ChainCatcher news, according to the Xiong'an Release public account, the digital RMB pilot in Xiong'an New Area has achieved new results, with the first national digital RMB tax payment business in the fiscal sector and the development of related self-service tax payment terminals. The government procurement management application utilizes "Blockchain + Digital RMB" technology to increase the advance payment ratio and implement multiple applications to solve enterprise difficulties. In 2024, the People's Bank of China Xiong'an New Area Branch, in conjunction with the Xiong'an New Area Reform and Development Bureau, will launch the "Implementation Plan for Deepening the Digital RMB Pilot Work in the Rongdong Area" to enhance public awareness. By combining blockchain with digital RMB, the "Digital Currency Loan" product will be introduced, with payment amounts nearing 100 million yuan.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, Fed's Harker stated that the Federal Reserve will only issue digital currency at the direction of Congress.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptonews, Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira announced on Wednesday at a seminar of the Thai Marketing Association that Thailand will launch a new cryptocurrency payment project, starting from the popular tourist destination of Phuket. The project will allow foreign tourists to use digital assets for shopping in the tourist city.Pichai Chunhavajira emphasized that the pilot program will comply with the existing legal framework to ensure that no laws are violated. The pilot in Phuket will allow foreign tourists to register their Bitcoin through Thai exchanges, complete identity verification, and then use cryptocurrency to pay for goods and services.Previous news reported that a former Thai Prime Minister suggested trialing Bitcoin payments in Phuket.

ChainCatcher news, the Financial Office of the Guangzhou Municipal Committee recently issued the "Action Plan for Further Promoting the Digital Renminbi Work in Guangzhou" (referred to as the "Digital Currency 2.0 Plan"). The "Action Plan" clarifies the main tasks of the pilot work from seven aspects.Further leverage the functional roles of the member units of the Guangzhou Digital Renminbi Work Leading Group. Each unit will formulate work plans for innovating and promoting digital renminbi application scenarios in their respective fields, implementing no less than one application scenario in their areas of responsibility.Explore promoting the use of digital renminbi as a payment method for prepaid services citywide.Vigorously create various digital renminbi application demonstration zones.Further enrich and improve application scenarios for digital renminbi in the transportation sector.Promote innovative digital renminbi application scenarios in the port and shipping sector.Actively advance the application of digital renminbi in cross-border payment and other businesses. Actively promote the participation of digital renminbi operating institutions and related enterprises in the pilot testing of the multilateral central bank digital currency bridge in the Guangzhou area. The Guangzhou Commodity Exchange's commodity trading platform and the Guangzhou Shipping Exchange's digital renminbi application will be implemented.Vigorously enhance the foundational strength of the digital renminbi industry.

ChainCatcher news, Brazilian congresswoman Julia Zanatta issued a warning on social media, stating that as the country advances in implementing the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) "drex," physical cash may face the risk of disappearing.She opposes a bill that aims to gradually eliminate cash by 2025, arguing that the use of drex should remain voluntary to protect economic freedom. Zanatta highlighted several risks: social control, loss of privacy, and potential financial issues for those unfamiliar with technology.Zanatta also called for increased public awareness and suggested a referendum to decide the future of drex, emphasizing that such a significant change should involve citizen participation in decision-making. Currently, due to privacy concerns, the drex pilot project is facing delays.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, in a record-breaking year, Bitcoin's momentum has slowed in the last few days of the year as investors assess the remaining momentum brought by President-elect Donald Trump's support for the cryptocurrency sector. As of Friday before the European market opened, Bitcoin was trading around $96,200, recovering part of the nearly 3% decline from the previous day. Digital currencies like Ethereum and Dogecoin fluctuated within a narrow range.In the four trading days ending December 24, investors withdrew a net $1.5 billion from a dozen U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs, marking the largest outflow since Trump won the U.S. election on November 5. According to data compiled by foreign media, Bitcoin is facing the risk of a monthly decline in December, which would be its first monthly drop in over four months. Bitcoin reached a record high of $108,316 on December 17 before retreating.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com, the National Bank of Ethiopia may issue cryptocurrency guidelines.It is reported that although Ethiopia has not yet confirmed the legality of cryptocurrency, the National Bank of Ethiopia is closely monitoring global developments, which may indicate a potential shift in Ethiopia's stance on digital currency.

ChainCatcher news, citing The Wall Street Journal via Cryptoslate, a new survey shows that among 160 crypto hedge funds, about 120 funds reported issues with basic banking services over the past three years. These funds invest in digital currencies and blockchain technology companies.The other 20 alternative investors surveyed (in areas such as real estate and private credit) reported no similar issues. Banking problems include poor communication and direct termination of partnerships. Among the crypto hedge funds facing issues, more than half were explicitly informed by banks that they would terminate their partnerships.However, the reasons for these decisions are often vague or nonexistent. When banks provide explanations, they state a desire to limit their risk exposure to cryptocurrency clients or the industry.

ChainCatcher news, according to Pressreader, Bank Negara Malaysia is collaborating with several local financial institutions to explore the potential of wholesale central bank digital currency through a proof of concept (POC), aiming to optimize Malaysia's wholesale payment system RENTAS.Bank Negara Malaysia is also actively involved in several cross-border wholesale digital currency and innovation projects led by the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub, such as the "Dunbar" project, "Mandala" project, "Rialto" project, and "mBridge" project, primarily serving as an observer in these initiatives. "These projects delve into the applications of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and central bank digital currencies, with the goal of enhancing the efficiency of cross-border payments."It is reported that Bank Negara Malaysia's initial intention in participating in these projects is to deepen the understanding of central bank digital currencies among institutions and the financial industry, laying the groundwork for potential future developments.

ChainCatcher message, according to monitoring by The Data Nerd, two months ago, a smart money address 0xB04 accumulated 18.88 billion FLOKI, worth 2.69 million dollars, with an average entry price of 0.000147 dollars.Four hours ago, he deposited 4.15 billion FLOKI (approximately 1 million dollars) into Coinbase. So far, he still holds 10.22 billion dollars worth of FLOKI, approximately 2.37 million dollars, with an expected profit of about 1.7 million dollars (return on investment of about 63%).

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, large financial companies such as Standard Chartered Bank and Virtu Financial Inc. are preparing to join a new cryptocurrency derivatives trading platform in London.The trading platform Global Futures and Options Ltd. (referred to as GFO-X) announced on Monday that it has signed agreements with ABN Amro Clearing and market maker IMC, and it expects to launch in the first quarter of next year. GFO-X is supported by M&G Investments (the asset management division of pension giant M&G Plc).GFO-X will handle trading of Bitcoin index futures and options, initially planned to go live by the end of 2023, but it failed to launch on schedule due to two delays. The trading on GFO-X will be cleared by LCH SA, which is owned by the London Stock Exchange Group.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com, Iran is changing its stance on digital currencies from imposing restrictions to focusing on regulation, according to Abdolnaser Hemmati, the Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance. At an event in Tehran, Hemmati emphasized the government's plan to mitigate the economic risks posed by digital currencies while leveraging their potential benefits. He highlighted the authority of the Central Bank of Iran in managing digital assets and stressed the potential of digital currencies in promoting youth employment, increasing economic assets, and offsetting sanctions.

ChainCatcher news, according to Ledger Insights, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently announced that it has completed a proof-of-concept trial for its Agila project wholesale central bank digital currency (wCBDC) in collaboration with other financial institutions. Specifically, the latest trial tested whether banks in the Philippines could make payments to each other outside of banking hours, such as during evenings, weekends, and holidays.BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. stated, "Wholesale CBDC is expected to enhance liquidity management, reduce settlement risk, and support financial stability. The insights from this project will guide BSP's CBDC roadmap. Our goal is to leverage new technologies to further improve the efficiency and resilience of the national payment system."

ChainCatcher news, according to News.bitcoin, French luxury department store Printemps has announced that it will accept cryptocurrency payments, becoming the first major luxury retailer in Europe to support digital currency payments.The company has launched cryptocurrency payment services in its 20 stores across France through partnerships with French crypto payment company Lyzi and Binance Pay.Printemps stated that this move will benefit over 6.5 million cryptocurrency users in France, allowing them to make fast, secure, and simple payments using the latest Web3 solutions. The company emphasized that the introduction of cryptocurrency payments reflects its innovative commitment to reforming the consumer experience.

ChainCatcher news, according to TASS, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law regulating the taxation of digital currencies.According to the law, digital currencies are recognized as property. This also applies to currencies used for foreign trade payments within the framework of the "Experimental Legal Regime (EPR) in the field of digital innovation." The mining and sale of digital currencies are exempt from value-added tax. Operators of mining infrastructure must report to the tax authorities the issuance of cryptocurrencies using their services. Failure to timely transmit such information may result in a fine of 40,000 rubles.In terms of personal income tax, digital currencies obtained through mining will be classified as tangible income (a term typically used when payment is made using goods or services rather than currency). The value of the income will be determined based on market quotes. Such income will be taxed at the usual progressive tax rates, taking into account tax deductions for the amount of mining expenses.At the same time, income from the acquisition, sale, or other circulation of digital currencies will be taxed at a two-tier personal income tax rate (13% for income up to 2.4 million rubles, and 15% for income exceeding this amount). They will be included in the same tax base as income from transactions with securities, bank deposits, and other sources. Regarding corporate income tax, digital currency mining will be taxed at the standard rate (25% starting in 2025).

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com News, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) co-founder Marc Andreessen stated that 30 tech founders had their bank accounts revoked solely due to their association with digital currencies. Several crypto company founders, including Gemini co-founder Tyler Winklevoss and LBRY founder Jeremy Kauffman, shared similar experiences.The Gemini founder stated: "Not only personal accounts but even company accounts have been closed due to cryptocurrency business, and several banks supporting crypto companies are facing pressure." Custodia Bank founder Caitlin Long revealed that her company is suing the Federal Reserve due to multiple instances of being de-banked, with a court hearing expected in January next year.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com, the Federation Council of the Russian Parliament approved a government-initiated bill on Wednesday that outlines the tax framework for digital currencies. This legislation was passed in a plenary session after being approved by the lower house, the State Duma, the day before.The new law classifies digital currencies (including currencies used as payment tools under an experimental legal regime) as property under Russian domestic tax law. This classification exempts value-added tax (VAT) on digital currency mining and sales transactions, easing the financial obligations of industry participants. Additionally, services provided by authorized organizations that facilitate transactions within these experimental regimes will also be tax-exempt.An important provision requires operators of mining infrastructure to report personal data of individuals using their systems to tax authorities. Income from digital currency mining will be considered taxable income, forming the basis for personal income tax. Danil Volkov, head of the Russian Ministry of Finance department, stated that businesses engaged in mining activities must pay taxes at the standard corporate income tax rate.

ChainCatcher news, Sberbank CEO Herman Gref stated that the law currently prohibits the use of cryptocurrencies as a means of payment within the Russian Federation, and it is unlikely to be allowed in the near future.Gref clarified at a meeting in Moscow that while new legislation in Russia allows for the use of digital currencies and cryptocurrencies for international payments, their use domestically remains restricted. He also pointed out that if other countries are willing to accept it, the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) of Russia—the digital ruble—can be used for global transactions.As the largest bank and state-owned financial institution in Russia, Sberbank is closely monitoring these developments, although Gref expressed uncertainty about the adoption of the digital ruble abroad.