The Republic of Cyprus is firing warning shots at Cryptocurrency Service Providers (CSPs) who fail to register with relevant authorities. Following a proposal to amend the ‘Prevention and Suppression of Money Laundering Law’, CSPs could face penalties of up to €350,000, a five-year prison sentence, or both. This stringent approach seeks to align Cyprus with international standards established by the FATF and the Moneyval recommendations.
On a different note, OrdinalsBot, a service linking crypto engravings on Bitcoin, recently accomplished over $1M in seed funding. This significant capital injection will be instrumental in enhancing their API capabilities, inscription service, and continuous education initiatives, making the digital world more attainable for users worldwide.
In Zimbabwe, drastic shifts are taking place with the introduction of gold-backed digital tokens as a legitimate means of domestic transactions. The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, RBZ, assures that the tokens’ value will be supported by the nation’s substantial gold reserves, subject to regular external audits.
Interestingly, fraud in the crypto sphere remains a persistent issue. A perfect example is a classroom teacher in China who was swindled out of ¥4 million ($555,000), providing a stark reminder that crypto investments should be approached with caution and a sound understanding of the technology and associated risks.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and HK are making strides in artificial intelligence (AI) with the birth of AceGPT, an Arabic-focused AI system. This open-source Large Language Model addresses Arabic’s unique linguistic intricacies and aligns with the local culture’s sensitivities.
Lastly, the ever-evolving crypto markets continue to expand, with the recent listing of XRP Healthcare on Coinstore crypto-exchange. XRP Healthcare’s strategic move seeks to ride the wave of the burgeoning healthcare market in Africa, particularly Uganda. This aligns with Ripple Labs’ increasing presence in the region and the growing interest in crypto adoption across the continent.
However, as the crypto landscape continues to change, it exposes new challenges and opportunities. Hence, it’s critical to approach it with a balanced view, considering potential rewards and inherent risks.
Source: Cryptonews
