Venezuela to integrate Bitcoin and stablecoins into its banking network by December

  • Local banks will offer custody, transfers, and crypto-to-fiat exchange services.
  • The bolivar’s sharp depreciation has driven a surge in stablecoin adoption.
  • Conexus currently processes nearly 40% of Venezuela’s electronic payments.

Venezuela is preparing to merge its struggling traditional banking system with digital currencies as payment giant Conexus plans to integrate Bitcoin and stablecoins into the national banking infrastructure.

The move, expected to launch in December 2025, marks a significant step in the country’s financial transformation, offering Venezuelans a regulated channel for cryptocurrency use.

With the bolivar’s persistent depreciation and rising adoption of stablecoins, this development could make Venezuela one of the first nations to formally blend fiat and crypto operations under a unified system.

The integration also reflects Venezuela’s long-standing struggle with international sanctions that have limited access to global banking.

By adopting blockchain-based systems, Conexus aims to provide citizens with a more resilient alternative that can facilitate remittances, domestic transfers, and business payments without heavy dependence on foreign intermediaries and unstable local exchange rates.

The initiative also seeks to improve financial inclusion nationwide, making digital transactions more accessible to individuals and businesses across the country.

Conexus aims to bridge banks and blockchain

Conexus, which currently processes nearly 40% of Venezuela’s electronic transactions, is leading this shift by allowing local banks to offer direct crypto services such as custody, transfers, and fiat conversion for Bitcoin and stablecoins.

The integration seeks to make digital currency access seamless for customers within their regular bank accounts, eliminating the need for external wallets or apps.

The new infrastructure will be built on blockchain technology to enhance transparency and transaction security.

According to the company, the system will enable both individuals and businesses to move between digital and traditional currencies safely, reducing reliance on unregulated exchanges.

Growing reliance on stablecoins amid inflation

Years of hyperinflation have eroded confidence in the bolivar, pushing Venezuelans to rely heavily on stablecoins like Tether (USDT) as a store of value and medium of exchange.

From small retailers to freelancers, many now prefer stablecoins to protect earnings from volatility.

Conexus President Rodolfo Gasparri has highlighted that this surge in stablecoin transactions demonstrates a clear public demand for better integration between crypto and banking systems.

The company’s upcoming model aims to formalise this reality by providing regulated access to crypto within Venezuela’s financial framework, allowing citizens to transact and save using digital assets with greater confidence.

Potential blueprint for emerging economies

The Conexus initiative could reshape not only Venezuela’s financial sector but also set an example for other economies facing currency crises.

By offering a direct bridge between fiat and digital assets, the model could help millions gain access to stable, low-cost, and transparent financial services.

Venezuela’s attempt to merge traditional finance with blockchain technology aligns with global trends toward digitalisation of money, particularly in regions where economic instability drives innovation.

If implemented successfully, this system could serve as a prototype for countries in Latin America and beyond, where inflation and limited banking access continue to affect economic stability.

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Jiuzi Holdings taps SOLV Foundation for its $1B Bitcoin investment plan

  • Jiuzi commits up to $1B and 10,000 BTC to SOLV’s DeFi yield platform.
  • The partnership bridges TradFi compliance with DeFi Bitcoin finance.
  • JZXN shares have surged over 17% following the strategic announcement.

Jiuzi Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: JZXN) has unveiled a sweeping $1 billion Bitcoin finance initiative through a strategic partnership with SOLV Foundation, a decentralised finance (DeFi) platform managing more than $2.8 billion in total value locked.

The move positions Jiuzi as one of the few Nasdaq-listed firms actively bridging traditional finance (TradFi) with DeFi to create compliant, yield-generating Bitcoin products for institutional investors.

10,000 Bitcoin commitment to SOLV’s flagship SolvBTC.BNB vault

The partnership will see Jiuzi allocate up to $1 billion from its digital asset plan into Bitcoin staking and yield-focused blockchain products.

Central to the strategy is a commitment of up to 10,000 Bitcoin to SOLV’s flagship SolvBTC.BNB vault on the BNB Chain — one of the largest Bitcoin yield platforms in the ecosystem.

The assets will be safeguarded by regulated third-party custodians and verified through Chainlink’s proof-of-reserves auditing system, ensuring transparency and institutional-grade security.

This marks a pivotal moment for Jiuzi Holdings, which is best known for its new energy vehicle infrastructure business in China.

The company has been steadily diversifying into blockchain finance, and its partnership with SOLV Foundation signals a deepened commitment to positioning Bitcoin as a productive, yield-bearing asset rather than a passive store of value.

Building a compliant bridge between TradFi and DeFi

Jiuzi and SOLV have emphasised that the partnership will operate under strict compliance with US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations and Nasdaq listing standards.

The collaboration will establish a joint Steering Committee composed of senior representatives from both organisations.

This committee will develop and oversee Bitcoin-centric DeFi initiatives, including expanding the adoption of SolvBTC across additional blockchain networks such as Solana and Base.

By combining Jiuzi’s regulatory standing and institutional access with SOLV’s on-chain expertise, the partnership aims to create a secure, transparent, and scalable financial framework for Bitcoin-based products.

Both companies view the collaboration as a model for how regulated capital can participate safely in decentralised yield markets.

Optimising treasury strategy through blockchain

Beyond its yield products, Jiuzi will anchor its corporate treasury around Bitcoin as its primary digital asset.

The firm’s Bitcoin holdings, including those of its subsidiaries, will be deposited on SOLV’s platform and managed under the supervision of approved custodians.

This approach is designed to maximise capital efficiency while maintaining visibility and accountability through blockchain-based auditing tools.

Li Tao, Chief Executive Officer of Jiuzi Holdings, described the partnership as “a transformative step forward” that strengthens the company’s Bitcoin vault strategy and aligns it with one of the most advanced ecosystems for Bitcoin liquidity and staking.

SOLV Protocol co-founder Ryan Chow added that the partnership merges Jiuzi’s regulatory stature with SOLV’s expertise in managing large-scale Bitcoin assets, paving the way for secure institutional capital flow into DeFi.

Notably, the news of the partnership sparked a sharp rally in Jiuzi’s stock, with shares surging more than 22% in trading following the announcement.

Investors responded positively to the company’s expansion into digital asset finance, recognising the potential for Jiuzi to play a pivotal role in institutional Bitcoin adoption.

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Brazil explores Bitcoin reserves as central bankers meet in Rio

  • Lawmakers previously proposed a $19 billion Bitcoin reserve.
  • Countries like Germany, Pakistan, and the Philippines are reviewing similar plans.
  • Brazil’s Drex CBDC could support future digital reserve systems.

Brazil’s central bank is preparing to host one of Latin America’s most closely watched financial events next month, as global reserve managers gather in Rio de Janeiro for the Central Banking Autumn Meetings.

Among the top items on the agenda is the growing debate over whether Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies could play a role in national reserves.

The meetings, as reported by local media, will bring together central bankers and policymakers from across the region to discuss new approaches to financial resilience, digital innovation, and inflation management.

Brazil’s participation marks a critical step in positioning the country at the centre of the region’s emerging digital asset strategy.

Brazil’s growing focus on Bitcoin as a reserve asset

At the Rio meetings, Brazil’s representatives will join officials from Colombia, Jamaica, and the Bahamas to discuss how Bitcoin could be integrated into sovereign reserves.

The discussions will cover issues such as volatility, liquidity, and the potential of Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation.

This focus comes as Brazil’s lawmakers continue to evaluate a proposal to create a $19 billion sovereign Bitcoin reserve.

The plan, which was previously discussed in parliamentary hearings, seeks to position Bitcoin as both a strategic financial asset and a tool to diversify the country’s holdings.

During earlier sessions, policymakers heard from technical experts in the digital asset sector on how Bitcoin could serve as a reserve asset alongside gold and foreign currencies.

By taking these discussions to an international policy forum, Brazil is signalling that the question of Bitcoin reserves is no longer limited to domestic politics but is becoming a subject of regional collaboration.

Global momentum behind national Bitcoin reserves

Brazil’s renewed interest in digital reserves comes amid a wider global shift toward rethinking reserve composition.

In the United States, officials have begun evaluating a proposal to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve that could act as a safeguard against economic shocks.

Although the plan is still in early stages, it has drawn significant international attention, prompting other economies to assess similar measures.

In Europe, Germany’s second-largest political party recently submitted a motion calling for the creation of a national Bitcoin reserve.

The proposal urged the government to consider Bitcoin as a protection against inflation and currency depreciation, reflecting growing institutional acceptance of digital assets within traditional finance.

Elsewhere, countries such as the Philippines and Pakistan have also initiated reviews of policy drafts that would allow Bitcoin to be recognised as a strategic asset.

While most central banks do not yet hold cryptocurrencies in their reserves, the shift in dialogue from speculation to formal policy review suggests the idea is becoming increasingly mainstream.

Infrastructure and policy implications for Brazil

Brazil’s exploration of Bitcoin reserves is likely to overlap with its ongoing work on the Drex, the country’s central bank digital currency.

The Drex project aims to create a tokenised version of the Brazilian real that could facilitate interoperability between fiat and blockchain-based systems.

Experts believe that the infrastructure developed for Drex could eventually provide the technical foundation needed for managing reserve assets in digital form.

However, central banks worldwide still face challenges in safely storing, auditing, and reporting digital reserves. Market volatility and accounting standards remain major considerations.

For Brazil, next month’s meetings could help shape a roadmap for addressing these operational hurdles through regional cooperation.

A strategic moment for Latin America’s financial policy

The upcoming Rio meetings could mark a turning point for how Latin American economies view digital reserves.

With inflation pressures and currency volatility continuing to shape monetary policy, Bitcoin’s inclusion in sovereign strategies may no longer be a distant possibility.

Although no immediate policy shift is expected, Brazil’s leadership in hosting these discussions places it at the forefront of digital finance policymaking in the region.

The outcomes could determine how quickly central banks move from debate to implementation, setting the stage for future integration of Bitcoin into the global reserve system.

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Crypto update: Bitcoin tumbles below $111K as Powell dashes December rate cut hopes

  • Bitcoin fell below $111,000 after Fed Chair Powell’s hawkish comments.
  • Powell said a December interest rate cut is “not a foregone conclusion.”
  • Major cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, XRP, and Solana also posted losses.

Bitcoin and the wider cryptocurrency market took a sharp downturn after US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled that a highly anticipated December interest rate cut was not guaranteed, reversing market sentiment that had priced in further easing.

The hawkish remarks immediately spooked investors, sending Bitcoin below a key support level and triggering a broad sell-off across digital assets.

While the Fed did deliver an expected quarter-point rate cut, Powell’s commentary on the future path of monetary policy became the dominant driver of the market’s negative reaction.

Powell pours cold water on December rate cut hopes

At the conclusion of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, Powell announced a 0.25% point reduction in the policy rate to a range of 3.75-4.00%.

However, he quickly tempered market optimism by adopting a cautious stance on future moves, stating a December cut “is not a foregone conclusion.”

Powell explained that the central bank needs more economic data, particularly after the recent government shutdown obscured key indicators.

“We may need to slow the pace of policy (rate) adjustments. I hope to obtain more data by December,” he said at the press conference.

He also revealed a growing divide within the committee.

“More and more Fed members want to delay rate cuts,” Powell continued, adding, “After two consecutive rate cuts, some members are taking a wait-and-see stance.

The view that we should wait at least one cycle is spreading.”

Bitcoin leads broad market plunge

The market’s reaction to Powell’s unexpected caution was swift and decisive.

Bitcoin, which had been trading steadily around the $113,000 level before the press conference, broke below its $110,000 support moments after his remarks, hitting an intraday low in the $109,000 range.

As of Thursday, the token was still struggling around $110,000, down roughly 2% from the previous day.

The weakness was felt across the entire crypto ecosystem.

According to CoinMarketCap, other major cryptocurrencies also posted significant losses:

  • Ethereum (ETH) fell 1.93% to $3,899.87.

  • XRP dropped 2.74% to $2.53.

  • Solana (SOL) declined 1.04% to $192.37.

A silver lining? Fed to end quantitative tightening

However, Powell’s press conference was not entirely hawkish. He also formally announced the end of the Fed’s asset reduction program, known as Quantitative Tightening (QT), which could increase liquidity in the financial system.

“We have decided to end QT as of December 1,” Powell stated. He explained that the Fed’s balance sheet had shrunk by $2.2 trillion over three and a half years.

“We now believe we are close to sufficient reserves,” he said, signaling a shift toward balance sheet normalization.

With Fed in rearview, all eyes turn to US-China summit

With the Fed’s immediate policy path now clarified, investors are pivoting their attention to the next major potential catalyst: the US-China summit.

Following the crypto market plunge, traders are looking to the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping as a possible source of positive news that could trigger a rebound.

The high-stakes meeting is scheduled for Thursday morning at the ‘Naraemaru’ facility at Gimhae Airport Air Force base.

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Bitcoin, altcoins slip as the Fed lowers interest rates by 25 basis points

  • The US Fed has cut rates by 25 bps, signaling a softer monetary stance.
  • Bitcoin price is down 3% to $111,400 as traders digest the policy move.
  • Fed to end the quantitative tightening on December 1.

The cryptocurrency market has seen renewed volatility after the US Federal Reserve announced a widely expected 25-basis-point interest rate cut.

Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and other altcoins have reacted with mild declines as traders digested the central bank’s decision and its implications for the broader economy and digital asset markets.

Fed delivers another cut amid economic uncertainty

The Federal Reserve reduced its benchmark federal funds rate by a quarter of a percentage point, bringing it down to a target range of 3.75%-4%.

This marks the second consecutive rate cut as policymakers move to support a cooling economy.

The decision, anticipated by nearly all market participants, came amid ongoing concerns over a weakening labor market, a persistent government shutdown, and the scarcity of fresh economic data.

At the post-meeting press conference, Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted that while some key federal data releases have been delayed by the government shutdown, the available public and private sector information suggests that the outlook for employment and inflation has changed little since the September meeting.

Powell also cautioned that another rate cut in December is “not a foregone conclusion.”

While projections released in September had indicated potential reductions in both October and December, Powell emphasized that the December move is not assured, signaling a more data-dependent approach by the central bank.

The Fed also announced it would end its quantitative tightening program on December 1, signaling a gradual shift toward a less restrictive policy stance.

However, not all members of the Federal Open Market Committee agree on how quickly to ease policy.

Some, like Stephen Miran, have argued for a steeper 50-basis-point reduction to accelerate growth, while others — including Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack and Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan — advocated caution.

This internal split underscores growing uncertainty over how the Fed will navigate the coming months.

Crypto markets unimpressed as Bitcoin price slips

In the hours following the Fed announcement, Bitcoin price slipped roughly 3% to trade near $111,400, while Ethereum hovered around $4,000, down a similar margin.

The broader crypto market cap stood at $3.86 trillion, after a modest 2.4% drop, with many top assets in the red.

Liquidations across derivatives platforms totaled approximately $560 million, reflecting a brief wave of volatility.

The muted reaction suggests the rate cut had been largely priced in, with traders anticipating the move weeks in advance.

Bitcoin’s weakness, in particular, follows a broader retreat from the all-time high it reached earlier this month.

Despite optimism surrounding lower rates and renewed liquidity, the market remains cautious.

Ethereum and other leading altcoins, including Solana (SOL), XRP, and Binance Coin (BNB), have also registered small daily losses.

Economic backdrop weighs on investor sentiment

Recent data from the Chicago Fed shows unemployment holding near 4.3%, its highest level in four years, while inflation continues to hover around 3%, above the central bank’s 2% target.

The Conference Board’s Expectations Index also remains below levels typically associated with economic optimism, fueling fears of a potential recession.

These signals paint a picture of an economy losing momentum.

With inflation still elevated and job growth softening, the Fed faces a delicate balancing act — supporting growth without reigniting price pressures.

Analysts suggest that if the economy slows further, additional rate cuts could follow before the end of the year.

Markets now await Powell’s next move

Traders will closely watch Powell’s comments for hints about how long the current easing cycle might continue.

Many expect the Fed to maintain a cautious tone while emphasizing flexibility, given the lack of up-to-date economic data due to the government shutdown.

Crypto analysts believe that a sustained move toward lower rates and an eventual halt to balance-sheet tightening could support digital assets in the medium term.

Easier financial conditions tend to encourage risk-taking, and historically, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have benefited when liquidity expands.

Still, near-term volatility is likely.

The Bitcoin price remains sensitive to macroeconomic shifts, and with uncertainty over both monetary policy and the global economic outlook, traders may see further swings before the market finds its next direction.

In the short term, crypto investors are bracing for Powell’s remarks and any signals of further easing.

While lower interest rates can provide relief for risk assets, the path forward remains uncertain — and for now, Bitcoin and altcoins appear content to wait for clearer signs from the Fed’s next move.

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