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Louisiana takes first crypto payment over Bitcoin Lightning

Louisiana is now taking crypto payments for state services, and its Wildlife and Fisheries Department has just taken the government’s first crypto payment.

The government of Louisiana has taken its first-ever crypto payment after the state’s Treasurer announced residents would have the option to pay for state services with certain crypto.

Louisianians now have the option to use any crypto wallet to pay using Bitcoin (BTC), the Bitcoin Lightning Network, and the US dollar-pegged stablecoin USD Coin (USDC), Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming said in a Sept. 17 statement. 

The state’s first crypto payment has already gone through — for a fine going to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries through Bitcoin’s Lightning Network.

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‘BITSANITY’ — Records broken with $70B in volume for Bitcoin stocks, ETFs

Australia’s central bank launches 3-year program for wholesale CBDC

RBA Assistant Governor Brad Jones said the potential benefits of a retail CBDC in Australia appear modest or uncertain at present.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) says it won’t be pursuing a retail CBDC anytime soon, but instead, it will focus its efforts on launching a wholesale CBDC. 

In a Sept. 18 speech at the Intersekt Fintech Conference in Melbourne, RBA Assistant Governor Brad Jones presented the Australian central bank’s three-year roadmap, which focuses largely on the development of a wholesale CBDC.

Jones said the RBA’s research had found a retail CBDC offered little in the way of genuine innovation for public use in Australia, whereas a wholesale CBDC would offer several key advantages to commercial and central banks.

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‘BITSANITY’ — Records broken with $70B in volume for Bitcoin stocks, ETFs

PayPal and Venmo To Offer Support for Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Starting With Users in the US

PayPal and Venmo To Offer Support for Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Starting With Users in the US

Two prominent payment platforms are offering their support for Ethereum Name Service (ENS) domains. In a new thread on the social media platform X, payment giants PayPal and Venmo are now supporting the ENS domain naming service, which allows users to forgo having to use complicated crypto wallet addresses and instead adopt a representative username. […]

The post PayPal and Venmo To Offer Support for Ethereum Name Service (ENS) Starting With Users in the US appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

‘BITSANITY’ — Records broken with $70B in volume for Bitcoin stocks, ETFs

What ‘far-fetched’ scenarios could still send Bitcoin price to $0?

Despite some dedicated critics saying otherwise, Bitcoin hitting $0 is extremely unlikely due to its strong global community, established infrastructure and historical resilience.

Bitcoin has experienced plenty of ups and downs since creator Satoshi Nakamoto released its white paper in 2009, with more than a few doomsayers predicting a drop to $0 during every correction or bear market.

Legendary investor Warren Buffett and stockbroker Peter Schiff are arguably two of the loudest voices criticizing Bitcoin (BTC) and predicting its downfall.

However, they may never get their wish because it might not even be possible for Bitcoin to reach a value of $0.

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‘BITSANITY’ — Records broken with $70B in volume for Bitcoin stocks, ETFs

China’s Digital Yuan Nears $1 Trillion in Transactions, PBOC Official Reveals

China’s Digital Yuan Nears  Trillion in Transactions, PBOC Official RevealsChina’s digital yuan initiative has advanced considerably, backed by over a decade of research and four years of pilot experimentation, according to Lu Lei, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC). Trials for the Chinese central bank digital currency (CBDC) have been conducted in 17 different areas, accumulating a total transaction value of […]

‘BITSANITY’ — Records broken with $70B in volume for Bitcoin stocks, ETFs

Russia Expands Digital Ruble Pilot With New Features: Widespread Use Expected in 2025

Russia Expands Digital Ruble Pilot With New Features: Widespread Use Expected in 2025Russia’s central bank is expanding its digital currency pilot program, involving 9,000 individuals and 1,200 companies. New features for the digital ruble, including payments via QR code, will be tested. Full-scale implementation is expected by late 2025. According to officials, demand for the digital ruble is growing, with successful integration anticipated due to ongoing sanctions. […]

‘BITSANITY’ — Records broken with $70B in volume for Bitcoin stocks, ETFs

Head of the State Duma’s Financial Market Committee: National Digital Currencies to Be Considered for Bilateral Settlements Between China and Russia

Head of the State Duma’s Financial Market Committee: National Digital Currencies to Be Considered for Bilateral Settlements Between China and RussiaAnatoly Aksakov, head of the State Duma’s Financial Market Committee, has discussed the use of national digital currencies for bilateral settlements between Russia and China. In a recent interview with Russian media, Aksakov stated that these instruments will be considered for such settlements as soon as the regulatory and technological platforms for this task are […]

‘BITSANITY’ — Records broken with $70B in volume for Bitcoin stocks, ETFs

Mastercard Partners With European Payments Giant Mercuryo, Supporting Non-Custodial Crypto Wallets

Mastercard Partners With European Payments Giant Mercuryo, Supporting Non-Custodial Crypto Wallets

Payments processing giant Mastercard is teaming up with a European counterpart to support non-custodial crypto wallets. In a new announcement, European payments firm Mercuryo says it’s teaming up with Mastercard to launch Spend, a crypto debit card that makes it convenient for customers to spend or cash out their digital assets. “In the context of […]

The post Mastercard Partners With European Payments Giant Mercuryo, Supporting Non-Custodial Crypto Wallets appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

‘BITSANITY’ — Records broken with $70B in volume for Bitcoin stocks, ETFs

Getting paid in crypto: Dubai court ruling shows increasing acceptance

Crypto salaries are becoming more common, especially in countries with prevalent economic incentives like inflation. 

Getting paid in crypto isn’t easy. Employees and employers alike have several legal hoops to jump through, but it’s getting simpler as courts and businesses recognize the benefits.

On Aug. 15, a Dubai court ruling recognized crypto assets as a valid means of salary payment.

Issued by the Dubai Court of First Instance, the judgment came in response to a dispute between an employee and employer over unpaid wages (a portion of which was denominated in crypto tokens). 

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‘BITSANITY’ — Records broken with $70B in volume for Bitcoin stocks, ETFs

Sberbank to Join Russia’s Crypto Settlement Pilot This Fall, Executive Reveals

Sberbank to Join Russia’s Crypto Settlement Pilot This Fall, Executive RevealsSberbank, Russia’s largest financial institution, plans to join a cryptocurrency settlement pilot program this fall. The bank also aims to serve clients using digital rubles by 2025. Deputy Chairman Anatoly Popov supports regulatory efforts to legitimize cryptocurrencies for international payments and mining. He highlighted cryptocurrencies as effective payment methods, especially for small businesses, amid global […]

‘BITSANITY’ — Records broken with $70B in volume for Bitcoin stocks, ETFs