The International Monetary Fund has proposed an 85% increase in electricity taxes specifically targeting cryptocurrency mining and artificial intelligence data centers, two industries now consuming 2% of global power and contributing nearly 1% to emissions. The IMF’s plan aims to curb their environmental impact by imposing a direct levy, but warns that without coordinated international action, companies may simply relocate to cheaper energy regions, undermining global emission reduction goals.
about IMF Proposes 85% Tax Hike on Crypto Mining & AI Data CentersInternational Monetary Fund
0 in Finance and 0 in Crypto last weekRipple’s XRP Escrow: Institutional Strategy & NDA Insights
A detailed analysis by an XRP investor has reignited discussions about Ripple’s escrow system, suggesting it was designed with long-term institutional deployment in mind. The post highlights how locked XRP supply is tied to multi-year planning and strict NDAs with major financial institutions. This perspective shifts the focus from market distribution to strategic infrastructure readiness.
about Ripple's XRP Escrow: Institutional Strategy & NDA InsightsBIS Appoints Digital Currency Expert to Lead Innovation Hub
The Bank for International Settlements has appointed IMF veteran Tommaso Mancini-Griffoli as the next head of its Innovation Hub, effective March 2026, signaling a major acceleration in global central bank digital currency development. The appointment brings one of the world’s most influential digital money economists to lead the BIS’s technological exploration for central banks worldwide, focusing on CBDCs, tokenized assets, and next-generation financial infrastructure.
about BIS Appoints Digital Currency Expert to Lead Innovation HubEl Salvador Buys 1,000 Bitcoin Amid IMF Scrutiny
El Salvador has executed its largest single-day Bitcoin acquisition since beginning its cryptocurrency journey, purchasing 1,000 BTC worth approximately $100 million despite the digital asset trading near six-month lows. President Nayib Bukele’s announcement comes as the International Monetary Fund continues to question the nation’s cryptocurrency strategy, creating a stark contrast between national policy and international financial oversight. The purchase increases El Salvador’s total Bitcoin holdings to 7,500 BTC valued at $698 million, representing a 17% single-day increase in the country’s cryptocurrency reserves.
about El Salvador Buys 1,000 Bitcoin Amid IMF ScrutinyEl Salvador Buys $100M Bitcoin Despite IMF Loan Pledge
El Salvador has purchased 1,090 Bitcoin worth over $100 million, directly contradicting its pledge to the International Monetary Fund to limit public exposure to the cryptocurrency. This move raises significant questions about the country’s compliance with its $1.4 billion loan program conditions and creates potential fiscal risks that could jeopardize the international funding arrangement.
about El Salvador Buys $100M Bitcoin Despite IMF Loan PledgeGhana to Regulate Crypto by Year-End, 3M Users Affected
Ghana is advancing comprehensive cryptocurrency regulations expected to be implemented before December, with the Bank of Ghana submitting legislation to parliament following four months of intensive preparatory work. This regulatory push addresses a significant digital asset user base, with estimates showing over 3 million Ghanaians—representing 8.9% of the country’s population—currently engaged with cryptocurrency markets, positioning Ghana alongside regional counterparts like Kenya in formalizing oversight of the rapidly evolving sector.
about Ghana to Regulate Crypto by Year-End, 3M Users AffectedVisa: Stablecoins Originate $670B in Lending Over 5 Years
Visa’s latest analysis reveals that stablecoins have originated $670 billion in lending over the past five years, with average loan sizes surging 59% from $76,000 to $121,000. The payments giant positions these dollar-pegged cryptocurrencies as potential gateways to bringing portions of the $40 trillion global credit market onto blockchain infrastructure, though the International Monetary Fund warns this rapid expansion could introduce systemic financial risks.
about Visa: Stablecoins Originate $670B in Lending Over 5 YearsSwiss Leaders to Attend IMF-World Bank 2025 Meetings
Switzerland’s top financial policymakers, including Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin and Swiss National Bank Chairman Martin Schlegel, will participate in the 2025 International Monetary Fund and World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington this October. The high-level delegation will engage in critical global financial discussions, including the preceding G20 meeting on monetary issues, while leveraging the platform for strategic bilateral talks with international counterparts.
about Swiss Leaders to Attend IMF-World Bank 2025 MeetingsZambia Seeks IMF Program Extension Through 2024
Zambia is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund to extend its $1.7 billion financial program by an additional year, with Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane confirming the government’s position in recent interviews. The country hopes to secure a new agreement with additional funding before the end of 2024, building on the existing arrangement that was originally set to expire in October but received a three-month extension to allow completion of final reviews.
about Zambia Seeks IMF Program Extension Through 2024Argentina’s Peso Crisis: Milei’s Libertarian Reforms Falter
Argentina’s central bank has intervened with a $1 billion reserve injection to stabilize the plunging peso, marking a dramatic reversal of President Javier Milei’s libertarian economic agenda. The crisis exposes the limitations of ideological reforms in a country grappling with institutional dysfunction and hyperinflation. Despite initial optimism from Bitcoin advocates, Argentines are turning to physical dollars rather than cryptocurrency for refuge.
about Argentina's Peso Crisis: Milei's Libertarian Reforms FalterEl Salvador Buys 21 BTC Despite IMF Restrictions
El Salvador celebrated the fourth anniversary of its groundbreaking Bitcoin Law by acquiring 21 BTC, maintaining its commitment to cryptocurrency despite IMF restrictions tied to a $1.4 billion loan. The country’s Bitcoin reserves now total 6,313 BTC worth over $702 million. While the IMF agreement required making BTC acquisitions voluntary and withdrawing from the government-run Chivo wallet program, El Salvador has continued its strategy of purchasing one BTC daily since March 2024. The government has also expanded Bitcoin infrastructure through education programs, with 80,000 public servants certified in Bitcoin literacy, and passed supportive banking legislation. President Bukele has consistently emphasized cryptocurrency as a core element of national strategy, even as the country meets IMF fiscal targets and receives disbursements under the loan program.
about El Salvador Buys 21 BTC Despite IMF RestrictionsRipple Expands RLUSD Stablecoin in Africa to Challenge USDT
Ripple has announced partnerships with African fintech firms Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card to expand the reach of its RLUSD stablecoin across the continent. The initiative focuses on using RLUSD for payments, settlements, and social impact projects, such as drought and rainfall insurance in Kenya, enabled by smart contracts for automated, transparent payouts. With a market cap exceeding $700 million since its launch, RLUSD is positioned to compete with Tether’s USDT, which currently dominates Africa’s stablecoin transactions. Reports indicate stablecoins account for 43% of crypto volume in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting their role in addressing foreign-exchange shortages and settlement delays. Ripple’s strategy emphasizes institutional adoption and practical utility beyond speculation.
about Ripple Expands RLUSD Stablecoin in Africa to Challenge USDT