ChainCatcher message, payment protocol AEON partners with FDUSD issuer First Digital Labs and Terminus to launch Web3 QR code payments, promoted during Devcon in Thailand. Users can scan the AEON QR code to use FDUSD for purchases at offline merchants, who can receive cryptocurrency without new devices, automatically converting it to local fiat currency.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Data Nerd monitoring, 2 hours ago, First Digital Labs transferred 79.94 million FDUSD to Binance.Last month, First Digital Labs transferred 145 million FDUSD to Binance, and BTC rose from $60,000 to $64,000, an increase of 6.7%.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the Hong Kong-based stablecoin issuer First Digital Trust stated that Hong Kong should accelerate its regulation in the digital asset space to avoid falling behind in the rapidly evolving industry. Although Hong Kong is committed to becoming a global cryptocurrency hub, currently, there are only two virtual asset trading platforms, Hash Blockchain and OSL Digital Securities, that hold full licenses, while many other exchanges are still waiting for comprehensive operating licenses.First Digital CEO Vincent Chok stated in an interview that it is understandable for Hong Kong to adopt a more conservative and slow approach to trading regulation, as it prioritizes investor protection. However, he pointed out that he hopes to see regulatory acceleration to ensure that the region does not lag behind the pace of industry development. First Digital Trust believes that Hong Kong is not yet ready to regulate dollar-backed stablecoins, while Dubai has taken a more global approach. Chok expressed anticipation for Hong Kong to introduce regulations for dollar-backed stablecoins in the near future.Additionally, Chok does not believe that banks will be eager to provide digital asset custody services, as it exceeds their risk tolerance. Many companies have already established trust structures to offer cryptocurrency custody services.

ChainCatcher news, ZA Bank's acting CEO Wu Zhonghao stated that the expansion of the customer base has led to operational efficiencies, resulting in revenue growth. Additionally, about a year and a half ago, the bank adjusted its business strategy, no longer relying solely on high-interest deposits to attract customers, which contributed to achieving monthly profitability in July this year, making it the first virtual bank to successfully achieve monthly profits.Given that the market conditions remain unclear, Wu Zhonghao is not yet willing to assert whether profitability can be maintained in the second half of the year, but he is confident in achieving sustainable profitability in the long term.

ChainCatcher message, according to The Data Nerd monitoring, the Wintermute address withdrew 75 million FDUSD from Binance 1 hour ago, transferring it to First Digital Labs. In the past 5 days, Wintermute has transferred a total of 241 million FDUSD back to First Digital Labs.

ChainCatcher message, according to Scopescan monitoring, Wintermute received 74 million FDUSD from First Digital Labs and deposited all of it into Binance.In the past 30 days, Wintermute has received and deposited a total of 256 million FDUSD.

ChainCatcher news, stablecoin issuer First Digital Trust announced on Wednesday that after launching on Ethereum and BNB Chain, it will expand the stablecoin FDUSD to the Sui blockchain. First Digital CEO Vincent Chok stated in an interview that this expansion is part of First Digital's efforts to increase the usage of FDUSD among DeFi users.FDUSD is issued under Hong Kong's digital asset regulations and is backed by U.S. Treasury bills and bank deposits to maintain its price peg of 1 dollar. It has now become the fourth largest stablecoin, following USDT, USDC, and DAI, with a market capitalization of 3.3 billion dollars since its launch last year.

ChainCatcher news, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) conducted its first cross-border digital dirham transfer using the mBridge Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) platform on January 29. According to Gulf News, this cross-border CBDC transfer of 50 million dirhams (approximately 13.6 million USD) was sent to China using the multi-CBDC mBridge platform.It is reported that the mBridge project was launched in 2021 in collaboration with the central monetary authorities of China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and the UAE, along with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). This is the only international partnership involving China. The project completed its pilot phase in September 2022 and was commercially launched a year later in September 2023.The mBridge platform has already onboarded multiple commercial banks from each participating member country to engage in infrastructure and technology work.

ChainCatcher news, Société Générale (SocGen) issued a digital bond amounting to 1,000 euros on Ethereum on November 30. This is the first green digital bond issued by Société Générale using blockchain technology, and these digital bonds have been fully subscribed through a private placement by two top institutional investors, AXA Investment Managers and Generali Investments.

ChainCatcher news, according to the Financial Times, the London Stock Exchange has developed a new digital market business plan that will make it the first major exchange to offer extensive trading of traditional financial assets on blockchain technology.Murray Roos, head of capital markets at the London Stock Exchange, stated that they have conducted about a year of research on the potential of blockchain-driven trading venues, and they have now reached a "turning point" to decide to move forward with the plan, hoping to leverage the technology that supports popular tokens like Bitcoin to enhance the efficiency of buying, selling, and holding traditional assets. Roos mentioned that if the plan is successful, the London Stock Exchange will become the first large securities exchange to offer investors an "end-to-end" blockchain-driven ecosystem.Additionally, the London Stock Exchange is considering establishing a separate legal entity for the digital market business, aiming to launch and operate the first market within the next year, pending regulatory approval. The London Stock Exchange has been negotiating with regulators from multiple jurisdictions, as well as the UK government and Treasury, with the ultimate goal of establishing a global platform.

ChainCatcher news, Ducati has announced the launch of its first digital collectible on the XRP Ledger, which will feature a video sequence of the Ducati logo on motorcycle fuel tanks produced since 1946.Ducati's CEO Claudio Domenicali confirmed the importance of Web3 innovation in providing fans with an immersive brand experience, stating that entering Web3 is another way to connect more closely with the Ducati community. It also offers an opportunity to meet a new community of NFT (non-fungible token) enthusiasts and provide them with a unique Ducati-style experience, collecting digital assets specifically developed for this new dimension of the brand.

ChainCatcher news, luxury brand Louis Vuitton has launched its first exclusive digital collectible "Speedy 40 VIA Pharrell Williams" for holders of the digital luggage VIA Treasure Trunk, aimed at commemorating its iconic Speedy 40 handbag. Louis Vuitton will open physical redemption in January 2024.

ChainCaycher news, according to The Block, Hong Kong digital asset trust institution First Digital is launching a programmable USD stablecoin FDUSD, capable of executing financial contracts, custody services, and insurance without intermediaries, but regulated in Asia. The reserves will be held in segregated accounts at Asian institutions.The company added: First Digital Labs will work closely with local and overseas regulatory authorities to ensure full compliance with current and future applicable laws and regulations, and First Digital Labs will be involved in shaping its evolution, including FDUSD and/or any regulatory framework that First Digital may belong to in the foreseeable future. (Source link)

ChainCatcher news, El Salvador has issued the first digital asset license to Bitfinex Securities under the newly implemented Digital Assets Securities Law (DASL).The clear rules established by the DASL will allow Bitfinex to raise funds through token issuance in a regulated market, and it also sets rules for new types of tokenized securities, such as tokenized stocks, revenue assets, and other investment products. (source link)

ChainCatcher news, the Web3 video game Wildcard will launch 4,444 Wildpasses on April 20 at the [Magic Eden](https://www.rootdata.com/zh/Projects/detail/Magic Eden?k=MjU3MQ==) Launchpad. This is the first digital asset released by Wildcard, providing a unique opportunity to access the Wildcard Universe.According to Rootdata data, Wildcard completed a $46 million funding round led by Paradigm on June 14, 2022. (Source link)

ChainCatcher news, electrical engineering giant Siemens has announced the first issuance of a digital bond on the blockchain under the German Electronic Securities Act (eWpG), with a scale of 60 million euros and a term of one year. Siemens stated that by utilizing the Electronic Securities Act, the company can sell securities directly to investors without the need to hire an established central securities depository.It is reported that Hauck Aufhäuser Lampe Privatbank AG serves as the bond registrar for this transaction. DekaBank, DZ Bank, and Union Investment invested in the bond. (source link)

ChainCatcher news, according to Reuters, the European Investment Bank (EIB) has announced that it has collaborated with BNP Paribas, HSBC, and Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets to issue the first digital bond denominated in pounds on a private blockchain. The EIB stated that this £50 million ($61.6 million) floating-rate bond is registered on a private blockchain, while a public blockchain mirror record will enhance transparency on an anonymous basis. (Source link)

ChainCatcher news, the official WeChat account of Guizhou Moutai announced that on February 4, it will hold the Guizhou Moutai Spring Series Product Launch Conference in the China Wine Culture City of Moutai Town. It is reported that this launch features Moutai's first product that integrates digital and reality, including the Guizhou Moutai wine series for the six solar terms: Beginning of Spring, Rain Water, Awakening of Insects, Spring Equinox, Qingming, and Grain Rain. This series will correspond to consumers' "Twenty-Four Solar Terms Wine Digital Collectibles" in the Xunfeng digital world. The Xunfeng digital world will simultaneously release the Xunji Home online.According to ChainCatcher previous report, Moutai and NetEase launched the "Xunfeng" digital world on January 3, aiming to create a "parallel world" belonging to Moutai and its users. (source link)