SEC nearly doubles Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit size

SEC nearly doubles Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit size

This morning the Securities and Exchange Commission said it would create an additional 20 positions in the unit overseeing crypto markets and internet-based threats. It also announced that the unit would be renamed Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit, previously known as the Cyber Unit, to reflect its additional crypto-based purview.

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How might Roe v. Wade’s overturning affect finance?

How might Roe v. Wade’s overturning affect finance?

A draft majority opinion leaked by Politico suggests the Supreme Court will overturn reproductive rights as they are enshrined in Roe v. Wade. “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” Supreme Court Justice Alito writes.

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Study suggests El Salvador’s bitcoin project has failed

Study suggests El Salvador’s bitcoin project has failed

A study by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research has deemed El Salvador’s decision to accept bitcoin as legal tender to have been an economic failure. The cryptocurrency has failed to spread as a popular medium of exchange, and cost the country up to 1% of its GDP.

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Bank shareholders vote down climate-change proposals

Proposals at annual shareholder meetings for Citigroup, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo would have pushed management to curb lending for projects in oil and gas. The proposals received between 11% and 12.8% votes in favor.

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Super Bowl ads and the future of crypto trading

After dumping millions into advertisements for the Big Game earlier this year, market insights experts said they failed to see an influx of retail investors. Sources cited market uncertainty, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as reasons for the tepid response.

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Boosting its SWIFT alternative, Russia keeps members under wraps

In a speech to the country’s legislators, Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina announced that members of Russia’s alternative to SWIFT, the international payments network, would be kept anonymous. She said 52 institutions from 12 countries currently participate in the network.

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JPMorgan finances $285B for ESG goals

In its ESG report for 2021, JPMorgan announced that it had financed and facilitated $285B toward various ESG goals, including development finance, green projects, and community development. It’s part of its larger goal to commit $2.5T toward ESG initiatives over the next decade.

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Majority of central banks mull CBDCs

According to PwC, 80% of central banks worldwide are considering rolling out a central bank digital currency (CBDC). PwC estimates the larger stablecoin ecosystem to be worth $190B.

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Citigroup pauses SPACs, awaits regulation

Citigroup pauses SPACs, awaits regulation

The financial giant said it would temporarily halt public offerings through special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). It’s concerned about increased oversight into SPACs from the SEC, which has yet to solidify specific guidelines.

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Dimon’s shareholder letter: A subtle fintech strategy

Dimon’s shareholder letter: A subtle fintech strategy

In his annual letter to shareholders, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon shared his concerns about global volatility caused by the war in Ukraine, inflation, as well as consumer confidence. He also called for a “Marshall Plan” for decarbonization.

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Morgan Stanley doubts DeFi growth

Morgan Stanley doubts DeFi growth

In a research report, Morgan Stanley said it expects growth within decentralized finance to slow down. It cited regulation and overcollateralization as the two primary factors affecting DeFi’s deceleration.

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Lithuanian fintech harbors Ukrainian refugees

Lithuanian fintech harbors Ukrainian refugees

Paysera, a Lithuanian company handling payments for online stores and retail customers, has refurbished the fourth floor of its global offices to house 16 Ukrainian refugees. It’s also halted payments to and from Russia in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

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Qualcomm to dive into the metaverse

Qualcomm to dive into the metaverse

The tech giant announced yesterday that it’s created a $100M fund to invest in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). The fund is called the Snapdragon Metaverse Fund.

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CFPB expands anti-discrimination enforcement

CFPB expands anti-discrimination enforcement

On Wednesday, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that discrimination associated with any financial product is illegal. The Bureau has primarily concerned itself with discrimination in credit.

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Nium debuts SWIFT alternative

Nium debuts SWIFT alternative

The global payments firm launched a new brokerage payments solution that lets international FIs settle transactions with certain U.S. brokerages. This system is up to 90% cheaper for customers than SWIFT.

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