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Ripple Secures DFSA License to Offer Regulated Crypto Payments in the UAE
Ripple, a specialist in enterprise blockchain and crypto solutions, has received approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to provide regulated crypto payments and services in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC).
This will make it the first blockchain-enabled payments provider licensed by the DFSA. It also marks Ripple’s first license in the Middle East and underscores the company’s long-standing commitment to the region and regulatory compliance globally. The approval makes Ripple’s seamless compliance-first global payments product available for businesses in the UAE, and reinforces Ripple’s role as a trusted partner for financial institutions looking to leverage the superior capabilities of digital assets to drive real-world utility.
Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, said: “We are entering an unprecedented period of growth for the crypto industry, driven by greater regulatory clarity around the world and increasing institutional adoption.
“Thanks to its early leadership in creating a supportive environment for tech and crypto innovation, the UAE is exceptionally well-placed to benefit.”
The UAE is a global hub for outbound finance, with a $400bn+ market for international trade. Ripple has seen increasing demand across the Middle East from crypto-native firms and traditional financial institutions alike, all seeking solutions to the inefficiencies of traditional cross-border payments – such as high fees, long settlement times, and lack of transparency. According to a 2024 business survey carried out by Ripple, 64% of Middle East and Africa (MEA) finance leaders see faster payments and settlement times as the biggest value proposition for incorporating blockchain-based currencies into their cross-border payments business. Read More
The Rise of Zero-Knowledge Proofs – Revolutionizing Blockchain Privacy, Security and Scalability
Blockchain technology has transformed the financial landscape – but as it continues to evolve, the need for enhanced privacy, scalability and security has become more apparent.
While blockchain networks like Ethereum (ETH) have made significant strides in their adoption, they still face challenges surrounding these core aspects.
Enter ZKPs (zero-knowledge proofs) – a cryptographic breakthrough that is quickly becoming a game-changer in the blockchain world.
In this article, we will explore how ZKPs are improving blockchain ecosystems by offering privacy-preserving features, enhancing scalability and enabling new use cases across industries. Read More
SEC Lawsuit Against Ripple Now Wrapping Up and Could End Soon: Report
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly in the process of officially ending its lawsuit against payments firm Ripple.
The SEC originally sued Ripple in 2020 under allegations that it sold XRP as an unregistered security, and in 2024, the company won a partial victory during summary judgment but received a $125 million fine.
Now, Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett says that Ripple and the SEC are in the process of wrapping up the suit, which was delayed due to the two parties attempting to settle on certaind details of the agreement – particularly surrounding the $125 million fine.
Citing unnamed but “well-placed sources,” Terrett says,
“My understanding is that the delay in reaching an agreement is due to Ripple’s legal team negotiating more favorable terms regarding the August district court ruling, which imposed a $125M fine on the company and included a permanent injunction preventing the company from selling XRP to institutional investors.
The argument, I’m told, is that if the new SEC leadership is wiping the enforcement slate clean for all previously-targeted crypto firms because it believes regulatory clarity will resolve the underlying issue, why should Ripple still be penalized? Accepting the Torres ruling as it stands would mean that Ripple is essentially agreeing to admit to wrongdoing – but now the SEC itself is seemingly unsure whether any wrongdoing occurred.
There’s no real playbook for this kind of thing which could explain why this case is taking longer to resolve than the rest. Stay tuned.” Read More
Which Crypto ETFs Are Next? Dogecoin, XRP, and Solana Lead the List
Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs were only the start: Issuers are now applying to offer all kinds of U.S. funds—for Dogecoin, Solana, XRP and more.
The cryptocurrency industry notched two major victories last year when several fund issuers secured long-awaited approvals to offer spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds and their Ethereum-based counterparts in the U.S. But that doesn't mean issuers are ready to rest on their laurels just yet.
In recent months, fund managers have proposed new investment offerings directly tracking the prices of a variety of cryptocurrencies, from Dogecoin to XRP, Solana, and even Donald Trump’s meme coin.
Here are the various crypto-based ETFs that could soon be offered in the United States, and a look at the high-profile filings so far for each asset. Read More
US Bitcoin reserve vs. gold and oil reserves: How do they compare?
The US government has long relied on gold and oil as reserve assets, but with the growing institutional adoption of Bitcoin, its potential role as a strategic reserve has increased substantially. This possibility and potential of the Bitcoin strategic reserve have seen a major tailwind as the new administration took charge in the US in January 2025.
While gold has historically backed monetary systems and oil remains a key economic and security asset, Bitcoin represents a new kind of digital reserve that challenges traditional financial paradigms.
The United States holds substantial reserves in gold and oil, but its Bitcoin holdings are comparatively small and primarily acquired through asset seizures. As of the third quarter of 2024, the US holds approximately 8,133.46 metric tons of gold, valued at around $789. 87 billion (on March 8, 2025), making it the largest sovereign holder of gold reserves.
These reserves have historically been used as a hedge against economic uncertainty and to back the dollar before the gold standard was abandoned in 1971.
In the case of oil, the US maintains a Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which, as of August 2024, holds around 372 million barrels. The SPR was established in the 1970s in response to the oil crisis and is valued at approximately $28 billion at current market prices. These reserves manage supply disruptions, control inflationary pressures, and stabilize energy markets during geopolitical crises.
Bitcoin, unlike gold and oil, is not an official reserve asset, but the US government possesses a significant amount through confiscations. Estimates suggest the government controls roughly 200,000 BTC, worth around $15.90 billion at a Bitcoin price of $79,515 (as of March 10).
However, unlike gold and oil, these holdings are not stored as strategic reserves but rather as assets pending auction or liquidation by the Department of Justice and the US Marshals Service. Read More
The Markethive R² Principle Explained. Reach and Returns: Subscriptions vs Qualifications
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Markethive is a hybrid platform comprising social media, inbound marketing, and digital broadcasting within a cryptocurrency ecosystem, with many strings to its bow. Markethive operates on a fundamental principle that can be summarized as "Reach and Returns," represented as R².
This dual focus highlights the platform's commitment to providing both extensive marketing and broadcasting capabilities and effective tools and systems for cultivating a strong customer base. This principle is at the core of Markethive's operations, emphasizing the platform's focus on both reaching a broad audience and delivering significant returns on your investment, time, and qualifications.
"Reach" refers to Markethive's capacity to disseminate your message, products, or services to a broad audience. This is achieved through features and strategies designed to maximize visibility and engagement. For instance, our social media integration allows you to reach potential customers across various platforms, and our targeted advertising tools ensure your message is seen by the right audience. All these are made possible through the Markethive a-la-carte subscriptions.
"Returns," on the other hand, signifies the platform's emphasis on generating tangible results from your efforts. By providing tools to attract, nurture, and convert leads into customers and clients, Markethive aims to deliver a substantial return on your investment of time, skills, and resources through the Markethive KEY qualification.
This dual approach ensures that your marketing efforts are far-reaching and impactful, ultimately leading to significant growth and success for your business. Whether you're looking to expand your brand awareness, generate leads, or drive sales, Markethive's R² principle provides a comprehensive framework for achieving your marketing goals and return on investment within the Markethive Ecosystem. Read More
How to buy Bitcoin with a credit card
To buy Bitcoin with a credit card, simply sign up on a crypto exchange, link your credit card, and complete the transaction.
Key takeaways
Looking for the quickest and easiest way to purchase Bitcoin? Buying Bitcoin with a credit card is almost instant on many platforms. Before you start your digital shopping spree, you should take a few minutes to learn how to buy Bitcoin with a credit card in the most efficient way.
However, if you’re not careful, you could end up damaging your credit score and even getting scammed out of your investments.
Below, you will find a step-by-step process for purchasing Bitcoin on a reputable exchange, plus learn how to protect yourself from unnecessary financial distress along the way. Read More
Rumble Adds $15.5 Million in Bitcoin to Treasury
Video-sharing platform Rumble added $17.1 million in Bitcoin to its corporate treasury, aligning itself with a crop of publicly traded companies that have added the world's oldest cryptocurrency to their balance sheets.
The Nasdaq-listed firm purchased roughly 188 Bitcoin for its treasury at an average price of $91,000 per token, the company said Wednesday in a statement. The Bitcoin is now worth about $15.5 million based on Wednesday’s price.
The move forms part of Rumble’s plan to allocate up to $20 million of its excess cash reserves to Bitcoin.
“These holdings have the potential to serve as a valuable hedge against inflation and will not be subject to dilution like so many overprinted government-issued currencies,” Rumble Chairman and CEO Chris Pavlovsk said in the statement.
Decrypt's reached out to Rumble for additional comment.
Rumble’s investment in Bitcoin comes as a growing number of publicly traded companies adopt a similar strategy to Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), which pivoted its focus from software several years ago to become a Bitcoin treasury that now holds more than 444,000 Bitcoin, according to crypto data provider CoinGecko. Tesla, and Semler Scientific are among those firms that have accumulated large stockpiles of bitcoin in recent years. Read More
Elon Musk’s X DDoS Accusation Ignores Basics of Cyber Attacks, Expert Says
Elon Musk’s claim that the DDoS attack on X (formerly Twitter) originated from Ukraine drew skepticism from cybersecurity experts, who argue that attributing attacks based on IP addresses is unreliable.
Attackers frequently use virtual private networks (VPNs) and other methods to obfuscate their origins, making pinpointing a specific geographic source difficult.
On Monday, X was the target of a distributed denial-of-service attack that intermittently shut down the popular social media site for users worldwide. The X DDoS attack was linked to Dark Storm Team, a notorious hackivist group known for launching similar large-scale cyber disruptions.
Hours after the attack, Musk claimed during an interview with Fox Business that the IP addresses associated with the attack originated in the Ukraine area.
Tech-savvy users on X quickly pointed out that IP addresses can be masked or spoofed, making them appear to originate from one region when they actually originate from another. Read More
Web3 businesses can outsmart crypto scams before they strike — Here’s how
A new alliance in the Web3 space seeks to help businesses stay ahead of crypto scams and elevate trust in the blockchain realm.
Web3 continues to build a global audience for decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrency exchanges. However, as the blockchain ecosystem grows, so do the associated risks.
Unlike traditional financial institutions, Web3 lacks a centralized regulatory body, placing the responsibility to safeguard their assets on users and service providers. In a decentralized environment, a single wrong click could lead to assets being irreversibly transferred to a fraudulent wallet, trapping users in a malicious chain of transactions.
This environment has given rise to various scams and illegal schemes, including phishing attacks, hidden withdrawal mechanisms and crypto money mule operations, in which unsuspecting individuals transfer stolen cryptocurrency for criminals. A report from Chainalysis’ “Crypto Crime Report 2025” underscores the scale of these vulnerabilities, revealing that illicit transaction volume reached a staggering $51 billion in the past year. Read More
Hardware wallet Ledger helps competitor Trezor resolve security vulnerability
Hardware wallet provider Trezor has patched up a security flaw in two of its latest models after competitor firm Ledger’s open-source research arm discovered a vulnerability in their microcontrollers.
Ledger Donjon acknowledged Trezor has made several security advancements of late but found cryptographic operations could still be performed on the microcontroller of Trezor’s Safe 3 model, which could make them “vulnerable to more advanced attacks.”
Fortunately, Trezor has since addressed the vulnerabilities found, Ledger’s chief technology officer Charles Guillemet said in a March 12 X post.
“We believe that making the ecosystem more secure helps everyone, and is critical as we push towards broader adoption of crypto and digital assets,” Guillemet added.
Trezor had already implemented “Secure Elements” — chips designed to protect the user's PIN code and cryptographic secrets — as some of Trezor’s devices could be tampered with by modifying the software running on it, potentially allowing threat actors to steal user funds.
The Secure Elements feature “effectively thwarts any inexpensive hardware attack, in particular voltage glitching,” Ledger said in a March 12 post.
“[This] gives users confidence that their funds are safe even if their device gets misplaced or stolen.” Read More
Disclaimer: These articles are provided for informational purposes only. They are not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other advice.
Featured Image Source: Pixabay
