{"id":17053,"date":"2023-03-20T21:07:50","date_gmt":"2023-03-20T21:07:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/?p=17053"},"modified":"2023-03-20T21:07:51","modified_gmt":"2023-03-20T21:07:51","slug":"bfc-fintech-monitor-march-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/bfc-fintech-monitor-march-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"BFC FinTech Monitor (March 2023)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Stay up-to-date on all the latest FinTech news and information from around the world in the BFC FinTech Monitor.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Around the World<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>#Reports and Studies<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>According to KPMG\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/fintechmagazine.com\/articles\/global-fintech-investment-fell-by-30-last-year-kpmg-says\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>Pulse of FinTech<\/em><\/a>\u00a0report, global fintech investments in 2022 were down 30% (to USD 164 billion) year-on-year. At the same time, 2022 was still one of the best years for fintech investments.<\/li>\n<li>Capgemini analysts are\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/prod.ucwe.capgemini.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Final-Web-Version-Cloudification-of-Networks.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">predicting<\/a>\u00a0that large tech companies will spend an average of USD 1 billion each to transform cloud networks.<\/li>\n<li>A new Juniper Research\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.crowdfundinsider.com\/2023\/02\/202720-open-banking-could-serve-big-tech-by-allowing-them-to-offer-tailored-digital-financial-services-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a>\u00a0has found that open banking has revolutionized third-party vendors as technology has helped them expand their offerings beyond banking.<\/li>\n<li>A survey commissioned by Regula and conducted by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfcw.com\/2023\/03\/01\/382191\/nine-in-ten-businesses-to-increase-spending-on-digital-identity-verification\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sapio Research<\/a>\u00a0has revealed that 9 out of every 10 businesses plans on increasing digital identify spending.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>#Innovations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Microsoft has introduced\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.microsoft.com\/blog\/2023\/03\/16\/introducing-microsoft-365-copilot-your-copilot-for-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Microsoft 365 Copilot<\/a>, a tool that combines\u00a0 Applications for Work, Microsoft Graph and OpenAI\u2019s GPT-4.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.finextra.com\/newsarticle\/41978\/morgan-stanley-and-stripe-tap-into-openais-gpt-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Morgan Stanley<\/a>&#8216;s wealth management division will use OpenAI\u2019s GPT-4 to develop ideas and content for financial advisors.<\/li>\n<li>Fintech startup\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.finextra.com\/pressarticle\/96038\/pwc-collaborates-with-fintechos-to-launch-digital-banking-package-on-microsoft-cloud-for-finance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FintechOS<\/a>\u00a0and consulting company PwC will join forces to support the new Infinite Financial Solutions for Banking, a digital banking solution that enables financial institutions to accelerate digital transformation and improve customer experiences in cost-effective ways.<\/li>\n<li>Open finance provider Brankas has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.finextra.com\/pressarticle\/95940\/brankas-releases-multi-bank-api-for-instant-account-opening-on-third-party-apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">introduced<\/a>\u00a0a new feature that allows users to instantly open bank accounts within the \u2018built-in finance\u2019 features of third-party apps.<\/li>\n<li>Mia-FinTech, a technology provider for financial institutions, has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.finextra.com\/pressarticle\/95943\/mia-fintech-rolls-out-payment-integration-hub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">launched<\/a>\u00a0its new Payment Integration Hub app, which integrates all digital payment methods in one place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>#Cryptocurrencies, Blockchain and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Representatives of the International Monetary Fund have stated that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theblock.co\/post\/214649\/imf-calls-for-coordinated-action-over-fears-crypto-could-undermine-global-monetary-system\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cryptocurrencies<\/a>\u00a0have the potential to undermine the global monetary system. At the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/news\/imf-to-prefer-regulating-crypto-than-banning-it-outright-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">same time<\/a>, the Fund\u2019s director is in favor of differentiating and regulating crypto assets rather than prohibiting them.<\/li>\n<li>US regulators have shut down cryptocurrency bank\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/signature-bank-shut-down-by-regulators-depositors-bailed-out-2023-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Signature Bank<\/a>\u00a0in an attempt to prevent a financial crisis from developing after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.<\/li>\n<li>Bitcoin will be\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/spring-budget-2023\/spring-budget-2023-html#cost-of-living-and-public-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">listed<\/a>\u00a0as a separate category on UK tax returns starting in 2025.<\/li>\n<li>Goldman Sachs has filed a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/image-ppubs.uspto.gov\/dirsearch-public\/print\/downloadPdf\/11605143\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">patent<\/a>\u00a0for a blockchain solution for interbank settlements.<\/li>\n<li>After high-profile crypto industry scandals, Visa and Mastercard are postponing the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/technology\/visa-mastercard-pause-crypto-push-wake-industry-meltdown-sources-2023-02-28\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">launch<\/a>\u00a0of a number of products and services related to cryptocurrencies. At the same time, Santander, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, BankProv, Bridge Bank, Mercury, Multis and Series Financial banks are still ready to work with crypto\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coindesk.com\/business\/2023\/03\/14\/santander-hsbc-deutsche-and-others-still-willing-to-serve-crypto-clients-after-banking-failures-dcg-says\/?utm_campaign=coindesk_main&amp;utm_term=organic&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_content=editorial&amp;utm_medium=social\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">assets<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/news.coincu.com\/171704-silvergate-capital-corp-bad-debts-deposit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Silvergate<\/a>, the largest crypto-oriented bank, was on the verge of bankruptcy following the collapse of FTX.<\/li>\n<li>97% of payment companies\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ripple.com\/reports\/Blockchain_and_Crypto_in_Payments.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">believe<\/a>\u00a0that cryptocurrency and blockchain will play a significant role in enabling faster and cheaper payments in the next 3 years.<\/li>\n<li>Gate Group is planning the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gate.io\/ru\/article\/29907\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">launch<\/a>\u00a0of a new Visa debit card in Europe that will allow users to convert crypto assets to fiat money.<\/li>\n<li>Binance, the world\u2019s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has banned citizens and residents of the Russian Federation from buying and selling dollars and euros through its\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.ru\/investicii\/485880-krupnejsaa-kriptobirza-zakryla-dla-rossian-pokupku-dollarov-i-evro-cerez-p2p\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">P2P service<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Crypto exchange\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/news\/coinbase-launches-wallet-as-a-service-for-businesses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Coinbase<\/a>\u00a0has launched a new wallet-as-a-service (WaaS) business solution for enterprises that will make it easier to implement products and services in the Web3 landscape.<\/li>\n<li>ValidEntry has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biometricupdate.com\/202302\/validentry-joins-defi-market-with-biometric-verification-platform\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">developed<\/a>\u00a0an identity verification platform for decentralized finance (DeFi).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>#Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The European Central Bank (ECB) has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfcw.com\/2023\/03\/02\/382364\/european-central-bank-sets-out-timeline-for-digital-euro-rollout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">developed<\/a>\u00a0a timetable for the implementation of the digital euro. If recognized as legal tender, merchants in the Eurozone will be required to accept it.<\/li>\n<li>US Congressman Tom Emmer has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.coindesk.com\/policy\/2023\/03\/13\/eu-merchants-could-be-required-to-accept-digital-euro-ministers-told\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">introduced<\/a>\u00a0a bill to ban the deployment of CBDCs in the US.<\/li>\n<li>Europe can become a world leader in the development of the internet of things (IoT) by leveraging the potential of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/cointelegraph.com\/news\/stablecoins-have-plentiful-machine-payment-use-cases-in-absence-of-euro-cbdc-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stablecoins<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and regulators in Israel, Norway and Sweden have successfully\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bis.org\/publ\/othp61.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">completed<\/a>\u00a0a study on the potential benefits and challenges of using retail CBDCs in international payments.<\/li>\n<li>Regulators and commercial banks actively have participated in a SWIFT network experiment to link\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.finextra.com\/newsarticle\/41943\/swift-to-develop-beta-version-of-experimental-cbdc-connector\/payments\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CBDCs<\/a>\u00a0to the existing fiat infrastructure.<\/li>\n<li>China&#8217;s\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thepaypers.com\/cryptocurrencies\/wechat-adds-digital-yuan-to-its-payment-platform--1261694\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WeChat<\/a>\u00a0ecosystem has added the digital yuan to its payment services.<\/li>\n<li>The Reserve Bank of Australia is launching\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.finextra.com\/newsarticle\/41898\/australian-banks-and-fintechs-to-test-use-cases-for-cbdc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">14 pilot projects<\/a>\u00a0to explore potential use cases for a CBDC.<\/li>\n<li>Offline CBDCs could be a complement to cash,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.finextra.com\/newsarticle\/41917\/offline-cbdc-cold-boost-financial-inclusion-and-privacy---bank-of-canada\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">resulting<\/a>\u00a0in increased financial inclusion and greater privacy.<\/li>\n<li>The Central Bank of Brazil has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ledgerinsights.com\/brazil-digital-real-cbdc-pilot\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">announced<\/a>\u00a0the official launch of a local CBDC pilot that will last until February 2024.<\/li>\n<li>The State Council of China\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thepaypers.com\/cryptocurrencies\/chinas-state-council-wants-to-tighten-crypto-supervision--1261693\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">plans<\/a>\u00a0to tighten cryptocurrency supervision.<\/li>\n<li>The Scandinavian branch of the Bank for International Settlement (BIS)\u2019s Innovation Center is inviting technology vendors to submit proposals for the implementation of offline functions for future\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.finextra.com\/newsarticle\/41836\/bis-nordics-invites-vendors-to-submit-tech-for-offline-cbdcs?ref=fintastico.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CBDCs<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>#Miscellaneous<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The European Parliament has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/news\/en\/press-room\/20230315IPR77508\/parliament-ready-to-negotiate-with-council-for-an-eu-wide-digital-wallet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">passed<\/a>\u00a0a law on the creation of a digital wallet for every European Union citizen as well as a data\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theblock.co\/post\/219590\/eu-parliament-passes-smart-contract-regulation-under-data-act\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">protection<\/a>\u00a0law that deals with smart contracts.<\/li>\n<li>Western Union has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.businesswire.com\/news\/home\/20230224005115\/en\/Western-Union-and-Beforepay-Offer-%E2%80%98Send-Now-Pay-Later%E2%80%99-Service-to-Consumers-for-International-Money-Transfers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">launched<\/a>\u00a0its \u2018Send Now, Pay Later\u2019 service for international transfers.<\/li>\n<li>The European Commission (EC) has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/commission\/presscorner\/detail\/en\/SPEECH_23_1342\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recommended<\/a>\u00a0analyzing the implications of using technologies such as Metaverse and ChatGPT.<\/li>\n<li>Fintech company\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/paymentexpert.com\/2023\/02\/27\/klarna-to-introduce-charges-against\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Klarna<\/a>\u00a0has introduces late fees for buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) services.<\/li>\n<li>Open banking platform Yapily and payment technology company Zilch will provide millions of people with improved access to credit with fast repayments at 0% per annum.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><strong>Ukraine:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ukraine\u2019s Ministry of Digital Transformation is testing the capabilities of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/news\/ai\/v-ukraine-planiruyut-integrirovat-chatgpt-v-diyu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ChatGPT<\/a>\u00a0for integration into the Diya app.<\/li>\n<li>Whitepay CEO Gleb Udovichenko\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/forklog.com\/exclusive\/kak-nachat-prinimat-bitkoin-platezhi-v-ukraine-razbiraemsya-s-seo-whitepay-glebom-udovichenko\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">explains<\/a>\u00a0how to start accepting bitcoin payments in Ukraine.<\/li>\n<li>Ukrainian WhiteBIT\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/incrypted.com\/whitebit-avtorizaciya-za-dopomogoyu-web3-gamancya\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">became<\/a>\u00a0the first crypto exchange to open authorizations using a Web3 wallet.<\/li>\n<li>A number of major crypto exchanges have\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/psm7.com\/cryptocurrency\/krupnejshie-kriptovalyutnye-birzhi-priostanovili-vyvod-sredstv-na-karty-ukrainskix-bankov.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">suspended<\/a>\u00a0the withdrawal of funds to the cards of Ukrainian banks as this was being\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/psm7.com\/cryptocurrency\/nacbank-zablokiroval-potoki-kriptovalyut-v-ukraine-prichiny-i-vozmozhnye-posledstviya.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">exploited<\/a>\u00a0by betting and gambling companies to avoid paying taxes.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/psm7.com\/cryptocurrency\/binance-priostanavlivaet-pokupku-grivny-cherez-servisy-settlepay-i-advcash-nazvana-prichina.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Binance<\/a>\u00a0is also imposing restrictions on hryvnia transactions through the fiat gateways Settlepay and Advcash.<\/li>\n<li>A free crypto-literacy course (<em>Digital Light<\/em>) was\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/t.me\/zedigital\/2913\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">launched<\/a>\u00a0on the Diya.<\/li>\n<li>Yulia Barabash, managing partner at SBSB Fintech Lawyers, speaks about the &#8220;chips&#8221; offered by Ukrainian\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/psm7.com\/bank\/karty-dengi-i-fintex-fishki-ukrainskix-didzhital-bankov.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">neobanks<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Lending platform\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/psm7.com\/startup\/netflix-dlya-kredita-fintex-startap-steadypay-privlek-investicii-ot-ukrainskogo-fonda-n1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Steadypay<\/a>\u00a0has attracted investments from the Ukrainian fund N1.<\/li>\n<li>The National Bank of Ukraine has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/psm7.com\/bank\/kak-vojna-udarila-po-ukrainskoj-bankovskoj-sisteme-otchet-nbu.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">released<\/a>\u00a0a report on the state of the country\u2019s financial sector as of February 2023.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Kazakhstan:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace will now coordinate and oversee the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/kz.kursiv.media\/2023-03-13\/lgtn-digital\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">digital asset<\/a>\u00a0sector in Kazakhstan.<\/li>\n<li>Visa and Freedom Bank have launched\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/forbes.kz\/economy\/finance\/vpervyie_v_kazahstane_visa_i_freedom_bank_zapustili_innovatsionnyiy_servis_dlya_biznes-platejey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Visa B2B Connect<\/a>, an innovative business payment service.<\/li>\n<li>Natalya Romenskaya, an advisor to the Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Bank, has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/digitalbusiness.kz\/2023-03-13\/natalya-romenskaya-u-kazahstana-sejchas-est-okno-vozmozhnostej-chtoby-stat-krupnym-kriptohabom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">stated<\/a>\u00a0that she is holding back the growth of the crypto market in Kazakhstan<\/li>\n<li>Bolat Sadykulov, managing partner of the DAR group of companies,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/forbes.kz\/actual\/technologies\/uspehi_finteh-superappov_v_tsentralnoy_azii_-_zelenyiy_signal_dlya_biznesa_i_investorov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">discusses<\/a>\u00a0promising fintech areas.<\/li>\n<li>Vladimir Dobrynin, founder of Humans,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/forbes.kz\/actual\/technologies\/uspehi_finteh-superappov_v_tsentralnoy_azii_-_zelenyiy_signal_dlya_biznesa_i_investorov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">speaks<\/a>\u00a0about the prospects of super apps, competitions between ecosystems and the digital revolution in Central Asia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Kyrgyzstan:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Biatex, a developer of solutions for the digital market of Kyrgyzstan, has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/banks.kg\/news\/crypto-exchange-biat-presented-at-blockchain-life-2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">become<\/a>\u00a0a gold sponsor of the\u00a0<em>Blockchain Life 2023<\/em>\u00a0forum, which will be held in Dubai.<\/li>\n<li>Tap-to-phone services in Kyrgyzstan are already\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/plusworld.ru\/articles\/51106\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">provided<\/a>\u00a0by 3 banks.<\/li>\n<li>Doskredo-Bank has signed an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/plusworld.ru\/articles\/51125\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">agreement<\/a>\u00a0with the company Bukhta regarding electronic money in Kyrgyzstan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Tajikistan:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>MegaFon has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/megafon.tj\/podderzhka\/novosti\/tsifrovoy_likbez_tadzhikistantsev_nauchat_polzovatsya_fintekh_uslugami\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">launched<\/a>\u00a0an educational project to inform the country\u2019s residents of how to use fintech services.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Uzbekistan:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A digital financial technology center for foreign companies will be established at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spot.uz\/ru\/2023\/02\/22\/digital-expansion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IT Park Uzbekistan<\/a>\u00a0in Tashkent.<\/li>\n<li>Farhod Makhmudov, founder and head of the OSON payment system,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/kapital.uz\/farhod-mahmudov-finteh-v-uzbekistane\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">explains<\/a>\u00a0that Uzbekistan needs more digital banks.<\/li>\n<li>Startup Alif Uzbekistan (\u2018daughter\u2019 of the Tajik fintech group) has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spot.uz\/ru\/2023\/03\/04\/alif-ewc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">reached<\/a>\u00a0the finals of the international competition<em>\u00a0Entrepreneurship World Cup 2022<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li>The instant payment system of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/plusworld.ru\/articles\/51081\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">showed<\/a>\u00a0a 1.4 times increase in usage in 2022.<\/li>\n<li>A project to increase the speed of mobile internet and introduce 5G technology in Uzbekistan has\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/plusworld.ru\/articles\/51063\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">begun<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Under an initiative\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/plusworld.ru\/articles\/51041\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scheduled<\/a>\u00a0to launch on May 1, 2023, trade outlets in Tashkent will be allowed to issue cash.<\/li>\n<li>Non-resident legal entities are now allowed to open accounts for the purchase of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/plusworld.ru\/articles\/50778\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cryptocurrencies<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Armenia:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/arka.am\/ru\/news\/interview\/binance_po_povodu_regulirovaniya_rynka_v_armenii_my_schitaem_chto_tut_ne_nado_izobretat_velosiped_\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Binance<\/a>\u00a0plans to enter the Armenian market.<\/li>\n<li>The Armenian fintech company Idram has launched an app for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/armenpress.am\/rus\/news\/1105110\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">teenagers<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Georgia:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/binance\/status\/1630493207397036033?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Binance<\/a>\u00a0has entered into a partnership agreement with CityPay that will allow users of the payment operator to pay with cryptocurrency in hotels, restaurants and retail outlets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Moldova:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The\u00a0<em>Digital Transformation for Financial Institutions 2023<\/em>\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.infotag.md\/press_release\/305790\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">conference<\/a>\u00a0will be held in Chisinau on March 24, 2023.<\/li>\n<li>Moldovan fintech startup Fagura plans to enter the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.romania-insider.com\/fintech-fagura-feb-2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Romanian market<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"rpbt_shortcode\">\n\n<div id='rpbt-related-gallery-1' class='gallery related-gallery related-galleryid-17053 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item' role='group' aria-label='Sberbank launches 3 new payment services'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/sberbank-launches-3-new-payment-services\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/sberbank-launches-3-new-payment-services-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"rpbt-related-gallery-1-12921\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='rpbt-related-gallery-1-12921'>\n\t\t\t\tSberbank launches 3 new payment services\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item' role='group' aria-label='Kyrgyz National Bank proposes banning replenishment of e-wallets from mobile balances'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/kyrgyz-national-bank-proposes-banning-replenishment-of-e-wallets-from-mobile-balances\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/two-business-man-fighting-over-a-market-income_3446-463-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"rpbt-related-gallery-1-8584\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/two-business-man-fighting-over-a-market-income_3446-463-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/two-business-man-fighting-over-a-market-income_3446-463-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/02\/two-business-man-fighting-over-a-market-income_3446-463.jpg 626w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='rpbt-related-gallery-1-8584'>\n\t\t\t\tKyrgyz National Bank proposes banning replenishment of e-wallets from mobile balances\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item' role='group' aria-label='Tajikistan pushing switch towards cashless payments'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/tajikistan-pushing-switch-towards-cashless-payments\/'><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/tajikistan-pushing-switch-towards-cashless-payments-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"rpbt-related-gallery-1-12083\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='rpbt-related-gallery-1-12083'>\n\t\t\t\tTajikistan pushing switch towards cashless payments\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stay up-to-date on all the latest FinTech news and information from around the world in the BFC FinTech Monitor. Around the World #Reports and Studies According to KPMG\u2019s\u00a0Pulse of FinTech\u00a0report, global fintech investments in 2022 were down 30% (to USD 164 billion) year-on-year. At the same time, 2022 was still one of the best years &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":17011,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[473],"tags":[80,399,184,35,30,70,75],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17053"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17053"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17053\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17054,"href":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17053\/revisions\/17054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17053"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17053"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bulletins.bfconsulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17053"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}