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Singapore and Switzerland Co-Organise Point Zero Forum to Discuss Innovation in Digital Financial Technology

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The Swiss Secretariat for International Finance (SIF) and Elevandi, today announced the launch of the inaugural Point Zero Forum, to be held on June 21-23 in Zurich, Switzerland. This in-person event will provide a platform for global leaders across the public and private sectors to drive the meaningful exchange of ideas and knowledge to advance FinTech and Web3.0 in the digital economy. Key topics of discussion include advances in Decentralised Finance, Embedded and Open Finance and Sustainable Finance, implications for policymakers, and opportunities for FinTechs.

The three-day Forum is organised in cooperation with the BIS Innovation Hub, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), and the Swiss National Bank (SNB). The Forum will also be supported by Finance.Swiss, Milken Institute and Switzerland Global Enterprise.

The inaugural forum will be jointly opened by Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies, Heng Swee Keat and Switzerland’s Federal Councillor and the Head of the Federal Department of Finance, Ueli Maurer.

Mr Heng said,

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“Digital technology has tremendous potential to change the world for the better, especially through finance. To unlock this potential, we must find new ways to collaborate, and partner one another to tackle key global challenges and ride the new wave of opportunities. Singapore and Switzerland have worked together to organise the inaugural Point Zero Forum, bringing together global technologists, financial institutions and regulators. Through this Forum, we can add to the global FinTech momentum and strengthen the global movement for innovation and change.”

Mr Maurer said,

“As one of the world’s leading and innovative financial centres, Switzerland is an ideal host to bring international financial market and supervisory authorities together with new players from the world of FinTech. Switzerland has long maintained an intensive financial dialogue with Singapore. Together, we are committed to open markets, international competition and constant innovation. The Point Zero Forum is intended to help ensure that innovation in digital financial technology can flourish and thrive in a secure framework for the benefit of all.”

First speakers, with more to be announced, include:

  • Heng Swee KeatSingapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies
  • Ueli MaurerSwitzerland’s Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Finance
  • Thomas Jordan, Chairman of the Governing Board, SNB
  • Urban Angehrn, CEO, Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA)
  • Ravi Menon, Managing Director, MAS
  • Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President & CEO, Women’s World Banking
  • Ralph Hamers, CEO, UBS
  • Philipp Rickenbacher, CEO, Julius Baer
  • Joanne Hannaford, Chief Technology & Operations Officer and Executive Board Member, Credit Suisse
  • Sam Bankman-Fried, CEO, FTX
  • Dr. Gabriela Maria Payer, Vice-Chairwoman, Sygnum
  • Ben Zhou, Founder & CEO, Bybit
  • Jos Dijsselhof, CEO, SIX
  • Stefan Klestil, General Partner, SpeedInvest
  • Jo Ann Barefoot, CEO & Co-Founder, Barefoot Innovation
  • Jason Thompson, CEO, Partior
  • Dr. Darian McBain, Chief Sustainability Officer, MAS
  • Eric Lim, Chief Sustainability Officer, UOB
  • Ericson Chan, Group Chief Information and Digital Officer, Zurich Insurance
  • Teana Baker-Taylor, Chief Policy Officer, Chamber of Digital Commerce
  • Oliver Bussmann, CEO & Founder of Bussmann Advisory, Former CIO & Group MD of UBS
  • Dr. Iwa Salami, Reader (Associate Professor), Centre of FinTech, Department of Law & Criminology, Royal Docks School of Business and Law
  • Pinar Özcan, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Oxford University

Point Zero Forum guests can choose to discover the Switzerland FinTech Ecosystem through an additional day of tours to innovative companies and labs to learn about the latest developments in Web3.0 and Zug.

Point Zero Forum is an invitation-only forum for senior leaders from government and regulators, financial institutions, technology companies, digital asset and blockchain networks, academia and investors. To register interest, or to nominate a guest please visit www.pointzeroforum.com.

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State Secretariat for International Finance

The State Secretariat for International Finance represents Switzerland’s interests in financial, monetary and tax matters not only vis-à-vis partner countries but also in the competent international bodies. It is committed to good framework conditions to ensure that Switzerland can have an innovative, interconnected and sustainable financial centre and business location that is among the world leaders. The State Secretariat is responsible for implementing the financial market policy of the Swiss Government.

Elevandi

Elevandi, which means to ‘lift up’ or ‘raise up’ was set up by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), to bring together the global public and private sectors to advance FinTech in our digital economy. Elevandi is building the future of finance by connecting businesses and people, insights and ideas. Our flagship product is the Singapore FinTech Festival alongside fast rising platforms including the World FinTech Festival and Point Zero Forum.

SOURCE Elevandi

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XChain, VARA’s Exclusive Transaction Monitoring Partner, Readies Rollout for Regional and Global VASPs

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Global digital assets risk monitoring provider XChain, which has been working with Dubai’s VARA since 2022 as its exclusive forensic transaction monitoring partner, has announced the rollout of its services for institutional and retail Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) in the region. The public launch of XChain’s transaction monitoring services will benefit VASPs, and eventually traditional financial institutions venturing into digital assets, offering much needed lifecycle support in areas of crypto oversight, compliance frameworks and transaction monitoring forensics.

By providing the region’s VASPs full visibility on the necessary regulatory and compliance frameworks, XChain aims to solve for key risk factors in on-chain transactions, enabling service providers to ultimately gain real-time insights into their risk metrics. XChain’s early intervention efforts will further establish a reliable and transparent monitoring foundation for VASPs, preparing them for proactive risk management as it relates to their different business models.

Haydn Jones, the newly appointed Managing Director of XChain, said: “With an increasing number of companies looking to tap into UAE’s digital assets industry, we are privileged to continue our work streamlining access to on-chain transaction risk-based analytics. It is therefore imperative for the compliance functions within VASPs to have access to the latest thinking, and we are proud to be at the forefront of blockchain forensics and asset monitoring to build a trusted and reliable framework that offers end-to-end support.”

Matthew White, CEO of VARA commented: “At VARA, we are committed to fostering innovation while ensuring robust regulatory standards for the virtual asset ecosystem. XChain’s rollout of its transaction monitoring services represents a significant step forward in enabling VASPs to operate with enhanced transparency and confidence. We are pleased to collaborate with XChain in setting new benchmarks for regulatory technology, which will not only benefit the digital asset sector but also build bridges with traditional financial institutions exploring this space.”

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Building the Gold Standard in Forensic Transaction Monitoring

VARA and XChain are also working on a regulatory dashboard tool to advance the existing on-chain transaction monitoring standards for the region’s digital assets ecosystem. The dashboard, expected to be launched in beta later this year, will offer real-time on-chain data and open-source intelligence derived from VASPs, enabling such institutions, as well as TradFi and professional services companies dealing with digital assets, to integrate a unified risk monitoring tool that adheres to the gold standard in Virtual Assets Regulatory Technology.

The post XChain, VARA’s Exclusive Transaction Monitoring Partner, Readies Rollout for Regional and Global VASPs appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.

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Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain (Chainlink Labs, BlackRock, Fidelity, Dynamite Blockchain)

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Exploring the Frontlines of Blockchain Innovation and Adoption

The blockchain industry continues to shape the future of finance, governance, and technology. Today’s briefing covers a range of key developments, from Australia’s crypto crackdown to Chainlink Labs’ expansion, Nevada’s innovative blockchain-driven electoral security, and updates on institutional Bitcoin adoption.


Australia’s Crypto Shakeup: A Looming Exodus for Blockchain Startups?

Australia’s blockchain and crypto sectors face a tumultuous period as nearly 30% of the country’s crypto-related businesses are projected to close operations by 2024. This decline follows increased regulatory scrutiny and diminishing investor confidence, as outlined in a report by KPMG.

The tightening regulatory environment has fueled debates about whether these measures protect consumers or hinder innovation. Advocates argue that clear regulations are crucial for building trust and stability in blockchain ecosystems, while critics fear they might stifle entrepreneurial spirit in the country.

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This development could serve as a cautionary tale for other nations walking the fine line between fostering innovation and enforcing compliance.

Source: Cointelegraph


Breaking Down Institutional Bitcoin Adoption

Institutional adoption of Bitcoin is on the rise, marking a significant milestone for blockchain’s integration into mainstream finance. A new report reveals how companies are leveraging Bitcoin as a reserve asset, while financial giants explore Bitcoin-backed investment products to attract both retail and institutional clients.

While adoption is accelerating, barriers remain. Regulatory uncertainty, volatility, and infrastructure gaps hinder broader integration. However, with asset managers like BlackRock and Fidelity increasingly embracing Bitcoin ETFs, institutional interest appears to be solidifying the cryptocurrency’s position as “digital gold.”

This trend signifies blockchain technology’s growing legitimacy in traditional financial systems, offering a pathway for further innovation and integration.

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Source: Bitcoinist


Nevada Implements Blockchain for Election Security

In a pioneering move, Nevada has integrated blockchain technology to enhance electoral security and prevent fraud. This development comes in response to a 2020 incident involving fraudulent electors, with blockchain now being used to verify the authenticity of electoral certificates and records.

The immutable and transparent nature of blockchain ensures tamper-proof data integrity, making it an ideal solution for secure electoral processes. Nevada’s initiative could serve as a model for other states and countries grappling with election integrity issues.

By leveraging blockchain for governance, Nevada showcases how this technology can go beyond finance to address critical societal challenges.

Source: 8 News Now

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Dynamite Blockchain Rebrands and Charts a New Path

Dynamite Blockchain has announced a strategic rebranding initiative to align its corporate vision with emerging trends in decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and enterprise solutions. The rebranding effort includes an updated logo, a new corporate mission, and a pivot toward offering scalable blockchain solutions for businesses.

The company’s refreshed focus aims to position Dynamite Blockchain as a leader in enterprise blockchain adoption, helping organizations integrate decentralized solutions seamlessly into their existing frameworks.

This rebranding underscores the importance of adaptability in the rapidly evolving blockchain space, where staying relevant often means redefining one’s identity.

Source: GlobeNewswire


Chainlink Labs Expands to Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)

Chainlink Labs, the developer of the blockchain oracle network Chainlink, has established a new presence in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). This strategic expansion aims to tap into the Middle East’s growing blockchain ecosystem and foster collaborations with financial institutions in the region.

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By entering ADGM, Chainlink Labs signals its intent to advance blockchain-powered financial solutions, with a focus on enhancing smart contract utility and adoption. The move also underscores the region’s increasing role as a hub for blockchain innovation.

This expansion reinforces Chainlink’s position as a key player in bridging on-chain and off-chain systems, further enabling the growth of decentralized applications worldwide.

Source: PR Newswire


Emerging Trends and Insights

  1. Regulatory Challenges: Australia’s crypto downturn reflects the broader tension between innovation and regulation, offering lessons for global blockchain players.
  2. Institutional Momentum: The rising adoption of Bitcoin by financial giants suggests a pivotal shift in the role of cryptocurrencies in traditional markets.
  3. Blockchain Beyond Finance: Nevada’s electoral security innovation highlights blockchain’s potential to address societal issues beyond financial services.
  4. Corporate Evolution: Dynamite Blockchain’s rebranding illustrates the industry’s emphasis on staying agile and forward-looking.
  5. Global Expansion: Chainlink Labs’ move into ADGM underscores the Middle East’s emergence as a critical blockchain innovation hub.

Key Takeaways

  • Blockchain’s application in governance and security, as seen in Nevada, demonstrates its potential for societal transformation.
  • Institutional adoption of Bitcoin is solidifying its status as a mainstream financial asset, even amid regulatory hurdles.
  • Strategic rebranding efforts, such as Dynamite Blockchain’s, reflect the dynamic nature of the blockchain industry.
  • Expansions into regions like the Middle East signal blockchain companies’ focus on tapping into emerging markets.

 

The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain (Chainlink Labs, BlackRock, Fidelity, Dynamite Blockchain) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.

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Bitget Wallet Partners with YouHodler to Launch Exclusive YHDL Token Airdrop Campaign

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Bitget Wallet Partners with YouHodler to Launch Exclusive YHDL Token Airdrop Campaign

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