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Towards US Strategic Bitcoin reserve: first reactions and mixed feelings

In march 2025 the new elected US present Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin reserve as part of the Bitcoin Act of 2025. This announcement has sent an enormous wave around the world. The idea of creating a Strategic Bitcoin reserve has also gained momentum in other countries worldwide.. The establishment of the reserv...

28 May 2025 /crypto Blockchain Observations

Increasing role of cryptocurrencies in Sub-Saharan Africa

Recently a growing number of blogs and articles have been published focussing on the increased adoption of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in Africa especially in Sub Saharan Africa. According to these reports Africa is the fastest-growing cryptocurrency market among developing economies This is driven by crypto friendly regulation in a...

30 April 2025 /crypto Blockchain Observations

ECB Distributed Settlement Technology system for central bank money: from Exploration to Expansion

On 20 February the Eurosystem announced the decision of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) to expand its initiative to settle transactions recorded on distributed ledger technology (DLT) in central bank money. This expansion initiative builds on the previous extensive exploratory work which was conducted between May and Novem...

26 March 2025 /crypto Blockchain Observations

The rise of AI-driven cryptocurrencies: towards a smarter crypto market

A lot has already been written about the convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology. This could become one of the most transformational technology movements in contemporary history. A new trend is now emerging at the intersection of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence (AI): the advent of AI-based cryptocurrencies. ...

25 February 2025 /crypto Blockchain Observations

Blockchain and Crypto trends 2025: Further integration with traditional finance

Looking back, 2024 was a spectacular year for the crypto world, marking a transformative milestone in technology, markets, and ecosystems. It will be remembered as a landmark chapter in the crypto history, with surging institutional interest in crypto assets, technology innovations, regulatory advancements and Bitcoin (BTC) reaching new heights f...

27 January 2025 /crypto Blockchain Observations

From Bitcoin to Trumpcoin: currency of the US Government

Within a month Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States. His embracement of crypto will mean a potentially much friendlier four years of policymaking than outgoing President Joe Biden's administration provided. In this blog I will give in more detail what Trump’s vision is, what are the goals he may realise, wha...

30 December 2024 /crypto Blockchain Observations

Traditional financial custodians enter the crypto market

An interesting recent development in the crypto market is the increasing introduction of institutional crypto custody services, setting new benchmarks in the crypto industry. The adoption of Bitcoin and Ether ETFs this year has attracted growing acceptance in mainstream finance. As a result the institutional demand for secure, compliant and flexib...

21 October 2024 /crypto Blockchain Observations

Blockchain: what happened during my stay in South Africa?

23 September 2024

Growing competition in the liquid restaking scene: Ethereum versus Solana

Liquid staking and liquid restaking is becoming popular in the DeFi area. A lot already has been written on this issue. But untill recently the attention was mostly on its use in the Ethereum ecosystem and the growing number of liquid restaking protocols in this area. But that is changing now that also Solana has entered the arena. Long time domin...

11 September 2024 /crypto Blockchain Observations

2024: a transformative and innovative year for DeFi

The world of Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is rapidly evolving. Recent figures related to the DeFi market are showing a firm revival from the dip in 2022 and 2023. And that is not surprising. Upcoming regulation, the emergence of various innovative solutions and technology advancements that address real-world financial needs are fuelling a revival o...

19 August 2024 /crypto Blockchain Observations