Fintech Daily Digest

"Instead of embracing Facebook's Libra, we should be rallying for a public option for digital currency."

By taking the status quo option off the table, Libra or its next best replica will force monetary authorities and regulators to choose between central bank-managed digital currency and riskier private digital tokens.

SOV (short for "sovereign") is a blockchain-based currency and the new legal tender of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Via the Timed Release Monetary Issuance anyone (regardless of location) can register for the SOV pre-sale on the newly launched website of the SOV Development Foundation. The actual pre-sale for SOV - in which users buy TRMI units that can later be exchanged for SOV units - is not yet live and is still a work in progress.

Santander says it has become the first institution to use a public blockchain to manage all aspects of a bond issue, not only using a token on ethereum to represent the $20 million debt issuance but settling it with another set of ERC-20 tokens representing cash held in a custody account.

France will halt the development of Facebook's planned Libra cryptocurrency in Europe because it threatens the "monetary sovereignty" of governments.

Switzerland's guidance on stablecoins - what it means for Facebook's Libra.

Zero Hash, the crypto-focused affiliate of Seed CX, has launched support for derivatives, allowing participants to settle bilateral derivative transactions.

Ripple partner InstaReM will now power real-time cross border payments for the clients of another Ripple partner SBI.

Mastercard is partnering with R3 to develop a blockchain-based cross-border payment solution.

Swiss financial regulator FINMA confirmed in a guidance note on stablecoins Wednesday that it had received a request for an assessment of how it would classify the Libra project as currently planned. The agency added that range of services projected by the Libra Association would need extra oversight.

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has issued new guidelines for stablecoins, including Facebook's planned cryptocurrency Libra.

Seven independent mobile payment systems in Europe have teamed up to form the European Mobile Payment Systems Association. Its mid-term goal is to make it possible for the companies' combined 25 million users to use all of the individual systems in each of the member countries.

Nice summary of everything that's known about China's central bank digital currency plans.

Customers will have a $3,900 deposit requirement for both Bakkt's daily and monthly futures contracts as an initial hedge. The speculative initial requirements will be somewhat higher, at $4,290 each.

Seychelles national stock exchange (MERJ) has issued off its digital initial public offering (IPO), that is poised to be the inaugural blockchain-based IPO in the world.

The Thailand Bond Market Association plans to issue cryptocurrency to facilitate bond trading, and connect its system with the central bank's cryptocurrency project. The Bank of Thailand and commercial banks are currently experimenting using digital currency for interbank settlement. The coverage includes inter-bank bond trading, repurchase transactions and regulatory compliance and data reconciliation.

CiperTrace's Travel Rule Information Sharing Architecture would allow exchanges and wallet providers to share payment details and confidentially exchange customer know-your-customer information.

Gemini Trust Co., the custodial arm of the twins' crypto exchange, said it will allow users to instantly access funds equal to the amount of coins kept off-line, or cold storage.