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? The Dinarian on Locals brings you the latest in news, interviews, in-depth conversations, and stories from across the blockchain and global communities—within and beyond cryptocurrency ?. Experts delve into how blockchain technology is reshaping industries, enhancing business networks ?, transforming transaction workflows, and advancing distributed ledger systems ??. We also explore intriguing topics that may venture into the realm of conspiracies—and so much more!
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🌐 BIS debates ending cross border CBDC project mBridge – report 🌐

Yesterday Bloomberg reported that the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is considering whether to shut down Project mBridge, the cross border CBDC payments platform developed in collaboration with the central banks of China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the UAE. In June Saudi Arabia joined at the same time as mBridge launched as a minimum viable product. Bloomberg cited sources saying the topic was discussed at last week’s International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank meetings. A concern is Russia’s ongoing enthusiasm for developing a similar sounding BRICS Bridge.

At a Group of 30 event in Washington on Saturday, BIS general manager AgustĆ­n Carstens was quoted as saying ā€œwe cannot directly support any project for the BRICS because we cannot operate with countries that are subject to sanctions — I want to be very clear about that.ā€ Both Russia and Iran are BRICS+ members.

mBridge’s design
mBridge enables commercial banks to make cross border payments via their central banks, using wholesale central bank digital currencies (wCBDCs). The design encourages direct local currency payments, sidestepping the need to use US dollars.

For cross border payments, banks often either use correspondent banks or keep bank accounts (nostro accounts) at the destination, which are expensive to maintain as they tie up capital. Hence, there are pros and cons with the mBridge design. A key advantage is banks don’t need to keep nostro accounts at the destination or use correspondent banking, saving considerable money.

On the flip side, a key reason for using the US dollar as an intermediate currency is because almost all currencies have their optimal FX rates against the dollar. In other words, local currency payments involve less attractive FX rates, which is why they haven’t taken off in a big way.

There’s some simple math involved here. Currently, there are 180 currencies, each with their best rate against the dollar. That’s 180 currency pairs, with relatively strong supply and demand. So it’s cheaper to go from Thai baht to USD to renminbi, than directly from baht to renminbi. That’s because the direct local currency route for 180 currencies translates to 16,110 currency pairs. If you spread the supply and demand across 16,110 pairs rather than 180, these are far more thinly traded so you no longer get good FX rates.

An obvious path is to choose an intermediate currency different from the US dollar. Notably, BRICS countries don’t seem keen on that. This FX cost issue is critical to mBridge’s viability, because FX makes up the largest proportion of cross border payment costs, by far. State-owned Chinese companies might feel obliged to use local currencies, but companies in other economies will demand the cheapest path.

China’s role in mBridge
China chairs the mBridge technical working group and developed some proprietary components, including a Chinese blockchain consensus mechanism. The Bloomberg piece was critical about allowing China such an important role in the project. China’s role is even greater because Hong Kong is involved and the UAE’s central bank representative spent a large part of his career at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. So three out of the four central banks have strong Chinese ties. However, the project started as a joint Hong Kong – Thailand initiative, so its location at the Hong Kong BIS Innovation Hub and the involvement of China were natural paths.

However, it’s not surprising the topic is being debated. Ledger Insights featured an opinion piece exploring the BIS dilemma in January. It concluded that if mBridge proves viable, then the central banks are likely to proceed with or without the BIS. Although it depends on their contracts with the BIS.

Since the January post, the BIS has launched Project AgorĆ”, another cross border CBDC project, but one that supports correspondent banking. Unlike mBridge which has two BRICS members in China and the UAE, no BRICS members are involved in AgorĆ”.

At SIBOS last week, two pieces of mBridge news reinforced the existence of this BIS debate around its future. Firstly, there was a surprising discussion about potentially integrating with Swift and even possibly including the dollar in future.

The second piece of news was the plan to open source the mBridge software. On the one hand, this might help to alleviate concerns about the dependence on China. However, it also makes it far easier for sanctioned countries to spin up a version of their own, without involving the BIS.

Should the BIS remain engaged?
In our January opinion piece, we concluded that IF mBridge proves viable, the central banks are likely to continue, with or without the BIS. With open source software, that’s even more probable. However, with the BIS involved, sanctioned countries will be prevented from engaging.

Payments are all about network effects. So if many more countries join mBridge rather than BRICS Bridge, that will support the effectiveness of sanctions and prevent mBridge morphing into BRICS Bridge. It brings the issue into focus: is mBridge about new payment efficiencies, or is it about an alternative to the status quo with the US dollar at the core?

At SIBOS, the former Governor of the People’s Bank of China, Zhou Xiaochuan, noted that ā€œIf the U.S. government would like to use the U.S. dollar as a sanction tool, it may reduce the feasibility of other countries to use the U.S. dollar.ā€ No matter one’s view on Russia or Iran, Governor Zhou’s statement is factual. Whether it’s mBridge or something entirely different, logically there will be strategies to circumvent using the dollar. We’ve reported on Russia iterating through several different paths, many involving crypto or DLT.

However, in the case of mBridge, the genie is already out of the bottle. It’s likely better for the BIS to engage than not.

https://www.ledgerinsights.com/bis-debates-ending-cross-border-cbdc-project-mbridge-report

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šŸš€ Bitcoin Hits New All-Time High – What’s Next?

Bitcoin reached a new peak of $118,254 on July 11, 2025, driven by institutional demand, favorable macro conditions, and supportive crypto regulations. With a 100%+ year-over-year surge, what's next for BTC?

šŸ”® Bitcoin Outlook

šŸ“† Short Term (6–12 Months)

  • Expect volatility post-ATH
  • Spot BTC ETFs attract significant capital
  • Potential range: $95K–$135K

šŸ•° Medium Term (1–3 Years)

  • 2024 halving impact continues
  • More institutions may adopt BTC as reserve/collateral
  • Global regulatory clarity boosts confidence
  • Potential range: $120K–$200K+

🌐 Long Term (5–10+ Years)

  • BTC may solidify as digital gold
  • Used in cross-border settlements and emerging markets
  • Scarcity (21M cap) drives value
  • Bullish case: $250K–$1M+
  • Bearish case: $20K–$50K (if tech/regulatory risks rise)

šŸ“Œ Key Drivers

  • Institutional adoption
  • Spot ETF flows
  • Crypto regulations
  • Fed interest rate policy
  • Lightning Network & Layer 2 scaling
  • Geopolitical uncertainty

šŸ’¬ TL;DR:
Bitcoin’s $118K breakout ...

00:00:07
Ripple CEO on partnership with BNY to serve as custodian of stablecoin
00:01:12
Brad Garlinghouse In Washington šŸš€

It’s time for a fair and open level playing field.

Under Gary Gensler it was quite the opposite.

  • Brad Garlinghouse
    July 9, 2025
00:01:56
šŸ‘‰ Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading

Custom AI assistants that print money in your sleep? šŸ”œ

The future of Crypto x AI is about to go crazy.

šŸ‘‰ Here’s what you need to know:

šŸ’  'Based Agent' enables creation of custom AI agents
šŸ’  Users set up personalized agents in < 3 minutes
šŸ’  Equipped w/ crypto wallet and on-chain functions
šŸ’  Capable of completing trades, swaps, and staking
šŸ’  Integrates with Coinbase’s SDK, OpenAI, & Replit

šŸ‘‰ What this means for the future of Crypto:

1. Open Access: Democratized access to advanced trading
2. Automated Txns: Complex trades + streamlined on-chain activity
3. AI Dominance: Est ~80% of crypto šŸ‘‰txns done by AI agents by 2025

🚨 I personally wouldn't bet against Brian Armstrong and Jesse Pollak.

šŸ‘‰ Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading
🚨 BREAKING NEWS: Ripple National Trust Bank! šŸ¦ šŸ‡ŗšŸ‡ø

Ripple has officially filed an application to become a national trust bank, aiming to launch what would be called Ripple National Trust Bank.

This move is designed to bring Ripple’s crypto and stablecoin operations under direct federal regulation and marks a major step toward mainstream integration with the U.S. financial system.

šŸ¤” What This Means:

šŸ”¹ If approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Ripple would be able to operate nationwide under federal oversight, expanding its crypto services and allowing it to settle payments faster and more efficiently—without relying on intermediary banks.

šŸ”¹ Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin would be regulated at both the state and federal level, setting a new benchmark for transparency and compliance in the stablecoin market.

šŸ”¹ Ripple has also applied for a Federal Reserve master account, which would let it hold reserves directly at the Fed and issue or redeem stablecoins outside normal banking hours, further strengthening ...

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PERSISTENCE Q2 SUMMARY & WHATS TO COME IN Q3 šŸ‘€

Q2’25 was a significant one as we laid the groundwork for multiple initiatives on our orange-themed road to BTCFi šŸ›£ļøšŸ§”

From being one of the first DEXs to deploy on Babylon, to going live with the beta-mainnet & onboarding new Persisters.

Read more šŸ‘‰ https://blog.persistence.one/2025/07/10/persistence-one-a-look-back-on-q2-2025-and-an-overview-of-whats-to-come-in-q3/

BTC Interop beta mainnet is back 🧔
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Musk Turns On Starlink to Save Iranians from Regime’s Internet Crackdown

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a visionary behind SpaceX, has flipped the switch on Starlink, delivering internet to Iranians amid a brutal regime crackdown.

This move comes on the heels of Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, as the Islamic Republic cuts off online access.

The former Department of Government Efficiency chief activated Starlink satellite internet service for Iranians on Saturday following the Islamic Republic's decision to impose nationwide internet restrictions.

As the Jerusalem PostĀ reports, that the Islamic Republic’s Communications Ministry announced the move, stating, "In view of the special conditions of the country, temporary restrictions have been imposed on the country’s internet."

This action followed a series of Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.

Starlink, a SpaceX-developed satellite constellation, provides high-speed internet to regions with limited connectivity, such as remote areas or conflict zones.

Elizabeth MacDonald, a Fox News contributor, highlighted its impact, noting, "Elon Musk turning on Starlink for Iran in 2022 was a game changer. Starlink connects directly to SpaceX satellites, bypassing Iran’s ground infrastructure. That means even during government-imposed shutdowns or censorship, users can still get online, and reportedly more than 100,000 inside Iran are doing that."

During the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, Starlink enabled Iranians to communicate and share footage globally despite network blackouts," she added.

MacDonald also mentioned ongoing tests of "direct-to-cell" capabilities, which could allow smartphone connections without a dish, potentially expanding access and supporting free expression and protest coordination.

Musk confirmed the activation, noting on Saturday, "The beams are on."

This follows the regime’s internet shutdowns, which were triggered by Israeli military actions.

Adding to the tension, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people on Friday, urging resistance against the regime.

"Israel's fight is not against the Iranian people. Our fight is against the murderous Islamic regime that oppresses and impoverishes you,ā€ he said.

Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch,Ā called onĀ military and security forces to abandon the regime, accusing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a Persian-language social mediaĀ postĀ of forcing Iranians into an unwanted war.

Starlink has been a beacon in other crises. Beyond Iran, Musk has leveraged Starlink to assist people during natural disasters and conflicts.

In the wake of hurricanes and earthquakes, Starlink has provided critical internet access to affected communities, enabling emergency communications and coordination.

Similarly, during the Ukraine-Russia conflict, Musk activated Starlink to support Ukrainian forces and civilians, ensuring they could maintain contact and access vital information under dire circumstances.

The genius entrepreneur, is throwing a lifeline to the oppressed in Iran, and the libs can’t stand it.

Conservative talk show host Mark Levin praised Musk’s action,Ā repostingĀ a message stating that Starlink would "reconnect the Iranian people with the internet and put the final nail in the coffin of the Iranian regime."

"God bless you, Elon. The Starlink beams are on in Iran!" LevinĀ wrote.

Musk, who recently stepped down from leading the DOGE in the Trump administration, has apologized to President Trump for past criticisms, including his stance on the One Big Beautiful Bill.

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If you find value in my content, consider showing your support via:

šŸ’³ PayPal:Ā 
1) Simply scan the QR code below šŸ“²
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šŸ”— Crypto – Support via Coinbase Wallet to: [email protected]

Or Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thedinarian

Your generosity keeps this mission alive, for all! NamastĆ© šŸ™ Crypto Michael ⚔ Ā The Dinarian

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GENIUS Act lets State banks conduct some business nationwide. Regulators object

The Senate passed the GENIUS Act for stablecoins last week, but significant work remains before it becomes law. The House has a different bill, the STABLE Act, with notable differences that must be reconciled. State banking regulators have raised strong objections to a provision in the GENIUS Act that would allow state banks to operate nationwide without authorization from host states or a federal regulator.

The controversial clause permits a state bank with a regulated stablecoin subsidiary to provide money transmitter and custodial services in any other state. While host states can impose consumer protection laws, they cannot require the usual authorization and oversight typically needed for out-of-state banking operations.

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors welcomed some changes in the GENIUS Act but remains adamantly opposed to this particular provision. In a statement, CSBS said:

ā€œCritical changes must be made during House consideration of the legislation to prevent unintended consequences and further mitigate financial stability risks. CSBS remains concerned with the dramatic and unsupported expansion of the authority of uninsured banks to conduct money transmission or custody activities nationwide without the approval or oversight of host state supervisors (Sec. 16(d)).ā€

The National Conference of State Legislatures expressed similar concerns in early June, stating:

ā€œWe urge you to oppose Section 16(d) and support state authority to regulate financial services in a manner that reflects local conditions, priorities and risk tolerances. Preserving the dual banking system and respecting state autonomy is essential to the safety, soundness and diversity of our nation’s financial sector.ā€

Evolution of nationwide authorization

Section 16 addresses several issues beyond stablecoins, including preventing a recurrence of the SEC’s SAB 121, which forced crypto assets held in custody onto balance sheets. However, the nationwide authorization subsection was added after the legislation cleared the Senate Banking Committee, with two significant modifications since then.

Originally, the provision applied only to special bank charters like Wyoming’s Special Purpose Depository Institutions or Connecticut’s Innovation Banks. Examples include crypto-focused Custodia Bank and crypto exchange Kraken in Wyoming, plus traditional finance player Fnality US in Connecticut. Recently the scope was expanded to cover most state chartered banks with stablecoin subsidiaries, possibly due to concerns about competitive advantages.

Simultaneously, the clause was substantially tightened. The initial version allowed state chartered banks to provide money transmission and custody services nationwide for any type of asset, which would include cryptocurrencies. Now these activities can only be conducted by the stablecoin subsidiary, and while Section 16(d) doesn’t explicitly limit services to stablecoins, the GENIUS Act currently restricts issuers to stablecoin related activities.

However, the House STABLE Act takes a more permissive approach, allowing regulators to decide which non-stablecoin activities are permitted. If the House version prevails in reconciliation, it could result in a significant expansion of allowed nationwide banking activities beyond stablecoins.

Is it that bad?

As originally drafted, the clause seemed overly permissive.

The amended clause makes sense for stablecoin issuers. They want to have a single regulator and be able to provide the stablecoin services throughout the United States. But it also leans into the perception outside of crypto that this is just another form of regulatory arbitrage.

The controversy over Section 16(d) reflects concerns about creating a regulatory gap that allows banks to operate interstate without the oversight typically required from either federal or state authorities. As the two Congressional chambers work toward reconciliation, lawmakers must decide whether stablecoin legislation should include provisions that effectively reduce traditional banking oversight requirements.

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šŸ™ Donations Accepted šŸ™

If you find value in my content, consider showing your support via:

šŸ’³ PayPal:Ā 
1) Simply scan the QR code below šŸ“²
2) or visit https://www.paypal.me/thedinarian

šŸ”— Crypto – Support via Coinbase Wallet to: [email protected]

Or Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thedinarian

Your generosity keeps this mission alive, for all! NamastĆ© šŸ™ Crypto Michael ⚔ Ā The Dinarian

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Dubai regulator VARA classifies RWA issuance as licensed activity
Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) leads global regulatory framework - makes RWA issuance licensed activity in Dubai.

Real-world assets (RWAs) issuance is now licensed activity in Dubai.

~ Actual law.
~ Not a legal gray zone.
~ Not a whitepaper fantasy.

RWA issuance and listing on secondary markets is defined under binding crypto regulation.

It’s execution by Dubai.

Irina HeaverĀ explained:

ā€œRWA issuance is no longer theoretical. It’s now a regulatory reality.ā€

VARA defined:

- RWAs are classified as Asset-Referenced Virtual Assets (ARVAs)

- Secondary market trading is permitted under VARA license

- Issuers need capital, audits, and legal disclosures

- Regulated broker-dealers and exchanges can now onboard and trade them

This closes the gap that killed STOs in 2018.

No more tokenization without venues.
No more assets without liquidity.

UAE is doing what Switzerland, Singapore, and Europe still haven’t:

Creating enforceable frameworks for RWA tokenization that actually work.

Matthew White, CEO of VARA, said it perfectly:

ā€œTokenization will redefine global finance in 2025.ā€

He’s not exaggerating.

$500B+ market predicted next year.

And the UAE just gave it legal rails.

~Real estate.
~Private credit.
~Shariah-compliant products.

Everything is in play.

This is how you turn hype into infrastructure.

What Dubai is doing now is 3 years ahead of everyone else.

Founders, investors, ecosystem builders:

You want to build real-world assets onchain.

Don’t waste another year waiting for clarity.

Come to Dubai.

It’s already here.

Ā 

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šŸ™ Donations Accepted šŸ™

If you find value in my content, consider showing your support via:

šŸ’³ PayPal:Ā 
1) Simply scan the QR code below šŸ“²
2) or visit https://www.paypal.me/thedinarian

šŸ”— Crypto – Support via Coinbase Wallet to: [email protected]

Or Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thedinarian

Your generosity keeps this mission alive, for all! NamastĆ© šŸ™ Crypto Michael ⚔ Ā The Dinarian

Ā 

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