The website of Aid for Ukraine indicates that the initiative has risen by more than USD 60 million until now. It also states that they have already spent USD 45,103,538 on weapons, medical equipment, and first aid kits.
Mykhailo Fedorov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, recently wrote a tweet about war efforts. The official said the Ukrainian government would accept contributions in donations and purchases of non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
People can donate cryptocurrencies, fiat money, and NFTs through the cryptocurrency fund Aid for Ukraine. They point out on their official website that the initiative has raised more than USD 60 million until now.
They use all those funds to supply Ukrainians with weapons, medical equipment, and first aid kits. As of April 14th, the total expenses amounted to USD 45,103,538. Cryptocurrency exchanges FTX and Kuna and staking provider Everstake are in charge of powering the Aid for Ukraine platform.
The Government of Panama Approves a Bill to Regulate Crypto Assets
The National Assembly of Panama recently tweeted that they approved a bill to regulate the commercialization and use of crypto assets. They also mentioned the issuance of digital value, the tokenization of precious metals, and payment systems.
Congressman Gabriel Silva said that this law would allow Panama to consolidate itself as a Latin American hub for innovation and technology.
They aim to position Panama as a digital hub by transferring knowledge and developing innovative and disruptive businesses.
Goldman Sachs Issues a Bitcoin-Backed Loan for the First Time
American multinational investment bank Goldman Sachs recently took another bullish step into the cryptocurrency space. According to the Bloomberg media outlet, the financial institution offers Bitcoin-backed loans to its customers.
The investment bank decided to provide its first bitcoin-backed loan line after giving a cash loan in Bitcoin as collateral to a borrower.
In that way, they became the first Wall Street financial institution to offer loans in cryptocurrencies as collateral. Virtual asset service providers like Coinbase, Silvergate Bank, and Figure usually do that.
Cryptocurrencies are increasingly relevant in the economy, and traditional banks have not overlooked them. A growing number of financial institutions are incorporating those assets among their services.
Apollo Hires Christine Moy as Chief Digital Asset Strategist
American investment management firm Apollo Global Management recently hired Christine Moy to lead its newly-formed digital asset strategy department.
They stated that, in that newly-created post, Moy would lead digital asset strategy across the company. She will be responsible for looking for new ways to apply blockchain technologies.
The firm considers that she will also play a crucial role in their strategy to invest in the most innovative digital asset companies. They want to focus on those transforming the financial services sector, for which they will invest between USD 50 million and USD 250 million.
The application of blockchain technology in various financial services worldwide is growing over time. For that reason, banks are looking for experts in that area to help them optimize their operations and make more profit.
By Alexander Salazar
