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Economist Hanke: 'Crypto speculation is NOT the source of' Nigeria's economic crisis

Webp hanke
Steve Hanke, professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University | independent.org

Steve Hanke, a professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University, has attributed Nigeria's economic instability to the policies implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), including significant increases in the country's money supply. Contrary to some perspectives, Hanke insists that cryptocurrency is not responsible for Nigeria's economic challenges.

"With the naira PLUNGING & inflation SURGING, NGA has hit the PANIC BUTTON – recently forcing Binance to halt its operations," said Hanke, according to X. "Crypto speculation is NOT the source of NGA's problems."

According to Johns Hopkins University's website, Hanke is the founder and co-director of its Institute for Applied Economics, Global Health, and the Study of Business Enterprise. He also holds senior fellow positions at both the Cato Institute and the Independent Institute. His previous roles include serving as a senior economist on President Reagan’s Council of Economic Advisers and as a senior adviser to the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress.

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The Wall Street Journal reported that Nigerians grappling with soaring inflation and a devalued currency have increasingly turned to cryptocurrency as a means to safeguard their savings. However, in February, access to several crypto platforms was restricted by the Nigerian government. This included Binance, recognised as the world's largest crypto exchange. Following this action, two Binance executives were detained during their visit to meet with government officials in Nigeria. These executives - American citizen Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla who holds UK and Kenyan nationality - remain in detention without any formal charges against them. They are reportedly being held under guard with limited access to their phones. Gambaryan's wife has stated that she has been able to maintain minimal communication with her husband.

Binance's website indicates that Gambaryan joined their team in 2021 as vice president of Global Intelligence and Investigations. Prior to this role, he spent ten years serving as a special agent for the Internal Revenue Service—Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Cyber Crimes Unit based in Washington D.C., where he led several multi-billion dollar cyber investigations.

While details regarding the detention of these two executives have not been openly discussed by the Nigerian government, Bayo Onanuga, an adviser to the Nigerian president, told the Wall Street Journal that Binance has been cooperating with government officials. Discussions regarding "compensation" to Nigeria have reportedly taken place. A spokesperson for Binance stated, "We are working collaboratively with Nigerian authorities to bring Nadeem and Tigran back home safely to their families. We trust there will be a swift resolution to this matter."

Economist Shedrach Israel expressed his belief that banning Binance will not resolve the issue of Nigeria's currency devaluation, as reported by Punch. Israel stated, "I don’t know why the cryptocurrency is being seen as sabotage on the exchange rate because the cryptocurrency is not the major means by which the dollar is flowing in Nigeria." It is estimated that 10.3% of Nigeria's population, equating to over 22 million people, currently hold crypto.

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The UK cryptocurrency market continues to pose challenges for exchanges as they adapt to stricter regulatory requirements. Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget recently relaunched its UK platform after halting services in May 2024 to comply with the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Financial Promotions regime. This relaunch reflects Bitget’s efforts to align with the FCA’s evolving standards, aimed at enhancing consumer protection in the digital asset space.

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The Italian government recently announced a plan to increase the capital gains tax on bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies from 26% to 42%. This proposal, part of broader fiscal measures to support election pledges and reduce Italy’s fiscal deficit, has raised concerns among cryptocurrency investors and industry leaders.

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On November 14, the European Banking Authority (EBA) released comprehensive guidelines for Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) to ensure alignment with European Union (EU) and national restrictive measures. These guidelines aim to reduce risks and strengthen compliance when transferring funds or crypto assets.

Nov 22, 2024

The UK government is set to introduce new cryptocurrency regulations aimed at countering the growing appeal of the United States as a destination for crypto businesses. In response to concerns of regulatory delays following Brexit, the legislation focuses on establishing a clearer framework for stablecoins and staking activities, with the goal of strengthening the UK’s position as a global hub for digital assets.

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OpenAI, the world’s largest artificial intelligence company, has announced it will establish a new base in Paris.

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On October 30, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a capital gains tax (CGT) rate increase for high-income individuals, raising it to 24%. This change has raised concerns in the cryptocurrency community, where some investors fear that increased tax and regulatory pressures will diminish the UK's appeal for digital asset investment.

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