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Head of Portugal central bank deems crypto unsustainable, calls for global regulation

Mário Centeno praised the European Union’s first comprehensive crypto framework, MiCA, but insisted on further international consolidation of regulatory efforts.

Mário Centeno, the governor of Banco de Portugal, joins a chorus of regulators claiming that national efforts to oversee crypto wouldn’t work correctly without a global framework. 

A section of Mário Centeno’s speech. Source: Publicnow.com

In his opening speech at the 2023 Banco de Portugal Financial Stability Conference on Oct. 2, Centeno called for international cooperation to set up a “robust framework” and avoid the possibility of “regulatory arbitrage:”

“It would be short-sighted to believe that regulating and supervising these global risks and international players at the national level will suffice.”

Speaking of crypto assets and decentralized finance, Centeno mentioned the “undeniable risk” of their inviability in the long run. The official expressed his disbelief in the democratizing potential of digital assets and even their ability to ultimately survive: 

“These volatile products experienced an enormous surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic but proved to be unsustainable and, unsurprisingly, culminated in the collapse of several products.”

Centeno praised the European Union’s first comprehensive crypto framework, the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations, but insisted on further international consolidation of regulatory efforts under the principle of “same risk, same regulation.” 

Related: Brazil’s crypto surge prompts central bank to tighten regulation

Roughly the same sentiment was recently expressed by the executive director of strategy, policy and control at the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority. In a blog post, Rupert Schaefer acknowledged the apparent progress in regulating crypto with MiCA adoption in the EU but prompted about the inconsistencies existing on a global scale.

In August, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called for global collaboration on formulating crypto regulations during the annual G20 summit.

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$500M WBTC Burned in the Wake of Coinbase’s Delisting Move

Gemini invests $24M for expansion in India

Launched in May, the Gemini Gurgaon Hub has since added over 70 staff.

Cryptocurrency exchange Gemini is allocating 2 billion rupees ($24 million) for its expansion in India.

According to the Sept. 26 announcement, the funds will be used to grow Gemini’s development center in Gurgaon. The exchange said: 

“Our teams based in Gurgaon will also be responsible for core platform fundamentals in the areas of compliance, data pipelines and warehousing, security, and payments, complementing our 500+ strong global workforce.”

Since its initial launch in May, the Gemini Gurgaon Development Center has expanded to over 70 staff, with active hiring for software engineers, technical product managers, talent acquisition, finance, support and compliance. In supporting the expansion, Gemini cited the Indian government’s “robust support framework that allows startups to thrive.” The site also acts as a developer for the exchange’s new features in nonfungible tokens and asset marketplaces.

In April, Gemini disclosed “big plans for international growth this year in APAC,” referring to the Asia-Pacific region. Its India operations are expected to be the second-largest behind only Gemini’s United States headquarters. Pravjit Tiwana, the firm’s CEO for the APAC region, called India a “global hub for entrepreneurship and technological development.”

India has been actively adopting blockchain technology, with around 50% of local and state-level governments incorporating it in their data management systems and verifiable certificate issuances. In a recent survey, over 56% of Indian firms expressed interest in enterprise blockchain in a country with an estimated Web3 developer base of 10 million individuals. Between 2021 and 2022, 450 Web3 startups in India received $1.5 billion in investments. 

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$18,900,000,000 in US Treasuries Dumped by BRICS Members China, Brazil, India and UAE in One Month

,900,000,000 in US Treasuries Dumped by BRICS Members China, Brazil, India and UAE in One Month

Several members of the economic alliance known as BRICS are discarding billions of dollars worth of assets backed by the US government. New numbers from the Treasury Department show China is leading the charge, reducing its holdings of US treasuries from $835.4 billion in June to $821.8 billion in July – a decrease of $13.6 […]

The post $18,900,000,000 in US Treasuries Dumped by BRICS Members China, Brazil, India and UAE in One Month appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

$500M WBTC Burned in the Wake of Coinbase’s Delisting Move

India to develop dark net monitoring tool to combat crypto fraud: Report

The tool will monitor crypto wallets and alert the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs about irregular transactions, according to a report.

The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is reportedly developing a crypto intelligence tool in response to a rise in illegal activities around cryptocurrencies in the country. 

According to a CNBC report, the MHA aims to combat crypto-related crime through the Cryptocurrency Intelligence and Analysis Tool (CIAT). The project is spearheaded by an MHA division called the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, which is dedicated to investigating and addressing cybercrime.

With CIAT, the MHA will monitor crypto wallet addresses in the dark net. This will facilitate the compilation of transaction records, including timestamps, dates, exchanges used and which services were done. According to the report, it will also inform the MHA when it detects irregular or unusual crypto activities.

The report highlighted that the project is a response to the rise in crypto-related illegal activities in the country. Earlier this month, an Indian software engineer reportedly lost over $120,000 to crypto fraud. A woman he met online advised the developer to invest in a crypto coin, but he could not withdraw his funds after depositing.

In July, two suspects were arrested in an alleged peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto scam in Ujjain, India. The police seized fake bank accounts, ATM cards and other documents. The suspects allegedly used counterfeit IDs to scam Binance P2P users.

Cointelegraph reached out to the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs but did not get an immediate response. 

Related: Indian state governments spur blockchain adoption in public administration

Crypto has experienced a significant increase in adoption in India. On Sept. 12, the country topped the 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index released by blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. The report showed that India was number one in terms of decentralized finance value received and centralized service value received. Nigeria and Thailand closely follow India, according to the index.

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Indian state governments spur blockchain adoption in public administration

Numerous initiatives by local and state governments in India — from data management systems to verifiable certificate issuances — currently use blockchain technology.

Ever since Bitcoin (BTC) popularized blockchain technology worldwide, the tech has found its way into myriad processes, from finance to public administration.

What started as a flex statement for early adopters has now become a way of revamping legacy systems and improving immutability, transparency and decentralization.

Despite its proven real-world use cases, most government agencies continue to take a cautious approach to adopting and infusing blockchain into their paper-based processes, given its predominant link to the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

However, a change of heart is underway as emerging economies see blockchain as a rare opportunity to establish a trust-based system for society.

While still reluctant to legitimize cryptocurrencies fully, India has generally accepted blockchain technology.

Numerous initiatives by local and state governments in India — ranging from data management systems to verifiable certificate issuances — currently use blockchain technology at their core.

India’s expedited blockchain adoption is supported by an active developer and startup community, which builds custom solutions to tackle specific use cases.

Cointelegraph’s pursuit to decipher India’s affinity for blockchain led to a conversation with Ankur Rakhi Sinha, the co-founder and CEO of Airchains, a Web3 startup focused on a middleware software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform.

Speaking to Cointelegraph, Ankur explained India’s massive appetite for blockchain and how elected leaders have been driving the change.

Cointelegraph: What is the primary driver behind India’s blockchain adoption spree?

Ankur Rakhi Sinha: The driving force behind India’s blockchain adoption is the multitude of benefits it offers to enterprises and institutions. Within their ecosystems, organizations recognize the immense benefits of incorporating blockchain technology. It addresses various challenges at different levels, such as enhancing transparency, traceability and establishing trust.

These factors contribute to the growing interest and widespread adoption of blockchain within India.

India is one of the fastest-growing blockchain markets globally, with over 56% of Indian businesses reporting an inclination toward adopting blockchain technology. With a developer base of a whopping 10 million, the Indian talent pool has been recognized globally by leading Web3 firms with the aim of fostering Web3 innovation and growth.

CT: In your discussions with the government agencies, are there any talks of crypto adoption?

ARS: No, currently, regulatory clearances surrounding cryptocurrency adoption are still uncertain. However, government agencies are actively exploring various avenues and seeking improved regulations. They are open to the idea and are diligently working toward creating a conducive environment for cryptocurrency adoption.

CT: Can you share any data and/or use cases that show improvements from older systems?

ARS: Yes, our recent collaboration with the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) showcases the real-life adoption of blockchain. With a vast expanse of 27,000 acres of land and a staggering 50,000 NFTs [nonfungible tokens] representing one million ownerships, the NKDA’s adoption of NFTs for land mutation [the transfer of property titles] has revolutionized the traditional approach, and these initiatives demonstrate the growing recognition and commitment to harnessing the potential of blockchain to drive innovation and efficiency across various sectors.

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CT: Is India betting big on blockchain? Are there any government initiatives that help drive this cause?

ARS: Yes, India is definitely betting big on blockchain. Various government agencies and bodies within India are actively seeking to collaborate with blockchain solutions. While there is yet to be a high-level blockchain initiative from the government of India thus far, there is a strong demand from government entities that Airchains is actively addressing. One of the profound use cases of blockchain adoption includes the remarkable first-ever NFT-based land mutation in India.

Additionally, in January 2020, NITI Aayog’s two-part report titled “Blockchain: The India Strategy” made it apparent that while regulations regarding cryptocurrencies and other digital assets are under consideration, the government is significantly aware of the promise of core blockchain technology to transform various systems. 

Several Indian government bodies are supportive of blockchain technology adoption and have collaborated with Airchains to incorporate novel blockchain-based systems ensuring accountability and security. The Raigarh District Authority has collaborated with us to create a blockchain-based tree plantation monitoring system for the betterment of CSR [corporate social responsibility] initiatives, whereas the Firozabad Police Department worked with us to create a blockchain complaint management system to prevent tampering of reports.

CT: What type of understanding do Indian officials have about blockchain and associated tech?

ARS: Indian government agencies, state governments and bureaucrats possess a profound understanding of blockchain and Web3 technologies. They are well-versed in the latest developments and trends within the blockchain space, including liquidity, private chains and zero-knowledge rollups. [...] Their comprehension of blockchain extends beyond surface-level knowledge, as many officials have in-depth insights into how the technology functions. While some officials contemplate how blockchain should ideally operate, others are actively exploring ways to leverage this technology to address their unique challenges.

CT: What is the role of blockchain in India’s overall growth?

ARS: Blockchain technology is poised to play a huge role in India’s future growth, propelling the nation to a prominent position on the global stage. The increasing number of developers, enterprises and institutional use cases emerging in India underscores the significant growth potential of blockchain in the country. As blockchain adoption continues to expand, it is expected to drive innovation, foster economic development and create new opportunities across various sectors.

Another key push to India’s growth has been the entry of various global Web3 players into the Indian developer market. India is home to 450+ Web3 startups and has received over $1.5 billion in investments between 2021 and 2022, according to a 2022 NASSCOM Indian Web3 Landscape Analysis report.

Additionally, the report also highlighted that 11% of global Web3 talent is in India, making it third worldwide. Blockchain in India has the potential to contribute significantly due to the vast developer talent and the active Web3 community present in the country.

CT: We have seen numerous instances of state-wide blockchain implementations over the past three years. Are there any nationwide implementations of blockchain in India or any such plans for the future?

ARS: Yes, there have been significant discussions at various levels regarding nationwide blockchain implementations in India. For instance, organizations such as the National Payments Corporation of India and the Unified Payments Interface are exploring the potential of blockchain technology and conducting tests. Public sector banks are also actively experimenting with blockchain to determine how they can harness its capabilities.

These initiatives indicate a strong likelihood of nationwide blockchain use cases emerging in the near future. Airchains recently executed a state-wise use case with NKDA, and we are currently working on multiple state-level use cases that have the potential to impact the nation as a whole.

CT: How do you convince a government body to accept a new system?

ARS: Government [...] bodies are actively interested in adopting blockchain solutions to address their specific challenges. However, they emphasize the importance of operating within regulatory frameworks. Demonstrating transparency, efficiency and improved outcomes is key to gaining government support in the development journey.

CT: Which countries are ahead of India when it comes to wide-scale blockchain adoption? What measures must a country take to expedite blockchain adoption?

ARS: There are several countries in Central America that are actively pursuing wide-scale blockchain adoption within their ecosystems. India, being a large nation, is actively striving to accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology through numerous use cases. The country has established itself as a center of excellence in blockchain, with multiple agencies exploring various applications.

To expedite progress, implementing clear regulations is crucial. This includes defining guidelines for blockchain implementation and determining permissible use cases, which will facilitate faster execution and broader adoption.

CT: Can home-grown blockchain technology be used in off-shore use cases?

ARS: Many projects originating from India, such as Polygon and various layer-1 and layer-2 solutions, have gained global recognition. Airchains has also successfully collaborated with government agencies globally, including in Central America and Europe. Currently, there are several offshore projects in the pipeline for Airchains, scheduled to be completed within the next six to seven months. Utilizing home-grown blockchain technology for offshore use cases is indeed a goal being pursued.

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CT: How does funding work? What are your investors looking for?

ARS: Investors primarily seek scalability and feasibility in blockchain adoption, among other key factors. Funding in the blockchain space typically involves investors who believe in the potential of the technology and its ability to bring about transformative changes.

CT: What is your advice to fellow blockchain entrepreneurs in India?

ARS: My advice [...] is to focus on building a wide range of use cases and driving blockchain adoption to a higher scale. By creating innovative solutions and demonstrating the real-world benefits of blockchain technology, we can accelerate its adoption and drive positive change in various industries.

Collect this article as an NFT to preserve this moment in history and show your support for independent journalism in the crypto space.

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German crypto regulator calls for global rules to also govern niche finance centers

BaFin's top executive stresses the risks of crypto and calls for global regulation to apply to all financial centers, without exceptions.

While the European Union has made significant progress toward regulating crypto by approving its comprehensive framework, Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA), the need for global regulation still remains, according to one of the top executives of the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). 

In a blog post on Sept 18, Rupert Schaefer, Executive Director of Strategy, Policy and Control at BaFin, highlighted the importance of unitary global regulation of the crypto industry.

Citing the unfortunate example of the FTX, Schaefer compared regulators to air traffic control, and “some crypto assets and decentralized finance projects” to unidentifiable flying objects.

Related: Germany's blockchain funding increases 3% amid market downturn

Schaefer acknowledged the obvious progress in regulating crypto with MiCA adoption in the EU, the Financial Stability Board’s (FSB) and the International Association of Securities Commissions’ (IOSCO) sets of recommendations, as well as the Basel Committee's new international supervisory standard for treatment of cryptoasset exposures.

However, the official reminded about the inconsistencies existing on a global scale, where there is still a place for exceptions from global regulatory push:

“Now the common principles must be implemented consistently and consistently worldwide. There should be no white spots in the flight radar: the global rules should also apply to niche financial centers.”

The same sentiment was recently expressed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who pushed for global collaboration on formulating crypto regulations among G20 member states. 

Meanwhile in Germany, as in a number of other European markets, the crypto and blockchain sector became a leader among the fintech companies in investments, attracted during the first half of 2023.

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India, Nigeria, Thailand top Chainalysis’ 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index

Chainalysis’ upcoming Global Crypto Adoption Index indicates that the wider Asia region is driving grassroots adoption of cryptocurrencies.

India, Nigeria and Thailand are ranked as the three top countries in Chainalysis’ 2023 Global Crypto Adoption Index, with lower middle income nations leading the way in grassroots adoption of cryptocurrencies.

The blockchain analytics firm released an excerpt to its annual Index report which shows that central and south Asia and the wider Oceania regions dominate the top of its index, with six of the top ten countries located in this area of the world.

The index highlights that worldwide grassroots cryptocurrency is down as a whole in the wake of the FTX implosion of 2022. However, lower middle income countries identified under the World Bank’s classification of nations by wealth have shown the strongest recovery in grassroots crypto adoption over the past 12 months.

“In fact, LMI is the only category of countries whose total grassroots adoption remains above where it was in Q3 2020, just prior to the most recent bull market.”

Chainalysis goes on to highlight a number of promising aspects that could be derived from this data, highlighting that nations in the the LMI category typically have growing industries and populations and account for more than 40% of the world’s population.

“If LMI countries are the future, then the data indicates that crypto is going to be a big part of that future.”

The excerpt also suggests that institutional adoption driven by organizations in high-income countries is gaining pace despite a prolonged bear market. The report also predicts a potential “bottom up and top down” adoption of cryptocurrencies where these assets serve the needs of users from both high wealth and developing nations.

India remains the largest cryptocurrency market of the region and leads grassroots adoption according to Chainalysis’ index. It has also become the second-largest crypto market by raw estimated transaction volume globally ahead of other major economies.

Chainalysis also notes India’s unique tax deducted at source (TDS) scheme applied to cryptocurrency transactions that requires a 1% tax to be levied for all transactions that must be deducted from the user’s balance at the time of the trade in order for the trade to be completed. 

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India working on 5-point crypto legislation as ban is ruled out

Indian crypto platforms could attain similar status as authorized dealers (similar to banks) under the guidelines of the Indian Central Bank RBI.

India is working on a crypto regulatory framework based on the joint recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Financial Stability Board (FSB) that could result in legal legislation in the next 5-6 months. Siddharth Sogani, the CEO of CREBACO that has worked with government agencies and ministries, told Cointelegraph that the Indian government is working on a five-point crypto legislature with a global approach.

India recently concluded the G20 summit on a high with several key economic announcements, however, the most notable decision for the crypto community came in the form of IMF-FSB joint recommendations for crypto regulations that India and other G20 nations welcomed.

The IMF-FSB crypto recommendations call for regulating the crypto market rather than a blanket ban approach. The IMF-FSB recommendations are a set of regulatory guidelines/suggestions that the G20 countries can work on to formulate their independent yet collaborative crypto legislative.

Cointelegraph reached out to CREBACO, a blockchain analytic firm that offered consulting services to several G20 committees and nations to get insight into India's crypto approach. Sogani, the CEO of the firm told Cointelegraph that based on their meetings with the government officials, India is currently working on a five-point regulatory approach with a focus on global collaboration on certain aspects such as crypto taxation.

Talking about the five-point framework, Sogani noted that the government is focusing on:

  1. Setting up advanced Know Your Customer (KYC) for crypto companies which covers the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), and Existing anti-money laundering Standards.
  2. Crypto platforms would be required to release Proof-of-reserve audits on real real-time basis to regulators.
  3. A uniform taxation policy across the nations.
  4. Crypto exchanges could gain the similar status of authorized dealers (similar to banks) under the guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
  5. Key positions may be mandatory such as Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) for crypto platforms.

Sogani noted that the world has realized that banning crypto is futile and several nations are moving towards a regulatory approach rather than a blanket ban. The likes of the United States and Europe have already got some specific crypto regulations in place while India took the taxation route. He added: 

“Regulations are inevitable, this ecosystem has grown substantially strong without regulations. Just imagine how well would it grow with proper regulations in place. Also, regulated markets reduce the risks of scams and illicit activities.” 

India has called for a global approach to crypto regulations for a while, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterating the same during the recently concluded G20 summit. One of the executives at the Finance Ministry confirmed that they have taken the IMF-FSB crypto recommendations and will focus on formulating regulations around it in the coming months.

Related: India G20 confirms ‘active discussions’ around global crypto framework

The Finance Ministry executive said that IMF-FSB recommendations offer a good “framework to decide our own way forward. The foundation is ready, beyond that how much we want to go it is for us to decide in the coming months and then take a call."

The official also cleared that banning cryptocurrencies is no longer an option and noted that “If you want to ban it (cryptocurrency), go ahead and ban it. But if the rest of the countries are not banning it, it will be extremely difficult for one country to ban it.”

India currently doesn’t have any specific crypto regulations in place, though the country imposed a 30% tax on crypto gains in 2022. However, the joint crypto recommendations and the Finance Ministry’s assurance that a crypto framework could materialize into a formidable legislation in the coming few months is an optimistic sign for the crypto industry in the country.

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G20 nations reaffirm responsible use and development of AI technology

The G20 member nations recommended addressing existing concerns around data protection, biases, appropriate human oversight, and ethics to ensure the responsible use and development of AI.

As India handed over the G20 Presidency to Brazil, the member nations have committed to harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) technology in a responsible manner in addition to planning for a future involving crypto assets and central bank digital currencies (CBDC).

The G20 leader’s declaration document highlighted technology’s role in bridging digital divides globally. In doing so, it acknowledged G20’s interest in curating policies and regulations for cryptocurrencies and the potential of CBDCs in cross-border payments.

Group of 20 member nations overview. Source: G20

The members of the G20 — which include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union — see AI as a tool for prosperity and expansion of the global digital economy.

“It is our endeavor to leverage AI for the public good by solving challenges in a responsible, inclusive and human-centric manner, while protecting people’s rights and safety.”

However, to ensure the responsible use and development of AI, the G20 member nations recommended addressing existing concerns around data protection, biases, appropriate human oversight, and ethics to name a few. The G20 nations’ AI “for good and for all” commitment read:

“To unlock the full potential of AI, equitably share its benefits and mitigate risks, we will work together to promote international cooperation and further discussions on international governance for AI.”

In addition, the members reaffirmed their commitment to G20 AI Principles, drafted in 2019, which details global policies and cooperation around building “trustworthy AI.” The G20 also agreed on taking a “pro-innovation regulatory/governance approach” that can help reap the maximum benefits of AI while potentially mitigating any associated risks.

The drive to build responsible AI will also aim to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations (UN) to further peace and prosperity around the world.

Related: G20 moves forward with international crypto framework

India’s Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman confirmed that G20 members are working toward establishing a global crypto framework.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaking about establishing global crypto regulations. Source: Global Fintech Fest

During the summit, Sitharaman highlighted the need for global cooperation to help regulate cryptocurrencies worldwide.

“In an interconnected world, financial technology transcends borders, therefore making cross-border partnerships absolutely crucial,” she concluded.

$500M WBTC Burned in the Wake of Coinbase’s Delisting Move

NFT startup Rario loses founders after $120M funding last year: Report

As part of the restructuring efforts at Rario, a number of roles are also being eliminated, according to a report.

Rario, a Polygon-based platform issuing cricket-related nonfungible tokens (NFTs), has reportedly seen its founders leave the firm after two years after launching.

Rario CEO Ankit Wadhwa and chief technology officer Sunny Bhanot are being pushed out as investors at the startup take greater control, TechCrunch reported on Sept. 8.

Rario CEO Ankit Wadhwa (left) and CTO Sunny Bhanot (right). Source: TechCrunch

Dream11, a major Indian fantasy sports platform and the largest backer of Rario, is also being ousted, according to the report. A number of roles are being removed as part of other restructuring efforts as well.

Besides Dream11, Rario has several other prominent investors, including the global investment company Alpha Wave Global and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. In April 2022, the cricket NFT platform raised $120 million in a Series A funding round, claiming that it had the largest share of cricket NFT rights, with 900 cricketers at the time.

This latest reported shakeup comes amid Dream11’s parent firm, Dream Sports, allegedly making efforts to reduce costs at the company. According to TechCrunch, Dream Sports is currently negotiating many of the licensing deals that Rario had signed to cut the expenses.

Related: Google will allow ads for NFT games starting Sept. 15

At the time of writing, the reported changes are not reflected on the executives’ LinkedIn profiles. Rario and Dream11 did not immediately respond to Cointelegraph’s request for comment.

Rario was founded in 2021 with a mission to create digital cricket collectibles and help fans engage as an online community. As of April 2021, the firm said it sold 50,000 NFTs to sports fans across 20 countries.

Some of the cricket leagues signed by Rario include Cricket Australia, the Australian Cricketers’ Association, the Caribbean Premier League, the Lanka Premier League and Abu Dhabi T10 League Legends League Cricket.

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