On The Web

nbsp;

Deals

Anchorage Set for Growth Following $80M Fundraise

February 25 2021

• in
• Cryptocurrencies

“Last month, digital asset entity Anchorage received a bank charter from the United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, or OCC. This month, the outfit has added $80 million in funds.  “Today, we are pleased to announce that Anchorage has raised an $80 million Series C, led by GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, […]

nbsp;

Deals

Coinbase Reveals $1.2 Billion Revenue in Plans to Go Public

February 25 2021

• in
• Cryptocurrencies

“Coinbase has publicly filed paperwork to list its stock on the NASDAQ exchange, a huge step forward in the first major public offering for a cryptocurrency company. Coinbase’s S-1 was published on Thursday morning, after being confidentially submitted to the SEC in December. In an attached letter to investors, founder Brian Armstrong presented cryptocurrency as […]

nbsp;

Companies

Diem Stablecoin Prepares for Liftoff With Fireblocks Custody Partnership

February 16 2021

• in
• Cryptocurrencies
• Facebook

“Crypto custodian Fireblocks and payments platform First Digital Assets Group are providing connectivity and support to diem, the global stablecoin and payments system formerly known as libra. Fireblocks and First are providing the digital plumbing to allow financial service providers such as banks, exchanges, payment service providers (PSPs) and eWallets to plug into Diem on […]

nbsp;

Systems

Janet Yellen Says Innovation Can Help Fight Misuse of Cryptocurrencies and Narrow Digital Gaps

February 12 2021

• in
• Cryptocurrencies

“U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday warned about an “explosion of risk” from digital markets, including the misuse of cryptocurrencies, but said new financial technologies could also help fight crime and reduce inequality. In remarks to a financial sector innovation roundtable, Yellen said such technologies could be used to stem the flow of dark […]

nbsp;

Companies

Mastercard Will Let Merchants Accept Payments in Crypto This Year

February 10 2021

• in
• Cryptocurrencies
• Mastercard

“Mastercard is planning to give merchants the option to receive payments in cryptocurrency later this year. According to a source familiar with the matter, the functionality will see Mastercard customers’ digital currency payments settled in crypto at participating merchants, a first for the financial giant. The company has not yet disclosed which digital currencies it […]

nbsp;

Systems

Nigeria’s Central Bank Orders Banks to Close Accounts of All Crypto Users – CoinDesk

February 5 2021

• in
• Cryptocurrencies

“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has ordered all banks to close any accounts transacting with cryptocurrencies. The CBN said it was reminding regulated banking institutions that “dealing in cryptocurrencies or facilitating payments for cryptocurrency exchanges is prohibited.”

nbsp;

Providers

Community Bank Enlists Coinbase, SAP to Offer Crypto

February 4 2021

• in
• Banks
• Cryptocurrencies

“Vast Bank now lets customers buy cryptocurrency from their bank accounts — a feature more commonly associated with third-party payment apps like PayPal and Square . Through a partnership with Coinbase, the community bank, which is based in Tulsa, Okla., and has $744 million of assets, is joining a handful of others that are seeking […]

On The Wires

nbsp;

Systems

Klarna Teams up With Safello – Bringing Open Banking To Cryptocurrency Market

February 17 2021

• in
• Cryptocurrencies

“Klarna , the leading global payments provider and shopping service and Safello , Sweden’s leading broker for cryptocurrencies, today announce a strategic partnership to bring Klarna Open Banking to Safello’s award-winning brokerage platform for cryptocurrency trading. This partnership, which is Klarna’s first entry into the cryptocurrency industry, marks a new era in financial innovation.”

nbsp;

Companies

Mastercard and Island Pay Launch World’s First Central Bank Digital Currency-Linked Card

February 17 2021

• in
• Cryptocurrencies
• Mastercard

“Today, Bahamians received even greater flexibility in how they shop and pay using the country’s digital currency, the first of its kind. Under a new program from Mastercard and Island Pay , the Bahamas Sand Dollar prepaid card gives people the option to instantly convert the digital currency to traditional Bahamian dollars and pay for […]

nbsp;

Systems

Uphold to Launch Crypto-enabled Cards Across Europe Following Acquisition of Optimus Cards UK

February 3 2021

• in
• Cards
• Cryptocurrencies

“Uphold, the leading digital money platform, today announces its acquisition of Optimus Cards UK Limited, a leading debit and credit card issuer across the UK and Europe. An Electronic Money Institution (EMI) regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Optimus acts as a primary card issuer (including FX multi-currency) and payments facilitator. Today, the firm serves customers […]