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New American Express credit card allows shoppers to earn cryptocurrency rewards tradable in over 100 cryptocurrencies

cryptocurrency rewards tradable in over 100 cryptocurrencies
American Express and Abra are launching a new credit card that will allow shoppers to earn cryptocurrency rewards “tradable in over 100 different cryptocurrencies” with no annual or foreign transaction fees.

American Express and Abra Launch Crypto Rewards Credit Card

American Express (Amex) and cryptocurrency trading platform and wallet provider Abra announced the upcoming launch of the Abra Crypto Card on the American Express network on Friday. Abra described the new card as:

The first cryptocurrency rewards credit card on the American Express network that will transact in US dollars and offer cryptocurrency in any category and purchase amount.

“Crypto rewards will be tradable in more than 100 different Abra-backed cryptocurrencies, with no annual or foreign transaction fees,” the cryptocurrency company detailed.

The Abra Crypto Card will offer a number of benefits from the American Express Network, including Amex deals, access to pre-sale tickets, global dining benefits and purchase protections, Abra noted.

Mohammed Badi, President of Global Network Services at American Express, commented: “One of the ways we support the evolution and innovation of commerce is by making it easier for fintechs to develop and scale innovative payment solutions leveraging the US global payment network. and the Amex/i2c platform”. The Amex executive added: “We have a long-standing relationship with Abra through our Amex Ventures investment portfolio.”

Interested customers can now join the waiting list for the card, which Abra hopes will “be available for the first time in late 2022.”

Additionally, the cryptocurrency firm on Friday announced a new feature for buying and selling non-fungible tokens (NFTs) “with managed custody and [a] full collection gallery in the Abra app that will remove the hassle and minimize the risks of using it. “defi [decentralized finance] wallets.”

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AliBaba launches NFT tools despite Chinese crackdown

Alibaba Cloud, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group, announced the launch of non-fungible token (NFT) solutions. The IT company will also build NFT marketplaces, including web hosting and content management. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has taken a very restrictive approach to digital assets.

Alibaba will help users create an NFT marketplace

NFTs have become very famous in the digital asset markets lately. Alibaba Cloud mentioned that these tokens can represent exclusive ownership of items for different digital assets as well as non-digital assets including concert tickets and invoices. As non-fungible tokens are irreplaceable. This helps the NFT artist to monetize their products.

The release mentions that Alibaba Cloud Elastic Compute Service (ECS) and auto-scaling will help the user to build an NFT marketplace. The IT company mentioned that these digital assets will soon be growing in the metaverse.

According to his blog, mainstream audiences are hesitant to fully embrace the possibilities the metaverse has to offer. However, stating that a survey conducted by Harris Poll showed that only 38% of Gen Z respondents think the Metaverse is the next big thing. He added that the virtual world will be part of our lives for the next decade.

China imposes strict rules on digital assets

The Chinese authority has issued major warnings about business risks in NFTs. Meanwhile, cryptocurrencies are banned in mainland China. However, the government has signaled that it has no intention of banning NFTs. This has led to giants like Alibaba and Tencent to file new NFT patents in the past.

Meanwhile, popular Chinese apps like WeChat Pay have recently suspended accounts that purchased these NFTs. According to reports, Xihu No.1 digital collection platform was one of the excluded projects. The lack of transparency and confusion on the part of the government kept people waiting.

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PayPal allows the transfer of digital currencies to external wallets

The move comes after nearly two years since PayPal allowed users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies on its platform.

After launching the ability to buy and sell cryptocurrencies on its platform in October 2020, PayPal finally allows users to transfer, send and receive digital assets between PayPal and other wallets and exchanges. Starting today, the feature is available to select US users and will be expanded to all eligible US users in the coming weeks. The first batch of supported coins consists of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin.

In addition, customers who transfer their cryptocurrencies to PayPal can spend them through Checkout at millions of merchant terminals. The New York Department of Financial Services granted the company a full Bitlicense for the conduct.

Users would simply have to log into their accounts and enter the crypto section of the app to start transferring transfer coins. Users are often required to complete a one-time identity verification before the procedure.

Encryption transfers to recipients outside of PayPal would incur a network fee based on their respective blockchain, but transfers between PayPal users will not incur such fees. To protect users’ privacy, the company generates a new recipient address for each transaction in the PayPal account. PayPal will also not charge fees for incoming transfers,

The company is also working to integrate other forms of cryptocurrency services, such as central bank digital currencies, to increase its digital presence. It is also exploring the possibility of launching its own stable coin, called “PayPal Coin”. The discovery came after a developer found evidence of a stablecoin in the source code of the company’s iPhone app.

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Dubai Market Attracts Major Exchanges – Crypto.com Secures License

Prominent cryptocurrency exchanges like Crypto.com and Binance have been looking to set up operations in the friendly Dubai cryptocurrency market.

Crypto.com Gets Provisional Approval

Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com has set its sights on the lucrative Dubai market. After appealing to the Dubai regulator responsible for virtual asset licenses, the exchange was able to obtain a provisional approval, the Virtual Assets MVP License, to provide crypto services in the city. The exchange announced the news on Thursday, revealing that it would receive the full operating license once VARA conducts and completes due diligence and other mandatory compliance requirements.

Crypto.com Co-Founder and CEO Kris Marszalek said:

“We are excited to offer more of our products and services in a market that is critical to our business and equally committed to regulation and compliance. We look forward to working with regulators across the region to further expand Crypto.com’s offering and market presence.”

The regulatory body in question is the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), which was created earlier this year to oversee and facilitate the growth of the cryptocurrency industry in Dubai. VARA manages the operations of various crypto platforms for a secure investment environment, much needed for a thriving industry.

Crypto.com starts operations in Dubai

Approval means that the exchange has completed an initial level of compliance checks to the satisfaction of the regulatory body. Therefore, Crypto.com will now be able to offer all its products and services to those interested in Dubai. However, the supervisory body will be attentive to all procedures to guarantee maximum protection for investors.

Foreign Trade Minister Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi commented on the news and said:

“The United Arab Emirates is focused on developing a world-leading environment for innovative technology and collaboration, and we believe that cryptocurrencies, virtual assets and blockchain will revolutionize the financial services industry. Through our Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority and other key initiatives, we are attracting businesses to the UAE to build on this vision and enable the technologies of the future to flourish here.”

Binance moves in Dubai

Crypto.com will face fierce competition in Dubai as another major cryptocurrency exchange has also applied for the VARA operating license. Binance Holdings Ltd., which operates the largest exchange in the cryptocurrency industry by trading volume, has already signed an agreement with the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) to work together on establishing the latter as a global hub for digital assets. Reports also stated that Binance is seeking accreditation to begin providing crypto services on the DWTC, which has been declared a “free zone” for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

Meanwhile, another global cryptocurrency company, FTX, has been exploring a completely different market. It recently announced the launch of FTX Japan to tap into the growing Japanese market despite strict crypto regulations in the Asian country.

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Will Apple present NFT trading cards at next week’s developer event?

Judging by its history, Apple is known for having a knack for making a surprise. Thanks to an update shared by the tech giant, the NFT community believes there is a good chance of getting into web 3.0 with Apple NFT cards.

Speculation started after Apple revealed cool Memoji-like characters on its latest event page. The World Developers Conference 2022 annual marketing campaign features some cool NFT-like characters.

As a result, the cryptographic community on Twitter is hopeful with Apple’s entry into web 3.0. “Apple may release NFT business cards,” said one enthusiast.

Adding to this speculation was a claim by MacRumors that clicking on Memoji characters could reveal an augmented reality mode with three collectible card characters.

Apple well positioned for Ace Web 3.0

While the company has yet to officially confirm the claims, breaking into the NFT space is likely not going to be much of a challenge. Apple has already worked on developing a mixed reality headset with VR and AR capabilities. This makes things even easier for Apple, which has been hard at work in the Memoji segment for the past few years.

Furthermore, the Apple CEO revealed his interest in the cryptocurrency space last year. In fact, he said that he personally invested in cryptocurrencies. He also commented on Apple’s NFT plans.

"NFTs are interesting, but it will take time to develop in a way that is for the average person."

However, Cook did not comment on Apple’s cryptocurrency investment plans. He clarified that there are no immediate plans to launch cryptocurrency-related offerings. Additionally, Cook revealed at the time that there may be different things Apple is looking into in space.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference will take place virtually from June 6-10. The event could lead to the revelation of new developments in a number of Apple products. New devices and software models like iPadOS 15, MacOS Monterey, watchOS 8 and iOS 15 may emerge.