial center. The MAS has leveraged blockchain technology for its Project Ubin central bank digital currency (CBDC) project.
Circle Formally Refutes Allegations of Illicit Financing and Connections to Justin Sun
Circle denies CfA's allegations of illicit financing and Justin Sun ties, emphasizing regulatory compliance and advocating for stronger stablecoin laws, as clarified by Dante Disparte.
Mastercard's Dynamic Yield Launches AI-Driven Shopping Muse to Enhance Online Retail
Mastercard's Dynamic Yield has introduced "Shopping Muse," an AI-driven personal retail assistant tool, enhancing its digital personalization and AI portfolio to provide personalized product recommendations and meet evolving retail industry demands.
RSS3 aggregating Farcaster & Lens to MetaMask Snap
RSS3 is developing a MetaMask Snap to aggregate decentralized social information, provide real-time notifications, and enable users to sync and aggregate their graphs.
BondbloX Secures $6M in Series B Funding Led by Beacon Venture Capital
Singapore-based FinTech company BondEvalue has raised $6 million in a Series B funding round, led by Beacon Venture Capital and supported by MassMutual Ventures and Citigroup. The funding will expand BondbloX Bond Exchange, a distributed ledger technology that democratizes bond market access through fractional and full-size trading.
U.S. Intensifies Sanctions on Hamas, Targeting Crypto Assets
The U.S. Treasury has imposed sanctions on Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group, following their attack on Israel, focusing on their use of cryptocurrency assets. The sanctions include sanctions on officials, a Gaza-based crypto exchange, and individuals involved in Hamas' financial operations.
Japan Freezes Assets Linked to Hamas Funding
Japan has frozen the assets of nine individuals and a cryptocurrency firm accused of financing Hamas, following US sanctions. This move is part of a global effort to disrupt militant group financing channels, focusing on the challenges of virtual currencies in facilitating illicit financial flows.
Elliptic Debunks Claims of Substantial Crypto Funding to Hamas
Elliptic, a blockchain analytics firm, refuted claims of significant cryptocurrency funding to Hamas, following a wave of reports and a letter from US lawmakers to the White House. The firm highlighted the lack of substantial evidence supporting the alleged $130 million crypto funding between August 2021 and June 2023. Despite historical endeavors by Hamas to solicit crypto donations, recent analysis reveals that the amounts garnered remain minuscule compared to the figures cited in misinformed reports.
FinCEN Issues Alert to Counter Financing to Hamas and its Terrorist Activities
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury has issued an alert to financial institutions, urging vigilance in identifying and reporting suspicious activities related to the financing of the terrorist organization Hamas. The alert comes in the wake of a Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which was funded through various means, including virtual currency.
US Treasury Targets Hamas Financial Networks Post-Israel Attack
In a strategic move following the recent terrorist attack on Israel, the US Treasury designated ten key individuals and entities affiliated with Hamas, targeting their financial networks across several countries. This action accentuates the broader US initiative to choke off Hamas’s financial resources, while spotlighting the emerging challenges posed by virtual currencies in terror financing.
Mastercard Unveils Interoperable CBDC in Australia
Mastercard, in association with the RBA and DFCRC, has demonstrated a groundbreaking interoperable CBDC solution to enhance Web3 commerce in Australia and beyond. The live demonstration showcased a pilot CBDC holder purchasing an NFT on Ethereum, utilizing Mastercard’s Multi Token Network, emphasizing the potential of blockchain interoperability in fostering secure and efficient digital commerce.