What are crypto payment gateways, and how do they work?

Key takeaways Crypto payment gateways enable businesses to accept cryptocurrency payments from customers.  They act as intermediaries, converting crypto payments into the business’s preferred currency (crypto or fiat).  Crypto payment gateways reduce transaction fees compared to traditional banking systems and provide access to a global customer base. These gateways leverage blockchain technology to offer secure …

Is Bitcoin’s future in circular economies or national reserves?

Bitcoin is seeing unprecedented adoption with the US establishing a “strategic Bitcoin reserve,” but some prominent Bitcoin advocates believe the project is getting away from its roots. Earlier this year, Jack Dorsey, a Bitcoin proponent and founder of Twitter, said that he believed if Bitcoin becomes just a form of “digital gold” then the project …

Ripple, Chipper Cash partner for faster and cheaper African remittances

Ripple has partnered with African payment infrastructure provider Chipper Cash to support crypto-enabled cross-border payments. According to a March 27 announcement, Chipper Cash will use Ripple Payments for its cross-border transactions as part of the deal. The companies said the partnership is designed to offer faster, cheaper and more efficient settlements. Chipper Cash. Source: Chipper …

Tether acquires 30% stake in Italian media company Be Water

Major stablecoin issuer, Tether, invested 10 million euros ($10.8 million) in Italian media company Be Water. According to a March 27 announcement, Tether acquired a 30.4% stake in Rome-based Media Water. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the company recognized “the importance of independent media in shaping informed societies.” “Our investment in Be Water aligns with …

BlackRock Bitcoin ETP ‘key’ for EU adoption despite low inflow expectations

BlackRock’s new European Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP) is a major step for Bitcoin’s institutional adoption in Europe, though analysts expect lower inflows than its US counterpart. The iShares Bitcoin ETP, managed by the world’s largest asset manager, began trading on March 25 on Xetra, Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris. While the launch marks a significant …

US crypto policy: Tax breaks, SEC cases dropped, Bitcoin Reserve plans unfold

In the rapidly evolving world of cryptocurrency, regulatory shifts, legal battles and groundbreaking policy proposals are shaping the industry’s future.  The premiere episode of The Clear Crypto Podcast by Cointelegraph and StarkWare brings in a legal expert specializing in the crypto industry to help shed light on the state of crypto regulation in the US, …

‘Stablecoin multiverse’ begins: Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of stablecoin issuer Tether, said the industry has just entered a new era, marked by an influx of stablecoin solutions from both private companies and governments. In a March 27 X thread, Ardoino said the crypto industry just entered the “stablecoin multiverse” era, where multiple stablecoins are launching to meet growing global …

Over 400 South Korean officials disclose $9.8M in crypto holdings

South Korea’s Ethics Commission revealed that high-ranking public officials in the country hold an average of 35.1 million won ($24,000) in crypto assets.  On March 27, the country’s Ethics Commission for Government Officials reportedly disclosed that more than 20% of the surveyed public officials hold 14.4 billion won ($9.8 million) in crypto. This means 411 …

Most EU banks fail to meet rising crypto investor demand — Survey

European banks and financial institutions may be significantly underestimating the demand for cryptocurrency services, with fewer than one in five offering digital asset products, according to a new survey by crypto investment platform Bitpanda. The study surveyed 10,000 retail and business investors across 13 European countries and found that more than 40% of business investors …

Sony’s Soneium blockchain, Animoca Brands bring anime to Web3

Sony’s Soneium blockchain partnered with Animoca Brands to boost anime culture in Web3 by integrating anime artwork in decentralized digital identities.  On March 27, the companies announced a collaboration that targets global anime and manga fans to boost user engagement in Web3.  With the partnership, Animoca’s digital identity infrastructure platform, Moca Network, will create an …