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Uzbekistan’s New Private Bank Joins National Crypto Card InitiativeIn a step towards enhancing its cryptocurrency ecosystem, the Republic of Uzbekistan has given the green light to include another private bank in its ongoing national crypto card project. The development was announced through an official press release earlier this week by the National Agency of Perspective Projects (NAPP), the country’s regulatory authority for digital assets.Photo by engin akyurt on UnsplashBuilding upon a crypto frameworkUnder the provisions outlined by the Uzbekistan Ministry of Justice on December 30 of last year, the Special Regulatory Sandbox Regime was established. This unique framework empowers specific entities within Uzbekistan’s crypto sphere to provide specialized services. JSV Ravnaq Bank has now been registered as a member of this regime, enabling its active participation in the pilot phase of the nation’s crypto card project.Virtual bank cardThis initiative is poised to introduce a virtual bank card named “CRYPTO CARD — UzNEX.” The card’s standout feature is its ability to facilitate automatic fund addition to users’ primary accounts. This is achieved by swiftly converting crypto assets from a digital wallet on a partner crypto exchange platform.A vital aspect of the crypto card’s development lies in its compatibility testing with various financial systems, including the widely used Mastercard payment platform. According to NAPP’s statement, the participant bank within the special regulatory regime will be rigorously testing the integration of the automated banking system, crypto-exchange information system, bank processing center, and the MasterCard international payment system.December launchNotably, the addition of Ravnaq Bank marks the second entrant into the project, with Kapital Bank being the first participant approved in May. While Kapital Bank’s testing phase commenced at the end of June 2023, Ravnaq Bank is set to initiate its test launch by the end of October 2023. Both banks are expected to launch the full project by late December, in accordance with NAPP’s timeline.Beyond these private banks, the Special Regulatory Sandbox Regime also includes UZINFOCOM, a company authorized to develop NFT certificates based on distributed data registry technology.

QCP Capital: Bitcoin Has $34K Price PotentialBitcoin’s potential for a significant price rally toward $34,000 has been discussed recently by analysts at QCP Capital, the Singapore-headquartered crypto asset trading firm. Despite Bitcoin’s recent lack of major volatility catalysts, QCP’s analysis suggests that a classic support rebound might trigger the return of the highest Bitcoin prices in over a year.Photo by Kanchanara on UnsplashCrucial price action time-frameAccording to QCP Capital’s latest market update on Tuesday, the upcoming weeks are poised to be crucial for Bitcoin’s price action. The cryptocurrency has been range-bound for months, leaving market observers speculating about the emergence of a new market trend.QCP Capital highlights September as a pivotal month due to the completion of a rising wedge pattern that started during the end of the 2022 bear market. This pattern has guided Bitcoin’s price movement, with the wedge reaching its first termination point at the beginning of September. The specific level of interest is $29,300, which aligns with the current focal point of the Bitcoin spot price.Rally potentialThe analysis ponders whether there will be a sharp rally that pushes the price to the $34,000 resistance level. This scenario has occurred three times this year, as the price kissed the support trendline. The report acknowledges that it might take a few more quiet weeks before the outcome becomes clear. The analysts expressed their intention to buy back their end of September short calls and anticipate going long on end of December volatility in due course.QCP Capital’s perspective aligns with other optimistic views on Bitcoin’s short-term price strength. Some projections even suggest that the 2023 Bitcoin bull market might return by October, although the market sentiment is varied, with some cautioning about the possibility of new lows before a broader recovery.Macroeconomic trendsTurning to macroeconomic trends, QCP Capital indicates that significant change is not on the immediate horizon, echoing the status quo in the crypto space. Comparing the current situation to the compressed trading environment of the crypto winter in 2018 and 2019, the analysis suggests that a macroeconomic shift would be required to reinvigorate the market, similar to what has happened in the past.Bitcoin’s volatility has reached historic lows, as illustrated by data just published by on-chain market intelligence firm, Glassnode. While a game-changing macro environment shift isn’t imminent, there are short-term catalysts on the crypto calendar for the upcoming months.These include events like Mt. Gox creditor payouts, the GBTC vs. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit, potential SEC decisions on Blackrock/Fidelity’s Bitcoin spot ETF applications, and potential news related to centralized crypto exchanges and stablecoins.The September deadline for comments on the initial Bitcoin spot price exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications is particularly noteworthy, as it’s widely seen as a turning point for the industry. Europe’s first Bitcoin spot ETF, which began trading on Tuesday, is being custodied by Fidelity Investments, marking another step in the maturation of the cryptocurrency market.

Hyperithm, a digital asset management firm based in Tokyo and Seoul, has invested in JPYC Inc., the issuer of JPY Coin (JPYC), the first stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the Japanese yen. First launched in January 2021, JPYC is a legal Prepaid Payment Instrument in Japan that is issued on various blockchains, including Ethereum and Polygon. The total figure for the investment was not disclosed by either party.Photo by Precondo CA on UnsplashInsights from industry leaders"We believe that stablecoins linked to fiat currencies are essential to expanding the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Japan became one of the first countries to officially issue stablecoins after the revision of the Payment Services Act in June," said Lloyd Lee, CEO of Hyperithm. "We expect that the widespread adoption of JPYC will increase the inflow of Japanese capital into the cryptocurrency ecosystem." Noritaka Okabe, CEO of JPYC Inc., explained that the firm aims to create more connections between crypto and everyday life, forging an environment where everyone can participate in innovation and capital liquidity. JPYC Inc.'s strategic evolutionAlthough it is currently issued as a third-party Prepaid Payment Instrument, JPYC Inc. plans to acquire a license to conduct transactions including money transfers and electronic payments in accordance with the revision of the Payment Services Act, which took effect in June 2023. This will serve to strengthen the stablecoin’s trust structure and remove limits on remittances. After acquiring the license, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, a bank holding and financial services company based in Tokyo, will be responsible for JPYC's fiat currency reserves. Pioneering crypto financeFounded in January 2018, Hyperithm provides crypto corporate finance services to institutional and upper-class investors. It is one of South Korea’s 29 companies that are licensed by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to operate as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP). Notably, it raised $11 million in a series B funding round in 2021, which was led by former clients Hashed and Wemade Tree. The company’s CEO, Lee, was also listed on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia under the Finance and Venture Capital category.