Bitcoin Daily: Caymans Introduce Digital Asset Regulatory Framework; Reserve Bank Of Australia To Test CBDC

The Cayman Islands’ Ministry of Financial Services introduced the nation’s regulatory framework for virtual asset service providers (VASPs) on Saturday (Oct. 31), according to a press release.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The framework consists of two phases, the first, which began on Oct. 31, focuses on anti-money laundering (AML) practices and countering financing terrorism (CFT). VASPs currently working in, and hoping to work in, the Caymans must register with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), the release stated.

    The ministry’s AML and CFT policies incorporate the suggested policies set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and will be monitored by the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF). During phase one, VASPs will have to demonstrate their compliance with these standards, according to the release.

    The financial ministry expects to kick off phase two, regarding licensing requirements, in June 2021, the release stated.

    In other news, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is exploring the potential of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), in partnership with the National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank, Perpetual Limited and ConsenSys Software, the bank announced in a press release.

    Their research will begin with a proof-of-concept for a CBDC operated on distributed ledger technology (DLT) to test the proposed coins’ use cases in payment settlements, the release stated.

    “With this project we are aiming to explore the implications of a CBDC for efficiency, risk management and innovation in wholesale financial market transactions,” said Assistant Governor of the Financial System Michele Bullock in the release.

    RBA expects to finish the project at the end of this year.

    And, Huobi Group expanded its support for cryptocurrency purchases via Visa and Mastercard on Huobi Global, its digital asset exchange, now allowing cardholders to access a seamless fiat-to-crypto gateway.

    The update, announced in a press release, allows for direct purchases on the exchange, whereas users were previously required to complete know your customer (KYC) onboarding through Huobi Gibraltar, a separate platform.

    “By removing an extra step in the user journey, we’re creating a frictionless experience that makes it incredibly easy for anyone to buy crypto without leaving our exchange,” said Ciara Sun, vice president of Global Business at Huobi Group, in the release.


    CarParts.Com leverages App and Paid Memberships While Exploring Potential Sale

    CarParts.com CEO David Meniane led the company’s Tuesday (Aug. 12) earnings call by saying that it remains engaged in exploring strategic alternatives and is “highly confident” that it is nearing completion of this process.

      Get the Full Story

      Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

      yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

      By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

      “We’re currently evaluating several different transaction structures, including a potential sale of the company and strategic investments that we believe have the potential to strengthen our capabilities and unlock new growth,” Meniane said.

      Meniane added that there is no certainty that the company will complete a deal.

      CarParts.com announced in a March 5 press release that it was exploring strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the company, to “maximize value for our shareholders.”

      In the meantime, CarParts.com is pursuing strategic initiatives to boost the company’s value, Meniane said Tuesday.

      The company achieved positive adjusted EBITDA in June and delivered second-quarter results that showed improvement over the previous quarter, Meniane said.

      Meniane attributed the improved results to the company’s mobile app surpassing 1 million users and accounting for 12% of eCommerce revenues; services like products and shipping protection, paid memberships and roadside assistance contributing high-margin fee income; and its eCommerce and mobile app product roadmap delivering improvements in conversion rates, units per order and average order value.

      For the remainder of the year, CarParts.com is focused on expanding its product offering, generating high-margin fee income, scaling its B2B offering, continuing to grow its mobile app business and managing cash flow and inventory levels, Meniane said.

      “We know this transformation is a multiyear effort,” Meniane said. “We’re focused on rebuilding the core foundation of CarParts.com, one that can scale, innovate and deliver a seamless, high-quality customer experience, while driving greater discipline in both our cost structure and capital deployment.”

      Meniane also highlighted challenges faced by CarParts.com. These include noncompliant products imported from China driving a “race to the bottom,” tariffs and inflation weighing on consumer demand, and the macroeconomic environment requiring the company to seek new opportunities for growth.

      “As we progress through the remainder of the year, we’ll continue to navigate a dynamic macro environment, including ongoing tariff and impact and pricing volatility, with discipline and agility,” Meniane said. “Our focus remains on profitable growth, anchored by the strong foundation we’ve built.”