News & Events
Stay up to date on all our exciting new events and view past webinars and podcasts with instant playback.
Mastercard to acquire crypto startup BVNK for up to $1.8 billion in largest stablecoin deal to date
Mastercard is buying a London crypto startup called BVNK for up to $1.8 billion—the biggest stablecoin deal ever. About $300 million of that is tied to future milestones, with the purchase wrapping up by year-end.
BVNK, started in 2021, helps businesses handle payments, international transfers, and treasury stuff using stablecoins. The deal came after rocky on-off talks where Coinbase almost snapped them up for $2 billion last November, but it fell through.
Read the original article here: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/mastercard-to-acquire-crypto-startup-bvnk-for-up-to-1-8-billion-in-largest-stablecoin-deal-to-date/ar-AA1YPK4H?ocid=BingNewsVerp
Pakistan enacts Virtual Assets Act 2026, sets crypto rules
Pakistan has passed the Virtual Assets Act 2026, with the Senate approving it on February 27, the National Assembly on March 3, and President Asif Ali Zardari signing it into immediate effect. This creates the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) with full power to license, regulate, and supervise exchanges, custodians, brokers, and token issuers nationwide, enforcing compliance and market conduct standards.
Binance and HTX received No Objection Certificates to begin AML registration (local subsidiaries needed for full licenses); unlicensed activity risks 5 years in jail or Rs. 50M fines, plus bans on manipulation/insider trading and FATF-aligned AML/CTF rules.
It includes a Shariah Advisory Committee for Islamic compliance. The government is also pursuing a Bitcoin reserve, allocating 2,000 MW surplus power for mining/AI data centers, and inked an MOU with Trump-linked World Liberty Financial for stablecoin cross-border payments.
Read the original article here: https://blockonomi.com/pakistan-enacts-virtual-assets-act-2026-sets-crypto-rules/
Kenya, Rwanda move toward single licence for cross-border fintech expansion
Kenya and Rwanda are developing a shared regulatory framework that would allow fintech firms to operate in both countries under a single licence, potentially removing one of the biggest obstacles to regional expansion for African digital payments companies.
Under the proposed system, regulators in Nairobi and Kigali would recognise each other’s approvals, while retaining joint oversight and cooperating on supervision. At present, startups must secure separate licences in each country, a duplication that pushes up compliance costs and slows the rollout of cross‑border payment services.
By moving towards mutual recognition, the two central banks hope to support the responsible growth of fintechs and deepen regulatory collaboration. If adopted, the framework could speed up the expansion of East Africa’s digital payments market by making it easier for companies to scale across borders.
Read the original article here: https://businessday.ng/technology/article/kenya-rwanda-move-toward-single-licence-for-cross-border-fintech-expansion/#google_vignette
Bangladesh’s Mega Projects: Reviving the economy amidst COVID-19
Bangladesh’s economy is showing its potential through these mega projects. Government officials and experts say that if these Mega Projects can be implemented, Bangladesh’s status in the world court will increase.
Access Asia: Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Pakistan Offer New Combinations For Regional Supply Chains
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are all near neighbours in South Asia, orbiting around the influence of India. All four share common ties both in terms of their history with the United Kingdom and through more recent ties through membership of the SAARC trade bloc.
How the Commonwealth is championing teamwork and vaccine equity
Dr. Hasan discusses the COVID pandemic and the Commonwealth’s part in the global recovery effort, especially vaccine equity and sharing of technology, via platforms like the ACT Accelerator, CPA, and CHPA.
Blockchain Security & Stablecoins: Emerging Standards in the Commonwealth | Webinar Recording
As blockchain adoption accelerates across all 56 Commonwealth nations—representing over 2.5 billion people—understanding digital asset security and regulatory frameworks has never been more important.
Pacific Leadership in a Global Context: A Conversation with John Loau | Webinar Recording
In a recent webinar hosted by Julia Charlton, John Loau, chair of the National Party’s Pacific branch in New Zealand, shared insightful perspectives on Pacific leadership in a global context. Highlighting Samoa’s historic hosting of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
Blockchain Security & Stablecoins: Emerging Standards in the Commonwealth
Join the Commonwealth Chamber of Commerce for an insightful virtual discussion focused on blockchain security and the rising impact of stablecoins across Commonwealth nations.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG): Growth and Opportunities in the Commonwealth
ESG in full refers to “(E)nvironmental, (S)ocial and (G)overnance” principles. While no official definition of ESG exists, it is agreed to be a holistic management framework of standards for all business-centric stakeholders involved in the structuring of organisations to understand and measure how well their companies/institutions are performing to offset risks and harness opportunities related to environmental, social and governance indicators.
The Commonwealth Blue Charter: Progress Report
This progress report was released on 16 June 2022 by the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Oceans and Natural Resources Section, with notable contributions from David Sheppard, the Director of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP); Matthew Goldie-Scot, the Managing Director of the humanitarian strategic consultancy firm Thuso; and, Nina Schoonman, Consultant at Thuso.
The Commonwealth Blue Charter: Ocean Action Report
In May 2022, Asia Investment Research, a research organisation jointly set up by the investment finance firm China Investment Research and Dezan & Shira Associates, issued a special Economics and Trade feature titled “Bangladesh Trade, Development & Economic...
Rethinking Gender Parity and FDI
Gender disparity is arguably one of the greatest impediments to global development. The FDI’s landscape is often an overlooked avenue in gender equality discourse. Yet, it propels tapping equally into the reservoir of capabilities.
Unveiling Rwanda at the Inclusive Fintech Forum 2023: A Journey of Progress and Innovation
Hello Rwanda! Like always, it has always been my pleasure to visit here. I can truly say now that it is one of my favorite places in the world. I mean I’ve never been in love with a country more than this landlocked country bordered by Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, Burundi to the south, and the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west.
23rd Commonwealth Law Conference 2023
Did you know the first Commonwealth Law Conference was held in London in 1955, and since then it has been held in various cities across the Commonwealth, including Singapore, Cape Town, Auckland, and Edinburgh. The most recent conference was held in Goa, India.