The crypto exchange briefly offered tokenized versions of cryptocurrency and technology company stocks in 2021 before halting trading amid regulatory scrutiny. Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has confirmed plans to bring tokenized equities back to its platform, returning to stock-linked digital assets for the first time since 2021. In a statement to Cointelegraph on Friday, a spokesperson for Binance said “exploring the potential to offer tokenized equities is a natural next step” for bridging traditional finance and crypto. Should the exchange reintroduce digital versions of stocks for companies, it would represent a significant change in Binance’s offerings since it announced “ceasing support for stock tokens” in July 2021. "Binance is committed to bridging traditional finance and crypto, expanding user choices while maintaining the highest regulatory standards,” said the spokesperson. “Since last year, we started supporting tokenized real-world assets and we recently launched the first regulated TradFi per...
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, economist Vera Songwe pointed to remittances and inflation hedging as key drivers of stablecoin use across Africa. Stablecoins are increasingly being used across Africa as a cheaper and faster remittance option, with remittances becoming “more important than aid” on the continent, according to Vera Songwe, a former UN under-secretary-general. Speaking at a World Economic Forum panel in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday, Songwe said traditional money transfer services in Africa often cost about $6 for every $100 sent, making cross-border payments expensive and slow. She said stablecoins are cutting fees and settlement times, allowing individuals and small businesses to move money in minutes rather than waiting days for cross-border payments to clear. Read more