Mastercard to offer crypto and NFT consulting services
Mastercard announced that it is adding payments-focused consulting services for crypto and digital currencies. It may also eventually help develop central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). The financial services giant said its new offerings for banks and merchants will cover everything from cryptocurrency, NFT strategy, crypto cards to loyalty programs.
Crypto prices today: Bitcoin up 1%, ETH rises 3.4%
Bitcoin is currently trading at $44,008, a 1% rise over the previous day. Ethereum is up 3.4% over the last 24 hours to $3,133. Solana rose 1.5% to $102.83, while Cardano is up 2.8% to $1.10. Polygon (MATIC) jumped 5% to $1.81. The global crypto market cap stands at $1.99 trillion, a 2.03% increase over the previous day.
Russian Ministry pushes to legalize Bitcoin mining in some areas
Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development has greenlighted the concept of crypto mining regulation in the country. It is proposing to allow mining operations in areas with “sustainable surplus in electricity generation.” As part of the proposal, the ministry suggested introducing lower fees for setting up mining farms and data centers in specific Russian regions.
SEC investigating trading firms linked to Binance founder: Report
As per a report from The Wall Street Journal, The US Securities and Exchange Commission is looking into the connection between crypto exchange Binance US and two trading firms linked to Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao—Sigma Chain AG and Merit Peak Ltd. The agency is looking into the nature of Zhao’s involvement and whether the relationships were properly disclosed to customers.
NYSE files trademark application for its own NFT marketplace
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) has filed an application with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to provide an online marketplace for NFTs, cryptocurrencies, digital media and artwork.