🌍 Latin America Crypto News: Gold, USDT, and CBDCs

📰 In this week's Latam Insights, we highlight significant developments in the crypto landscape of Latin America. El Salvador diversifies its foreign reserves by acquiring gold, Venezuela increasingly uses USDT for crude oil sales, and Bolivia prepares to launch its national CBDC.

🥇 El Salvador has made a notable shift by purchasing 13,999 troy ounces of gold, valued at $50 million. This move marks the first gold acquisition since 1990 and is part of a strategy to strengthen foreign reserves amidst economic uncertainty. The Central Bank of El Salvador emphasized that this purchase aims to diversify its assets beyond the U.S. dollar. With this addition, the country's gold reserves now total 58,105 troy ounces, estimated at $207.4 million.

💱 In Venezuela, stablecoins like USDT are becoming increasingly vital for settling crude oil sales. Local economist Asdrubal Oliveros noted that

due to the current market dynamics in oil sales, [Venezuela] has been receiving settlements in USDT.

This shift allows Venezuela to enhance dollar liquidity in the local market and streamline its operations.

💳 Meanwhile, Bolivia is set to launch its national central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital boliviano. Initially announced for an August launch, the rollout was delayed but is now expected to be presented this month. The Central Bank of Bolivia has confirmed that the new currency will be backed by the government.

📅 These developments reflect a growing trend in Latin America towards integrating alternative assets and digital currencies into financial systems.

📊 Nasdaq-Listed Lion Group to Convert SOL, SUI Holdings Into HYPE 📢

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🌐 Apecoin Expands to Solana Blockchain

🚀 Apecoin, the governance token linked to the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT project, has officially expanded to the Solana blockchain. The synchronization of the APE token was completed on September 9, 2025.

📈 This expansion is part of the Rapid Apecoin Integration Deployment (R.A.I.D) strategy, announced on August 31, 2025. This strategy aims to leverage Solana's extensive user base of over 100 million, along with its high-speed transactions, low fees, and active decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. The goal is to extend Apecoin's reach beyond Ethereum and facilitate seamless token swaps and improved liquidity through collaborations with platforms like Jupiter Exchange and Meteora.

🤝 The Apecoin DAO has emphasized that this initiative is a significant step towards multi-chain growth, which has garnered support from the community.

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🌏 Vitalik Buterin's Vision for Ethereum: Bridging East and West

🗣 At EthTokyo 2025, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin reflected on the blockchain's journey, emphasizing Asia's significant role in its development and outlining ambitious goals for the future. He highlighted the importance of global collaboration and shared interests in fostering a healthy community.

🔙 Buterin began by reminiscing about the early days of blockchain, dominated by Bitcoin advocates like Roger Ver. He noted that grassroots enthusiasm laid the groundwork for mainstream adoption, which was later shaped by institutional involvement.

🔧 On the technical side, Buterin expressed his strong support for Layer 2 solutions, which enhance Ethereum's scalability and interoperability. He set an ambitious target for Ethereum to scale 10x by next year while maintaining decentralization and security.

🌏 A key theme in Buterin's speech was Asia's pivotal role in Ethereum's history. He recalled that the PyEthereum client was developed in China and that early volunteers translated the Ethereum whitepaper into various Asian languages. These grassroots efforts were crucial in transforming Ethereum from an idea into a global phenomenon.

🇨🇳🇯🇵 Buterin also discussed the contrasting dynamics between Chinese and Japanese developer communities. China was characterized by rapid, large-scale projects, while Japan's developers were known for their early adoption of emerging technologies.

🔄 He pointed out a recurring pattern in technology: new breakthroughs often "reset" the ecosystem. For instance, zero-knowledge (zk) technologies have unlocked solutions to long-standing problems. Buterin predicted that the 2030s would bring another paradigm shift.

👥 While acknowledging the importance of core developers, Buterin urged the community to broaden participation. He encouraged Asian developers and researchers to focus on improving Ethereum's efficiency, security, and decentralization. He even suggested that AI could be a valuable tool for learning and onboarding in technical areas.

🌉 Throughout his address, Buterin emphasized the need to bridge East and West. He argued that the most vibrant communities prioritize shared interests over geographical or political divisions. In his view, Ethereum is a platform where global collaboration is essential.

💰 Buterin also revisited the controversial history of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). He acknowledged their flaws but argued that they allowed for inherently global projects in a way that venture capital often cannot due to regulatory barriers. He suggested that the future lies in reviving ICOs and DAO-based governance with a focus on open, transparent, and community-driven funding mechanisms.

🔮 In conclusion, Buterin's address at EthTokyo 2025 was both a reflection on the past and a call to action for the future. He emphasized that Ethereum thrives when it builds bridges—between technologies, generations, and cultures.

📢 Trump Urges Powell to Make a Larger Fed Rate Cut Ahead of FOMC Meeting

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🚀 Altcoin Season 2025 Is Heating Up

Bitcoin’s surge past $100K has lit the fuse — and now, altcoins are taking center stage. History shows that when BTC dominance peaks, capital begins rotating into high-beta assets, creating explosive opportunities.

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📈 Tom Lee Predicts Bitcoin and Ethereum Surge with Fed Rate Cuts

💬 Tom Lee, Chairman of Bitmine, has forecasted a potential sharp rally for bitcoin and ethereum within the next three months if the Federal Reserve initiates rate cuts. He emphasized that the Nasdaq-100, especially the "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks and the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, are likely to benefit from this move.

if the Fed moves ahead with expected rate cuts, the Nasdaq-100, particularly the “Magnificent Seven” tech stocks and the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, would stand to gain

📊 Lee also mentioned that small-cap stocks and financials could see significant advantages in a lower interest rate environment. His comments come amidst a backdrop of weakening jobs data and persistent inflation signals as markets assess the Fed's path towards easing policy.

could make a monster move in the next three months

🔮 For crypto investors, the prospect of rate cuts is viewed as a potential catalyst to boost liquidity and risk appetite, which could lead to increased momentum after a period of sideways trading. If Lee's predictions hold true, the upcoming quarter could be crucial not only for equities but also for digital assets like bitcoin and ethereum as investors adjust to a softer monetary policy environment.

⚠️ Bitcoin OP_RETURN Changes: A Threat to the Protocol, Says Saylor

👀 The Bitcoin community is currently facing a debate over recent proposals to modify node software. Some members support lifting the OP_RETURN limits to allow more data to be embedded directly on the blockchain, while others are concerned about the potential implications of these changes.

🗣 Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy and co-founder of the largest Bitcoin treasury company, has recently voiced his concerns about these proposed changes. He warns that modifications to the Bitcoin protocol could pose a threat to its future. Reflecting on past events such as the blocksize war that led to unsuccessful forks, Saylor stated,

Anybody that proposes to change the protocol has to be viewed as a threat to the entire community.

💥 He further emphasized that the strong opposition to these proposed changes is a healthy reaction. Saylor believes that any significant protocol change could escalate into a more serious issue. He cautioned that developers with good intentions who wish to upgrade the protocol can actually be a real risk to Bitcoin. He remarked,

If I want to destroy Bitcoin, I would just fund infinite developers who are very talented and tell them to make it better, you know, because then they would do something.

⚠️ Saylor concluded by urging caution regarding any improvements to the protocol, stating,

I think we should be extremely cautious about improving the protocol or anything that looks like an improvement to the protocol, because the lack of a feature is the feature.

His views suggest a preference for protocol ossification and limiting changes to Bitcoin due to its value as an investment asset. However, he acknowledged that changes aimed at fixing bugs or protecting the protocol would still be acceptable.

📝 New IRS Regulations Increase Complexity of Crypto Tax Reporting

⚠️ Bill Hughes, Senior Counsel at Consensys, has raised concerns about new Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations that will significantly complicate crypto tax reporting for holders with multiple wallets. Starting in April 2026, individuals will be required to report their cryptocurrency transactions on a wallet-by-wallet basis, rather than aggregating them across all wallets.

📜 The IRS Revenue Procedure 2024-28, issued last year, mandates that taxpayers must

identify and maintain records sufficient to show the total number of remaining digital asset units in each of the wallets or accounts held by the taxpayer.

This new requirement could lead to confusion among traders, potentially resulting in inaccurate tax filings.

🚨 Hughes warned of a "new level of tax hell" for the crypto industry, stating that

a lot of people’s taxes are going to be filed with simply a near-zero chance of being correct.

He emphasized the importance of seeking professional advice to navigate these complex regulations.

🗣 He attributed these challenging guidelines to the Biden Administration, expressing frustration over the lack of clarity they provide for both the IRS and crypto users. Despite this, he noted that the current administration has the ability to update these procedures, as they were not established through congressional action.

🙌 Hughes sarcastically thanked the Biden Administration for its crypto tax policy, calling it

truly a gift that keeps on giving.

⚡️ XRP’s DeFi Utility Expands With Launch of Liquid Staking Token mXRP

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🌏 Asia-Pacific Emerges as a Global Crypto Leader

🚀 The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is rapidly becoming a dominant force in the global cryptocurrency landscape, showcasing unprecedented adoption rates and transaction volumes. According to a recent report by blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, APAC has emerged as the fastest-growing crypto market worldwide, often surpassing North America in monthly transaction volumes.

📈 Chainalysis highlighted a significant increase in monthly on-chain value received, which grew from approximately $81 billion in July 2022 to a peak of $244 billion in December 2024—a threefold increase over 30 months.

Even after that peak, activity has remained strong above $185 billion per month through mid-2025.

The report noted that Japan experienced the strongest growth among APAC's top five markets, with on-chain value received increasing by 120% in the 12 months leading up to June 2025.

📊 Japan's rapid growth can be attributed to regulatory reforms, stablecoin licensing, and increased XRP trading volumes, indicating a shift in investor interest towards assets with real-world utility. In contrast, India's crypto market leads the region in on-chain transaction volume and ranks first in the 2025 Global Adoption Index.

💹 South Korea is characterized by speculative trading and rising stablecoin usage, while Vietnam focuses on remittance and gaming integration. Pakistan is adopting stablecoins to hedge against inflation. Smaller markets like Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong are developing regulatory frameworks to attract institutional capital and establish themselves as trusted hubs.

🌟 Chainalysis concluded that

APAC is now one of the most dynamic regions in global crypto adoption, with countries charting very different but equally impactful paths.

This highlights the diverse strategies and rapid developments within the region as it solidifies its position in the cryptocurrency economy.

🌍 Russia and Brazil Strengthen Ties to Influence Global Governance

🤝 Russia and Brazil are actively aligning their strategies within BRICS, the United Nations (UN), and the Group of 20 (G20) to enhance the influence of emerging economies and reshape global governance. This collaboration was highlighted during discussions between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira at the UN General Assembly’s 80th session.

On the international agenda, the ministers discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in multilateral forums, primarily in the UN, BRICS, which Brazil chairs this year, and the G20,

the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.

🌐 The expanded BRICS group now includes major emerging economies such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Indonesia, alongside its original five members—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. This expansion provides Brazil with a unique opportunity to shape the bloc’s agenda on development and cooperation during its chairmanship in 2025.

📈 Both countries are keen to influence multilateral institutions' direction. Russia seeks to use the BRICS platform to counterbalance Western influence, while their coordination within the G20 and UN aims to amplify the collective voice of emerging economies in trade, finance, and global security matters.

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💼 GENIUS Act: A Catalyst for Stablecoin Innovation and U.S. Financial Leadership

📈 The GENIUS Act has sparked a heated debate over stablecoin regulation as U.S. banks and digital asset companies clash over its implications. The Blockchain Association has stepped forward to defend the law, calling it a landmark in financial policy that clarifies digital asset markets and bolsters the country's position in global innovation.

✉️ In a letter to key Senate and House leaders, the Association expressed its strong support for the GENIUS Act, emphasizing that it should serve as the foundation for U.S. digital-asset policy. They highlighted that this legislation is the first comprehensive digital asset law requiring strict one-to-one reserves, transparency, and federal oversight. This framework is said to ensure consumer protection and regulatory certainty for entrepreneurs, encouraging them to operate within the U.S.

🚫 The letter also addressed concerns raised by major banks about the potential risks of stablecoins draining deposits and restricting lending. The Association argued that these claims are misleading, citing the significant difference between the $18 trillion held in U.S. bank deposits and the $277 billion in global stablecoins. They referenced a recent study that found no correlation between stablecoin adoption and community bank deposit outflows.

🔒 Emphasizing the importance of stability, the Association stated,

The choice is clear. GENIUS is settled law. It is working. And it must be defended.

While traditional banks view stablecoins as a potential risk, advocates argue they offer benefits such as faster payments, lower costs, and greater credit access. The Association warned that reversing the GENIUS Act would undermine investment and innovation, urging the U.S. to embrace this regulatory clarity to remain competitive in the global financial landscape.

🚀 Gumi's Blockchain Strategy Boosted by SBI Funding

💰 Gumi Inc., a Tokyo-based game developer and crypto strategy firm, is set to enhance its blockchain strategy following a significant funding round from SBI Securities Co. Ltd. On October 2, the company announced that its board approved the issuance of the 26th series of stock acquisition rights through a third-party allotment. This financing is expected to raise approximately ¥5.72 billion ($38.79 million) and will be primarily used for debt reduction and accelerating Gumi's blockchain growth.

Funds raised this time will be allocated not only to acquiring crypto assets such as bitcoin (BTC), XRP, and others that the company expects will exceed their current value in the future, but also to create synergies through staking and other business applications.

📈 Of the net proceeds, about ¥3 billion will be directed to repaying a loan from SBI Securities, ¥2 billion will be used for the purchase of XRP and bitcoin, and ¥719 million will go toward further blockchain investments. Gumi aims to combine asset purchases with staking activities to generate both capital gains and steady income.

🔗 Highlighting XRP as a priority, Gumi expressed its belief that it can strengthen business synergies by promoting joint development of new services in collaboration with Ripple and the SBI Group. The company emphasized XRP's strategic significance due to its role in international remittance systems and its alignment with SBI's financial network. While acknowledging volatility risks, Gumi's management maintains a long-term outlook, expecting XRP and other holdings to appreciate in value over time.

💣 Paul Tudor Jones Predicts Explosive Bull Market Amid Bitcoin’s ‘Uptober’ Rally 📈

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💰 Rezolve Ai Expands Payment Reach with Smartpay Acquisition

🌍 Rezolve Ai (NASDAQ: RZLV) has announced its acquisition of Smartpay, a digital-asset payments platform that processed over 19 million transactions worth more than $1 billion in the year ending September 30, 2025. This acquisition significantly expands Rezolve's payment capabilities in high-growth markets such as Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, and Angola.

🔗 The integration of Smartpay's infrastructure supports Rezolve's Multi-Asset Payment Initiative with Tether, which aims to incorporate USDT, BTC, and ETH into retail payments. This initiative seeks to create a merchant-fee-free, blockchain-based network with instant fiat settlement through Rezolve’s Brain Checkout technology. Rocelo Lopes, the founder of Smartpay, will spearhead Rezolve’s Digital Currency Initiative following the acquisition.

🤖 Additionally, this move aligns with Rezolve's roadmap for AI-driven “Agentic Commerce,” which focuses on enabling autonomous agents to execute real-time purchases using digital assets.

🍔 Steak 'n Shake Halts ETH Payment Poll Amid Bitcoin Maximalist Backlash

🚫 Steak 'n Shake recently suspended a Twitter poll regarding the acceptance of Ethereum (ETH) payments after facing significant criticism from Bitcoin maximalists. The chain stated,

Poll suspended. Our allegiance is with Bitcoiners. You have spoken. Who even allowed this? I’m back at my desk. — Steaktoshi.

📅 This decision came after the chain had previously announced its intention to explore ETH acceptance and promised to “abide by the results of this poll.” Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin responded positively to the suspension, calling it

a good decision

and commending businesses that prioritize their convictions over broad appeal. He stated,

Not every business should be trying to appeal to many customers as possible in the name of ‘not being maximalist’. We need the stubborn ones who believe in their cause and their tribe and see their work as a labor of love to it.