The Pound Sterling (GBP) underperforms its peers at the start of the week as Bank of England (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) member Catherine Mann rebutted the need for a “gradual and cautious” monetary policy easing approach, as guided by a majority of BoE officials in the February monetary policy meeting and testimony before Parliament’s treasury committee on Wednesday, due to deepening economic volatility across the globe in her speech on Thursday.
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The USDCAD pair is a major currency pair in the Forex market, reflecting the economic health of the United States and Canada, the two largest trading partners. The pair’s fluctuations reflect not only the difference in interest rates and economic indicators of the respective countries, but also the state of the world commodity markets, especially oil, as Canada is a major exporter of energy commodities. This article assesses the key forecasts for the coming years, provides fundamental and technical analysis, and evaluates the impact of global factors on the USDCAD exchange rate. Major Takeaways The current price of the USDCAD… Read full author’s opinion and review in blog of #LiteFinance
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David Schwartz, Ripple’s chief technology officer, has
dismissed claims that new XRP tokens can be created on the XRP Ledger. His
statement comes after renewed debate over the token supply.
Meanwhile, the XRPUSD H1 chart reveals that the price is
currently hovering around a key support level. A potential strong bullish
reversal pattern could generate momentum and drive the price higher.
XRP Ledger Blocks New Token Creation
The discussion resurfaced when Pierre Rochard, a Bitcoin
advocate, suggested that Ripple could mint additional XRP beyond the fixed 100
billion supply. This led to a heated exchange among community members.
Schwartz responded by stating that no code within the XRP
Ledger allows new XRP creation. He explained that the system enforces strict
rules to prevent such an action. The ledger’s invariant checker continuously
monitors transactions and blocks any attempt to generate new tokens.
Ripple can add one any time https://t.co/2xz2g1MSyQ
— Pierre Rochard (@BitcoinPierre) March 4, 2025
An XRPL dUNL validator, known as Vet, supported Schwartz’s
position. He stated that the network’s developers designed the system to
prevent any increase in the original supply created in 2012. He also emphasized
that no exploit could bypass the ledger’s safeguards.
Schwartz Dismisses Concerns over XRP Circulation
Schwartz also addressed concerns about XRP circulation. Some
community members speculated that past changes to the ledger’s structure could
have left certain tokens unaccounted for. However, he stated that there was no
evidence of more than 100 billion XRP existing in the system.
Mayukha Vadari, a senior software engineer at RippleX, added
that the ledger’s design ensures that all account balances are verified. Any
attempt to exceed the recorded amount would be rejected by validators.
XRPUSD Consolidates at Key Support Level
The XRPUSD H1 chart indicates that the price has bounced
several times at 2.10500. As of now, the price remains in consolidation around
this level. A bullish reversal pattern, followed by a breach at 2.21450, could
attract intraday buyers and drive the price higher. The H1 chart also provides
sufficient space for price movement, potentially leading to strong bullish
momentum in the event of a breakout.
Conversely, if the price breaks below 2.10500, sellers may
look to enter short positions upon confirmation of a breakout followed by a
bearish reversal signal.
Ripple’s Strategy for Growth: Legal Disputes,
Institutional Partnerships, and Cross-Border Payments
Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy, recently
discussed the inclusion of cryptocurrencies in US strategic reserves. This
followed an executive order by President Donald Trump, listing Bitcoin and
altcoins like Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano. In an interview with Fox
Business, Saylor
addressed regulatory concerns for digital assets and referred to XRP as a token,
suggesting its issuance should occur under a regulatory framework.
BREAKING: 🇺🇸 MICHAEL SAYLOR DISCUSSES U.S. CRYPTO RESERVE – INCLUDING $BTC, $ETH, $XRP, $SOL & $ADA! “XRP is attached to a company @Ripple.” Stated The Fox Reporter “ I think those are tokens and we should have a regulatory framework that allows those to be issued” – @saylor… pic.twitter.com/jc0DeuCjKO
— Good Morning Crypto (@AbsGMCrypto) March 5, 2025
Ripple gained attention when CEO Garlinghouse and Chief
Legal Officer Alderoty attended a
private dinner with President-elect Donald Trump on January 6, sparking
speculation about the ongoing legal case with the US Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC). The SEC filed a lawsuit in December 2020, alleging Ripple
sold XRP tokens as unregistered securities.
South Korea’s institutional crypto storage firm BDACS
will use Ripple Custody to secure XRP and RLUSD, a dollar-pegged stablecoin
issued by Ripple. This partnership targets institutional clients seeking secure
storage for digital assets.
Ripple has also partnered with Revolut
and Zero Hash to expand access to RLUSD, positioning it as a competitor to
USDT and USDC.
🚨 New partner alert: Ripple USD – a trusted, transparent, and regulated stablecoin built for payments – is now available for trading on @ZeroHashX and @RevolutApp!Get $RLUSD: https://t.co/jrEiNBWKgN pic.twitter.com/36q5OU5xfa
— Ripple (@Ripple) February 5, 2025
Additionally, Ripple has teamed up with Portuguese
exchange provider Unicâmbio to facilitate instant international payments
between Portugal and Brazil using digital assets for cross-border transactions.
Ripple
has made progress in Japan, with expectations that banks will adopt the XRP
Ledger by 2025 to improve cross-border payments and remittances.
In the DeFi sector, Ripple
has partnered with Chainlink to integrate RLUSD into Ethereum-based DeFi
applications for trading and lending.
In philanthropy, Ripple
donated $100,000 in XRP to support communities affected by California
wildfires, aiding organizations like World Central Kitchen and GiveDirectly via
The Giving Block platform.
Investor activity in XRP remains strong, with whales
acquiring 520 million tokens during a recent price dip, showing continued
interest. The SEC’s reassignment of Jorge Tenreiro, who oversaw Ripple’s case,
has raised questions about the agency’s future approach to crypto litigation.
This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.
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HSBC is out saying that it is downgrading US equities to a neutral rating while at the same time, upgrading European equities (excluding the UK) to overweight from underweight previously.
The firm cites that market players are pricing in a “mini earnings recession” in early 2025 as the reason for the downgrade. Meanwhile, the upgrade to European shares are largely driven by “game-changing” fiscal stimulus in the euro area – especially in Germany.
This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.
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For CAD FX, all eyes will be on Wednesday, with the BoC meeting at 14:45 CET, where markets and consensus favour a 25bp rate cut, Danske Bank’s FX analysts Kristoffer Kjær Lomholt and Filip Andersson report.
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Ever wondered why forex trading seems so enticing? It’s the allure of leverage. Traders can control big positions with just a little capital. But here’s the catch: leverage is a double-edged sword. While it can make profits bigger, it also makes losses bigger. Many new traders jump in without knowing the risks. This guide will […]
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Katharina Droege is the co-chair of the Greens and she is calling for her members not to back Merz’s spending plans in her latest remarks today. She says that “if the CDU and SPD want our backing, they must show that investment goes towards the climate and country”.
The euro has fallen on the comments here with EUR/USD down from around 1.0860 earlier to 1.0830 levels now. I highlighted the risk surrounding the matter earlier here. As much as the Greens are defending their position and wanting to squeeze as much as they can from Merz’s government, the CDU/CSU and SPD alliance are relatively relaxed. They said earlier that “in the end, however, they (Greens) will agree out of a sense of political responsibility because they themselves have always called for such a special fund”.
This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.
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This article provides a comprehensive overview of the USCRUDE trading instrument, addressing crucial components such as the current state of the oil market, influential factors affecting oil price shifts, and future forecasts. The outlook for oil prices employs a multifaceted approach, encompassing fundamental and technical analysis to provide a nuanced and informed market assessment. In addition, the article offers a detailed long-term trading strategy, empowering investors to accurately identify optimal entry and exit points, thereby minimizing risk while maximizing returns. Furthermore, the article draws upon the insights of industry experts and examines prevailing sentiments on social media concerning crude oil… Read full author’s opinion and review in blog of #LiteFinance
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The financial industry is facing
its most significant regulatory transformation in years. With DORA (Digital
Operational Resilience Act) now fully enforceable, the EU’s financial sector is
under strict cybersecurity mandates. Meanwhile, MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets
Regulation) is reshaping the digital asset landscape, and regulators from
Australia to the UAE are ramping up oversight.
Our latest “Regulatory Intelligence
Insight” breaks down the critical regulatory updates every financial
professional needs to know—and what they mean for your business. Get your FREE
copy now!
The Compliance Landscape is Shifting Fast
Cyber incidents in the financial
sector surged 54% in the past year, with 890 major attacks reported in 2023
alone. DORA aims to curb this risk, but many firms are still unprepared.
Furthermore, 47% of UK financial
institutions have already spent over €1M on DORA compliance, while others are
racing to catch up.
Finance Magnates has decided to
meet the new market expectations and created the Regulatory Intelligence
Insight report, the first edition of which we are now distributing. Future
editions will be published monthly and cover the most important compliance
issues that may impact your business.
Your Monthly Guide to Compliance. What You’ll Learn
Here’s what you’ll find in the
upcoming Finance Magnates’ Regulatory Intelligence Insight:
Why You Need This Report
Compliance isn’t just a
checkbox—it’s a business survival strategy. Regulators worldwide are
intensifying their scrutiny, and failing to adapt could mean millions in fines,
reputational damage, or even market exclusion.
Download the 1st edition of Finance
Magnates Compliance Report for FREE and stay
informed and stay compliant!
This article was written by Damian Chmiel at www.financemagnates.com.
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Revolut and Visa take on the UK Payment Systems Regulator
over proposed caps on interchange fees, arguing that innovation and competition
are at stake.
Revolut and Visa Take a Swing at the UK Regulator
When it comes to shaking up the financial sector, Revolut has never
been one to shy away from a fight. Now, the digital banking giant has teamed up
with Visa to challenge the UK Payment Systems Regulator’s (PSR) plan to cap interchange fees on
cross-border payments. Their argument? The proposed cap would
stifle competition and hinder fintech innovation—two things Revolut holds
dear.
Revolut and Visa filed legal challenges against the UK payments regulator, PSR, arguing that it has overstepped its powers with a proposed cap on international transaction fees. They asked the court to review and ultimately overturn the PSR’s decision.https://t.co/1WaTpKWxTj
— Max Karpis (@maxkarpis) March 8, 2025
The legal challenge, filed separately by both companies, contends that
the PSR’s move is unnecessary and could have unintended consequences for
consumers and businesses alike. Given Revolut’s rapid rise and Visa’s global
dominance, this isn’t just another regulatory spat—it’s a battle for the future
of fintech.
As reported by the Financial times, Revolut released the following
statement: “We disagree with the PSR’s assessment and believe it has acted
beyond its statutory powers in imposing these caps. We have therefore requested
the court to review, and ultimately overturn the PSR’s decision,” says the
fintech giant. In the same article, the FT quotes a statement from Visa saying, “We respect
the PSR’s role as an economic regulator. This narrow legal action is focused
only on the PSR’s legal authorisation and process related to price setting to
ensure a fair and thorough process, and give clarity to the industry. This is
critical to future growth and investment in the UK.”
What’s the Big Deal with Interchange Fees?
Interchange fees might not sound exciting, but they’re the lifeblood of
many card payment networks. Every time a customer makes a purchase using a
credit or debit card, the merchant’s bank (acquirer) pays a small fee to the
customer’s bank (issuer). These fees help fund rewards programs, fraud
prevention, and overall service improvements.
The UK PSR argues that these fees—especially on cross-border
transactions—are too high and unfairly burden businesses. Their proposed cap
aims to bring down costs for merchants, who would theoretically pass on the
savings to consumers.
When the PSR announced its proposal to cap interchange fees it
stated that both Visa and Mastercard raised interchange fees for
online transactions between the EU and the U.K. to 1.15% for debit cards and
1.5% for credit cards, the hike was justified as a means to cover fraud
prevention costs and the costs of increased competition.
“In this market review we have provisionally found that the fees
charged by Mastercard and Visa to U.K. businesses which accept payments from
within the EEA are likely too high,” Chris
Hemsley, the PSR’s managing director at the time, said in a press release.
“In short, at this stage, we do not think this market is working well.”
The PSR’s report on the matter can be found here.
Revolut’s Case: The Cost of “Fairness”
Revolut argues that capping interchange fees could have the opposite
effect of what the regulator intends. Lower fees might help merchants in the
short term, but they could also force banks and payment providers to scrap
rewards programs and introduce new fees elsewhere to compensate. In essence,
consumers might end up paying the price.
Visa, on the other hand, is defending its turf. The payments giant
warns that the proposed cap could distort the market, making it harder for new
players to compete. By limiting revenue from interchange fees, fintech firms
like Revolut may struggle to reinvest in innovation and expansion.
Revolut and Visa argue that the PSR’s decision is rushed, not backed by
sufficient evidence, and could ultimately hurt the very consumers it claims to
protect.
Revolut Targeting South Africa
While Revolut is busy fighting the UK regulator, it seems to have its
eyes on new frontiers. According to recent reports, the fintech firm may be
setting up shop in South Africa. If true, this would mark a significant step in
Revolut’s global expansion strategy.
Revolut also hired Tom Morrison as Head of Strategy &
Operations in South Africa three months ago.
South Africa, with its growing digital banking ecosystem and increasing
demand for fintech solutions, presents a lucrative market. If Revolut does make
the move, it would be entering a competitive space dominated by both local
banks and emerging digital challengers. According
to South African consultancy firm KLA, 42.31% of South Africans use their phones
for digital banking and mobile phone penetration rates have reached 92%.
NEWS: Revolut is setting up operations in South Africa – applying for a full banking license, advisors include Standard Bank according to the source. pic.twitter.com/opzPNwqEUW
— Max Karpis (@maxkarpis) March 7, 2025
According to KLA, there is a significant move toward mobile payment
apps, as explimfied by offerings from FNB and Standard Bank and financial
insitutions are increasingly leveraging the blockchain and AI to drive decentralised
finance (DeFi) models and enhanced customer service.
So, while Revolut takes on regulators in one market, it’s quietly
plotting its next big move in another. The question is: will it be able to
fight battles on multiple fronts, or will regulatory pressure at home slow down
its global ambitions?
Fees and Fintech
Revolut’s legal challenge against the UK’s interchange fee cap is more
than just a financial dispute—it’s a showdown over the future of digital
banking. If Revolut and Visa succeed, they could preserve the current revenue
model for fintech firms and payment providers. If they fail, the PSR’s ruling
could reshape the payments landscape in the UK.
Either way, one thing is clear: Revolut isn’t backing down. Whether
it’s regulators or market expansion, the fintech powerhouse is determined to
keep pushing boundaries. And if its rumored South Africa move comes to
fruition, Revolut’s ambitions could extend far beyond the UK, no matter what
the regulators decide.
For more stories of fintech and innovation, visit our dedicated archives.
This article was written by Louis Parks at www.financemagnates.com.
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This just reaffirms the likelihood of a pause in April, with traders also anticipating ~59% odds of that currently.
This article was written by Justin Low at www.forexlive.com.
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Dear readers, I’ve prepared a short-term forecast for Bitcoin, Ripple, and Ethereum based on the Elliott wave analysis. Major Takeaways BTCUSD: The price is expected to fall to the previous low. Consider short trades from the current level, setting a take-profit order at 78,178.00. XRPUSD: The asset may decline in wave Z. Short trades can be considered with a take-profit order at 1.938. ETHUSD: A bullish trend has started. Thus, buy ETH at the current level, securing profits at the high of 2,529.81. Elliott Wave Analysis for Bitcoin A new bullish wave is developing as an impulse (1)-(2)-(3)-(4)-(5) on the last segment of Bitcoin’s chart. Its sub-waves… Read full author’s opinion and review in blog of #LiteFinance
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