ChainCatcher message, Fed's Harker states that the Fed must "pay very close attention" to financial technology.

ChainCatcher news, Binance has been selected for Fortune's inaugural "2024 Asia's Financial Technology Innovators" list, ranking first in the "Blockchain and Crypto" category.The Fortune 2024 Asia's Financial Technology Innovators list showcases 60 of the most dynamic financial service companies in the fastest-growing regions globally.

ChainCatcher news, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has published a vision to promote the thriving development of Hong Kong's fintech ecosystem. The SFC's current regulatory measures include risk-based on-site inspections and direct dialogues with senior management and controllers of applicants. Based on this, the Hong Kong SFC is implementing a rapid licensing approval process to handle applications from virtual asset trading platforms that are considered for licensing. To fulfill its commitment to promoting the sustainable and responsible development of the virtual asset industry, the Hong Kong SFC is collaborating with the Hong Kong SAR Government and other regulatory bodies to formulate regulatory proposals for providing virtual asset trading services and virtual asset custody services, continuing to enhance its investor protection efforts through active monitoring systems and public warnings, and deepening cooperation with other institutions.

ChainCatcher news, the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui, chaired the fourth meeting of the Financial Technology Project Execution Coordination Group. He stated that the Hong Kong government and financial regulatory bodies have been strongly supporting the development of financial technology, including improving financial infrastructure, building a more vibrant fintech ecosystem, nurturing fintech talent, and facilitating discussions among participants on various aspects of fintech, including how to further integrate virtual assets into mainstream financial markets and the application of artificial intelligence in Hong Kong's financial markets. Cyberport and the Financial Management Bureau reported on the green and sustainable fintech concept validation testing funding scheme, as well as the latest developments in the wholesale central bank digital currency project Ensemble.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, fintech giants Robinhood and Revolut are considering launching stablecoins. However, a spokesperson for Robinhood stated that there are currently "no plans" to issue stablecoins, but did not dismiss the possibility. Robinhood currently offers a variety of digital asset trading on its platform, including the stablecoin USDC issued by Circle.Additionally, UK-based Revolut is also considering launching a stablecoin. Last week, Revolut launched a retail wealth management application that supports trading across various asset classes, including cryptocurrencies. A spokesperson for Revolut stated that the company plans to "further expand" its crypto products, but did not directly mention stablecoins. Some analysts believe that the upcoming MiCA regulations from the EU will promote stablecoin activity in the region. These regulations will come into full effect by the end of 2024 and will establish specific rules for stablecoin issuers, including licensing agreements and strict reserve management rules.

ChainCatcher News, the Financial Services Agency of Japan held its first meeting of the Fund Settlement Law Revision Working Group on the 25th, beginning the review of regulations related to the fintech era, including crypto assets and stablecoins. The meeting aims to address the diverse needs brought about by the digitalization of financial services and to promote a balance between user protection and healthy market development.During the working group meeting, discussions were held on how to design a system for the rapidly evolving financial business, covering areas such as decentralized finance (DeFi), cashless payments, and fintech. The Financial Services Agency will strive to ensure the stability and competitiveness of the Japanese financial system based on international trends.One focus is to strengthen the regulation of crypto asset exchanges. The Financial Services Agency will learn from the lessons of the FTX bankruptcy in November 2022 and consider introducing mandatory requirements for exchanges to hold assets domestically under the fund settlement law framework, in order to enhance the protection of user assets in the event of an exchange bankruptcy.Discussions on stablecoins also aim to promote their use. Currently, specific trust-type stablecoins are subject to the same regulatory standards as bank deposits, but other countries have greater flexibility in the operation of supporting assets. Japan is also considering adjusting relevant regulations.

ChainCatcher news, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Legislative Council member Yan Gang stated in an interview that the development of the digital Hong Kong dollar should be accelerated, financial products enriched, and market influence enhanced. Digital currency adapts to the digitalization of finance and has the potential to lead innovation in the fintech sector. By establishing more efficient payment and financial infrastructure, digital currency can improve the efficiency and convenience of the financial industry. Developing digital currency in Hong Kong can also attract more fintech and blockchain-related companies to develop in Hong Kong, further promoting the city as an innovation center for fintech and enhancing the innovative technological content of the international financial center, thereby elevating its status as an international financial hub. It is recommended that the government learn from the experience of the mainland, collaborate deeply with relevant mainland units, accelerate the process of the digital Hong Kong dollar, and actively research the promotion of the digital currency economy.

ChainCatcher news, according to the Hong Kong Radio website, the Deputy Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, Huang Weilun, stated that in recent years, the Hong Kong government has focused its policy on promoting innovation in the financial industry, including advancing the development of virtual assets and financial technology. Therefore, it is collaborating with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange to enhance connections with the mainland through the connectivity system, achieving a win-win cooperation in the range and opportunities of investment products.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin.com, South African fintech company Lesaka Technologies will acquire payment solutions provider Adumo for approximately $86 million.Under the terms of the agreement, Lesaka Technologies will pay Adumo $12.5 million in cash and issue 17,279,803 shares of common stock to Adumo's major shareholders. Both parties hope to complete the transaction in the third quarter of 2024 and are currently awaiting shareholder approval. Once the acquisition is approved, Adumo CEO Paul Kent will join the management team of Lesaka Technologies.It is reported that Adumo's major shareholders include private equity fund Apis Growth Fund I and African Rainbow Capital (ARC).

ChainCatcher news, CoinW appeared as a title sponsor at the crypto event TOKEN2049 in Dubai, marking CoinW's third sponsorship of the TOKEN2049 series. CoinW President Sonia Shaw and Chief Communications Officer Carmen Tan were invited to participate in a roundtable forum to discuss important topics such as the fintech landscape in Dubai, trends in the crypto industry, and global financial regulatory policies.On April 17, CoinW held a grand brand upgrade launch event in Dubai Atlantis, unveiling a new brand logo and website. This milestone symbolizes CoinW's commitment to leading the future of fintech with a new brand image, as a new first-tier trading platform, continuously providing cutting-edge, secure, and worry-free trading experiences for millions of users worldwide.CoinW is a globally leading cryptocurrency trading platform. After 7 years of operation, CoinW has developed into a leading cryptocurrency trading platform that includes two main trading sectors: spot and contracts, covering investment, wealth management, Launchpad, education, payment, and more.

ChainCatcher news, Bitcoin re-staking infrastructure platform BounceBit announces a strategic partnership with digital asset technology platform Antalpha Prime.By introducing Antalpha Prime's professional technical services, BounceBit provides users with more professional and secure fund safety services. On this basis, BounceBit enables more BTC holders to manage their assets according to their needs, offering more reliable fund safety protection and a broader range of income sources.

ChainCatcher news, Bitcoin re-staking infrastructure platform BounceBit announced a strategic partnership with digital asset technology platform Antalpha Prime.By introducing Antalpha Prime's professional technical services, it provides users with more professional and secure fund safety services. Based on this, BounceBit enables more BTC holders to manage their assets according to their needs, offering more reliable fund safety protection and a broader range of income sources.

ChainCatcher news, the fintech company Block, led by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, released its fourth-quarter earnings report for 2023, showing that the total sales of Bitcoin sold to customers amounted to $2.52 billion, a year-on-year increase of 37%, with a profit of $66 million, a year-on-year increase of 90%. As of December 2023, the company has achieved a profit of $207 million from its Bitcoin investments.