In a groundbreaking move, the Old Stone Church in Fort Collins, Colorado, has turned to cryptocurrency to raise funds for purchasing its historic 19th-century chapel. Led by Pastor Blake Bush, the initiative marks the first instance of a church in the United States being tokenized. The goal is to raise $2.5 million to buy the...
Michael Novogratz’s firm, Galaxy Digital, has tokenized an 18th-century violin as collateral. The 316-year-old violin belongs to Animoca Brands co-founder Yat Siu, who bought it at an auction last year. Tokenizing the instrument is expected to enhance liquidity and accessibility for investors. Galaxy Digital has created a blockchain version of the musical instrument, which is...
Tokenization, the process of transforming real-world assets into blockchain-based tokens, has the potential to unlock a market worth approximately $5 trillion within the next five years, according to a new report by Bernstein. The report, released on Tuesday, highlights that this significant growth could be led by stablecoins, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), securities, private...
Hong Kong is poised to strengthen its position as a leading global hub for digital assets by launching several cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including those based on Bitcoin and Ether. This initiative comes as the region seeks to revitalize its reputation as a top financial center. Leading Chinese fund managers are in the final stages...
Hong Kong regulators are reportedly on the brink of approving the first Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in Asia, with an announcement expected by April 15. This pioneering move could position Hong Kong as the inaugural Asian market with operational Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Sources close to Bloomberg suggest that an international branch of...
The landscape of Bitcoin ETFs in the US is witnessing a paradox of flows, with the recent market activities reflecting a mixed sentiment among investors. After a sequence of inflows, the Bitcoin ETF market encountered a significant net outflow, primarily attributed to a massive withdrawal from Grayscale’s GBTC fund, which saw a record outflow of...
In a bold stride towards embracing cryptocurrency, the Hong Kong subsidiaries of leading fund companies, including Southern Fund and Harvest Fund, are spearheading the development of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). A recent report highlights the submission of a spot Bitcoin ETF application to the Hong Kong Securities Regulatory Commission by Harvest Fund, marking a significant...
In a forward-looking move to embrace technological advancements in the financial sector, the Bank of England, alongside the Financial Conduct Authority, has initiated a public consultation for a pioneering ‘digital sandbox.’ This initiative aims to facilitate the testing of digital securities trading in realistic market conditions while maintaining a controlled regulatory framework. Set against the...
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) has officially begun the first phase of its central bank digital currency (CBDC) strategy, aiming to integrate a digital dirham into both retail and wholesale markets. This ambitious move is part of the broader Financial Infrastructure Transformation Programme, which seeks to bolster the efficiency of payment...
The Hong Kong government has issued a clear directive to virtual asset service providers (VASPs): apply for a license by February 29 or cease operations by May 31. This announcement, made by Christopher Hui, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, underscores the city’s commitment to regulating the burgeoning virtual asset industry. Hui highlighted...
