ChainCatcher news, according to Tree News, the European Central Bank aims to establish a blockchain-based payment system.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, ECB Governing Council member Simkus expressed support for the expectation of three more rate cuts in 2025, stating that the direction of interest rates is clear, the next steps are also clear, and there is no good reason to not cut rates in March.

ChainCatcher news, according to FinanceFeeds, eToro announced that the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has granted its EU subsidiary eToro (Europe) Ltd a license, allowing it to provide crypto services to all EU member states under the framework of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). The company stated that this authorization allows it to operate in a unified crypto regulatory environment in Europe, but it must submit relevant notifications to each member state.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, global asset management giant Franklin Templeton has announced the launch of the first fully tokenized U.S. Treasury fund, the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund, in Luxembourg.The fund will be open to institutional investors in eight European countries: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. Fund shares will be recorded and transferred via the Stellar network. The U.S. version of the fund has attracted over $580 million in assets since its launch in 2021.

ChainCatcher news, WisdomTree announced the launch of its crypto ETP product WisdomTree Physical CoinDesk 20 ETP (WCRP), which is now listed on Börse Xetra, the Swiss Stock Exchange, and the Euronext exchanges in Paris and Amsterdam. The WisdomTree Physical CoinDesk 20 ETP was developed in collaboration with CoinDesk Indices and aims to provide investment access to approximately 20 highly liquid crypto assets.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, ECB Executive Board member Schnabel hinted that rate setters may have nearly completed the interest rate cuts in the eurozone.He warned that as interest rates decline significantly, inflation risks are increasingly tilted to the upside. There is a general belief that, given signs of weak economic growth, the ECB Governing Council will cut rates again when it meets in early March. However, the hawkish Schnabel stated that the ECB should now begin discussing "whether to pause or stop" the rate cuts. This statement highlights the growing tension within the ECB regarding the economic outlook and marks the strongest indication so far that some of the 26 members of the ECB Governing Council believe they may soon need to slow down the pace of rate cuts or even stop them altogether.

ChainCatcher news, according to official sources, OKX has announced that it has officially become one of the first global cryptocurrency exchanges to obtain a MiCA license and operate within Europe, marking an important milestone for OKX and the entire European Economic Area (EEA) cryptocurrency industry.Currently, OKX has established its European headquarters in Malta, providing compliant and localized cryptocurrency services to over 400 million users across 28 countries in the European Economic Area (EEA).Whether users are in France, Germany, Spain, or other member states, they can easily access OKX's cutting-edge crypto products, supporting local payment methods and various fiat currency options.Star posted on the X platform, "OKX is now officially launched in 28 countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) and complies with MiCA regulatory requirements. Compliance and regulation are crucial, and we are committed to providing users with a safe, transparent, and fully compliant trading experience. By supporting euro trading pairs, free bank transfers, and localized services, we make cryptocurrency trading more convenient. In the future, we will continue to optimize our products and services to enhance user experience, allowing every user to easily enjoy the Web3 world."

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, as part of the EU's extensive cryptocurrency regulations, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a consultation document on February 17, seeking input from stakeholders, "with the aim of developing guidelines to assess the knowledge and competence of individuals providing advice on crypto assets or information regarding crypto assets or crypto asset services on behalf of crypto asset service providers."The guidelines will align with the EU's Regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), published in June 2023, aiming to establish consistent standards for employees providing crypto advice and information to clients, enhance investor protection, and promote trust in the crypto market.

ChainCatcher news, a Bank of America credit investor survey shows that investment-grade credit investors expect the European Central Bank's rate cut to be slightly lower than that of high-yield credit investors.The survey indicates that up to 41% of investment-grade credit investors expect the European Central Bank's deposit rate terminal value to be 2%, while 37% of high-yield credit investors expect the terminal value to be 1.75%. Bank of America analysts expect the deposit rate to drop to a low of 1.5% by September. The current deposit rate of the European Central Bank is 2.75%.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, Bitwise's Head of Research for Europe, André Dragosch, stated that Bitcoin and gold are gaining market attention against the backdrop of a macroeconomic environment suggesting a potential shift in the dominance of the dollar.As the largest overseas holders of U.S. debt, China and Japan are reducing their holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds, raising concerns about the long-term demand for U.S. government bonds. Dragosch revealed that some foreign central banks have inquired with Bitwise in the U.S. about the possibility of shifting part of their U.S. bond investments to Bitcoin spot ETFs, and the Czech National Bank is also considering similar measures.

ChainCatcher news, cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com has announced that it has reached the MiCA regulatory licensing milestone and can now provide cross-border cryptocurrency services in all member states of the European Economic Area (EEA) starting today.Previous news, Crypto.com released its 2025 roadmap: plans to launch a stablecoin, submit a Cronos ETF application, and more.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, European privacy regulators will discuss DeepSeek in a meeting on Tuesday local time.

ChainCatcher news, according to official sources, the security risk management company TAC Security has acquired the European Web3 security company CyberScope, and this acquisition is expected to enhance TAC Security's influence in the Web3 security field.It is reported that CyberScope will provide professional assurance in smart contract auditing and blockchain vulnerability warning, enabling the company to integrate solutions for Web3 Security.

ChainCatcher news, on the 9th local time, on the eve of the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, French President Macron announced an investment of 109 billion euros in the field of artificial intelligence over the next few years.Macron expressed his hope that France could seize the opportunities brought by this new era and stated that one hundred thousand young people would be trained in this project. He emphasized that Europe should avoid the approach of regulating before innovating when facing the challenges of artificial intelligence, or it will fall off the track of innovation and lag behind in the competition in this field. The Artificial Intelligence Action Summit is scheduled to be held in Paris, France from February 9 to 12.

ChainCatcher news, according to Reuters, Germany will elect a new parliament on February 23, which could have far-reaching implications for the financial sector of Europe's largest economy.Among them, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) ranks second in the polls, but Germany's mainstream parties refuse to cooperate with it in any government, meaning its proposals may never be realized. Nevertheless, their financial policy plans are the most specific and radical.The AfD calls for Germany to exit the Eurozone, supports "extensive deregulation" of Bitcoin, wallets, and trading, and opposes the digital euro, among other things.

According to ChainCatcher news and analysis from Glassnode, on-chain activity dominated by retail investors in the Asia-Pacific region is growing significantly faster than in the United States and the European Union.Since the cycle low in December 2022, the Bitcoin supply in the Asia-Pacific region has increased by 6.4% year-on-year, while the United States and the European Union have seen declines of 5.7% and 0.7%, respectively, indicating a sustained increase in demand for Bitcoin from retail investors in the Asia-Pacific region.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, BlackRock is preparing to launch a Bitcoin-linked exchange-traded product (ETP) in Europe. This move follows the success of its $5.8 billion Bitcoin ETF in the United States.Insiders reveal that the fund may be registered in Switzerland. BlackRock could start promoting the fund as early as this month.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, the main indicator that the European Central Bank uses to measure future wage growth in the Eurozone continues to show that wage growth will significantly slow down in 2025, which supports hopes for further declines in inflation, allowing for additional interest rate cuts.The wage tracking report released by the European Central Bank on Wednesday predicts that by the fourth quarter of 2025, wages in the Eurozone will grow at an annual rate of 1.5%. Although this is an increase from the 1.4% predicted last December, it is still far below the peak of 5.3% recorded last year. This indicator provides policymakers with timely updates on wage data, helping them assess how best to adjust borrowing costs. Last week, they lowered the deposit rate for the fifth time to 2.75%.

ChainCatcher news, 10x Research released a report stating that Bitcoin has remained relatively stable over the past month, with little volatility during the Asian session. However, since Trump's inauguration on January 20, there has been a noticeable buying activity during the European session, followed by a continuous sell-off during the U.S. trading session.