Intella X Joins Hands with Chainlink Labs to Enhance Security

Kazakhstan Launches NPC With CBDC Implementation by 2025Kazakhstan’s National Bank (NBK) has unveiled the National Payment Corporation (NPC), a dedicated entity responsible for spearheading the development and launch of the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), known as the digital tenge.In a press release published last Friday, the NBK set out that the launch of the NPC is effectively a restructuring of the Kazakhstan Center for Interbank Settlements. The new entity has been entrusted with overseeing the national payment system.This mandate includes overseeing critical functions like interbank clearing services, facilitating money transfers, and managing digital identification. However, the NPC’s central mission revolves around establishing a robust “digital financial infrastructure” with a primary focus on realizing the digital tenge.Photo by Uladzislau Petrushkevich on Unsplash2025 targeted launch dateThe journey toward the digital tenge began in February of this year, with an ambitious launch date set for 2025. Deputy Governor of the NBK, Berik Sholpankupov, initially articulated a vision centered on a “collaboration between traditional finance and DeFi,” aimed at significantly improving financial inclusion and strengthening international trade.As of now, the CBDC pilot in Kazakhstan has advanced to a controlled environment pilot phase involving actual consumers and merchants. One of the key partners in this venture is Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Binance is actively supporting the pilot through its technical solution, BNB Chain, marking a convergence between traditional financial institutions and the blockchain-based cryptocurrency sector.Kazakhstan’s pursuit of CBDCs aligns with a global trend as numerous countries worldwide explore the potential of CBDCs. An astounding 105 countries, representing a substantial 95% of the global gross domestic product (GDP), are currently exploring the concept, highlighting the collective recognition of the transformative potential of digital currencies in shaping the future of finance.Last week it emerged that the NBK had entered into a collaboration with the global financial messaging service SWIFT relative to the beta-testing of a CBDC.Attracting global exchangesIn a move that bolsters the development of crypto in the central Asian country, Binance launched a regulated digital asset platform in collaboration with the local Freedom Finance Bank. Around the same time, Bybit secured in-principle approval to trade within the country from the local regulator.Kazakhstan’s proactive stance toward cryptocurrency is also evident in its taxation policies. In 2022, the government collected approximately $7 million in tax payments from cryptocurrency mining entities following the implementation of revised regulations governing the fiscal responsibilities of cryptocurrency mining.Additionally, the government introduced legislation aimed at curbing excessive energy consumption by domestic crypto miners, instituting licensing requirements, and making minor adjustments to the taxation framework.Kazakhstan’s steps in establishing the National Payment Corporation and venturing into the realm of CBDCs reflect the country’s interest in embracing the digital era and staying at the forefront of financial innovation. As the industry looks on, Kazakhstan’s digital tenge project could serve as a model for others seeking to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the exciting possibilities of DeFi.

Wemade CEO to attend Abu Dhabi Finance Week and Fortune Global Forum next weekHenry Chang, CEO of South Korean blockchain gaming publisher Wemade, will be traveling to the United Arab Emirates to speak at the second annual Abu Dhabi Finance Week — one of the biggest financial and economic events in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region — scheduled for Nov. 27 to 30.Photo by Kevin JD on UnsplashExploring the future of financeTouting the theme “Investing in the Transition Era”, this year’s ADFW is organized by Sheikh Khalid Abu Dhabi, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Head of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. Several organizations such as the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development are also participating as official partners. More than 10,000 visitors from over 100 countries across the world are expected to attend.Chang will participate as a panelist on Nov. 29 in the “Convergence: Media, Culture and Fintech” panel at Fintech Abu Dhabi, the flagship event of ADFW. The panel will cover topics like the impact of blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi) technologies on fintech — more specifically, digital payment trends and the future of digital assets and currencies.Wemade’s expansion in the UAEHe will also partake in the Fortune Global Forum 2023, a global conference for CEOs of major global conglomerates also set to be held in Abu Dhabi from Nov. 27 to 29. The forum has been hosted by American business magazine Fortune since 1995 as a platform for member companies of the Fortune Global 500 list to gather and share insights on global issues like innovation and stability and their impact on economic progress. They will also be joined by government officials from various sectors in the UAE, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, oil and gas, industrial automation, healthcare and telecommunications.Wemade has been making strides to expand WEMIX3.0, its borderless Web3 mega-ecosystem, in the MENA region. The company opened an office in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.

Authorities in China have disclosed that Yao Qian, a prominent figure in the country's blockchain industry and former head of China's central bank digital currency institute, is under investigation by the nation's anti-graft watchdog. The announcement was made on Friday, revealing that Yao is "suspected of serious violations of discipline and law." However, specific details regarding the nature of the investigation were not provided.Photo by Max van den Oetelaar on UnsplashCareer and recent roleYao Qian currently holds the position of head of the technology regulation department at the China Securities Regulatory Commission. Earlier in the month, he authored an opinion piece titled “Warnings Mount Over Novel Bitcoin ETFs That Have Taken the U.S. by Storm” on Caixin, a prominent Chinese financial news platform. Born in 1970, Yao initially served as the inaugural head of China's central bank digital currency research institute in 2017 before transitioning to the securities regulator in 2018. Contributions to blockchain discourseThroughout his career, Yao Qian has been actively involved in discussions surrounding blockchain technology. In 2022, he published a book covering various topics within the blockchain space, including DAOs, DeFi, NFTs and X-to-earn models. In the foreword of his book, Yao emphasized the growing significance of Web3 innovation, noting it as a development direction of high importance and value for nations. Lack of specifics surrounding investigationThe announcement of Yao Qian's investigation has left many observers in the blockchain industry with questions, as authorities did not provide clear reasons for the probe. Despite his past contributions and current role in technology regulation, the investigation raises uncertainties about Yao's future involvement in the blockchain sector and his standing within Chinese regulatory circles. As developments unfold, stakeholders within the blockchain community will continue to monitor the situation surrounding Yao Qian's investigation and its potential implications for China's blockchain policies and initiatives.