Author: Yeek.io

Homepage > News > Business > South Africa launches $800M smart city South Africa has launched a new smart city in the eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, which it says will create over 23,000 new jobs and tap the latest technology to offer residents a quality modern life. Dubbed Westown, the new city is expected to cost R15 billion ($805 million) and to be completed over the next 15 years. Construction of the first phase started recently, with officials stating that it will be a “live, work and play” ecosystem housing residential properties, retail outlets, healthcare facilities, recreational amenities and more. During…

The value locked in Bitcoin-based decentralized finance (BTCFi) has surged by more than 2,700% over the past year, potentially transforming Bitcoin from a passive store of value into a productive, yield-bearing asset, according to new research from Binance.BTCFi is a new technological paradigm that aims to bring decentralized finance capabilities to Bitcoin’s base layer. It is one of the fastest-growing crypto sectors, reaching a total value locked (TVL) of over $8.6 billion.The growing value of BTCFi, “along with potential interest rate cuts, may reinforce positive sentiment for Bitcoin in the medium and long term,” Binance Research wrote in a report…

The Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina has doubled down on recent calls to ban crypto, telling lawmakers that traders should face “stricter punishments.”Nabiullina last month said that she wants to “ban settlements made in cryptocurrencies between residents” outside the “experimental legal regime,” a Central Bank-run sandbox.Russian Central Bank: Crypto Must Be Kept Out of EconomyThe Governor, a key ally of President Vladimir Putin and the chief architect of Moscow’s digital ruble (CBDC) project, was speaking in the State Duma on April 3, RBC reported. Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina addressing lawmakers in April 2025. (Source: DumaTV/Screenshot)Nabiullina, a long-time…

First Digital Trust (FDT) has redeemed almost $26 million in stablecoin withdrawals after its FDUSD token briefly lost its US dollar peg following allegations of insolvency by Tron founder Justin Sun.First Digital USD (FDUSD) briefly depegged on April 2, falling as low as $0.87 after Sun claimed that First Digital was insolvent.On April 4, Sun doubled down on his allegations, claiming the firm had transferred over $450 million of customer funds to a Dubai-based entity and that it violated Hong Kong securities regulations.Source: H.E. Justin Sun“FDT transferred $456 million of its custodial clients to a private company in Dubai without…

Web3 banking platform Vaulta (prev. EOS Network) has announced a strategic partnership with Canadian crypto exchange and managing platform VirgoCX Global Holdings to launch the dedicated cross-border remittance network VirgoPay.The new network will use stablecoins to lower transfer fees and transfer times for international wire transfers and payments. Users will be able to add funds using bank transfers, e-transfers, credit cards, and crypto wallets. They can also select from a range of fiat currencies, USDC, or USDT.Therefore, the collaboration will enable Vaulta’s layer-1 chain’s users to directly access cross-border payments through VirgoPay. A New Era for Global Payments Has Arrived…

Homepage > News > Business > Malaysia explores tokenization for on-chain settlement Malaysia’s central bank has unveiled plans to explore blockchain and tokenization, but will not recognize digital assets as legal tender. In its annual report, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) revealed that it’s working with the private sector to evaluate the benefits of tokenization and how it can best be integrated into the local financial system. This collaboration “will inform the approach Malaysia will be taking to capitalize on the benefits of tokenization while managing related risks,” the bank said. The central bank views tokenized bank deposits as the best initial application.…

Blockchain startup Codex has raised $15.8 million to build a layer-2 network specifically for stablecoins, signaling that more builders are rushing to capitalize on the growing industry and regulatory alignment around fiat-backed stable assets. The seed round was led by Dragonfly Capital, with additional participation from Coinbase, Circle, Cumberland Labs, Wintermute Ventures and others, Codex told Fortune. The funding will be used to help Codex build its stablecoin-only platform from the ground up, said co-founder and CEO Haonan Li.Source: Victor YawCodex has disavowed “general-purpose blockchains” because of their inefficiencies in meeting real-world use cases, said Li. Instead, Codex is building a…

Key Takeaways: In a striking shift, 60% of Polymarket bettors now predict a 2025 recession—a nine-point jump in just 24 hours—immediately following Trump’s dramatic unveiling of sweeping global tariffs. While the Dow cratered nearly 3,700 points in two days amid tariff panic, Bitcoin bucked the trend, climbing to over $84K—a potential signal of investor flight to digital hedges. Trump’s aggressive trade rhetoric, framed as economic justice for American workers, has sent shockwaves through financial and prediction markets—fueling fears of a self-inflicted economic slowdown. A new Polymarket poll shows that the majority of bettors believe that a 2025 recession will happen—just…

Homepage > News > Business > India to use AI, ML in tackling wildlife, environmental woes India wants to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies to address pressing challenges such as forest fires and human-animal conflicts. By incorporating these advanced technologies, the world’s fastest-growing economy aims to enhance its ability to predict, monitor, and manage such issues more efficiently. AI and ML algorithms are expected to play a key role in analyzing vast amounts of data, improving early detection systems, and enabling proactive responses to mitigate these environmental and wildlife-related problems. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired the seventh National Board for Wildlife meeting,…

Despite growing tariff-related uncertainty, there is a 70% probability cryptocurrency markets will find the local bottom in the next two months, which will serve as the supporting foundation for the next leg up in the 2025 cycle, according to Nansen analysts.Savvy traders continue making generational wealth despite growing volatility and lack of risk appetite. One unidentified trader turned an initial $2,000 investment into over $43 million by trading the popular frog-themed memecoin, Pepe.70% chance of crypto bottoming before June amid trade fears: NansenThe cryptocurrency market may see a local bottom in the next two months amid global uncertainty over ongoing…