Author: Susana
Technology: past, present and future

Technology: past, present and future

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Technology has come a long way in the last two decades. Some devices that were in use in the late 20th century and early 2000s are now outdated.

In general, the technological products of the past focused on a few functions that they did well, and today’s innovations focus on offering more possibilities.

For example, older mobiles or “dumb phones” were only good for making calls, sending SMS and, at most, playing fairly simple games. Today, smartphones can do everything.

Pagers, also known as pagers or ‘pagers‘, were telecommunications devices that received short messages and coexisted with analogue mobile phones. Today they have been replaced by apps on smartphones.

In entertainment, items such as VHS, vinyl, cassette tapes and video games have also been replaced by free and subscription-based entertainment apps for smartphones and other devices.

If we make a compilation of these developments, we can find technological products that did not exist two decades ago and that we can hardly live without right now:

Multimedia Content
Free or subscription-based entertainment platforms to watch, share and download music, podcasts, films, series, documentaries…

Social Networking
Platforms that serve to connect people from different parts of the world and is used to share information, news, multimedia content, 24-hour stories and reels.

Instant messaging
Instant messaging applications for smartphones that allow you to chat, send photos/videos and make video calls with friends or family.

High-definition televisionsSmart TVs have a place in our living rooms to enjoy series and films in high quality.

E-Commerce
Who would have thought that we would end up shopping online without leaving home?

Mobile phones
They have gradually taken up a space in our lives and have become an essential device in our daily lives.

Tablet
The perfect device to move from side to side thanks to its size.

Google Drive
Allows users to store files in the cloud, synchronise them between devices and share them.

Google Maps
It’s the perfect application for getting from one place to another thanks to its directions.

Wireless Headphones
The problem of tangled headphone wires is a thing of the past with wireless headphones nowadays.

An app forevery service in your life
There are apps for monitoring your health, exercising, buying clothes online, listening to music, meeting people, among online, listen to music, meet people, among others.

Smart watches
They provide health information, offer workouts, display the time and date, can be linked to a mobile phone and some are able to respond to calls or messages.

Internet
It is the mainstay of our lives when we are connected to the net.

In short, the great revolution we have seen in the last decade is that of mobile devices, in which we have gone from being able to do three things to having everything at our fingertips.

New technologies of the future

The new technologies of the future are living with us in our present. The technological changes that have taken place in recent years have revolutionised various sectors, from the productive to the domestic.

The future is not predicted, but created with today’s technologies. The technologies that are creating that future are Blockchain technology, smart contracts, cryptocurrencies, web 3, artificial intelligence (AI)…

A few years ago we imagined a future full of holograms, robots with their own identity, hyperconnectivity and houses controlled by voice commands… and so it has happened! And so it has happened! In fact, it has probably happened faster than we expected.

We are in a constant acceleration of innovation and technology where we must be prepared and walk in that direction. Are you ready?

The new technologies of the future are living with us in our present. The technological changes that have taken place in the last few years have revolutionised various sectors, from the productive to the domestic. The future starts NOW.

Sources: 20minutos.es, 20minutos.es, rtve.es, enzyme.biz

Disclaimer: The information set out herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendations. All investments and trading involve risk and it is the responsibility of each individual to do their due diligence before making any investment decision.
Barcelona to host Europe’s largest blockchain event from 24-26 October

Barcelona to host Europe’s largest blockchain event from 24-26 October

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Barcelona will host Europe’s leading blockchain conference from 24 October. Introduced in 2018, the European Blockchain Convention connects industry experts, technology leaders and startups. Discussions will explore the massive potential of cryptocurrencies and blockchain.

Meanwhile, the Catalan capital will host the largest blockchain event in Europe since the convention began, with approximately 5,000 delegates.

The buzz of cryptocurrencies in Barcelona

The blockchain event will see Barcelona dominate crypto events during the last weekend of October. In addition to industry professionals flocking to the EBC9 event, the gathering coincides with the much-watched El Clasico tournament between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The European Blockchain Convention will include C-level executives from Anomoca Brands, Fabric Ventures, Fidelity and Nansen. Speakers from traditional firms such as Volkswagen and Banco will also attend. In addition, representatives from Galaxy Digital and Binance Labs will be in the house.

Organising the massive blockchain evento

Organisers have selected a larger venue, Fira Barcelona, following a substantial increase in participant interest after the previous edition. The new location offers enough space for exhibitors, more engagements and a wide variety of content, according to European Blockchain Convention co-founder Victoria Gago.

Co-founder Daniel Salmeron expressed his enthusiasm for connecting web3, digital assets and TradFi, stating that the participation of multiple financial institutions indicates their optimism and dedication to the future of finance.

Agendas in focus

The ninth edition of the ECB will address several agendas, including the institutionalisation of cryptocurrency, AI, tokenisation, DeFi, privacy, CBDC and sustainability.

In addition to workshop panels and discussions, the programme incorporates a 3,000 square metre area for exhibitors and sponsors. In addition, speakers will conduct AMA sessions. Other events include ECB start-up awards, art galleries and investor meetings.

In addition, the list of side events will feature more than 200 hackers, 20 teams and more than 30 mentors participating in a 2-day hackathon. More details, including ticketing, can be found on the official website: https://eblockchainconvention.com/

Source: invezz.com

Disclaimer: The information set out herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendations. All investments and trading involve risk and it is the responsibility of each individual to do their due diligence before making any investment decision.
“Bitcoin Myths”: Tracking down Satoshi Nakamoto

“Bitcoin Myths”: Tracking down Satoshi Nakamoto

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  • Is the creator of Bitcoin dead?
  • Has the creator of Bitcoin always been in front of us?
  • What if Satoshi Nakamoto had already shown his true face?
  • What are the opinions for and against these hypotheses?

Finding out who the mysterious creator of Bitcoin is is a difficult task, in fact, today we will tell you about several of the existing hypotheses and a list of possible identities of Satoshi Nakamoto:

Elon Musk

The journey of the Tesla billionaire is one of the success stories that inspires dreamers both in terms of technology and the world of entrepreneurship.

Elon Musk is behind 9 great innovations that in one way or another have shaped the day to day history of mankind. Would Elon Musk have also created Bitcoin?

After all his prowess, it would be tempting to associate the billionaire with the invention of Bitcoin, especially as he is a computer genius and a great libertarian, the philosophy embodied in Satoshi Nakamoto’s piece.

Musk is a big fan of cryptocurrencies. He even adopted one of the pieces from the market and made it his favourite. The “Dogefather”, as he calls himself, did not miss the opportunity to hail and sell the merits of the meme cryptocurrency. Many believe he will make Dogecoin the official currency of Twitter.

The truth is that Elon Musk is not the developer of Bitcoin and he said so himself in an interview with CNBC in 2014.

Read the full article here.

Steve Jobs

Although nobody knows who the real Satoshi is, one thing is certain: the person is closely related to Japanese culture.

It is common knowledge that Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, loves Japanese culture and has travelled to the Japanese city of Kyoto several times during his life. He also attended the Japanese Soto school of Zen Buddhism and adopted many practices from Sony’s factories in Japan in the 1980s.

On 5 April, blogger Andy Baio revealed in a post that every Apple Mac computer with the latest macOS software has a hidden copy of the Bitcoin whitepaper.

The discovery caused uproar and speculation among Bitcoin and Apple fans. However, while there is a belief that a Bitcoin maximalist employed by Apple added the document, there is also talk of the possibility that Steve Jobs is Satoshi Nakamoto.

It is possible, if implausible, that Jobs is the creator of Bitcoin, but what is clear is that both Jobs and Satoshi have a lot of experience in the technology industry.

Read the full article here.

Craig Wright

Craig Steven Wright is an Australian computer scientist born in Brisbane. Little is known about his professional and academic background.

Craig Wright stands out within the crypto ecosystem as one of the first people to claim to be Satoshi Nakamoto. It all started in 2015, when two US media outlets, Wired and Gizmondo, published an investigation suggesting that he was indeed the creator of Bitcoin.

In May 2019, Craig Wright granted himself the rights to the Bitcoin whitepaper by registering it with the authorities. Since then, he has not hesitated to sue anyone who denies his link to the creator of the famous cryptocurrency.

On the side of the general public, as well as on the side of researchers, it is unlikely that Craig Wright is Satoshi Nakamoto.

For many in the crypto sphere, Craig Wright’s mistakes have repeatedly shown that he was not the creator of the famous orange cryptocurrency. Similarly, the judges who heard his last defamation trial did not recognise his identity.

Read the full article here.

Paul Allen

Paul Allen was an American computer scientist born in Seattle in 1953. He took his first steps in the new technology sector at a very young age.

Bill Gates and Paul Allen, friends since their teenage years and passionate about computers, founded Microsoft in 1975.

Paul Allen never spoke publicly about Satoshi Nakamoto or cryptocurrencies.

For many, his status as a computer genius and his programming skills would make him quite capable of having invented Bitcoin.

At the time of writing, no serious expert or public figure has claimed that Paul Allen could be the most wanted man in the industry.

It is clear that the link between Bitcoin’s creator and the billionaire computer scientist has more to do with speculation than concrete truth.

Read the full article here.

Dorian Nakamoto

Little is known about Dorian Nakamoto.

His birth date has not been publicly disclosed, but it is believed to be around 1950.

In 2014, Dorian Nakamoto’s life changed dramatically after Newsweek identified him in one of his articles as the mysterious father of Bitcoin. Since then, it has been a recurring figure in crypto and even attends certain events that meet the industry actors.

Leaving no mystery about his identity, Dorian Nakamoto immediately claimed that he was not Satoshi Nakamoto and that he would not have been aware of Bitcoin’s existence until 2014.

Read the full article here.

Conclusions on existing hypotheses:

Who founded this revolutionary monetary system that wants to transform the order of global finance?

Many people have been associated with the creation of Bitcoin. Some impostors even claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the famous character behind the cryptocurrency.

While it is true that there are some clues as to the identity of the creator(s), so far, no researcher has been able to establish concrete evidence that would allow them to discover the founder of BTC.

The mystery of the person or persons behind Bitcoin remains unsolved.

Source: Beincrypto.com

Disclaimer: The information set out herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendations. All investments and trading involve risk and it is the responsibility of each individual to do their due diligence before making any investment decision.
Brazil and Spain are in the top 20 countries with the highest number of bitcoin users

Brazil and Spain are in the top 20 countries with the highest number of bitcoin users

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According to CoinMarketCap statistics, Brazilians are among the most interested in cryptocurrencies so far in 2023.

  • The United States continues to lead in the ranking of users accessing the CoinMarketCap.
  • Bitcoin is more popular in Europe than in South America.

Brazil is in the top 20 countries with the highest adoption of cryptocurrencies globally, according to the results of an analysis published by CoinMarketCap, one of the leading websites for accessing cryptocurrency market information.

The report presented by CoinMarketCap Research, places the South American giant in fifth place among the countries with the highest levels of cryptocurrency users who accessed the platform during the first half of 2023.

It is also worth noting that Brazil is the only country in Latin America to be ranked among the top 20 in the study. A position that highlights the high level of adoption present in the country and which has been ratified in similar research.

In this regard, a Bitget survey recently revealed that 32% of Brazilians spend up to 15% of their income investing in cryptocurrencies. A higher investment figure than has been identified in countries such as Argentina and Mexico, explains the study.

Precisely because of the magnitude of this market, the Brazilian government passed a law to regulate the use of cryptocurrencies, as reported by CriptoNoticias.

Spain is also in the top 20 in terms of traffic on CoinMarketCap. The Iberian country is in 14th place in the ranking, with 2.92% of the platform’s users.

Within this group of countries, the United States dominates the distribution of cryptocurrency users worldwide, with 17% of traffic. Of the rest, the vast majority of users come from European countries.

Users in the United States are the most interested in bitcoin. Source: CoinMarketCap.

Interest in bitcoin surged in the second quarter of 2023

The report also reports on user preferences for different types of cryptocurrencies, with bitcoin (BTC) attracting the most attention.

The pioneering cryptocurrency “remains the most watched in all regions in the first half of 2023, a similar trend to Q4 2022, which is also reflected in BTC’s dominance over altcoins,” the study notes.

Thus, it reports a 25% increase in attention on bitcoin over the course of the last six months, rising from 40% at the beginning of the year to 50.3% at the end of June. An advance that is attributed to events such as BlackRock’s ETF filing and the upcoming bitcoin halving expected in March 2024.

And although in most regions of the world people prefer bitcoin over other cryptocurrencies, in terms of taste, Europe stands out, where interest is 52%. This percentage contrasts somewhat with what is happening in South America, the area with the lowest percentage of interest in BTC (39%) and the highest interest in Baby Doge Coin or BabyDoge (21.7%), an altcoin based on dog memes.

Regarding ether (Ethereum’s ETH) the study indicates that it “remains a popular currency of interest in most regions, except Asia and Africa”. It is also stated that Ethereum scaling solutions such as Polygon (MATIC) and Arbitrum (ARB) gained mainly attention in South America.

Source: criptonoticias

Disclaimer: The information set out herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendations. All investments and trading involve risk and it is the responsibility of each individual to do their due diligence before making any investment decision.
Is Bitcoin decoupling from the rest of the cryptomarket?

Is Bitcoin decoupling from the rest of the cryptomarket?

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  • Excluding the Ethereum merger, Bitcoin’s correlation with Ethereum is at its lowest point since 2021
  • Bitcoin’s dominance over the entire cryptomarket rose steadily in 2023, now at a 2-year high
  • Numbers say BTC could delink, regulatory crackdown changes crypto trading patterns

In recent years, it has been a fair statement to declare that most cryptocurrencies are traded as leveraged bets on Bitcoin. The world’s largest cryptocurrency goes up in value, altcoins go up some more. Bitcoin falls, altcoins fall some more. As generalisations go, it is reasonably fair.

However, within this general pattern, there have been periods when this relationship has deviated from the norm. One such moment is now, when some of the underlying numbers seem to imply that Bitcoin may be decoupling from the rest of the market.

First, the most obvious way to investigate this is to plot the correlation between Bitcoin and the second largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum. The chart below shows that the normally super-high correlation has fallen to its second weakest mark in the last eighteen months, behind only September 2022, when the Ethereum merger was executed.

Ether / Bitcoin Correlation

Pearson 60-Day Correlation Coefficient

Source:  @DanniiAshmore, Invezz

The Ethereum merger last September was not only an Ethereum-specific event, but the correlation almost immediately returned to normal levels. If we discount this event, you would have to go back to 2021 to see the correlation between Bitcoin and Ethereum as low as it is today. Of course, it is still not exactly “weak” at 0.7, quite the opposite, but it is remarkable in the context of the historical relationship, where the average has been a near-perfect 0.9 since early 2022.

The graph shows that the correlation starts to decline around April. The next chart shows this in a different way, depicting the performance since early 2022 of Bitcoin and Ethereum. The two assets move at roughly the same time, but you can see a slight divergence emerging around April this year.

Bitcoin & Ether, Returns Since 01-Jan-2022

Source: @DanniiAshmore, Invezz

By the way, the reason I am taking the sample space from the beginning of 2022 is not strictly for a nice round number. This was when the stock market peaked and represents a transition to a new paradigm for financial markets. While interest rates only started to rise in March 2022, inflation was rising, confidence was falling and concern was close at hand, exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February and the unleashing of an energy crisis. In other words, the pandemic party, also known as zero interest season, was over. It represents a structural break in the macro climate and financial markets in general.

Bitcoin went down, along with other risky assets, as rates continued to rise. But, now we ask: are we at another inflection point for Bitcoin? Why is Bitcoin’s relationship with Ethereum weakening?

Is Bitcoin carving out its own niche?

This weakening relationship has more to do with Bitcoin than Ethereum. In the chart below, we see the oft-referenced Bitcoin dominance chart, which plots the market capitalisation of Bitcoin against the market capitalisation of the entire cryptocurrency sector.

The chart shows that it has increased considerably since the beginning of 2023, jumping from 41% to 51%. That means that 51% of the total crypto market capitalisation is made up of Bitcoin, the highest mark in two years.

What is interesting is that, traditionally (if we can use that phrase in an industry that is barely a decade old), Bitcoin’s dominance falls in times of rising cryptocurrency prices. In general, Bitcoin jumps higher, before money flows into altcoins with the falling dominance ratio. This time, that is not happening.

Again, why? The answer may lie in regulation and the fact that the market increasingly sees Bitcoin as an asset that is carving out its own niche. For many cryptoheads (myself included), this has long been a point of contention. In terms of fundamentals, Bitcoin and Ethereum don’t really have much in common, except for the fact that they both run on something called the blockchain (and those two blockchains, as of the merger in September 2022, are completely different beasts).

But my point is redundant. However, the letter of the law is not; more importantly, it seems that US regulators are beginning to take the same view. As Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong lamented after his exchange was slapped with a lawsuit last month:

We got this information from the SEC that, well, actually anything that’s not Bitcoin is a security. And we said to ourselves, well, that’s not our understanding of the law.

Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase

Coinbase can complain all it wants (and it will have its day in court), but the reality for the market is that this is happening, whether it is fair or not, and it may affect the way price action in crypto moves from now on. The SEC even formally described several cryptocurrencies that it formally considered securities, including Solana, BNB and the native tokens for Cardano and Polygon. Tracing the correlation between Bitcoin and a pair of these assets as an example, the breakout is clear in June, as the market sells off in response to the confirmation of securities.

Bitcoin Correlations

Rolling 60-Day Pearson vs ADA & SOL
ADA & SOL named as securities by SEC on June 5th

Source: @DanniiAshmore, Invezz

Of course, this is a stronger sell-off and a bigger drop in correlation than what we saw previously with Ether. The world’s second largest cryptocurrency seems to be operating in a grey area, which perhaps explains why the sell-off has not been as large as, for example, ADA and SOL, but also why it is not on par with Bitcoin.

Spot ETF applications paint a brighter picture for Bitcoin

Then there is the case of spot ETF applications, coming from a handful of the world’s largest asset managers. These are Bitcoin ETFs, not Ethereum or crypto ETFs. While approval would be a boon for the cryptocurrency sector in general, as it could open the door to similar vehicles for other assets in the future, the many hurdles Bitcoin has had to evade to remain in the ETF discussion are numerous. There is still no guarantee that these ETFs will be approved; certainly, other assets seem a long way off. Therefore, the simultaneous SEC security-driven crackdown and the plethora of Bitcoin ETF applications is driving a wedge between Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

The million-dollar question is whether this all goes back to normal once the furore subsides. There is no doubt that the relationship remains strong here and Bitcoin continues to lead the market. But there may also be reason to believe that there has been a structural break and that the previous hand-holding relationship will not be so close in the future.

Crypto has had a rough patch recently. The 2022 scandals were plentiful (Terra, Celsius, FTX, to name a few) and capital flight has been staggering, as (for whatever reason) investors have chosen that Treasury bills paying 5% are preferable to centralised cryptocurrencies paying -100% (hopefully -90% after many years of bankruptcy court proceedings).

While Bitcoin has also been immensely affected by the pain of 2022, its first mover advantage and lack of counterparty risk could help it avoid being tainted by the same tainted brush in the eyes of e-commerce investors. Altcoins are definitely not fashionable at the moment, and the reputation of the non-Bitcoin crypto sector has been greatly tarnished in the eyes of institutional capital.

The great Bitcoin decoupling, which would be Bitcoin cutting its correlation with risky assets and instead claiming the status of an uncorrelated store of value, seems a long way off yet. But a lesser type of decoupling, where it separates itself from other cryptocurrencies, may not be as far away as previously thought.

Once again, the numbers could immediately return to normal. Perhaps it is just a hint of what may come at some point down the road. But either way, it is one of the most crucial and intriguing trends to keep an eye on in the crypto space, even if this episode turns out to be all smoke and mirrors.

Source: invezz.com

Disclaimer: The information set out herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendations. All investments and trading involve risk and it is the responsibility of each individual to do their due diligence before making any investment decision.
MiCA and a new era for the crypto sector in Spain

MiCA and a new era for the crypto sector in Spain

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On 27 June, Mastercard’s Crypto Day was held in collaboration with the AEFI, an event that provided an opportunity to discuss various topics related to the cryptocurrency industry, where the main players in the sector were able to clarify and share the latest developments affecting the sector and the future that lies ahead in the coming months.

EurocoinPay CEO Herminio Fernández de Blas participated in the panel
“New opportunities for collaboration in the crypto ecosystem after MICA”

One of the round tables of the meeting, led and organised by the AEFI, featured the financial supervisors, the Bank of Spain and the CNMV, and the regulator, the Treasury, led by Alfonso Ayuso, member of the AEFI Board of Directors. This relevant and timely roundtable focused on the approval and publication of the European MiCA Regulation and the regulatory circumstances it brings with it in the EU Member States and, particularly, in Spain. Our country does not currently have a specific regulation that serves as a transition to the new European standard, but for all Member States the countdown to the implementation of MiCA has already begun, so companies in the crypto sector must prepare to meet and comply with the rules of the new European Regulation.

This Regulation creates a new era in the crypto sector, since, to date, there is no regulation in Spain that authorises, licenses and supervises the crypto sector, unlike in other countries such as Germany and France, which do have a law that regulates the crypto companies that operate in those markets. In our country, the Bank of Spain launched the Register of Entities last year in which all companies operating in the crypto sector must be registered. This register has the purpose of complying with everything related to money laundering and terrorist financing, but it is not a licence or authorisation.

The implications of this Regulation go far beyond the enumeration and drafting of the rules that we must comply with in Spain by European mandate, the Regulation harmonises the EU countries and establishes a regulatory framework in which companies must operate, complying with the law. The regulation aims to provide security for financial users, to allow for the harmonised development of companies within the EU and to protect the financial and non-financial industry in crypto operations.

It is worth noting that, apart from MiCA, another package of measures that has been approved in recent months is the European Parliament and Council regulation for market infrastructures based on distributed ledger technology, better known as the DLT Pilot Regime, which seeks to promote the advancement of technologies that enable the transformation of the financial sector, including distributed ledger technologies (DLT), also known as blockchain. In doing so, it aims to reduce the associated risks and, at the same time, expand financial regulation both for issuers of cryptoassets, which are considered financial instruments, and for companies that provide financial services related to these assets.

In the case of Spain, a reform of the Securities Market Law has been carried out to implement this regulation of the European Parliament, which will also make it possible to execute, settle and register any transaction instantaneously, providing benefits not only in terms of time, but also in terms of costs and guarantees.

One of the conclusions adopted was the need to continue talking about MiCA in the next 18 months, when it will be definitively implemented. Europe has granted an extra period of time to help companies to complete their adaptation and correct implementation. And work will continue on this Regulation, as MiCA II seems to be a reality that will materialise sooner or later in the European Union.

At the national level, the existence of the Bank of Spain Registry will have to be reformulated in order to reorganise the supervision, authorisations and licences issued by Spain, as the supervision and authorisation of crypto entities operating in Spain will be the responsibility of the CNMV.  However, the three organisations participating in the roundtable emphasised that MiCA may currently generate many doubts, but it will be a great opportunity to attract security, stability and consumer protection, where the connection and collaboration of supervisors and regulators will be essential.

Digital euro

Another of the issues addressed at the conference related to the arrival of the technical guides and second-level standards that MiCA entails and the negotiations, drafting and milestones set by Europe for their implementation.  In addition, special emphasis was placed on the arrival of the digital euro, since the European Commission, through a legislative text, has presented its proposal for the introduction of the digital euro, in which limits are established in relation to the levels of possession of this digital currency. The aim is to avoid competition with bank deposits and to guarantee financial stability. In addition, it seeks to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing by regulating its use in situations where there is no internet access.

With MiCA, a new network of collaboration opportunities opens up in the crypto ecosystem

Another of the round tables, “New opportunities for collaboration in the crypto ecosystem after MiCA”, was attended by AEFI partners Bit2me, Prosegur Crypto and EurocoinPay, to present the possibilities for growth, development and value that MiCA brings with it. A regulation that harmonises member states and establishes the same rules of the game for all operators creates a necessary network of collaboration, cooperation and synergies between members of the financial industry. From regulated environments, such as the Financial Sandbox, to highly focused development teams that are important in the ecosystem. All companies welcome the advent of common regulation and standards, among other things, because they allow them to create, develop and test these collaborative projects mentioned above with traditional entities in the financial industry.

New technologies, products and services beyond cryptocurrencies such as Web3, Metaverse and NFT’s were also discussed.

Source: AEFI

Disclaimer: The information set out herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendations. All investments and trading involve risk and it is the responsibility of each individual to do their due diligence before making any investment decision.
European Union moves forward with regulatory agreement on cryptocurrencies and banks

European Union moves forward with regulatory agreement on cryptocurrencies and banks

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As of 27 June 2023, European Union (EU) lawmakers have secured a political agreement on bank capital legislation regarding cryptocurrencies.

The agreement, published in a European parliament press release, focuses on keeping unsecured cryptocurrencies from entering the traditional financial system.

EU concludes regulatory agreement on cryptocurrencies

The European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee announced the deal on its Twitter account. The announcement followed a meeting between the European Parliament, national governments and the European Commission.

The new agreement addresses a range of issues including environmental risks, levels of exposure to cryptocurrencies in banks and other banking issues. It also radically changes the way banks assess risk for different types of loans. Types of corporate and housing loans, among others.

Source: Statista

One of the main focuses is to keep cryptocurrencies without a backing outside the traditional financial system. Banks will have to disclose their exposure to cryptocurrencies.

The European Council also stated that the agreement includes a specific regime for cryptocurrencies. This is how the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision is currently working on a set of rules to regulate cryptocurrencies.

Regulation of cryptocurrencies in Europe

There are various regulations at international level in relation to the world of cryptocurrencies. Depending on the legal asset that the legislation covers, the regulation may be of a fiscal, financial or compliance.

Recently, the European Union approved one of the most important pieces of legislation regarding cryptocurrencies, known as the MiCA Law.

As of the approval by the European Union of the MiCA Act, any company offering services related to cryptocurrencies will be required to register in one of the member states of the European Union.

It is essential to understand that there must be a principle of proportionality between EU regulations and the phenomena to be regulated, such as cryptocurrencies. This way it can be ensured that the law does not become harmful.

Source: Beincrypto

Disclaimer: The information set out herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendations. All investments and trading involve risk and it is the responsibility of each individual to do their due diligence before making any investment decision.
Mastercard identified nine trends that they believe define the future of payments

Mastercard identified nine trends that they believe define the future of payments

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The Future of Payments study identified three specific areas that they believe will define the way we buy, sell and interact between now and the end of this decade and beyond.

Mastercard last month presented its study called The Future of Payments, which explores nine trends that they believe will shape “The Next Economy“.

Within the report they focused on three specific areas that they believe will define the way we buy, sell and interact between now and the end of this decade and beyond. These three areas are: reimagining money, or how the use of money is being redefined by the emergence of non-traditional assets; smart experiences, which addresses the intersection of the physical and virtual worlds; and sustainable futures, which shows how purposeful consumption impacts product design and the value of a company.

That said, the nine trends within each area are as follows.

Reimagining money

Tokenisation: According to the published study, the notion of money continues to evolve to encompass more tokenisable assets, including points, loyalty, data, rights and new currencies. Therefore, extending this technology to real assets will, over the next five years, transform the idea of value and what we use to pay.

Programmable payments: Artificial Intelligence, smart contracts, APIs and other solutions will come together to simplify commercial payments. New ways of programming payment flows will inject efficiency into the economy, they explained, and this will result in reduced operational costs.

Ubiquitous wallets: For Mastercard, the next generation of digital wallets should make it possible to manage our identity and finances, including tokenised securities. They say the “super wallet” of the future will become the command centre of our daily lives, allowing us to access services and payments in any channel.

Smart experiences

Connected finance: Within this point, the study highlighted that just as omni-channel retailing transformed the way we shop, new technologies are expanding the ways we pay in shops, stadiums, stations, metaverse, etc. Thus, the instantaneous ability to access financial services at scale will allow consumers to bank and pay from anywhere and through any channel.

Borderless payments: Payment networks are expected to eventually break down the physical and digital barriers that prevent the exchange of goods, services and data across markets. In this regard, by the end of this decade, Mastercard said that cross-border payment interoperability will be a fact of life.

Acceptance unleashed: POS check-out is undergoing a transformation thanks to new technologies that are multiplying payment options. From Mastercard’s perspective, acceptance options are expected to increase further over the next two years, benefiting merchants and customers in terms of speed and convenience, but also impacting financial inclusion, allowing more people to solve practical issues such as public transport or access to shows and stadiums.

Sustainable futures

Inclusive credit: In the near term, we will see an acceleration of access to credit for the unbanked through banks, fintechs and other digital players, which will drive global economic growth.

Conscious consumption: Consumers will favour companies that are aligned with their ethical, social and environmental principles. They will prefer local companies that meet ESG or Zero Emissions criteria.

Built-in trust: On this last point, due to the rise of fraud and identity theft, the Mastercard study revealed that trust will become the key differentiating factor between companies, with those that earn consumer trust retaining the lion’s share of payment flows.

Source: Cointelegraph

Disclaimer: The information set out herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendations. All investments and trading involve risk and it is the responsibility of each individual to do their due diligence before making any investment decision.
Millennials and Generation Z tend to build a more cryptocurrency-friendly society

Millennials and Generation Z tend to build a more cryptocurrency-friendly society

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If you are Spanish, this is the classification of generations according to your year of birth:

Baby boom (1949-1968)

Unlike the post-war children, the baby boomers are the largest generation. There are currently more than 12 million baby boomers in Spain. They were the first to live in peace and prosperity after the post-war period.

Generation X (1969-1980)

These are the children of the baby boomers, those born in the 1970s. In Spain they also lagged behind the rest of the Western world due to Franco’s regime and began with the progressive political opening up of the country. They lived through the splendour of consumerism and the obsession for success at all costs. Also known as the EGB generation, they were the first to become familiar with computers as a work tool.

Millennials (1981-1993)

Probably the best known and most criticised generation. Millennials are those born between 1981 and 1993 (or 1996, depending on the organisation consulted). In Spain they represent a population of just over 7 million men and women.

Generation Z (1994-2010)

This is the generation that has taken over from the millennials. They are at most 23 years old and outnumber their predecessors. In Spain there are 7,800,000 boys and girls who belong to this post-millennial generation.

Do you know which generation you belong to?

A study reveals that Millennials and Generation Z tend to build a more cryptocurrency-friendly society.

Bitget published an extensive study on the relationship between demographic changes and cryptocurrency adoption rates across generations. The brokerage examined more than 255,000 questionnaires, with participants from 26 countries and divided into four age groups.

The analysis found that the Millennial generation represents the largest group of cryptocurrency enthusiasts, accounting for 46% of respondents, and concluded that the representation of different groups by public regulatory bodies may define the possibility of social changes favourable to cryptocurrencies.

The survey was conducted between July 2022 and January 2023, involving more than 459,000 respondents, with more than 255,000 contributing responses. As part of the study, information on the fertility and adoption rate of cryptocurrencies in selected countries was correlated with other factors, such as the propensity of residents of selected countries to use blockchain technology and data on the demographics of people who own cryptocurrencies.

Respondents were categorised into generational and age groups: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z. Among them, Baby Boomers accounted for 19% of respondents, with 8% owning cryptocurrencies.

Generation X made up 23% of respondents, with 25% of them owning cryptocurrencies. Generation Y made up 31% of respondents and 46% of them owned a cryptocurrency, and Generation Z made up 17% of respondents and 21% of them owned a cryptocurrency. The statistics point to an uneven use of digital assets across different age groups, especially in countries with a long-life expectancy and a highly educated population, such as Japan.

The data collected also indicates that Millennials are more loyal to cryptocurrencies, as they are more familiar with the internet and digital technologies, compared to previous generations.

This age group is also starting to build their investment portfolios and sees cryptocurrencies as a good opportunity due to their high return potential, as shown from 2017. It was also observed that Generation Z respondents are fans of modern technologies, being inclined to use digital assets and DLTs, as they do not have any negative experience with financial crises, as they were born after 2008.

Other data collected on behaviour regarding the regulation of digital assets indicates that each passing generation is more interested in their rulers having an equal interest in the regulation of blockchain assets, with a considerable increase in the percentage from 6% to 27% between Generation X and Generation Y, respectively.

This jump can be attributed to the change in value mapping observed in these two generations, especially in relation to changes in technologies, work-life balance issues, diversity and inclusion factors, and a decrease in trust in institutions.

The influence of Baby Boomers and Generation X is likely to diminish, as by 2030 all members of Generation Z will be adults, and the diffusion of blockchain technology in this period could lead to an increase in the percentage of people using cryptocurrencies across all generations.

“The popularity and acceptance of cryptocurrencies varies across different age groups. Through this research, we can better understand the needs and preferences of cryptocurrency users,” he said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget.

Analysis of the overall data obtained during the research allows the Bitget team to conclude that population growth in the countries studied is, in general, slowing down.

Combined with increasing life expectancy, there could be a situation of total rejection of cryptocurrencies, blocking innovation and modern technology. However, the declining share of Baby Boomers and Generation X in the total population may be accompanied by processes of unlocking and rehabilitating solutions that benefit society and replacing conservatism with progressivism.

The research findings also suggest that, early in the next decade, demographic processes could lead to a dramatic shift towards greater acceptance of cryptocurrencies, despite the slowdown in population growth.

Source: Periodistadigital / Dailymotion / Cointelegraph

Disclaimer: The information set out herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendations. All investments and trading involve risk and it is the responsibility of each individual to do their due diligence before making any investment decision.
Business with the “better half”

Business with the “better half”

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In health and entrepreneurship: start-ups are also a couple thing

This type of projects that unite the professional and the emotional are driven by complicity and a common vision, but they face the difficulty of disconnecting and investors’ misgivings about the scenario that opens up if love breaks down.

If finding the right business idea is complicated, finding the right team to put it into practice is a headache for many entrepreneurs, which is why they often turn to their circle of trust: family, work colleagues, friends and even their partner. After all, if out of millions of people, they have chosen that person to share their life with, why not promote a professional project together? With this reasoning in mind, the Spanish business ecosystem is seeing a growing number of companies headed by people in love with each other.

Today we share with you the interview published on 30/04/2023 in the ABC newspaper to the founders of EurocoinPay, Herminio Fernández and Marisa De La Fuente.If you want to read the full article here you have the link.


Marisa De La Fuente and Herminio Fernández

«We thought that together we could create and manage the company better than separately»

It was a trip to the United States that awakened Herminio Fernández‘s interest in blockchain and cryptocurrencies. Back in our country, both he and his wife, Marisa De La Fuente, left their jobs to focus fully on EurocoinPay, a company that has an online platform and mobile application through which you can make payments and immediate transactions with any cryptocurrency in just a few seconds. “We thought that together we could create and run the company better than separately“, justifies Fernández, who holds the position of CEO while his wife is in charge of management and administration. “The shares are 100% ours, so all the responsibility falls on us, which is a very important lever of trust within the marriage“, they say.

Fernández explains that he travels regularly and does so with complete peace of mind because, if anything unexpected happens, “I am confident that Marisa will take up the gauntlet and the company will continue to operate without any problems“. Like the other entrepreneurs, she admits that they hardly have time to switch off because they dedicate a lot of hours to the business. “We don’t have time to argue – he says – because we get home tired from the effort it takes to run a technology company from León and position it in the technological universe“.

Nobody said that setting up a business with a spouse is easy. Investors, in fact, take a close look at this type of project, which is exposed to greater risk if the relationship ends badly. Despite this, in health and entrepreneurship… start-ups are also a matter for couples.

Source: abc.es

Disclaimer: The information set out herein should not be taken as financial advice or investment recommendations. All investments and trading involve risk and it is the responsibility of each individual to do their due diligence before making any investment decision.