Thurs. AM-PM Seeds of Wisdom Crypto Update(s) 9-12-24

(Note: If you’re looking for more news regarding cryptocurrency, please visit our website Bitcoin Commando. All crypto news will be posted there. ~ Dinar Chronicles)

Seeds of Wisdom

UK Introduces Bill To Recognize Digital Assets As Personal Property

The UK government introduced the Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill to Parliament on September 11, 2024. The legislation aims to classify cryptocurrencies, non-fungible tokens, and digital carbon credits as personal property under English and Welsh law.

Classification of these digital assets as personal property, placing them in a new, third category alongside traditional “things in possession” (such as physical objects) and “things in action” (such as debts or shares).

This new classification acknowledges the unique nature of digital assets, which don’t fit neatly into existing property law categories.

This marks the first time digital assets will be explicitly recognized in British property law. By recognizing digital assets as personal property, the bill would grant them legal protections similar to those afforded to physical assets. This change could significantly impact how digital assets are treated in various legal contexts, from ownership disputes to inheritance cases.

The legislation also aims to provide a framework for judges to navigate complex cases involving digital assets. The press release specifically mentions that this could prove valuable in scenarios like divorce settlements, where the division of digital holdings may be contested.

In a press release, Justice Minister Heidi Alexander stated, “It is essential that the law keeps pace with evolving technologies and this legislation will mean that the sector can maintain its position as a global leader in cryptoassets and bring clarity to complex property cases.“

Long Road To Law Still Ahead

The bill is at the initial stage of the legislative process. It has been introduced in Parliament, which is a formality that takes place without debate. At this stage, the bill has no legal force. It is essentially a proposal for a new law.

Next steps
▪️Second reading: A general debate on the bill’s principles
▪️Committee stage: Detailed examination and possible amendments
▪️Report stage: Further amendments may be proposed
Third reading: Final chance for debate and amendments
The other House: The bill goes through similar stages in the other chamber
▪️Royal Assent: If passed by both Houses, the bill receives Royal Assent and becomes law

The process can take months or even longer, depending on the complexity of the bill and the level of political consensus. The bill could pass as is, be amended during the process, or fail to become law if it doesn’t gain enough support. If passed, the government will determine when different provisions of the Act come into force, which may be done in stages.

Crypto Laws Evolving Globally

According to an article from the World Economic Forum website, cryptocurrency regulation is undergoing significant changes worldwide. The UK is not alone in its efforts to create a legal framework for digital assets.

Many countries and regions, including the US, European Union, Japan, and Brazil, are actively developing or have already implemented regulations in this area. For example, the EU has introduced comprehensive crypto-asset regulation, while Brazil has appointed its central bank as the supervisory body for crypto assets.

The UK’s initiative to recognize digital assets as personal property aligns with the global trend towards creating clearer legal frameworks for cryptocurrencies and other digital assets.

However, as highlighted above, the UK bill is only at the initial stage of the legislative process.

It is likely that international trends and experiences from other countries will be taken into account during the discussion and refinement of the bill. This could contribute to the creation of a more harmonized approach to regulating digital assets at a global level.

@ Newshounds News™

Source: Forbes

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Layer 1 Blockchains: Overcrowded and Overhyped? The Real Story

▪️Layer 1 (L1) blockchains are rapidly emerging but struggle to gain market traction against established platforms.
▪️Developers are divided on L1 versus Layer 2 (L2) solutions, each offering unique benefits for scalability.
▪️L2 solutions may streamline the ecosystem, but L1 innovation remains essential to push blockchain technology forward.

The cryptocurrency industry has witnessed an explosion of Layer 1 (L1) solutions, each offering unique promises of scalability, decentralization, and improved user experience.

Yet, despite the rise in L1 platforms, many of the same challenges persist. With the growing popularity of Layer 2 (L2) solutions that address these scalability concerns, questions arise about the value of constantly launching new L1 blockchains.

BeInCrypto spoke to three key blockchain developers—Jack O’Holleran from Skale Labs, Charles Wayn from Galxe, and Matt Katz from Caldera—to unpack this issue. Their insights highlight the industry’s struggle with scalability, the rise of L2 solutions, and the fierce competition among both new and established L1 platforms.

The Layer 1 Glut: Solving or Exacerbating Problems?

L1 blockchains form the foundation of decentralized networks, powering decentralized apps (dApps) and protocols. Ethereum, Bitcoin, and a handful of other L1 chains dominate the market. Still, new contenders appear regularly, aiming to resolve blockchain’s most persistent challenges.

However, the influx of new L1 blockchains raises a critical question: Do we need more, or are we over-complicating the ecosystem without delivering real improvement?

Jack O’Holleran, co-founder of Skale Labs, believes the L1 market has become overcrowded. He argues that while many L1 projects are emerging, only a few are gaining meaningful traction.

“The Layer 1 market has been crowded from a narrative and new token perspective, but a much smaller quantity of chains are actually executing in terms of market traction,” O’Holleran

O’Holleran pointed to metrics from CoinGecko, noting that the majority of developer and user momentum is consolidating around the top 10 blockchains. Even when a new L1 presents a novel solution, O’Holleran emphasizes that it’s not enough to guarantee success.

“Right now, there is a struggle for new chains to get a foothold in the developer market. They are getting user traction via airdrop mechanisms but are having trouble capturing market share with net new applications,” O’Holleran told BeInCrytpo.

The competition in the L1 space has intensified, with new projects needing to be significantly better than existing ones to make an impact. O’Holleran believes we are at a point where only the strongest L1s will survive.

A Case for New L1 Blockchains

However, not everyone agrees that the market is oversaturated. Charles Wayn, co-founder of Galxe and Gravity, sees the proliferation of new L1 chains as a sign of innovation. His company recently launched its own L1 solution, Gravity, to address scalability challenges within its platform.

“The Layer 1 space has exploded, with many new blockchains entering the market,” Wayn said. According to him, these new L1 blockchains are not just redundant but bring scalability and specialization to the forefront.

“Older blockchains struggle with congestion and high fees, while newer L1s offer better throughput and transaction costs,” Wayn added.

Wayn also noted that some of these emerging L1s are incorporating advanced technologies like Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), enhancing privacy and security. His perspective reflects the growing demand for niche or specialized L1 chains that address specific industry needs.

Gravity, for instance, focuses on cross-chain interactions, providing an omnichain infrastructure that general-purpose blockchains like Ethereum may not address as efficiently. For him, the introduction of new L1s keeps the development ecosystem agile and responsive to real-world challenges.

Layer 2 Solutions: The Future of Scalability?

While the debate over the need for new L1 blockchains continues, L2 solutions have become a popular alternative. L2 solutions aim to improve scalability by building on top of existing L1 chains, alleviating the need for entirely new blockchain infrastructures.

Matt Katz, co-founder and CEO of Caldera, advocates for L2 solutions. His company’s “rollup-as-a-service” platform helps developers quickly create L2 chains for Ethereum.

“Ultimately, the distinction between an L1 and an L2 primarily involves implementation details and affects the overall architecture of the blockchain,” Katz told BeInCrypto.

He believes that while L1s provide the foundation, L2 solutions offer developers more flexibility without the overhead of building an entirely new blockchain. Katz also highlighted the interoperability issues that many new L1 blockchains face.

“L1 blockchains, in contrast to L2 solutions, lack native, built-in bridges to Ethereum. This absence exacerbates the issue of liquidity fragmentation, introducing significant friction when bridging assets,” he said.

In contrast, L2 solutions benefit from built-in bridges that align with the security model of the chain, making them more efficient and secure. Despite his support for L2 development, Katz acknowledged that the influx of new L1s can harm the ecosystem. Too many L1s can lead to fragmentation, liquidity issues, and increased competition, which in turn can stifle innovation.

The Path Forward: L1 or L2?

The blockchain industry faces a critical decision: should the focus shift from launching new L1 blockchains to refining existing L2 solutions? Both approaches have their merits, and it’s clear that no single solution will address all scalability concerns.

O’Holleran argues that the market will naturally filter out weaker L1 chains, leaving only those that provide real value. Wayn, on the other hand, believes new L1 blockchains are essential for innovation, while Katz sees L2 solutions as a way to streamline the ecosystem.

Ultimately, the path forward will depend on how developers and users balance the need for innovation with the desire for a more scalable and interoperable blockchain ecosystem. Whether through L1 or L2 solutions, the goal remains the same: to build a blockchain infrastructure that can support the demands of a growing digital economy.

@ Newshounds News™

Source: BeinCrypto

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Source: Dinar Recaps

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UAE’s RAKBANK USES mBRIDGE WHOLESALE CBDC SOLUTION FOR CHINESE PAYMENT

Earlier this week the UAE’s RAKBANK confirmed it made its first cross border payment using the mBridge platform. mBridge is multi-wholesale CBDC payment solution founded by the BIS Innovation Hub and the central banks of Thailand, Hong Kong, China and the UAE, with Saudi Arabia joining in June. In the same month, the central banks launched the minimum viable product (MVP) version of mBridge.

A key advantage is transactions can be sent directly from the sending bank to the recipient bank without the need to rely on correspondent banks as intermediaries. Hence, it aims to make payments faster, cheaper and more transparent.

“The successful transfer of eCNY to our correspondent in China is a game-changer in several respects,” said Vikas Suri, Co-Head of Wholesale Banking Group at RAKBANK. “It’s one of the first UAE-led foreign currency transfers e******d in local currencies without involving a third currency to China and without using conventional payment rails.

This is a gamechanger that paves the way for instant blockchain based CBDC exchanges with payment versus payment, fundamentally altering how we approach international payments.”

A typical transaction would start with the bank buying wholesale CBDC dirhams. On the mBridge platform, the wholesale dirhams are exchanged for eCNY, and the eCNY is transferred to the recipient bank. The peer-to-peer nature of the transaction removes the need to hold Nostro balances offshore or to make any additional interbank payments.

The technology for the mBridge platform was developed by the Chinese central bank’s Digital Currency Research Institute, using a bespoke consensus mechanism, but borrowing some elements from Ethereum.

Last year the UAE started working with enterprise blockchain firm R3 for wholesale and retail CBDC. R3 said its Corda-based issuance layer technology was used for the mBridge payment, which would require some integration between Corda and the mBridge platform. We’ve requested details but didn’t receive a response in time for publication.

Chinese banks promote mBridge involvement

Meanwhile, various Chinese banks and Tencent promoted their involvement in mBridge payments in June, following the launch of the minimum viable product (MVP). In July, the Agricultural Bank of China said it successfully handled its first live mBridge transaction for a manufacturer. And last month, ICBC said it received eCNY via mBridge for one of its clients in Liuzhou.

The fact that mBridge transactions are still newsworthy means there’s a slowly, slowly approach as one might expect at the MVP stage.

@ Newshounds News™

Source: Ledger Insights

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FIRST U.S. XRP TRUST BY GRAYSCALE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

▪️Grayscale has launched the first U.S. XRP Trust, aiming to provide institutional exposure to XRP’s unique cross-border payment capabilities.
▪️The trust could be converted into an ETF, pending SEC approval, signaling potential mainstream adoption of XRP.

Grayscale Investments has officially launched its first U.S.-based XRP Trust, causing waves in the cryptocurrency market. At the time of writing, XRP is trading around $0.5713, up 7.45% over the last 24 hours.

This price increase has been attributed to Grayscale’s launch of the XRP Trust, which has prompted increased interest in the digital asset. Additionally, XRP’s 24-hour trading volume has increased by more than 70%, hitting $1.424 billion, indicating that the market has reacted positively to this news.

This development was also highlighted by blockchain researcher Collin Brown, who stated that this marks a major step towards a potential ETF.

@ Newshounds News™

Source: Crypto News Flash  

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STABLECOINS REDEFINE FINANCIAL ACCESS IN EMERGING MARKETS, REPORT FINDS

Stablecoins have evolved from niche crypto tools to mainstream financial asset used to hedge against economic uncertainty.

Stablecoins have transformed financial access in emerging markets, becoming essential tools for millions seeking stability in volatile economies, according to a recent research report.

The report, Stablecoins: The Emerging Market Story, was sponsored by Visa and developed in collaboration with Allium Labs and Castle Island Ventures. It revealed that stablecoins have evolved from niche crypto tools into mainstream financial assets.

According to the report, stablecoin usage has surged across countries like Brazil, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey, where traditional banking systems often struggle to meet users’ needs.

Everyday financial tool

The report noted that stablecoins initially served as a tool for traders and exchanges to settle transactions in the crypto world. However, their usage quickly expanded to meet the everyday needs of users in emerging markets.

The study also highlighted that stablecoins, particularly Tether (USDT), became the most trusted digital asset due to their wide network effects and established liquidity

Approximately 47% of people surveyed as part of the study use stablecoins to hold digital dollars as an alternative to unreliable local banking systems, while 43% of respondentonss favor stablecoins for more efficient currency conversi.

The report estimated that stablecoins settled $2.6 trillion in transactions during the first half of 2024, with over 20 million blockchain addresses making stablecoin transactions each month. This rapid growth reflects the increasing appeal of stablecoins for various everyday financial activities, not just for crypto trading.

Safety from economic uncertainty

The report emphasized that stablecoins played a crucial role in advancing financial inclusion across emerging markets, particularly in countries where access to traditional banking remains limited or unreliable.

In regions with high inflation or volatile local currencies, such as Argentina and Venezuela, stablecoins allowed individuals to hold digital dollars, offering a stable alternative to local currencies. This provided users with the ability to preserve the value of their savings without the need for a traditional bank account, which was often inaccessible or untrustworthy.

Stablecoins also helped bridge the financial gap for those who lacked access to USD-based banking systems. In countries like Nigeria, where the banking infrastructure struggled to offer easy access to US dollars, stablecoins enabled people to store value, make payments, and conduct cross-border transactions more efficiently.

This opened up financial opportunities for millions who would otherwise be excluded from stable and secure financial systems, making stablecoins a powerful tool for financial inclusion in the developing world.

Growth expected to continue

While the adoption of stablecoins raised concerns about “crypto-dollarization” in certain countries, the report showed that stablecoins were set to play an even larger role in global finance.

According to the survey, 72% of respondents expected to increase their stablecoin usage in the next year. The growth was driven by the efficiency, speed, and accessibility of stablecoins for cross-border payments, payroll, and remittances, particularly in areas where traditional financial systems lagged.

The report concluded that stablecoins had firmly established themselves as a viable alternative to traditional banking systems, offering emerging market users a secure and stable way to manage their finances. As stablecoin regulation evolved globally, their role in everyday financial transactions was expected to grow.

@ Newshounds News™

Source: Crypto Slate

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RIPPLE AND NYU ABU DHABI RENEW BLOCKCHAIN RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP IN UAE

▪️Ripple renews its $1 million partnership with NYU Abu Dhabi to boost blockchain research and innovation in the UAE.
▪️Ripple’s strategic collaborations, including UBRI, help advance blockchain technology and digital finance globally.

Ripple has renewed its strategic partnership with NYU Abu Dhabi through the University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI). This renewal demonstrates Ripple’s continuous commitment to fostering blockchain research and innovation in the UAE and the broader Middle East.

Ripple Expands Its Blockchain Research Investment in UAE

The collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi has increased Ripple’s overall funding for blockchain research and student initiatives at the university to more than $1 million. Reece Merrick, Ripple Managing Director, Middle East, and Africa, stated:

“Ripple and NYU Abu Dhabi share a vision of unlocking the full potential of blockchain research and innovation in the region.”

The cooperation is critical to Ripple’s aim of expanding its footprint in the UAE, developing talent, and encouraging the use of blockchain technology in both the academic and financial sectors.

This expanded engagement is part of Ripple’s overall strategy to compete for a sizable share of the global payment ecosystem. As Ripple Labs seeks to increase the utility of XRP, the company has deliberately focused on key regions with high regulatory certainty and commercial potential.

Recently, as we previously reported, Ripple Labs expressed confidence that the Federal Reserve’s FedNow system might benefit XRP by facilitating speedier cross-border payments via XRP Ledger. This puts Ripple at the vanguard of digital financial innovation, as it competes with other payment alternatives on a worldwide scale.

In addition to increasing its blockchain footprint in the UAE, Ripple is looking into stablecoin potential. Ripple has prioritized the United States for the launch of its USD-backed stablecoin, with ambitions to expand into the Japanese market after regulatory approval is acquired.

Japan’s strong legislative environment makes it an appealing market for stablecoin development, according to Ripple’s CEO. This strategic objective aims to strengthen Ripple’s competitive position and expand the adoption of the XRP Ledger across various markets and financial systems.

Ripple’s research investments extend beyond NYU Abu Dhabi. The UBRI program includes 58 colleges worldwide, and Ripple has invested more than $60 million since the initiative’s start in 2018.

This includes offering financing to prestigious universities such as Morgan State University and the National University of Singapore, highlighting Ripple’s global reach. These collaborations play an important role in advancing academic research, increasing financial awareness, and boosting global acceptance of digital assets.

Furthermore, Ripple’s rising presence in the UAE is consistent with the country’s objectives to become a global center for financial and technical innovation. Collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi allows Ripple to promote blockchain research while also contributing to the UAE’s goal of cultivating a tech-savvy workforce.

The university’s Ripple Blockchain Collaboratory has been instrumental in the development of fintech and blockchain firms, both of which are critical to the country’s digital economy.

@ Newshounds News™

Source: Crypto News Flash

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Source: Dinar Recaps

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