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Bitpanda Secures its Third MiCA License from Austrian Regulator

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  • Bitpanda has received its third MiCA license; this time around, it’s from Austria’s Financial Market Authority, making it the first fully approved cryptocurrency firm under the EU’s new law in Austria.
  • Despite MiCA aiming for a unified crypto framework across the EU, Bitpanda’s multiple licenses show that regulatory differences may still exist between member countries.

Bitpanda has now acquired its third MiCA license, this time from Austria’s FMA. This new approval would help the company grow its legal presence in Europe.

The company first shared the news on the 10th of April, saying that this new license adds to the other two from Germany and Malta. This step makes the platform the first business in Austria to be fully approved under the EU’s new crypto law.

The company added that this move has made it closer to becoming one of Europe’s top digital asset provider platforms. Users can now trust a platform checked by officials across many countries. Bitpanda said this means better safety for people and stronger rules for the industry at large.

Bitpanda Previous MiCA Acquisition Journey

The Vienna-based crypto platform, Bitpanda, was among the first crypto firms to get a MiCA license after the European Union’s new law fully started.

Germany’s Financial Authority (BaFin) gave the first approval, which Bitpanda announced in January. Later on, the company also went on to get a second license from Malta’s MFSA, as shared on LinkedIn.

The MiCA law, which was established in 2020, is set out to help create a clear set of rules for guiding cryptocurrency across the EU. It was built to help guide service providers under one system, making it easier to work in different countries. The main goal of this law is for everyone (companies) to have equal rules in the crypto space.

Still, the platform’s effort to collect different licenses shows that the company is thinking ahead and understands that there may be differences in how each country applies the law. Even though the idea is to make everything uniform, firms like Bitpanda seem to find it necessary to apply in many places.
As of now, the main regulators in Austria, Germany, and Malta have not shared any public lists to show which businesses have received MiCA approvals.

Related Reading | XRP Bullish Trend Price Expected to Hit 4.52 Dollars by April 2025

Survey: 50% of Singapore’s Crypto Users adopt it for Payments Instead of Investing

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  • Now, more than half of the people who use crypto in Singapore are using it for everyday payments, not just as an investment.
  • Singapore’s practical crypto adoption is being driven by the younger generations for online use like shopping and paying bills.
  • In Q2 2024, Singapore witnessed  a full bloom of its crypto payment landscape, with over $1 billion achieved in merchant transactions alone.

In Singapore, there’s been a surge in the use of cryptocurrency. Interestingly, the majority of the people holding cryptocurrency use it to pay for everyday purchases. According to the Singapore-based crypto payment firm, Triple-A’s finding, the country’s crypto ownership number increased to 26% compared to 24.4% a year earlier.

This adoption is especially strong among younger generations, with around 40% of people aged between 16 and 44 claiming to own cryptocurrencies.

How Singaporeans Are Using Crypto in Daily Life

About 52% of all crypto holders have been using digital assets to pay for goods and services, and 67% plan to increase their usage. They are leading the charge in using crypto for financial settlements—online shopping (41.1%), paying bills (35.9%), and in stores (27%).

On the other hand, most users aged 45 and above are using crypto differently; 42.9%  use it to send money to friends and family. Of course, they also shop online with it (35.7%) and make bill payments (17.2%).


Singapore’s Expanding Crypto Payment Landscape

A total of US$1 billion worth of crypto payments was made to merchants in the second quarter of 2024 alone, surpassing payment volumes seen in the first quarter of this year and any other quarter in the past two years, as reported by blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis.

Merchant adoption is growing, and regulatory clarity is also improving. This proves that the authorities are indeed the supporting engine of growth for this sector, setting Singapore on its way to becoming a global hub for digital assets.

A number of companies have begun incorporating crypto into their payment systems. Fashion brand Charles & Keith and Apple product reseller iStudio are among the retailers accepting crypto payments through the Triple-A platform.

Stablecoins (USDT and USDC) are now being accepted at local firm DTCPAY in partnership with the popular departmental store Metro, in both their online and in-store locations. Another store, AXS has also teamed with Triple-A and allows users to top up as well as pay bills through popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, and Tether.

TikTok Will Benefit from Hedera’s Ownership: Investor

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  • With Hedera, TikTok creators can now access their earnings in real time.
  • Hedera’s ecosystem could receive a significant boost from TikTok’s large user base, thus increasing utility and demand for its HBAR token.
  • Hedera’s decentralized storage system will allow users to have more control over their data, thereby limiting TikTok’s security risks.

A renowned personality and investor in the cryptocurrency space, Mark Chadwick, has revealed what the HBAR Foundation and Zoop Club will do regarding Hedera’s purchase of TikTok. Chadwick’s insights excite the crypto community because they present new ways for both content creators and Hedera investors to profit in the industry.

TikTok’s Creator Economy Transformation

The entrepreneur believes that the integration of the popular social media platform with Hedera is powered by blockchain-based revenue sharing for creators. Mark notes that this system enables real-time, transparent payouts, outperforming traditional monetization systems.

At the moment, content created on platforms such as TikTok is dependent on a centralized payout system, which can be delayed or lack transparency. The social media platform could use the Hedera blockchain to create a decentralized ecosystem, which would not only provide immediate and fair compensation processes for content creators but also improve user experience and create a much more sustainable ecosystem.

Moreover, Social media users have always been averse to privacy issues, as centralized platforms are often victims of data breaches and misuse. Fortunately, Hedera’s solution offers a route to secure data storage that enables creators to have more control over their personal information.

The integration will also allow for providing tokenized incentives, such as NFTs or rewards, that increase user engagement. If this social media platform implements tokenized assets, it can create a more engaging and rewarding experience for users and creators. 

A Surge in HBAR’s Adoption?

Mark points out that TikTok has millions of users and thus could greatly increase HBAR’s adoption, potentially raising the token’s worth. This collaboration also offers Hedera an opportunity to diversify the ways HBAR can be used, such as through TikTok advertising and e-commerce.

Additionally, Mark believes the collaboration will enhance Hedera’s position within the tech sector. Meanwhile, legislative scrutiny of TikTok in the US isn’t over, and the Hedera involvement might work in sync with regulatory goals, giving it some edge over other blockchain platforms in regions where compliance is vital.

Kazakhstan’s Big Fix For its 90% Crypto Black Market

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  • Kazakhstan aims to create a national crypto bank to regulate 90% of currently illegal transactions, ensuring transparency and legal oversight.
  • The bank will centralize monitoring of exchanges and mining, integrating crypto into the national financial system and preventing illegal activities.
  • This move seeks to legitimize the crypto sector, attract foreign investment, and end shadow operations through state-level institutional control.

Kazakhstan is planning to establish a national crypto bank to regulate all cryptocurrency transactions in the country. Lawmakers claim that 90% of crypto operations currently take place outside the legal framework. This state-backed framework is aimed at mitigating risks for both users and the economy.

The new institution, proposed by Azat Peruashev, will serve as a central authority for monitoring and facilitating legal crypto activity, including exchanges, mining operations, and on-chain transactions.

Some of the key objectives of the crypto bank would be to ensure compliance and transparency across all digital asset activities. Integrate crypto into the national financial system with proper oversight. And prevent illicit transactions, tax evasion, and unauthorized trading.

Back in 2022, Kazakhstan accounted for 18% of the global “hash rate” – the amount of computing power required to mine BTC. Before China’s crackdown on bitcoin mining, the figure was just 8%. Kazakhstan’s crypto mining farms are mostly powered by aging coal plants that are causing a lot of concern for authorities as they seek to decarbonize the economy.

Kazakhstan’s Crypto Crackdown: From Grey Miners to State Bank

At the time, the Kazakh government planned to crack down first on unregistered “grey” miners which the government estimates might be consuming twice as much power in comparison to the “white” or the officially registered ones

The latest move could legitimize the crypto sector while paving the way for foreign investments and regulated platforms. It could also attract local investments and boosts tax income as well as position the nation as a fintech hub, luring global crypto businesses. All these might inspire other countries to rethink crypto rules, pushing for global regulatory harmony

Overall, it signals a growing trend of state-level crypto integration, not just in adoption but also institutional control. Looks like the era of shadow crypto operations might be coming to an end in Kazakhstan as regulation is stepping in fast.

Bank of America CEO Champions Crypto Payments with Regulatory Clarity

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  • Brian Moynihan backs crypto payments if clear rules emerge.
  • Bank of America holds hundreds of blockchain patents, says CEO.
  • Moynihan sees crypto as a potential payment method, not investment.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Bank of America’s CEO Brian Moynihan shared his views on cryptocurrencies. He indicated that the banking industry is ready to embrace digital currencies for transactions once regulatory frameworks are established.

Bank of America Poised to Lead Crypto Payments

Bank of America CEO, Brian Moynihan, expressed support for the potential integration of cryptocurrencies into the banking system. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Moynihan outlined that the U.S. banking sector could embrace digital currencies for payments, subject to regulatory approval. 

He emphasized that if the regulatory environment were to establish clear guidelines, the banking industry would enter the crypto space, especially in the area of transactions.

Moynihan’s comments come in the wake of increased interest in digital assets, especially following President Donald Trump’s positive stand on digital currencies. U.S. banks have historically been cautious about digital asset transactions. However, many banks have started to participate in institutional-level digital assets markets, such as bitcoin ETFs. 

Moynihan insisted that clear regulations would allow banks to consider digital assets as a legitimate payment method.

Currently, most American banks do not embrace cryptocurrencies for everyday retail transactions. However, Moynihan notes that banks have made major strides in blockchain technology and Bank of America holds hundreds of patents in this space. He explained that the technology could eventually allow cryptocurrencies to function similar to established payment methods, like credit and debit cards.

According to Moynihan, mainstream adoption of digital assets for transactional purposes would make them another form of payment just like Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay. He said that this would be beneficial to the broader banking ecosystem and contribute to the growth of crypto payment solutions in the future.

Moynihan clarified that his focus was on digital assets as a medium of exchange, not as a store of value or investment, citing the debate over classification of digital currencies like Bitcoin.

Although other financial industry leaders like JPMorgan Chase’s CEO Jamie Dimon, have expressed skepticism about Bitcoin’s investment potential, Moynihan has refrained from the question.

Bitcoin has recently seen an increase in popularity and rise value to over $104,000. Moynihan remains optimistic about the potential of blockchain technology in the banking system despite the market volatility. He stated that Bank of America was prepared to enter the crypto field once regulations allowed traditional financial institutions to participate.

Circle Reports Over $20 Trillion in USDC Transactions; Circulation Surges 78%

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  • USDC transaction volume hits $1 trillion monthly, reaching $20 trillion lifetime in 2024.
  • Circle’s USDC is now supported across 16 blockchain networks, boosting global interoperability.
  • Circle complies with the EU’s MiCA, securing an e-money license in France and EURC.

USD Coin Circle’s stablecoin has seen a 78% increase in usage and circulation, reaching over 500 million people worldwide. According to a report, its monthly transaction volume reached $1 trillion in November 2024, adding to the lifetime transaction volume of over $20 trillion. This growth has expanded due to use cases in various sectors like payments, remittances, and decentralized finance (DeFi).

Regulatory Oversight and Technological Development of USDC

Circle’s adherence to international laws has greatly helped increase confidence in USDC. Compliance with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) and receiving an electronic money license in France have helped the company in the global markets. Due to the recent developments, Circle has successfully transferred USDC across Europe and other jurisdictions with similar legal systems.

Since USDC is now available on 16 blockchain networks, the company’s advancements, including the Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP), have enabled cross-border transactions. This makes it possible to make transfers between blockchain networks nearly realistically, increasing its usefulness in the global financial system. This has provided the stablecoin with the necessary legal perspective and strong technological support, contributing to its growth and continuous expansion within the market and among financial institutions and fintech companies.

Expanding USDC’s Reach in Emerging Economies

Circle has concentrated its efforts on increasing the usage of USDC in emerging markets, especially in Latin America and Africa. These regions have noted a rising use of stablecoins as an inflationary hedge and a means of accessing the global financial system. Strategic collaborations with companies like Nubank and Chipper Cash have enabled Circle to leverage these opportunities since it provides dollar-denominated services to local populations.

Besides partnerships, the stablecoin has proven useful in areas such as humanitarian aid, where blockchain can help offer secure financial support in areas of conflict such as Ukraine. This has been amplified by the rise of use in global payroll and cross-border transfers, as having another payment gateway solution is critical. Furthermore, Circle’s global business plan and the increasing need for digital payment systems make USDC a strategic asset for promoting financial inclusion and economic power.

How to reverse image search on Google slides

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In today’s digital world, collaboration and content creation tools play a key role. One such resource is Google slides. It is a kind of free web application for creating and editing presentations, developed by the search engine company. In addition, many owners of modern devices perform a people search by image for commercial or personal purposes there. The platform is set up in such a way that the users can get the most out of the tool. Google Slides represents a cloud-based application accessible to users through an Internet browser.

Search engine integration of the system to search for pictures

Google slides is available for free to all users with a Google account, making it an attractive option for students, small businesses and any other organizations and simple gadget owners. In the digital age, visual content is one of the primary ways of communicating information. Users are often faced with the need to know the source of an image or find its counterparts online. Reverse image search is a tool that makes it easy to find original photos, graphics and other visual content. This method allows you to search for information based on images instead of text queries.

How to use visual reverse search

Although the intended use of this site is considered to be solely for presentations, it can also be useful for performing reverse image searches. It is possible to conduct a search for visual content through the performance of a specific algorithm of actions:

  1. Uploading an image to the system. Owners of modern devices should drag and drop the photo that needs to be analyzed and run a search.
  2. Creating additional information data. To do this, you should create a key combination on the keyboard so that the data is copied.
  3. Opening Google Images. In the upper right corner, there is an interface that will be necessary to carry out the basic function of finding a photo.
  4. Targeted search for information. Clickable camera logo will allow you to quickly find the desired data. The user can use both the clipboard and direct download from a personal computer or messenger devices.
  5. Analyzing the results. After uploading the image, the site will provide you with various results, including the pages where it is used and its possible analogs. Pay attention to the sources to check the copyright and originality of the content.

All actions can be performed via X-ray Contact. The software offers reliable protection of the searcher’s personal data. The system guarantees privacy throughout the entire web surfing experience, avoiding personal data leakage and the ability to perform reverse searches, without violating copyright or ethical standards.

The main pros of using Google slides for reverse search

Reverse image search is a powerful and effective tool that helps users find sources and evaluate the copyright of visual content. Using Google Slides and the X-ray Contact system for this purpose may seem like an unconventional approach, but it allows efficient image management and is quite easy to use. Its main advantages are:

  • convenience – easy uploading and viewing of images makes the search query more interactive and informative;
  • photo quality preservation – by downloading images directly from the presentation, users can quickly find high-quality versions without losing resolution;
  • accessibility – because Google Slides is accessible through a web browser, it can be used on any device that has access to the Internet or a shared Wi-Fi network.

Reverse image retrieval is based on visual content analysis. The system first extracts a number of characteristics from an uploaded image, such as color palette, textures, shapes, and other visual aspects. These characteristics are then compared against a database of images to find the most similar ones.

Modern algorithms using artificial intelligence and machine learning have greatly improved the accuracy of reverse image search. This method is widely used by marketing specialists, entrepreneurs, journalists, researchers and ordinary users to verify the validity of visual content.

Singapore Exchange Closes Door on Cryptocurrencies, States No Immediate Plans for Listings

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Singapore Exchange (SGX) CEO Loh Boon Chye has announced that the exchange currently has no immediate plans to allow cryptocurrency listings. Speaking during an interview at the Reuters Next conference in Singapore, Mr. Loh responded with “not at the moment” when asked about SGX’s openness to crypto listings. He emphasized the need for caution and robust regulatory frameworks before considering the integration of digital assets into SGX’s offerings.

Despite the growing global interest in cryptocurrencies, Loh highlighted several concerns that need to be addressed to ensure market stability and investor protection. Mr. Loh expressed his view that the current ecosystem in Singapore is not prepared for such products. “The ecosystem, I feel, at this point in time, is not ready for such products in Singapore,” he stated

Industry experts have noted that SGX’s cautious approach aligns with the broader trend among major financial institutions, which are carefully evaluating the risks associated with digital assets before fully embracing them. The decision is seen as a move to maintain market integrity and avoid potential pitfalls associated with premature cryptocurrency listings.

While SGX continues to observe the evolving landscape of digital assets, Loh indicated that the exchange is open to future possibilities, provided that regulatory clarity and investor safeguards are firmly in place. “You never say never, as time evolves, and as the ecosystem comes together, we are always known to be the most innovative exchange or platform in the world’, he concluded.

Singapore Exchange (SGX) is Asia’s leading and trusted securities and derivatives market infrastructure. It provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository, and data services, catering to a broad range of asset classes. With a commitment to innovation and market integrity, SGX plays a vital role in Singapore’s financial ecosystem.

Bitget’s 2024 Roadmap: Compliance, Emerging Markets, & Web3

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Bitget Exchange has recently published its year-end blog, providing a comprehensive overview of the pivotal events that are expected to shape the trajectory of the cryptocurrency market in 2024. The year 2023 is characterized as a mixed bag with triumphs, challenges, and exciting advancements.

One notable highlight is the substantial growth experienced by Bitget, with the workforce expanding from 1,100 to 1,500 employees during 2023. Simultaneously, the user base surged from 8 million to an impressive 20 million. This substantial increase signifies a significant leap in the platform’s growth trajectory.

Bitget
Bitget's 2024 Roadmap: Compliance, Emerging Markets, & Web3 2

Focusing initially on futures products, Bitget strategically shifted its attention to spot trading, witnessing a remarkable 94% surge in spot trading volume during 2023. The platform also introduced 355 new coin listings, marking a substantial 46% year-on-year increase in its offerings. Throughout the year, the trading firm celebrated a notable achievement with 130,000 Elite Traders and over 680,000 cumulative followers.

Bitget’s native token, BGB, demonstrated exceptional performance in 2023. Starting at $0.18, it skyrocketed to an all-time high of $0.70499 in December, reflecting a remarkable 291% surge. BGB also secured its position among the top 5 CEX platform tokens by market capitalization, solidifying its status as one of the standout exchange platform tokens for the year.

In a strategic move, Bitget transitioned from CeFi to DeFi by investing $30 million in BitKeep, now known as Bitget Wallet. This notable shift positions the trading firm at the forefront of the evolving cryptocurrency landscape.

Bitget Bet On Ethereum’s Cancum Upgrade

Looking ahead to 2024, the crypto exchange anticipates key industry trends, identifying BRC-20, ARC-20, and Bitcoin Scalability as the focal sectors to monitor. The platform also predicts that the Ethereum ecosystem will benefit from reduced gas fees through the Cancun upgrade, leveraging Ethereum nodes for temporary off-chain data storage and retrieval.

Bitget concludes by unveiling its development strategy for the upcoming year, emphasizing three critical areas: compliance, emerging markets, and Web 3. This strategic focus reflects its commitment to navigating the evolving cryptocurrency landscape and aligning its development plan with anticipated advancements in the industry.

Standard Chartered Unleash Blockchain Innovation In Singapore

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In a strategic move to establish a presence in the Singapore cryptocurrency landscape, StanChart, the venture wing of Standard Chartered, has introduced Libeara, a blockchain platform designed to tokenize traditional financial instruments, with a focus on the Singapore bond fund market. Libeara aims to digitalize financial instruments on blockchains, eliminating the need for third-party intermediaries, thereby reducing costs and enhancing operational efficiency.

Partnering with Singapore-based fund platform solutions provider FundBridge Capital, Standard Chartered’s Libeara intends to create the first tokenized Singapore-Dollar Government Bond Fund, targeting professional investors with a higher net worth and a deeper understanding of financial investing. The launch is contingent upon regulatory approval from Singapore authorities and is anticipated to provide additional investment opportunities with lower operating costs, increased transparency, and operational efficiency.

Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered Unleash Blockchain Innovation In Singapore 4

FundBridge’s CEO, Sue Lynn Lim, highlighted the traditional market’s dependence on favored intermediaries and inefficient operational processes, expressing the goal of Libeara to introduce investment opportunities with improved cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency. Investors leveraging Libeara’s system will have the ability to directly subscribe to tokenized government-issued bonds, manage their tokens in secure digital wallets, and execute redemptions and transfers using blockchain technology.

The launch of Libeara aligns with SC Ventures’ strategic expansion into Asia’s digital asset space, a sector historically dominated by non-bank entities. Besides Libeara, StanChart has majority stakes in Zodia Custody, which holds digital assets, and Zodia Markets, a crypto exchange that services institutional clients.

Standard Chartered’s Hong Kong Expansion

As reported by TronWeekly, the digital asset custodian supported by Standard Chartered has recently extended its services to Hong Kong, marking a significant expansion in the Asia-Pacific region. Established in 2020, Zodia Custody specializes in providing secure investment opportunities in cryptocurrencies, primarily catering to institutional clients such as corporations and professional investors.

The decision to expand into Hong Kong was driven by the substantial demand for crypto assets, especially from institutional entities rather than individual retail customers, as per Julian Sawyer, Zodia’s CEO.

“From an emerging market perspective, there are pockets of jurisdictions where a token-form government bond can actually decrease the cost of owning and having one,” Aaron Gwak, Libeara’s CEO, told Nikkei Asia. “This is the type of infrastructure that we want to build and be able to supply to countries.”