Binance has engaged in official discussions with Facebook and is “very excited” about the libra project, the exchange’s strategy officer Gin Chao told BlockTV in an interview on June 27. While Chao cautioned the talks were at an early stage, the executive said Binance was “looking forward to working with libra as much as we can.” He said: “I think the potential that libra can have, not just on mass adoption but what it means to payments and forcing regulators’ hands to catch up a bit, is all good news.” In a separate interview to Finance Magnates at the FinTech …

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson claimed that emerging markets are where cryptocurrencies matter, and that Facebook’s announced virtual currency Libra is not going to find success in this area, according to a report by Finance Magnates on June 26. According to Hoskinson, emerging markets are the future. He says: “Emerging markets are where cryptocurrencies matter [...] When I look at the developed world, I don’t care. It’s highly regulated and, in many cases, a rigged system. If I decide to compete with a tech company they can just push me out via regulation. [...] Then I sit down with the prime …

Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Kenneth Blanco briefed several members of the United States House on the potential for Libra’s use in money laundering, illicit financing, and other illegal activities, according to a press release from Representative Emanuel Cleaver II. Leading the meeting were Reps. Cleaver, Trey Hollingsworth, Bill Foster, and French Hill, all members of the Committee on Financial Services. Rep. Cleaver, chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy, said in his statement: “With the evolution of virtual currencies and new marketplaces, nefarious actors are continuously adapting to find new ways …

Galaxy Digital founder and crypto enthusiast Mike Novogratz has predicted that Bitcoin’s (BTC) price will stabilize between $10,000 and $14,000, in an interview with CNBC on June 27. Delivering his comments on CNBC’s Squawk Box show, Novogratz forecast that the leading digital currency will consolidate in the corridor between $10,000 and $14,000. Referring to Facebook’s entry into crypto with Libra, Novogratz said: “One of the largest companies in the world said we believe in cryptocurrencies. [...] If you’re an institutional investor who’s getting close and still worried about investing, it makes you that much more confident.” Novogratz’s comments follow Bitcoin’s …

European Union banks could have an instantaneous payments system in place by 2020, Reuters reports on June 26. Per the report, real-time payments have been possible in the eurozone since 2017, but only about half of the banks in the bloc adhered to the initiative. Still, Reuters notes that adoption may accelerate now that Facebook’s Libra stablecoin is shaping up to be a competitor to local banks. Director general of the European Payments Council (EPC) Etienne Goosse reportedly said that — regardless of the success of Facebook’s Libra’s project — competition from technology firms was here to stay, and banks …

Singapore’s central bank has held discussions with Facebook about its upcoming libra cryptocurrency, Bloomberg reported on June 27. Ravi Menon, the managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, reportedly acknowledged libra’s potential benefits — such as making payments cheaper or supporting the unbanked — but said the regulator needs to understand exactly how the tech giant’s system will work. As well as warning that it isn’t clear whether libra would offer a superior alternative to other electronic payment mechanisms, Menon said Singapore would be seeking assurances on security and privacy issues before making a regulatory decision. At a news …

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, bitcoin (BTC) bulls and founders of the Gemini crypto exchange, have seen their fortune more than double to hit a combined $1.45 billion following the fresh crypto market surge. Bloomberg reported the news on June 27. As early investors in bitcoin, the twins' wealth now stands at its highest since March 2018 and has soared 120% from $654 million as of January this year, Bloomberg claims. The current bitcoin bull-run has restored the twins to ‘bitcoin billionaires’ once again. As Bitcoin’s price ascent continues apace — surpassing the $13,000 price mark in a matter of hours …

The head of the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has urged regulators to develop standards in response to Facebook’s forthcoming cryptocurrency, Libra, Cointelegraph Deutschland reported on June 26 Speaking at the International Club Frankfurter Wirtschaftsjournalisten, BaFin President Felix Hufeld stressed that policymakers and regulators should not stand aside on the issue of Facebook’s Libra as considerable control questions could arise once the coin comes into use. Hufeld hinted at possible regulatory measures introduced by BaFin, but also pointed to the need for an international regulatory framework: "We certainly can not just watch. We will have to respond appropriately in …

Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau said that Facebook’s Libra stablecoin must comply with anti-money laundering regulation and seek banking licenses if it offers banking services, Reuters reports on June 25. Per the report, while Villeroy admitted during an interview with French magazine l’Obs that there was room to improve cross-border money transfers. He also pointed out that Facebook’s libra project has to comply existing banking regulation because “the risks are increased by the anonymity that Libra users would have.” Villeroy also touched on possible requirements for a banking license: “If the project seeks to go beyond payments …

Bitcoin (BTC) was already trading above $9,000 when Facebook formally unveiled its Libra cryptocurrency protocol. Despite many commentators arguing the current bitcoin price spike is due to the social media giant, a glance at data puts bitcoin’s momentum far ahead of Libra. As Cointelegraph reported, Facebook revealed a website for its cryptocurrency scheme on June 18, when BTC/USD was hovering around $9,200. After the website went live, the largest cryptocurrency actually dropped in price for several days before regaining ground to surge to current highs above $11,300. The bitcoin bull market began on April 1, seeing several peak-and-trough cycles but …

Jeremy Allaire, co-founder and CEO of payments company Circle, believes non-sovereign cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin (BTC) will continue to see growth despite the proliferation of new forms of digital assets such as Facebook’s Libra and stablecoins. During an interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box on June 24, Allaire argued that the cryptocurrency landscape will not evolve in a “winner takes all” direction, but that a range of different digital assets with varying degrees of autonomy and regulation will become broadly used by individuals and investors alike. Allaire made one prime distinction between different digital assets, pitting stablecoins and other asset-pegged cryptocurrencies …

The United States House Financial Services Committee will be holding a hearing on the social media giant Facebook’s proposed virtual currency Libra on July 17, according to a press release on June 24. The announcement comes by way of committee chairwoman Rep. Maxine Waters, who previously had called on Facebook to cease work on Libra until Congress and regulators had a chance to scrutinize the proposal: “Given the company’s troubled past, I am requesting that Facebook agree to a moratorium on any movement forward on developing a cryptocurrency until Congress and regulators have the opportunity to examine these issues and …