EUR/USD 1.14360
0.035%
Gold 4174.79
1.240%
Oil 68.721
0.443%
USD/JPY 161.359
0.158%
GBP/USD 1.33524
0.049%
GBP/JPY 215.459
0.223%
Browse More
  • English
  • 简体中文
  • 繁體中文
  • Tiếng Việt
  • ไทย
  • Indonesia
Subscribe
Real-time News
July 4th - At 17:30 Beijing time on July 4, 2026, my country successfully launched the Qianfan Polar Orbit 13 satellite constellation into its predetermined orbit using a Long March 6A carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The launch mission was a complete success.On July 4th, European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member Mohelan stated on Saturday that following last months interest rate hike, data shows inflation has fallen with the plunge in oil prices, placing the ECB in a "favorable position." The ECB does not provide forward guidance, so it will not reveal its plans for July. However, the rapid decline in oil prices has provided some relief and puts the ECB in a more advantageous position regarding interest rates. Mohelan also stated that the ECBs 2.25% interest rate is "very low" compared to other central banks, and the June rate hike was "reasonable" under any circumstances. He further pointed out that the ECBs communication at the time indicated that this rate hike was not the start of a new tightening cycle.German Chancellor Merz spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Zelensky to discuss Russian airstrikes on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine.July 4 - From today (July 4) to the 6th, public farewell and memorial services for the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei will be held in Tehran, the capital of Iran. It is estimated that 15 to 20 million Iranians will come to bid farewell to Khamenei.July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Malian Armed Forces issued a statement on July 4 saying that military positions in several parts of Mali were attacked early that morning, and the military is currently monitoring the situation. The statement said the attacked positions were located in Agailok, Anefisse, and Gao in the north, and Sevare in the central part of the country. The statement did not specify the identity of the attackers, the details of the attack, or whether there were any casualties. Mali has experienced a prolonged period of instability since 2012, with frequent terrorist attacks, armed conflicts, and ethnic violence. In recent years, the Malian military has repeatedly stated its commitment to continuing its fight against terrorism and armed groups within the country.

The acceptance of Bitcoin by the Central African Republic perplexes the cryptoverse

Skylar Shaw

Apr 29, 2022 09:36


微信截图_20220419102456.png


Buying and selling goods and services using bitcoin, a digital money that resides on a shared ledger across a worldwide network of computers, requires a dependable, fast internet connection and broad access to computers or cellphones.


Despite this, the Central African Republic has an internet penetration rate of about 11%, or around 550,000 individuals online last year, according to the DataReportal website. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, just around 14% of people have access to power, and fewer than half have a mobile phone connection.


Four analysts and crypto specialists stated that adopting bitcoin in one of the world's poorest nations, with low internet usage, extensive warfare, unreliable energy, and a populace that is mostly unaware of cryptocurrency, would be difficult.


In a statement released on Wednesday, the Central African Republic gave little information on how it intended to solve these issues. It did not reply to a request for comment from Reuters.


The decision, according to the government, made the Central African Republic one of the world's "most imaginative nations," but locals in Bangui, where most people use mobile money to purchase items and pay bills, were perplexed.


"What is Bitcoin?" you may wonder. "What can bitcoin offer to our country?" Auguste Agou, who operates a local forestry firm in Bangui, remarked on Thursday.


After El Salvador, the African country of 4.8 million people is the second in the world to use bitcoin.

A tiny but growing network of corporate and individual crypto users already existed before the Central American nation legalized bitcoin as legal cash in June. However, internet faults have hindered its usage in commerce.


"We do not expect widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies in the country, given the enormous barriers to adoption and risks associated with use, as well as the seemingly limited upsides," said Nathan Hayes, an analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit.


Chainalysis, a crypto use tracker based in the United States, has no data on the Central African Republic, which has been wracked by turmoil for years and is home to Russian mercenaries assisting the government in its fight against rebel groups.

IMF CAUTION

Some argue that by embracing bitcoin, the Central African Republic is sending a statement about the Central African CFA franc, a regional currency managed by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) and tied to the euro that is used by six countries.


The BEAC is required under the monetary union to keep at least 50% of its foreign assets with the French Treasury, a requirement that has been criticized as stifling economic growth.


According to Rahul Shah, director of financials equities research at Tellimer, Bangui's crypto move "reflects regional dissatisfaction about the usage of the CFA franc, with its colonial implications."


Other cryptocurrency supporters saw it as a criticism to the CFA franc.


"In terms of development, Central Africa is significantly behind," said Chris Maurice, CEO of crypto exchange Yellow Card Financial, which has roughly a million members in 16 African nations and is authorised to operate in the CFA franc region.


"To the French economic system, it's a gigantic middle finger."


On Wednesday, a BEAC representative told Reuters that it had not been informed in advance and that no answer had been received. On Thursday, the BEAC did not respond to calls for comment.


The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which had persuaded El Salvador to abandon its plan to declare bitcoin legal money in January, has expressed reservations about the Central African Republic's proposal.


"It's critical not to consider such things as a solution for the economic issues that our nations confront," IMF Africa Department Director Abebe Aemro Selassie said during a news conference on the organization's economic forecast for Sub-Saharan Africa.


"You must ensure that the legal structure, in terms of money flow transparency, and the governance framework that surrounds it, are all solidly in place."

Suggestion