🇧🇾Belarus Seeks to Deepen Ties With BRICS, SCO, ASEAN — Pushes for Economic Union With Zero Restrictions

🔥Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko says his country’s response to sanctions is to deepen relations with the BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). “The creation of a comprehensive economic union remains our priority,” he emphasized. “There should be no barriers and no restrictions at all. This is a basic principle for building our union, and we must reach this target as soon as possible.”

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko outlined his country’s priorities and response to sanctions during the🌟 Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Moscow on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

🔩Our response to the sanctions pressure is to intensify cooperation within the SCO, BRICS, and ASEAN, to close new trade agreements, and [engage in] constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation with everybody who is interested in being our friends and partners.

🔵“Having said that, I want to note that as a result, we must ensure the balance of interests between all the parties involved. It is not an easy task but I am confident that the commission has the skills and competence required,” he added.

🔵Lukashenko continued: “The modern world is undergoing global changes and entering an era of major transition and strategic development. There is increasing awareness of the need to replace the unipolar system of management with new decision-making centers that ensure the consideration of interests of all participants in international relations.”

🇺🇸US Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Halt Federal Reserve’s Digital Dollar Testing, Citing Concerns for American Liberties

❎ U.S. lawmakers have introduced a bill to prohibit the Federal Reserve from “establishing, carrying out, or approving a program intended to test the practicability of issuing” a central bank digital currency (CBDC). “CBDCs would threaten the liberties of law-abiding Americans and are being used 🟥 by authoritarian countries right now to crack down on dissent,” said Congressman Alex Mooney.

🤨 Multiple people have warned that central bank digital currencies pose major privacy and government surveillance concerns. “The Federal Reserve caught attention late last year for its CBDC pilot projects, even contracting with the private sector to build potential CBDCs for the United States which went beyond traditional research,” the congressman noted.

➡️ Several CBDC-related bills have been launched in Congress, including U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s “No Digital Dollar Act” and Congressman Tom Emmer’s “CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act.” A number of states have also pushed against the Fed launching a digital dollar. For example, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation in March that bans the use of a CBDC in his state.

➡️However, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell revealed in March that the Fed is not “at the stage of making any real decisions,” noting that the central bank is “experimenting in kind of early-stage experimentation.”

💰 Coinbase Derivatives Exchange to Roll Out Bitcoin and Ethereum Futures Trading on June 5

Coinbase Derivatives Exchange will start trading 🪙 BTC and 🔷 ETH perpetual futures on June 5, 2023, for non-US institutional clients only.

Leading American crypto exchange Coinbase 💎has announced its plans to introduce futures contracts for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) in its newly launched derivative markhttps://coinspeaker.com/cdn-cgi/imagedelivery/-BqQuoxiOfYhg62js8a7lQ/27c53b70-98d5-45f9-6f1b-6fca78e07500/w=768,h=512.webpetplace regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

The new venture, 👍 Coinbase Derivatives Exchange, officially debuted last month in Bermuda following approval from the country’s financial regulator, the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA).

👑 The company said the derivative platform would enable traders to speculate on the prices of BTC and Either using perpetual futures contracts, offering leverage of ⚡️ up to 5X. Furthermore, all trades conducted on the marketplace will be settled in the stablecoin USDC, ensuring stability and reliable value representation for participants.

✅Cboe Receives CFTC Approval to Launch Leveraged Crypto Derivatives

✔️U.S. exchange operator Cboe Global Markets said on Monday that it has been granted regulatory approval by the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to offer 🔩 leveraged derivative products on its Cboe Digital trading platform.

🌟 The authorization will permit Cboe to launch physically and financially settled bitcoin and ether margined futures contracts on Cboe Digital in the second half of the year, according to a statement quoted by Reuters and Bloomberg.

👉In May 2022, Cboe sealed a deal to acquire crypto exchange Erisx, which was later renamed Cboe Digital. ⚡️ In November, the Chicago-based exchange operator revealed that over a dozen firms, including Galaxy Digital and Robinhood Markets, had taken minority equity stakes in Cboe Digital.

🟢The regulatory approval comes at a time of increased regulatory scrutiny on the crypto sector, following negative developments such as the 🌈 collapse of leading crypto exchange FTX.

⚠️Robin hood to Delist Cardano, Solana, and Polygon Amidst SEC Regulatory Pressure

⚡️Robin hood, a financial services company headquartered in Menlo Park, California, intends to remove the 8th, 10th, and 11th largest crypto assets by market capitalization on June 27.

📣In a statement released on Friday, Robinhood said, “We regularly review the crypto we offer on Robinhood. Based on our latest review, we’ve decided to end support for cardano (ADA), polygon (MATIC), and solana (SOL) on June 27th, 2023 at 6:59 PM ET.”

🔶This announcement comes amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of Binance and Coinbase by the U.S. SEC.

⏰Should Robinhood clients fail to sell or transfer their ADA, MATIC, or SOL holdings before the deadline, the company will dispose of the assets at their fair market value.

⛔️ Etoro to Delist ALGO, MANA, DASH, and MATIC for US Customers Amid ‘Evolving Regulatory Landscape’

🚨 The social trading and investment company Etoro declared on Monday that starting July 12, 2023, U.S. customers would be unable to initiate new trades for ALGO, MANA, DASH, and MATIC. The company cited the “rapidly evolving regulatory landscape” as the reason behind the delistings.

🔵 “Due to recent developments, we will be making some changes to our crypto offering for U.S. customers,” Etoro said on Monday. “From 6:00 AM ET on Wednesday, July 12th, 2023, U.S. customers will no longer be able to open new positions in algorand (ALGO), decentraland (MANA), dash (DASH) and polygon (MATIC). Customers can continue to hold and sell existing positions in these coins,” the social trading company added.

⚠️ This announcement from Etoro comes after Robinhood’s decision to delist cardano (ADA), solana (SOL), and polygon (MATIC).

➡️ The company concluded, “We are committed to working closely with regulators around the world to shape the future of the crypto industry and champion access for the ordinary investor.”

🇻🇪Reports Indicate Venezuela Is Preparing to Liquidate the Petroleum

⛔️ According to reports, the government of Venezuela could be winding down the operations of the petro cryptocurrency. The decision comes after Sunacrip, the Venezuelan cryptocurrency watchdog, was set back by the alleged participation of its former head Joselit Ramirez in a potential $20 billion corruption scheme involving the settlement of Venezuelan oil sales.

⚠️ The run of the first nation-issued cryptocurrency asset might be close to its end.

🔴 Petro’s price in the market had already plunged before the information was released, while the government-defined price still stretches to $60.

🟡Putting down Petro’s operations would close an era in which the Venezuelan government promoted its use to sidestep the sanctions that the Obama and the Trump administrations enacted against important state-owned companies like PDVSA, the state-owned oil company.

➡️The liquidation of the petro would also be part of the government’s cleanup of Sunacrip after its former head Joselit Ramirez was arrested on charges of corruption involving sales of Venezuelan oil that never reached the nation’s coffers.

❕In May, the Petro blockchain faced operational problems and stopped several times. At the time, there were reports of hundreds of wallets blocked.

🇨🇳China and Malaysia to Research AI for Blockchain Applications in Trade

➡️ Blockchain developers from Malaysia will be working with Chinese colleagues to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) in foreign trade. The collaboration, which is part of a China-led international research program, aims to speed up cross-border transactions.

⚙️ Initiated by China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, the purpose of the collaboration is to foster research partnerships between the Chinese and other governments.

🟢 The joint research will be focused on leveraging AI to streamline and optimize cross-border trade processes.

⏳China and Malaysia have been stepping up cooperation in various areas. In early April, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim unveiled that Beijing is ready to discuss Kuala Lumpur’s proposal for the establishment of an Asian Monetary Fund.

✅ Valkyrie Funds Joins Race for SEC Approval as It Files Application for Spot Bitcoin ETF

➡️ On Wednesday, Valkyrie Funds, a Tennessee-based asset manager offering a bitcoin futures exchange-traded fund (ETF), a defi fund, and a bitcoin mining industry ETF, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the launch of a spot bitcoin ETF.

⚡️ Numerous market players are vying for the SEC’s approval of a spot bitcoin ETF. This rush for approval began after Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, filed to offer a spot bitcoin ETF with the SEC. To date, the SEC has not approved any spot bitcoin ETFs and has rejected several applications over recent years.

🔩 On June 21, 2023, Valkyrie submitted an application to the SEC for its spot bitcoin ETF named “Valkyrie Bitcoin Fund.” The ticker symbol will be “BRRR,” and it will utilize CME Group’s CF Bitcoin Reference Rate.

✅ Since Blackrock’s filing, BTC prices climbed even higher, and both Invesco and Wisdomtree also filed applications for spot bitcoin ETFs. For some reason — amid lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase — these investment firms think it is an opportune moment to apply with the U.S. securities regulator.

♾ Banking Giants Crédit Agricole, Santander Seek to Provide Crypto Custody Under French Registration

➡️ A subsidiary co-owned by Crédit Agricole and Santander has registered as a digital asset service provider in France. The registration of Caceis, a company that specializes in offering financial services to institutional investors, allows the two major European banks to tap into the crypto market.

🔥 The registration, granted by the AMF earlier this week, will allow the entity, Caceis, to provide custody services for digital assets, including cryptocurrencies.

🔼 The move adds a major traditional financial services group to the growing number of crypto companies registered by the French watchdog.

⚡️ In May, French officials invited crypto companies seeking to escape the current crackdown in the U.S., which also affected leading U.S. digital asset exchange Coinbase, noting that France’s legal framework offers more regulatory certainty.

🇷🇺 State Duma Chairman of Financial Markets Committee: Russia to Exert ‘Serious’ Control Over Crypto After Legalization

✅Anatoly Aksakov, chairman of the Financial Markets Committee of the State Duma, the lower chamber of the Federal Assembly in Russia, has remarked that the government intends to hold “serious” control over crypto after it is legalized. According to local reports, Aksakov also stated that crypto users were looking forward to this legalization to use the assets for international settlements.

⚡️ The State Duma official has supported the identification of cryptocurrency holders in Russia previously to “establish taxation and certain rights for cryptocurrency owners,” as well as offer protection in these markets.

Aksakov remarked on the importance of using crypto as an instrument to expedite international trade.

🆕 The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) informed recently that it intends to run pilot tests of cross-border settlements using digital and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

➡️ In this sense, Aksakov had declared before that “exchanges will be used for cross-border settlements, including bypassing sanctions restrictions, so new restrictions may be introduced against them” when announcing that the country had dropped the idea of a national cryptocurrency exchange.

⏰ Aksakov also reported that he expected a bill regulating crypto to be passed by next October.

🔶 Binance Reportedly Denied Crypto License in Germany

🇩🇪 Germany’s financial regulator has refused to grant Binance a crypto custody license, according to a media report. A rejection would prevent the exchange from advertising and growing in the major European market and deal another blow to its efforts to do regulated business on the Old Continent.

📝 The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority of Germany (Bafin) has informed Binance it will not be licensed as a crypto custodian, the German financial news magazine Finance Forward revealed in a report quoting sources familiar with the matter.

💿 The digital asset exchange, the world’s largest by trading volume, can only expand its business in Germany if it receives the regulatory approval, the publication noted. Without it, it’s not allowed to advertise, for example, and German regulators have already targeted other crypto companies for that, including trading platforms like Crypto and Uniswap.

📌 Bafin declined to clarify the situation with a spokesperson saying the authority does not comment on individual companies. “While we cannot share details of our discussions with regulators, we are continuing to work to meet Bafin requirements,” a representative of Binance was quoted as stating. The spokesperson emphasized this is an ongoing process and also said:

🎁 We are confident that we have the right team and the appropriate measures in place to continue our discussions with the regulators in Germany.

📣 has been under increased pressure from regulatory bodies in Europe and elsewhere. Authorities in Belgium ordered the exchange to cease all crypto services while prosecutors in France launched an investigation based on money laundering allegations.

⚫️ Earlier in June, Binance exited the Dutch market, after failing to register as a crypto service provider, applied for deregistration in Cyprus, and cancelled its U.K. authorization. The company also withdrew its application for license in Austria, Finance Forward noted.

🇬🇧UK Finance: Digital Pound Holdings Should Be Limited to £5,000 to Avoid Panic

👏 U.K. Finance, one of the largest finance membership organizations in the U.K., has issued its recommendations to the Bank of England regarding the issuance of a digital pound. The organization stated that individual holdings of the proposed central bank digital currency (CBDC) should be capped at £5,000 ($6350) to avoid panic and deposit flight.

❕ The proposal for issuing a digital pound, a UK-issued central bank digital currency (CBDC), is already being debated by financial organizations in the country. U.K. Finance, one of the largest financial membership organizations in the U.K., has issued its answer to a consultation of the Bank of England on the hypothetical launch of a digital pound.

⏳ While some central bank digital currencies are already in advanced stages of research and implementation, the digital pound was just announced back in January. The digital pound, dubbed “britcoin” by U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is now in its initial design phases.

👉 IMF Working Paper Urges Tax System Overhaul to Tackle Crypto’s Tax Collection Challenges

🔍 A research paper published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns that tax collection is significantly more challenging with cryptocurrency assets, and current tax systems are not designed to handle them. The IMF’s working paper emphasizes that certain crypto assets may not persist in the future, while others that endure become “fundamental innovations in decentralized finance.” Consequently, the IMF asserts that tax systems must adapt to cryptocurrencies with “coherence, clarity, and effectiveness.”

⚡️ On July 5, 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a working paper on taxation and cryptocurrency assets authored by Katherine Baer, Ruud de Mooij, Shafik Hebous, and Michael Keen.

🔩 The authors observe that the current taxation framework is inadequate in many regions worldwide due to the dual nature of crypto assets, which can serve both as a currency and an investment.

👍 The IMF researchers caution policymakers to promptly address these concerns and familiarize themselves with the necessary corrective measures.

➡️ Although the working paper acknowledges tax evasion as a pressing issue, page 18 specifically addresses the “revenue potential” that tax collectors overlook concerning cryptocurrencies.

🌟 The researchers further argue that although data is limited, “there is strong evidence that crypto wealth is highly concentrated, even more so than ownership of equities.”

⚡️ SEC States Coinbase Misinteprets Howey Test, Misuses Major Questions Doctrine

🌟 The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) answered the latest filing of Coinbase by shooting down the arguments presented by the exchange to throw out the ongoing lawsuit. The filing reaffirms the institution’s jurisdiction on securities laws, explaining that Coinbase misinterprets the Howey test and criticizing the “major questions doctrine” usage in the case.

💲 The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) answered the latest filing of Coinbase regarding the exchange’s criticism of the regulator’s actions in the crypto environment.

✔️ In its response, the SEC reaffirms its jurisdiction over securities cases, stating that this legal action against Coinbase is part of the “exercise of its longstanding authority to enforce statutory requirements” after having been authorized by Congress in 1934 to exert these through civil law enforcement actions.

‼️ Furthermore, the institution explains that Coinbase now criticizes the validity of the Howey test after it used its criteria to make listing decisions before it became a public company.

➡️ However, the SEC failed to address the change of heart its chair Gary Gensler experienced since he acknowledged the agency .

🪙 Binance US Reacts to Bitcoin Cash FUD, Assures Users Their Funds Are Safe

📣 Binance’s U.S. platform has rejected rumors regarding its bitcoin cash (BCH) reserves, reassuring customers that their funds are safe. On Sunday, the exchange restored BCH withdrawals after a brief suspension attributed to a technical issue with the automated system managing deposit flows.

⚫️The American subsidiary of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance US, addressed what it described as FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) about users’ bitcoin cash holdings. “Binance US maintains 1:1 reserves, which means for every BCH you hold on our platform, we maintain a BCH in reserve,” the company said.

🐦 In statement posted Tuesday on Twitter, the exchange explained a pause in BCH withdrawals last week citing a technical issue in its deposit sweeping system.

⚠️ This led to a temporary halt of BCH withdrawals until Binance’s tech team implemented a fix to resume normal deposit, hot, and cold wallet flows. “BCH withdrawals on all networks have now been fully operational since late Sunday night,” the exchange said.

⚫️The company emphasized that “in an environment where FUD spreads like a virus, we want to reiterate that Binance US was established to serve U.S. consumers and structured to adhere to U.S. regulations”.

✅ Blackrock CEO Larry Fink Says Crypto Will ‘Transcend Any One Currency’ — Sees Broad-Based Global Interest

➡️ Larry Fink, the CEO of the world’s largest asset manager, Blackrock, says crypto is so international that it will transcend any one currency. Regarding Blackrock’s bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the executive stressed: “We are working with our regulators because, as in any new market, if Blackrock’s name is going to be on it, we’re going to make sure that it’s safe and sound and protected.”

📣 Larry Fink, the CEO and chairman of Blackrock, the world’s largest asset manager, discussed cryptocurrency in an interview with CNBC on Friday. Blackrock filed to launch a bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on June 15. While the SEC has rejected all bitcoin ETF applications so far, many are hopeful that the securities regulator will approve Blackrock’s filing.

💬 “Over the last five years, more and more global investors are asking us about the role of crypto,” the Blackrock CEO shared. “As I said, I do believe a lot of crypto is an international asset,” the executive continued, emphasizing:

💬 It has a differentiating value versus other asset classes, but more importantly, because it’s so international it’s going to transcend any one currency and currency valuation.

🚨 BRICS Leaders to Talk Expansion at August Summit, Host Confirms

➡️ The leaders of the BRICS states will discuss the organization’s enlargement when they meet in South Africa, the country’s president indicated. The summit is set take place in August when over a dozen countries will hope to be given a path to membership.

⚫️ Leaders of the five BRICS members (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) will talk about the group’s expansion at their summit scheduled for August, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed.

➡️ Media reports and official statements in the past few months have unveiled that a number of countries are seeking to become BRICS members.

⚫️ BRICS is likely to accept five new members at its summit, India’s Business Standard daily revealed at the end of June, the Russian Tass news agency reminded in a report.

⚫️ According to the publication, Russia has turned down a South African request to send Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, instead of Putin, to the summit.

🔗 NY Couple to Forfeit Billions in Crypto and Cash in Plea Deal Over Bitfinex Hack Laundering Case

➡️ Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, the New York-based couple implicated in the alleged laundering of $4.5 billion in bitcoin pilfered from the 2016 Bitfinex cyber-attack, have reached a plea bargain, as revealed by recent court records. The pair is scheduled to appear before U.S. judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on August 3, 2023, and will be mandated to surrender all cryptocurrency assets and funds they possessed prior to their apprehension.

💲 Court documents filed on July 20 and 21, 2023 indicate that Lichtenstein and Morgan are due to appear before U.S. judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on August 3. Furthermore, they must relinquish about 94,643.29837084 BTC valued at $2.8 billion based on July 21 exchange rates.

⚠️ Other coins to be surrendered include 117,376.52651940 bitcoin cash (BCH) and an equal amount of bitcoinsv (BSV). The couple is also required to relinquish 118,102.03258447 bitcoin gold (BTG), 29,016.98 monero (XMR), a collection of USDC held across multiple blockchains, .879544 curve dao (CRV) tokens, and 7,389,269.171 tether (USDT).

💵 The government also plans to confiscate various U.S. and Canadian gold coins held by the duo.