Disney Ventures into the Metaverse with NFT

Disney has embarked on a groundbreaking journey into the metaverse, collaborating with Dapper Labs to launch an NFT and Web3 platform. 

The platform, anticipated to feature iconic Disney characters and experiences, aims to reshape fan engagement while exploring the potential of non-fungible tokens.

The NFT platform will launch later this year on the Apple App Store for iOS, the Google Play Store for Android and on the web.

Coinbase Introduces Innovative Protocol for On-Chain Payments

Crypto exchange Coinbase has unveiled a novel protocol geared towards enhancing on-chain payments to streamline and optimise transactions executed on various blockchain networks, aiming for increased efficiency and reduced fees. 

The new open-source Onchain Payment Protocol is an update to Coinbase’s Commerce product.

By introducing this protocol, Coinbase aims to solve common crypto transaction issues merchants and customers face. The update will unify on-chain payments, ensuring clarity, reliability, and a consistent experience for all users, notwithstanding their platform or wallet choices.

Ukraine Officials Dive into Crypto and Virtual Asset Investigation Training

In a proactive move towards understanding and regulating the crypto landscape, 14 officials in Ukraine have undertaken specialised training focused on investigating crypto-related activities and virtual assets in Vienna, Austria.

The select supervisory and law-enforcement officials from Ukraine learned about advanced techniques and tools required to investigate financial crimes using virtual assets.

The course was organised by the Office of the Coordinator of Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Economic and Environmental Activities in partnership with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

The United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Romania, and Poland fund the project, specifically designed to support the governments of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to mitigate criminal risks related to digital assets and crypto assets.

Singapore Central Bank to Trial Live Wholesale CBDC for Settlements

Singapore’s central bank is set to conduct a trial involving a live wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) for settlements. 

As part of the test programme, the banks will issue tokenized liabilities that represent claims on their balance sheets. Retail customers could use those tokenized liabilities to transact with merchants, which would be settled via an automatic transfer of a wholesale CBDC.

The trial signifies Singapore’s proactive stance in exploring the potential of CBDCs within its financial ecosystem.

Turkey Considers New Crypto Rule Addressing Licensing and Taxation

Turkey is in the process of formulating a comprehensive crypto rule that could address licensing and taxation within the crypto space. 

The aim is to remove the country from the “grey list” of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), as Turkey ranks fourth globally in crypto trading.

The regulations will prioritize implementing specific licensing standards to prevent system abuse and will encompass factors such as capital adequacy standards, enhancements in digital security, custody services and verification of reserves.

That’s all for this edition of the Giottus crypto newsletter. Stay tuned for more exciting news and updates from the world of blockchain and crypto!