By Avi Asher-Schapiro
LOS ANGELES, Sept 12 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Ethereum, the blockchain underpinning the world’s second-largest crypto token ether, is poised for a software upgrade that will slash the amount of energy it uses – a step that could pile pressure on bitcoin to take similar climate-friendly action. Continue reading
At the eve of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Janngo Capital Startup Fund (JCSF) has announced its first close at EUR34 million (approximately US$36 million) in capital commitments. Launched in Davos in 2020, Janngo Capital’s latest fund will invest 50% of its proceeds in companies founded, co-founded, or benefiting women. Backed by global financial institutions as well as leading private corporations, the fund management company plans to invest EUR60 million (approximately US$63 million) in startups leveraging technology to leapfrog development and achieve SDGs in Africa. Continue reading
Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payments technology company has been granted a Switching and Processing License by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)—widely regarded as CBN’s most valuable payments processing license. This license allows Flutterwave to offer transaction switching and card processing services to customers. Others include non-bank acquiring, agency banking and payment gateway services. Continue reading
August 31, 2022
The IMF Board approves SDR 978.2 million (about US$1.3 billion) 38-month ECF arrangement for Zambia to help restore macroeconomic stability and foster higher, more resilient, and more inclusive growth. Continue reading
Bitstamp is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, and most reputable of exchanges in the crypto space, having been founded in 2011. Indeed, Monday 22 August was the firm’s 11th birthday.
So what better time for Bitstamp to launch a marketing drive aimed at retail investors and the Q2 update of its Crypto Pulse Survey 2022, which will be released in full at the end of the month. Continue reading
Battle Infinity, the India-based metaverse games platform, is launching on its first exchange on Wednesday 17th August.
Trading in its IBAT token will begin at 16:00 UTC on the Pancakeswap decentralised exchange. Pancakeswap is the largest exchange running on the BNB Smart Chain of the giant Binance global crypto trading platform.
Battle Infinity’s IBAT token presale began on 11 July 2022 and sold out in 25 days – 65 days ahead of the originally scheduled end date. Continue reading
By Diana Baptista and Avi Asher -Schapiro
MEXICO CITY, Aug 11 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A week after Pedro Figueroa borrowed 10,000 pesos ($500) from José Cash, a popular Mexican lending app, the barrage of online abuse began.
A slew of WhatsApp messages swamped his phone, threatening harm – to him and his reputation – if he did not pay. Continue reading
Jonquil Lowe, The Open University
The Bank of England has raised its base rate by 0.5 percentage points, the largest single upward jump in 27 years. It takes the base rate to 1.75%, its highest level since 2008. This latest interest rate hike will affect personal finances and reflects the Bank’s efforts to control rampant inflation amid the cost of living crisis in the UK.
By Kagondu Njagi
NAIROBI, July 19 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A sculpture of a giant tap spewing plastic waste greeted delegates at U.N. environment talks in Kenya earlier this year – a reminder of the urgent need for them to agree a global pact to curb plastic pollution.