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Union Minister of Labour and Employment <keyword id="19906409" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mansukh-mandaviya" source="keywords">Mansukh Mandaviya</keyword> and Chairperson of the Central Board of Trustees, EPF, have given the green light to the proposal for a Centralised <keyword id="23037839" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pension-Payment-System" source="keywords">Pension Payment System</keyword> (<keyword id="23039389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CPPS" source="keywords">CPPS</keyword>) under the Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995. According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, this initiative represents a major advancement by establishing a national-level centralised system, allowing pension disbursement through any bank or branch across India. Commenting on this development, Mandaviya stated, "The approval of the Centralised Pension Payment System (CPPS) marks a significant milestone in the modernization of the <keyword id="19966712" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="EPFO" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="EPFO" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="EPFO">EPFO</keyword>. By enabling pensioners to receive their pensions from any bank, any branch, anywhere in the country, this initiative addresses the long-standing challenges faced by pensioners and ensures a seamless and efficient disbursement mechanism." He added, "This is a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to transform the EPFO into a more robust, responsive, and tech-enabled organisation, committed to serving the needs of its members and pensioners better." The CPPS is expected to benefit over 7.8 million <keyword id="21992385" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="EPS-Pensioners" source="keywords">EPS pensioners</keyword> of EPFO. By leveraging advanced IT and banking technologies, it aims to provide a more efficient and user-friendly experience for pensioners. The CPPS will also ensure seamless pension disbursement across India, eliminating the need to transfer Pension Payment Orders (PPO) when a pensioner relocates or changes their bank or branch. This will be a significant relief for pensioners who move to their hometowns post-retirement. This facility will be launched on January 1, 2025, as part of EPFO's ongoing <keyword id="23015602" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IT-Modernization" source="keywords">IT modernization</keyword> project, Centralised IT Enabled System (CITES 2.01). In the following phase, CPPS will enable a smooth transition to an <keyword id="20028363" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Aadhaar-based-Payment-System" source="keywords">Aadhaar-based payment system</keyword> (ABPS). The CPPS marks a significant departure from the current decentralised pension disbursement system, where each EPFO Zonal/Regional Office maintains separate agreements with only 3-4 banks. Pensioners will no longer need to visit branches for verification at the start of their pension, as it will be credited immediately upon release. Additionally, EPFO anticipates a significant reduction in disbursement costs with the new system.

EPS Pensioners to get pension from any bank, any branch, anywhere in India from January 1, announces Mansukh Mandaviya

New Delhi [India], August 1 (ANI): The <keyword id="6354335" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="Orion">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (<keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword>) has released a draft framework on alternative <keyword id="20470059" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="authentication" source="keywords">authentication</keyword> mechanisms to supplement the SMS-based OTP system for digital <keyword id="22624644" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="payment-transactions" source="keywords">payment transactions</keyword>. The RBI noted, "No specific factor was mandated for authentication, but the <keyword id="19989657" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="digital-payments" source="keywords">digital payments</keyword> ecosystem has primarily adopted SMS-based OTP as <keyword id="22624645" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="additional-factor-of-authentication" source="keywords">Additional Factor of Authentication</keyword> (AFA). While OTP is working satisfactorily, technological advancements have made available alternative authentication mechanisms." The draft discusses the Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA), which involves using more than one factor to authenticate a payment instruction. It requires that the process validate and confirm the credentials of the customer initiating the payment. Furthermore, the draft specifies that issuers must obtain explicit consent from customers before enabling any new authentication factor. Customers should also have the option to deregister from using the new authentication method. The draft states, "All digital payment transactions, other than card present transactions, shall ensure that one of the factors of authentication is dynamically created, i.e., the factor is generated after initiation of payment, is specific to the transaction and cannot be reused." Additionally, the draft mandates that issuers must have a system to alert customers in near real-time for all eligible digital payment transactions. It also prohibits transaction issuers from entering into exclusive arrangements with any Payment Service Provider or Technology Service Provider, which could limit their ability to implement alternative authentication solutions. RBI has proposed <keyword id="22624646" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-mandates" source="keywords">e-mandates</keyword> for <keyword id="21970493" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="recurring-transactions" source="keywords">recurring transactions</keyword> in mutual funds, insurance premiums, credit card bill payments for values up to Rs 1 lakh and in respect of all other categories for value up to Rs 15,000. The banking regulator also suggests that issuer shall be liable for the process and technology deployed for authenticating digital payments. There should also be a system of alerting the customer in near real time for all digital payment transactions. The draft notes that small value card present transactions up to Rs 5000 per transaction in contactless mode at Point of Sale (PoS) terminals are exempt from the AFA requirement. The central bank has invited comments and feedback on the draft framework until September 15, 2024. The proposed alternative authentication mechanisms aim to provide more choices for authentication factors to Payment System Operators and users.

RBI proposes alternative methods for authentication of digital payments, in addition to SMS-based OTP system

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The West's sanctions are pushing Russia to develop alternative payment systems with its trade partners.</li><li>Russia's SPFS and Mir systems, China's CIPS, and India's UPI help aim to challenge SWIFT's dominance.</li></ul>The West's tightening sanctions are driving Russia nearly up against the wall — but <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-how-moscow-pays-war-economy-afloat-sanctions-ukraine-2024-2">Moscow keeps finding ways</a> to keep the country's economy going.Russia's trade partners, too, are looking for ways to continue doing business with the country via alternative systems to rival the Western-led, US dollar-dominated global financial order.Discussions about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/de-dollarization-reasons-why-countries-move-away-us-dollar-2023-7">de-dollarization</a> have been gaining traction in recent years as Western-led sanctions against Russia related to its invasion of Ukraine are making other countries wary of the potential consequences of crossing Washington.There's been some success, with trade between Russia and China, as well as Russia and India, chugging along until recently. Now, even <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-all-china-banks-refuse-yuan-ruble-transfers-sanctions-2024-8">Chinese banks</a> — buckling under the pressure of tightening US sanctions — are pushing back on processing transactions for Russian companies.But Russia and its partners have been looking at other ways to do business outside the Western-led order, in part because technology is making it easier to process payments and get around the US-dollar-dominated global financial order.As <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-changing-role-of-the-us-dollar/">Brookings researchers</a> Sam Boocker and David Wessel explained in an August post, "innovations in payment technology could reduce the dollar's role in the global economy."To be sure, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/king-dollar-reign-supreme-3-reasons-dedollarization-fears-yuan-euro-2023-5">king dollar</a> is entrenched in the world's financial system, so it's unlikely to be dethroned, most experts say. However, new platforms are coming up that could chip away at its dominance.These are some of the alternative trading and payment systems that are trying to crack the US-led trade and payments order:<h2 id="e3db2e40-91e6-40ce-8ea6-bd2555a945d0">Russia set up SPFS and Mir years ago, citing 'risks'</h2>Russia prepared for even more sanctions years ago, following trade restrictions after it annexed Crimea in 2014."There are risks in using the global financial networks," Elvira Nabiullina, governor of Russia's central bank, told <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/23/russias-central-bank-governor-touts-moscow-alternative-to-swift-transfer-system-as-protection-from-us-sanctions.html">CNBC in 2018.</a> "Therefore, since back in 2014, we have been developing our own systems."Some Russian banks were banned from the SWIFT messaging system for banking transactions following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has been touting its homegrown ruble-based payment system — the System for Transfer of Financial Messages, or SPFS — that was set up in 2014.<div type="image" title="Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Central Bank chief Elvira Nabiullina" height="3605" width="5408" msid="112978409" hostid="261" sizebytes="1587422"></div>At the end of 2023, users of SPFS included 556 organizations from 20 countries. Of these, 159 — about a quarter of total participants — were foreign and their use of the messaging system more than doubled from 2022, according to Russia's central bank, per <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://interfax.com/newsroom/top-stories/103040/">Interfax</a>.In July, Russia and Iran — another heavily-sanctioned country — finalized details to connect the banking systems of the two countries, Iran's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://en.mehrnews.com/news/217372/Iran-Russia-finalize-integration-of-national-payment-systems">Mehr news agency</a> reported.This means that Russia's Mir payment system would work with Iran's Shetab banking system, allowing for both pariah states to trade more smoothly.<h2 id="dc8236fe-da57-4f21-8a5f-0a2f6f46c77a">China's CIPS is growing quickly</h2>China's Cross-Border Interbank Payment System, or CIPS, is an alternative system that processes payments in Chinese yuan.Launched in 2015, CIPS has about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cips.com.cn/en/2024-08/01/article_2024080115043180408.html">2,000 participants as of July,</a> compared to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.swift.com/about-us">11,000 for SWIFT.</a>CIPS "has been growing rapidly in recent years," the Brookings researchers wrote.In 2023, CIPS processed over 6.6 million transactions, totaling 123 trillion Chinese yuan, or $17.3 trillion — up nearly 30% by value from a year ago, according to <a target="_blank" class="" href="http://www.pbc.gov.cn/en/3688110/3688172/5188125/5327700/2024041216580199504.pdf">China's central bank.</a><h2 id="a578a224-e5df-4b31-8404-e02cff739d93">India's UPI is already used extensively</h2>India — now a key trading part of Russia — also has its own system.The country's <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.npci.org.in/what-we-do/upi/product-overview">Unified Payments Interface,</a> or UPI, was developed in 2016 and is <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/29/tech/india-digital-payments-upi-growth-hnk-intl/index.html">used extensively</a> in India today, even among everyday consumers.The payment system has gotten so big that it's not just limited to India. The National Payments Corporation of India, which runs the platform, has partnered with financial institutions in other countries, including France, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.<div type="image" title="A man behind piles of fruits at his stall in India that features a QR payment code." height="701" width="1024" msid="112978412" hostid="261" sizebytes="98408"></div>If the UPI's footprint expands to more countries, it could be a way to bypass the SWIFT banking system, wrote Evan Freidin, an international relations analyst, for the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/india-s-plan-world-without-cash">Lowy Institute,</a> an Australian think tank."It is significant that UPI can also be used to bypass the SWIFT banking system, enabling payments with sanctioned countries such as Russia, thereby weakening US financial hegemony," Freidin wrote in July.<h2 id="48c27799-0d46-40f6-b4b7-e9225b102131">Central banks are looking at digital currencies</h2>Countries are also increasingly looking to build central bank digital currencies, or CBDCs. These currencies are similar to cryptocurrencies but are <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/11/cbdcs-how-different-cryptocurrency-stablecoin/">issued and backed by central banks</a>.The <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/cbdcs-crypto-central-banks-bis-digital-currencies-bitcoin-stablecoins-tether-2021-9">Bank for International Settlements,</a> an organization of central banks, is overseeing the trial of a CBDC platform for wholesale cross-border payment.Participants of the project, called <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/saudi-arabia-joins-bis-led-central-bank-digital-currency-trial-2024-06-05/">mBridge,</a> include China, Hong Kong, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. It's dominated by Beijing, which has already rolled out the digital Chinese yuan.<div type="image" title="Woman with a face mask using a touch screen at an exhibition booth for the e-renminbi." height="746" width="1024" msid="112978411" hostid="261" sizebytes="54016"></div>The Brookings researchers wrote that these CBDCs could "upend the dollar's role as a currency 'middleman' by reducing settlement times, making it cheaper and easier to trade non-dollar currencies."The CBDCs integrate messaging and payments, unlike current systems like SWIFT and major US dollar clearing system CHIPS.<h2 id="67caf2a1-65f8-470a-8a88-3f2e381242e9">Russia rushes into crypto</h2>As doors to transact in fiat money close, Russia is now looking to trade in cryptocurrencies.It's in such a rush to get the system up and running that it plans to start crypto exchange trials as soon as September 1, anonymous sources told <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-26/russia-close-to-starting-trials-of-crypto-payments-exchanges?srnd=homepage-americas">Bloomberg in late August.</a>Creating this mode of payment has gotten more pressing because even <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-all-china-banks-refuse-yuan-ruble-transfers-sanctions-2024-8">banks from China</a> are rejecting most transactions with Russian entities.<a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/74566">Russian President Vladimir Putin</a> himself said in July that Russia had to <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://tass.com/economy/1818055">"seize the moment"</a> to create a legal framework for digital assets, as they are being increasingly used to settle international payments.<h2 id="15b13f44-3051-4887-85cf-66563ce70c10">Going back to barter trade</h2>If all else fails, there's also the age-old method of barter trade.In August, <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/first-russia-china-barter-trade-may-come-this-autumn-sources-say-2024-08-08/">Reuters</a> reported that Russia and China are planning to revive the practice of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-russia-china-barter-trade-us-secondary-sanctions-payments-2024-8">barter trade</a> to get around Western sanctions.The deals could involve agriculture and could come as soon as this fall, the news agency reported, citing anonymous trade and payments sources.The two countries are no strangers to barter.It was practiced during the <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.joc.com/maritime-news/soviet-union-allows-return-barter-some-trading-deals-partners-former-e-bloc_19910708.html">Soviet era</a> and <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/06/world/as-ruble-withers-russians-survive-on-barter.html">in the years following the bloc's collapse.</a> At the time, China was a key trading partner.In August 2022, the <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taliban-import-russia-oil-barter-exchange-afghanistan-raisin-minerals-medicine-2022-8">Taliban regime in Afghanistan</a> also discussed barter trade with Russia that could involve trading Russian crude oil products in exchange for raisins, minerals, and medicinal herbs, according to RIA Novosti, a Russian state-owned news agency.Last year, cash-strapped <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-allows-barter-trade-with-iran-afghanistan-russia-/7120806.html">Pakistan</a> authorized the barter trade of specific goods with Russia.In 2019, China <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/markets/currencies/china-in-barter-deal-for-200000-tonnes-of-malaysian-palm-oil-report-idUSKCN1T22W0/">traded $150 million worth of palm oil</a> from Malaysia for a range of products and services, including natural resources and defense equipment.

Countries from Russia to China are building payments systems that could threaten the dollar's global dominance

Are you an avid credit card user? Are you up to speed with all the changes that have come into effect starting today, which is all set to impact your credit card usage, and your pocket. Here's a quick snapshot of all the changes that you should be well aware of: <h2><keyword id="19900482" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ICICI-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="ICICI Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="ICICI Bank">ICICI Bank</keyword> </h2>Starting today, ICICI bank has done away with fees for many services, which include request for a charge slip, which was earlier chargeable at Rs 100/slip and cash and cheque pick up, which also carried a fee of Rs 100 earlier. Earlier, for outstation cheque processing and duplicate bank statement (for three months), a fee of Rs 100 was payable. Now, all those charges have been waived. However, going ahead, you'll have to dish out Rs 200 instead of Rs 100, if you wish to get your credit card replaced. <h2><keyword id="19952948" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Axis-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Axis Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Axis Bank">Axis Bank</keyword></h2>If you hold a <keyword id="19941660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Citibank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Citibank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Citibank">Citibank</keyword> credit card, this is for you. The migration of all Citibank <keyword id="19953671" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="credit-cards" source="keywords">credit cards</keyword> to Axis bank will be complete by 15th July, 2024. Post that, you will receive new credit cards from Axis bank .However, until then, your existing Citibank cards will continue to work just fine. All your unredeemed points will be converted into EDGE miles. After migration, they will have an expiration period of 3 years. Starting today, RBIs new rules mandate that all credit card transactions in the country be processed through <keyword id="20779381" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bharat-Bill-Payment-System" source="keywords">Bharat Bill Payment System</keyword> (BBPS). This means that if your bank has not come on board with BBPS, you will not be able to make payment through their credit card on other third-party platforms. Out of 34 banks that can issue credit cards, 12 banks have come onboard the BBPS. These include SBI, <keyword id="19938728" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="kotak-mahindra" source="keywords">Kotak Mahindra</keyword>, IndusInd, Federal, HDFC, ICICI and IDFC bank. Indian Overseas bank and <keyword id="45660" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="yes-bank" source="Orion">YES Bank</keyword> are expected to go live soon. <h2>SBI Bank</h2>Starting July 15th, if you hold one of the 22 specified SBI credit cards, you will no longer accrue any reward points while making certain transactions, particularly if they are related to government services. These include Air India SBI Platinum Card, Air India SBI Signature Card, Central SBI Select+ Card, Chennai Metro SBI Card, Etihad Guest SBI Card, Fabindia SBI Card SELECT, IRCTC SBI Card, Mumbai Metro SBI Card and more. <h2>YES Bank </h2>If you hold a YES Bank credit card, the criteria for you to qualify for complimentary lounge access has changed. Starting today, you will have to spend at least Rs 35,000 from your credit card in the previous quarter, in order to be able to get a complimentary access to domestic airport lounges in the next quarter. Earlier, this threshold was set at Rs 10,000. This will impact YES Marquee, YES SELECT, YES Reserv, YES First Preferred, YES Bank ELITE, YES BYOC, and YES Wellness Plus cards. <h2>HDFC Bank</h2>Starting August 1st, if you make rent, or education related payments via platforms like Cred and Paytm, you will have to pay a fee of upto 1% of the transaction, which will be a maximum of Rs 3,000. However, if you make the payment directly through your school or college's website, you will be able to save on this charge. Similarly, on all fuel expenses of over Rs 15,000, a 1% fee will be applied, which can be a maximum of Rs 3,000.

What has changed for your credit cards, starting today?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Some retailers and fast-food chains are limiting their operations following a global IT outage.</li><li>McDonald's Japan said some of its stores had temporarily closed.</li></ul>A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/major-disruptions-airline-bank-london-stock-exchange-microsoft-outage-2024-7">massive IT outage</a> has taken its toll on some grocery stores, retailers, and fast-food giants around the world.Starbucks' mobile-ordering system appears to be experiencing widespread issues in the US, with stores listing their order-ahead function as "not available."One barista in Atlanta, whose identity has been verified by BI, said that mobile orders weren't operating at their store. "Definitely a weekend that I'm glad to be not working," they said.Various Reddit users, whose identities haven't been verified by BI but who say they're Starbucks baristas, said the disruptions led to chaos at their stores and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/starbucks/comments/1e74zsd/is_everyone_surviving_the_outages/">long lines</a> of <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/starbucksbaristas/comments/1e70xwb/everything_is_down_and_were_still_open_and_doing/">angry and impatient customers</a>. Some said that their stores had closed over the issue.Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.McDonald's Japan said on Friday some of its stores had temporarily closed or were only running limited operations because of a malfunction of their in-store cash registers. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-19/mcdonald-s-in-japan-hit-by-systems-outage-closing-30-of-stores">Bloomberg</a> reported that about a third of outlets in Japan were closed on Friday.A McDonald's spokesperson later told Business Insider that all its restaurants in Japan were open and operating.The Australian grocery-store chain Woolworths told BI that some stores had been affected by the IT issue. The chain said that all but six stores were open, while some had fewer checkouts functioning.A banner on Woolworths' website said it was "experiencing intermittent technical difficulties instore and online."Coles, another Australian grocery-store chain, told BI it was being "affected by a global technical issue which is disrupting some of our systems in our supermarkets and liquor stores."A spokesperson from the UK grocery-store chain Morrisons told BI that it was "experiencing some issues with payment in some stores." And a spokesperson for Waitrose, another UK grocery-store chain, told BI it had "briefly" experienced issues with contactless payments.Various other companies reported issues with some card payments not working on Friday.Transport for Ireland <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/TFIupdates/status/1814207452105060808">said</a> that the top-up app for its transport passes had been down for several <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/TFIupdates/status/1814295821069750528">hours</a>. WWF Australia <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/WWF_Australia/status/1814212390348894368">said</a> that its credit-card-donation system was down and told people to donate via PayPal instead. Trelissick, a country house in Cornwall, England, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/NTTrelissick/status/1814231647945896189">said</a> that visitors couldn't pay by card. A cinema and café in Bristol, England, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://x.com/wshed/status/1814222356807598554">said</a> that it could only accept cash.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/live-blog/2024-07-19/microsoft-cloud-technical-outage-updates">Bloomberg</a> reported that staff at the Ocean Park Marriott in Hong Kong were using pen and paper to check guests in. "We are actively working with our vendors to resolve issues that have impacted certain hotel systems," a spokesperson for Marriott International told BI.Major airlines, banks, and supermarkets are experiencing widespread disruptions linked to an IT outage after Microsoft reported problems with its online services, linked to an issue at the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.But not all retailers have been affected. Representatives for the UK grocery-store chains Asda, Sainsbury's, and Marks &amp; Spencer told BI that they were operating as normal. And a spokesperson for the US-based chain Kroger said it wasn't experiencing any major issues.

Global IT outage hits Starbucks mobile-order system and card payments at businesses

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia passed a bill allowing crypto trade payments and is aiming to roll out the digital ruble next July.</li><li>Moscow's tilt to crypto reverses its previous anti-crypto stance.</li></ul>Russia is stepping up sanctions-evading measures to keep its international trade flowing. The country is passing new laws regulating cryptocurrency and a plan for the digital ruble.On Tuesday, Russia's State Duma — the lower house of Russia's federal assembly — passed a bill that would let businesses use cryptocurrencies in international trade, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/russia-launch-international-payments-crypto-before-end-2024-2024-07-30/">Reuters</a> reported.Under this new law, Russia's central bank will create a new "experimental" payments platform. Russian central bank governor Elvira Nabiullina said the first transactions are expected by the end of this year, per Reuters.Nabiullina also said on Tuesday that the Russian central bank plans a mass introduction of the digital ruble in July next year, per <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tass.com/economy/1823089">TASS.</a>Digital currencies, like the digital ruble, are similar to cryptocurrencies but are <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/11/cbdcs-how-different-cryptocurrency-stablecoin/">issued and backed by central banks.</a><h2 id="04f69842-16d5-468a-85c4-9bbe54193e49">Some Russian businesses are already using crypto</h2>In addition, Russia passed new regulations legalizing crypto mining on Tuesday.An existing ban on crypto payments in Russia remains, but Moscow's greenlighting crypto for international trade marks a significant shift.In January 2022 — before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine — <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/russian-cbank-proposes-banning-cryptocurrencies-crypto-mining-2022-01-20/">Russia's central bank</a> proposed a ban on the use and mining of cryptocurrencies within the country, citing risks to financial stability and monetary policy.However, the heavily sanctioned country is facing so many issues with international payments that it has been forced to shift its position.Some Russian businesses are already using cryptocurrencies to trade with settlements done via Hong Kong, but through central Asian intermediaries, <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-25/russian-companies-face-mounting-payment-issues-as-sanctions-bite">Bloomberg</a> reported last week.<a target="_blank" class="" href="http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/74566">Russian President Vladimir Putin</a> himself said earlier this month that Russia had to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://tass.com/economy/1818055">"seize the moment"</a> to create a legal framework for digital assets, as they are being increasingly used to settle international payments.Russia's tilt toward crypto isn't unexpected. Analysts have been speculating about how <a target="_blank" href="https://www.csis.org/analysis/cryptocurrencies-and-us-sanctions-evasion-implications-russia">Russia would eventually move</a> toward using crypto and digital assets following sweeping sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine.<h2 id="0eca508c-15cf-41aa-b85a-a557ee507d8d">Increasingly tight Western sanctions hit Russia's international trade</h2>Until recently, Moscow hasn't really had to look into digital currencies that intently — since Russian companies have managed to keep on doing business using non-US dollar currencies, such as the Chinese yuan, or via smaller banks.But Russia's international trade is getting <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-china-yuan-payments-delay-months-bounce-back-sanctions-2024-7">ever more difficult.</a>The troubles started in December when the US authorized <a target="_blank" rel=" nofollow" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-takes-aim-financial-institutions-with-new-russia-sanctions-authority-2023-12-22/">secondary sanctions</a> targeting financial institutions that help Russia skirt sanctions.This prompted <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-financial-system-us-sanctions-oil-trade-foreign-banks-2024-3">global banks</a> from <a target="_blank" rel="" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/china-biggest-banks-stop-russia-payments-icbc-ccb-boc-2024-2">China </a>to the UAE, Turkey, and Austria to reduce transactions — even in non-US dollars — with Russia to avoid getting in the crosshairs."This episode demonstrates the global power of the US Treasury, causing banks from Turkey to India and China to pause the processing of payments invoiced by or to Russian counterparties," wrote Christopher Granville, the managing director of global political research at GlobalData TS Lombard, in a May note about <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dedollarization-brics-usd-dollar-central-banks-digital-currency-payments-mbridge-2024-5">digital currencies and dedollarization.</a>"In other words, simply settling commercial invoices in national currencies rather than US dollars turns out to be an insufficient counter to US sanctions," Granville added.The payment issues were exacerbated last month when the US Treasury rolled out a new package of <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-sanctions-us-china-ukraine-war-economy-janet-yellen-treasury-2024-6?utm_medium=ingest&amp;utm_source=markets&amp;_gl=1*1nuxsvd*_ga*MTM0MjM1NDU5My4xNjg1MTUzMTcw*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTcyMDE0NzM3MS45MzUuMS4xNzIwMTQ5OTU5LjYwLjAuMA..">expansive US sanctions</a> against Russia, forcing the Moscow Exchange — Russia's key bourse — to halt <a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/russia-dollar-ruble-exchange-us-sanctions-currency-yuan-ukraine-war-2024-6">dollar and euro trade.</a><h2 id="b33701e6-83ac-4290-b6c2-ada7fbc1bf3a">Russia could be eying a digital-currency-based settlement system</h2>It isn't clear how Russia's crypto and digital currency regimes will shape up.Implementation may be easier said than done.Even China, which has one of the world's most advanced <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3228094/chinas-digital-currency-bank-china-helps-mainland-tourists-spend-e-cny-hong-kong-select-retailers">digital currencies,</a> relies on a "two-tier" system involving banks as wallet-holding agents. Granville wrote in May that that setup avoided excessively disrupting the operations of banks, which could threaten broader financial stability.

Sanctions-hit Russia is rushing to set up payment systems, including crypto, to make trading easier

<ul><li>The <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank-of-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reserve Bank of India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank of India">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> has increased the <keyword id="21970492" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="UPI-Lite-wallet" source="keywords">UPI Lite wallet</keyword> limit to ₹5,000.</li><li>The per-transaction limit has also been increased to ₹1,000 from the current ₹500.</li><li>The central bank has announced a beneficiary account name look-up facility for RTGS and NEFT.</li></ul>The Reserve Bank on Wednesday announced the increase of the <keyword id="19900911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="upi" source="keywords">UPI</keyword> Lite wallet limit to ₹5,000 and per-transaction limit to ₹1,000, to encourage wider adoption of <keyword id="19989657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payments" source="keywords">digital payments</keyword> A limit of ₹500 per transaction and an overall limit of ₹2,000 per UPI Lite wallet is applicable currently. With this, the per <keyword id="22340760" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="transaction-limit" source="keywords">transaction limit</keyword> has been doubled and the overall limit has been increased 2.5 times. At the bi-monthly monetary policy meeting, the central bank Governor <keyword id="19913110" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shaktikanta-Das" source="keywords">Shaktikanta Das</keyword> also said the per-transaction limit in <keyword id="23485380" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPI123Pay" source="keywords">UPI123Pay</keyword> will be increased to ₹10,000 from the existing ₹5,000. For those unaware, UPI123 was launched in March 2022, to enable feature-phone users to use UPI. This facility is now available in 12 languages. The governor also announced a beneficiary account name look-up facility for Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) and National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) systems. Payment Systems like UPI and IMPS provide a facility for the remitter to verify the name of the receiver (beneficiary) before initiating a payment transaction. There have been requests to introduce such a facility for RTGS and NEFT systems, the Governor said. "Accordingly, to enable remitters in RTGS and NEFT to verify the name of the beneficiary account holder before initiating funds transfer, it is now proposed to introduce a 'beneficiary account name look-up facility'," he said. As part of this, remitters can input the account number and the branch IFSC code of the beneficiary, following which the name of the beneficiary will be displayed. This facility is aimed at increasing customer confidence and reducing the possibility of wrong credits and fraud. The Central Bank will also create a 'Reserve Bank Climate Risk Information System (RB-CRIS)' amid climate change emerging as one of the significant risks to the financial system. Das said it is crucial for regulated entities to undertake climate risk assessments to ensure the stability of their balance sheets and that of the financial system. Such an assessment requires, among other things, high-quality data relating to local climate scenarios, climate forecasts, and emissions, he said. The available climate-related data is characterised by various gaps such as fragmented and varied sources, differing formats, frequencies and units. To bridge these gaps, Das said the Reserve Bank proposes to create a data repository – RB-CRIS, comprising two parts. The first part will be a web-based directory, listing various data sources, (meteorological, geospatial, etc.) which will be publicly accessible on the RBI website. The second part will be a data portal consisting of datasets (processed data in standardised formats). With inputs from agencies. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/byd-emax-7-electric-mpv-launched-in-india-starting-at-26-9-lakh/slidelist/114046121.cms">BYD eMax 7 electric MPV launched in India starting at ₹26.9 lakh</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/personal-finance/news/heres-how-a-reddit-user-was-able-to-get-an-iphone-16-at-under-27000/articleshow/114035179.cms">Here’s how a Reddit user was able to get an iPhone 16 at under ₹27,000</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/hyundai-swiggy-ather-upcoming-large-ipos-in-india/slidelist/114014140.cms">Hyundai To Swiggy: Everyone wants to cash in on the IPO bonanza</a>

UPI Lite wallet limit and transaction limits for feature phone users increased

<keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> and Maldives have signed an agreement to introduce the <keyword id="19998949" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Unified-Payments-Interface" source="keywords">Unified Payments Interface</keyword> in the archipelago nation, which will have a "very positive" impact on its <keyword id="20260982" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tourism-sector" source="keywords">tourism sector</keyword>, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Friday during Jaishankar's three-day official visit to the Maldives. "Witnessed signing of MoU between (the) National Payments Corporation of India and (the) Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Maldives on (the) introduction of (a) digital payment system in the Maldives," he said in a post on X. Developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (<keyword id="19998946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPCI" source="keywords">NPCI</keyword>), Unified Payment Interface (UPI) is an instant real-time payment system to facilitate inter-bank transactions through mobile phones. Addressing a press conference with his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer after their "productive discussions", Jaishankar said that India, through its UPI, has "revolutionised digital transactions". Stressing that it has taken financial inclusion in India to new levels, he said "Today 40 per cent of the world's real-time digital payments take place in our country." "We see this revolution, every day in our lives. I am pleased to note that with the signing of the MoU today, we have taken the first step towards bringing this digital innovation to Maldives," he said. "I wish the very best to stakeholders on both sides and hope that we will soon see the first UPI transaction here. I should mention that it will have a very positive impact on tourism," he added. Tourism is the main source of economic activity for the Maldives, contributing nearly 30 per cent of the GDP and generating more than 60 per cent of foreign exchange. Jaishankar's visit aims to reset the bilateral relationship with the Maldives and is the first high-level trip from India after the archipelago nation's pro-China president, Mohamed Muizzu, assumed office last year. "India's partnership with the Maldives is based on our deep desire to work together for each other's welfare and interests. It is a partnership that has enabled us to always swiftly and effectively respond to challenges, as witnessed in the past," Jaishankar said. "It is a partnership that has enabled us to deliver results and bring tangible benefits to our people in accordance with their wishes, aspirations and priorities," he said. In a post on X, Jaishankar also said, "Jointly inaugurated six High Impact Projects in areas of street lighting, mental health, children speech therapy and special education." "Welcome renewal of MoU between National Centre for Good Governance and Civil Services Commission on (the) training of additional 1,000 civil services officers," he added. Addressing the joint press conference, Maldivian Foreign Minister Zameer said, "India has always been one of our closest friends and a vital development partner." He said the "enduring friendship" was built on a foundation of mutual trust and respect and has continued to flourish over the years. "High-level exchanges between our countries have deepened our dialogue and cooperation in areas of shared interest. We remain dedicated to strengthening and advancing this mutually beneficial partnership," he said. "Minister Dr Jaishankar and I agreed that much more needs to be done to promote trade and investment between the Maldives and India," he said, adding that both sides are committed to establishing "effective mechanisms to enhance economic cooperation, fostering a vibrant and prosperous partnership that will benefit both the nations." Zameer said he conveyed President Muizzu's proposal to begin negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the Maldives and India. "This agreement alongside other economic and trade-related agreements will facilitate trade liberalisation and ease the risks of doing business in both our countries," he said. Zameer said that India and Maldives have also mutually agreed to further strengthen their partnership by continuing joint exercises and expanding training opportunities for officers from both countries, asserting that this reflects "our commitment to working together to ensure the security of our nations as well as ensuring the safety and stability of the Indian Ocean region." India's relations with the Maldives suffered a major setback last year when President Muizzu demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel manning three aviation platforms in the Maldives. Subsequently, the Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians by May 10, the mutually agreed date. "On regional and multilateral issues of importance, our countries have a common understanding and are united in our efforts to resolve them. We agreed to continue our cooperation on issues ranging from combating terrorism, violent extremism, drugs, human trafficking and to the promotion and protection of human rights," Zameer said. In his press statement, Jaishankar said that India and the Maldives "are not just close neighbours, we are also natural partners." "Today, we are mutually invested in each other's development and progress. In a globalised and interconnected world, we see a lot of volatility and global tensions. Even as the world is recovering from the impact of the COVID pandemic, we have been confronted with new challenges arising from international conflicts," he said. In this tumultuous environment, India has been and will be, an anchor of stability for its friends, partners and neighbours. To the Maldives specifically, India has provided support to deal with economic challenges through financial assistance and budgetary support, and by ensuring an uninterrupted supply of critical items, he noted. India's actions have been and will continue to be guided by its firm commitment to the philosophy of 'Sabka Saath, Sabke Vikas - which is- Together, we prosper', Jaishankar said. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/brainbees-solutions-firstcry-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-ipo-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/112403576.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/brainbees-solutions-firstcry-ipo-allotment-how-to-check-allotment-ipo-gmp-listing-date-and-more/articleshow/112403576.cms" target="_blank">Brainbees Solutions (Firstcry) IPO allotment – How to check allotment, IPO GMP, listing date and more</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-wearables-market-decline-for-the-first-time-as-smartwatch-shipments-fall/articleshow/112397246.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indias-wearables-market-decline-for-the-first-time-as-smartwatch-shipments-fall/articleshow/112397246.cms" target="_blank">India’s wearables market decline for the first time as smartwatch shipments fall</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ola-wants-to-re-enter-the-quick-commerce-business-to-take-on-blinkit-and-swiggy-instamart/articleshow/112364583.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ola-wants-to-re-enter-the-quick-commerce-business-to-take-on-blinkit-and-swiggy-instamart/articleshow/112364583.cms" target="_blank">Ola wants to re-enter the quick commerce business to take on Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart</a>

India to introduce UPI payment service in Maldives

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The emergence of new regional payment systems likely won't spur de-dollarization, OMFIF said.</li><li>So far, their infrastructure is weak and they are plagued by implementation challenges.</li></ul>De-dollarization risks are on the rise, but rising alternative transaction networks won't be the basis of a major decline in the use of the US currency, the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum said.According to <a href="https://www.omfif.org/2024/05/will-growth-in-regional-payment-systems-spur-de-dollarisation/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">commentary</a> published Thursday, obstacles are already afflicting new regional payment systems, even as de-dollarization rhetoric creeps up."For instance, regional payments continue to suffer from weak implementation, infrastructure and complex geopolitical obstacles among participatory economies," senior economist Julian Jacobs wrote. "This is why the emergence of the technological capacity to drive de-dollarisation does not necessarily mean de-dollarisation will occur."Such systems include tech initiatives such as mBridge, a cross-border platform built around emerging central bank digital currencies. Backing it are monetary authorities in China, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and Thailand.Meanwhile, efforts to assemble regional financial systems have delivered the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, OMFIF cited as one example. This infrastructure delivers payments in local currencies, in a step away from the greenback.Still, none of these have been enough to shake how entrenched the dollar remains in world finance, OMFIF said. Not only does it account for 58% of global reserves, it tops all other currencies for its share of global payments. As of April, it accounted for 47.31%, according to the latest data from the <a href="https://www.swift.com/our-solutions/compliance-and-shared-services/business-intelligence/renminbi/rmb-tracker/rmb-tracker-document-centre" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SWIFT financial system</a>. While countries may want to wean off of the dollar — especially in light of how the greenback was used to punish Russia over its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 — a major migration to regional payment systems would require economies to tackle a whole new set of issues, OMFIF said. If de-dollarization is a rising threat, it's instead coming from Western competition, the think tank said. That's as the euro has come to serve as the world's second top reserve currency and offers high liquidity and quality infrastructure.To be sure, those worried over the greenback's status have chiefly focused on China's yuan, as Beijing pursues policies to bolster its international standing. For instance, it's even launched its own payments infrastructure, the Cross-border Interbank Payment System.But China's efforts to create an alternative system are a defensive ploy for now, OMFIF wrote in a separate <a href="https://www.omfif.org/2024/05/china-is-defending-against-the-dollars-dominance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">note</a> from May. "The goal is to minimise the negative consequences of the West's comprehensive sanctions against China in extreme geopolitical scenarios such as a military conflict over Taiwan," Council on Foreign Relations fellow Zongyuan Zoe Liu wrote. "Expanding the use of the renminbi in trade is less challenging than increasing its status as an international reserve currency."

De-dollarized payment systems are cropping up. Here's why they're unlikely to dent greenback dominance.

Payments made via Unified Payments Interface (UPI) reported a 45% yearly growth, according to data from the National Payment Corporation of <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> (<keyword id="19998946" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="NPCI" source="keywords">NPCI</keyword>). The value of transactions also saw a growth of over 35%, totaling Rs 20.64 trillion. This marks the third consecutive month when total transactions exceeded Rs 20 trillion. In June 2024, the total UPI transaction value was Rs 20.07 trillion, while in May it was Rs 20.44 trillion. NPCI data also showed that the average daily transaction value through UPI in July 2024 was Rs 466 million, or about Rs 66,590 crore. Compared with June, the volume of <keyword id="19957378" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="UPI-transactions" source="keywords">UPI transactions</keyword> grew by 3.95% in July, while the value of transactions increased by 2.84%. In the first four months of the current fiscal year (2024-25), UPI recorded transactions amounting to Rs 80.79 trillion, across approximately 55.66 billion transactions. In 2023-24, total UPI transactions were 131 billion, compared to 84 billion in 2022-23. The monthly bulletin of the <keyword id="19899810" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reserve-bank-of-india" source="keywords">Reserve Bank of India</keyword> (RBI) reported that over the last four years, UPI transactions have seen a ten-fold increase in volume, from 12.5 billion transactions in 2019-20 to 131 billion transactions in 2023-24, which accounts for 80% of the total digital payment volumes. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions experienced substantial growth, increasing by 57% year-on-year in FY24. Within this segment, PhonePe and Google Pay dominated, holding a combined market share of 86%, according to the Boston Consulting Group's (BCG) Banking Sector Roundup for 2023-24. A shift in <keyword id="19989657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payments" source="keywords">digital payments</keyword> was noted, with credit card transactions doubling over the past three years. In contrast, debit card transactions declined by 43% year-on-year. By making digital payment platform technology and device agnostic, UPI has contributed to <keyword id="20377974" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-inclusion" source="keywords">financial inclusion</keyword> at the grassroots level. Digital payments in India are hitting fresh highs, as citizens increasingly adopt emerging modes of online transactions. One key emphasis of the Indian government has been to ensure that the benefits of UPI are not limited to India alone; other countries, too, can benefit from it. UPI is India's mobile-based fast payment system, which facilitates customers to make round-the-clock payments instantly using a Virtual Payment Address (VPA) created by the customer. The share of UPI in digital payments in India has reached close to 80% in 2023. Today, India accounts for nearly 46% of the world's digital transactions, based on 2022 data.

UPI transactions cross Rs 20 trillion for third successive month, in July 2024

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A Russian court issued Google a gargantuan fine — $20.6 decillion — for banning accounts on YouTube.</li><li>Nobody expects Google to pay the sum, which exceeds the world's GDP.</li></ul>Do you have $20 decillion to spare? Google doesn't — nor does any individual or entity in human history.All the same, that is what <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-hit-russia-fine-bigger-world-gdp-youtube-decillion-media-2024-10">a Russian court maintains the company owes</a>, as punishment for suspending accounts from YouTube.That punishment attracted an initially modest fine, which doubled after non-payment, then doubled again, then again, and on into absurdity.As of last week, it was $20.6 decillion. Written in full, it's $20,604,600,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.It outstrips by many orders of magnitude the US federal budget ($6.75 trillion) and the world's estimated GDP of about $105 trillion.So — what gives?There isn't much left of Google in Russia that the authorities could extract a fine from, and the prospect of other courts enforcing the ruling is essentially nil.But it does send a message: Russia isn't happy.<h2 id="b8a8c391-1333-4de8-a0e2-3b5b46652a25">An angry signal</h2>The Kremlin saw it as such last week, when its spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, said he struggled with the magnitude of the number but saw it as "filled with symbolism."Legal experts told Business Insider what it symbolizes is a Russian legal and economic system estranged from much of the world.While Russia can rail at Western companies, and make extraordinary financial demands, it has little ability to influence their behavior.Russia is "pretty impotent" to truly punish Google, according to Tyler Kustra, an assistant professor of politics and international relations at the UK's University of Nottingham.The mega-fine is "more designed to send a message than do anything in particular," he said.<h2 id="32b5c291-3611-40d4-971c-845d587ee791">Judges gone wild</h2>Kustra said the figure exposed a lack of checks and balances within Russia's legal system, which is content to let the mathematical power of compounding take the fine into surreal territory."If a British court or an American court issued such a fine, an appellate court would immediately strike it down as an obvious example of abuse by the judge," he said.Yet, while the scale of the fine puts it in a league of its own, it is in keeping with other punitive legal measures taken against Western companies since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.Russia has effectively <a target="_blank" href="https://www.city.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2022/03/how-russia-is-using-intellectual-property-as-a-war-tactic">annulled intellectual property rights,</a> enabling its companies to freely use patents and designs from Western companies.It has also imposed penalties on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-raising-exit-tax-companies-ukraine-war-2024-10">firms trying to exit their Russian operations</a>, demanding that assets be sold at a steep discount while levying a hefty "exit tax."The Dutch beermaker Heineken was among those to pull out of Russia at a major cost, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.theheinekencompany.com/newsroom/heineken-completes-exit-from-russia/">selling its operations for one euro</a> and swallowing a loss of around $325 million.During the war, Russian courts have also ordered the seizure of assets of Western companies, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/18/russia-seizes-european-banksassets-as-a-part-of-a-lawsuit">such as Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank.</a><h2 id="ada2ccb3-1739-45ae-9e29-1c16dec864cb">'Economic warfare'</h2>The Google fine "makes a symbolic statement about the degree to which Russia and the US are engaged in economic warfare," said Christine Abely, an assistant professor at New England Law, who wrote a book on Russian sanctions.In an email to BI, Abely said: "This is consistent with Russia's use of other economic weapons against the US."Russia and its judges, though, may consider themselves to be giving only as good as they get.Western countries heaped sanctions upon Russia in response to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sowing chaos in its economy, especially for Russian companies that operate abroad.And US dominance of the global financial system gives its sanctions and restrictions a heft that Russia can't match.Trying to assert yourself without that strength could be what births a fine bigger than money itself.Nathanael Tilahun, a senior lecturer in international law at the University of Essex, told BI that Russia's moves can be seen as a "mirror-image" response to the West.The scholars BI spoke to did not expect any other nation's court to try to enforce the Google fine.Google's parent company, Alphabet, also seems untroubled.Though it hasn't commented on the $20 decillion figure, it has repeatedly downplayed the risk of the case, saying in its latest earning statement that it foresaw no "material adverse effect."<h2 id="0a9e8899-8bce-44fd-80d4-c47ac5f03489">A spreading dispute</h2>The Google fine may stand alone in terms of its massive scale, but a series of smaller battles are straining court systems around the world.A <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-10-30/youtube-forced-to-play-a-game-of-legal-whack-a-mole-with-russia">recent Bloomberg report</a> surveyed the legal landscape — many Russia-linked disputes fought through the English courts, with some spilling over into jurisdictions like Hong Kong, South Africa, and the Netherlands.Once-rare decisions where one judge cancels the decision of another were becoming commonplace, the report said, making international business disputes scarier territory than ever.Oleksandra Iordanova, a lawyer at the Swedish firm Snellman, described the situation to Bloomberg as "a fundamental fracture in the international legal order at a time when global trade and investment are more intertwined than ever."

Russia hit Google with a fine so big it defies comprehension, exposing a legal system adrift

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russia will start cryptocurrency exchange trials on September 1, Bloomberg reported.</li><li>The nation is look for new ways to transact payments amid sanctions.</li></ul>Russia, home to anti-crypto legislation, plans on testing digital assets as a way to break away from Western sanctions, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-26/russia-close-to-starting-trials-of-crypto-payments-exchanges?srnd=homepage-americas">Bloomberg</a> reported.Moscow will initiate cryptocurrency exchange trials as soon as September 1, anonymous sources told the outlet. The intention is to ease payment difficulties for Russian exporters, caused by restrictions related to Moscow's war in Ukraine.Sources said the National Payment Card System will be used to swap between rubles and cryptocurrencies in these trials. The network was chosen due to its preexisting functions, such as an interbank settlement and clearing feature, and its full regulation by the central bank.If successful, this experiment could eventually provide Russia with an alternative payment method for cross-border transactions. Payment issues have made it difficult to buy foreign supplies and have left exporters struggling to get reimbursed.This became problematic in June, when the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-russia-sanctions-war-spending-exports-ukraine-china-banks-treasury-2024-8">new US sanctions</a> started targeting Russia-friendly foreign lenders. Given that global institutions rely on access to the dollar, the threat of secondary sanctions forced many to cut off ties with Moscow.For instance, most Chinese banks have since <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-china-yuan-payments-delay-months-bounce-back-sanctions-2024-7">halted yuan payments</a> to Russia despite the yuan's prominent role in Russia's current-day economy. Meanwhile, Moscow can't rely on Western currencies such as the dollar, after the country lost access to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-eu-announce-some-russian-banks-removed-from-swift-2022-2">SWIFT international banking system</a>.Moscow's possible embrace of digital currencies is a significant retreat from its usual attitude: Russia has spent years arguing against crypto and has proposed a blanket ban in 2022. Even if crypto is adopted in international payments, its use inside the country <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/russia-weighs-risk-embracing-crypto-international-payments-2024-07-17/">remains restricted</a>.The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-moscow-cryptocurrency-bill-digital-ruble-trade-payments-sanctions-2024-7">legal turnaround came on August 8th</a>, when President Vladimir Putin legalized the creation of a cross-border crypto framework. Additionally, he signed into law a bill allowing from crypto mining in the country.Eventually, Russia may permit the Moscow Exchange and St. Petersburg Currency Exchange to creat crypto platforms next year, sources told Bloomberg. As to traditional crypto exchanges, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov acknowledged that this looks less likely:"We haven't found a solution yet on how to do this," he said at a forum on August 14th, quoted by the state-run Tass new agency.

Russia is turning to crypto as sanctions snarl payments, report says

<keyword id="19922074" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Reserve-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Reserve Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Reserve Bank">Reserve Bank</keyword> Deputy Governor <keyword id="19918795" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swaminathan" source="keywords">Swaminathan</keyword> J on Wednesday said implementation of <keyword id="22784242" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="risk-based-premium" source="keywords">risk-based premium</keyword> for <keyword id="20132734" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="deposit-insurance" source="keywords">deposit insurance</keyword> merits consideration as it will ensure that institutions with higher risk profiles contribute more to the insurance fund. Speaking at a conference in Jaipur, he also said that as the financial sector becomes more digitised, deposit insurers must work closely with regulators and supervisors to strengthen oversight mechanisms. This includes regularly updating <keyword id="19946068" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="regulatory-frameworks" source="keywords">regulatory frameworks</keyword> to incorporate emerging risks associated with <keyword id="19989657" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-payments" source="keywords">digital payments</keyword>, <keyword id="19906883" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cybersecurity" source="keywords">cybersecurity</keyword>, and <keyword id="22180855" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="fintech-innovations" source="keywords">fintech innovations</keyword>. By adopting a proactive stance, deposit insurers can help ensure that <keyword id="19912054" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-institutions" source="keywords">financial institutions</keyword> under their purview are adequately prepared to manage these risks, thereby safeguarding depositor confidence. Swaminathan was addressing the International Conference of the International Association of Deposit Insurers- Asia Pacific Regional Committee (IADI-APRC) hosted by the Deposit Insurance Credit Guarantee Corporation (DICGC). He further said the implementation of risk-based premium for deposit insurance "merits consideration". "By tying insurance premiums to the level of risk posed by individual financial institutions, deposit insurers can incentivize banks to adopt stronger risk management practices. "This approach not only enhances the overall stability of the financial system but also ensures that institutions with higher risk profiles contribute more to the insurance fund," the deputy governor said. He also emphasised that deposit insurers can further mitigate technology risks by relying on supervisory rating assessments that incorporate evaluation of a financial institution's technological and operational resilience. By using these assessments as a basis for setting insurance premiums or determining intervention strategies, deposit insurers can ensure that their actions are informed by a comprehensive understanding of each institution's risk profile, Swaminathan added. The senior <keyword id="19899808" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RBI" source="keywords">RBI</keyword> official also asked deposit insurers to prioritise crisis preparedness and develop comprehensive contingency plans that account for technology-induced disruptions. This includes conducting regular stress tests and simulations to assess the potential impact of cyber incidents or fintech failures on financial institutions and the broader financial system, he said. The evolving technological landscape presents both significant challenges and opportunities for deposit insurers. By adopting a proactive, risk-based approach, including enhanced oversight, risk-based premiums, reliance on supervisory ratings, faster claim settlements, and industry collaboration, deposit insurers can effectively manage these risks, the deputy governor said.

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