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Weekly Lists
February 16, 2018 www.intellinews.com I Page 30
bne:Banker
Russian central bank proposes BRICS cryptocurrency
The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) has proposed creating a cryptocurrency for the BRICS nations of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, as well as for the EEU (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia), according to Bloomberg.
"It makes sense to discuss the cryptocurrency on the level of several countries such as BRICS and EEU. It makes sense to set one equivalent for all payments," CBR First Deputy Governor Olga Skorobogatova is quoted as saying at a finance ministry meeting. "The introduction of a national digital currency seems to us not entirely justified."
Currently Russian legislation does not allow the trading of cryptocurrencies. Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies are quickly developing in Russia and the regulation of the cryptocurrency, crowdfunding and the ICO market has been
on agenda since the end of 2017.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) president Suma Chakrabarti hailed the recent breakthrough in Moldova’s banking sector during his visit to the capital Chisinau on February 14, at a time when the country’s two largest banks need strategic investors.
Banca Transilvania of Romania in partnership with the EBRD recently became the main shareholder of Moldova’s third-largest bank Victoriabank. Nonetheless, top two banks Moldondconbank and Agroindbank are still seeking investors for significant stakes (over 40% and 60% respectively) after shares were confiscated from non-transparent investors.
The EBRD and other IFIs will keep helping Moldova, but the country’s commitment is key, Chakrabarti stressed.
“We are pleased that the National Bank of Moldova is successfully tackling vulnerabilities in the banking sector,” Chakrabarti said.
Chakrabarti called on the authorities to build on the positive momentum generated by reforms already implemented. “The authorities must create an enabling environment to attract the right kind of investors,” he said.
EBRD praises progress of Moldova bank restructuring