Binance Gets its First Gulf Crypto License

Binance Gets its First Gulf Crypto License
TT

Binance Gets its First Gulf Crypto License

Binance Gets its First Gulf Crypto License

The world's largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance announced this week that it has been granted a crypto-asset service provider license from the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB).

This represents Binance’s first license as a crypto-asset provider in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC).

“The license from Bahrain is a milestone in our journey to being fully licensed and regulated around the world. I would like to thank Team Bahrain, guided by the visionary leadership of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the great work in facilitating this achievement,” said Changpeng Zhao, founder and CEO of Binance.

“Team Bahrain has shown considerable foresight in its development of crypto regulations and provides the regulatory protections that consumers should come to expect from regulators around the world.”

Binance is also building its presence in the United Arab Emirates.

In December it said it was working with Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) to help set up an international virtual asset ecosystem there and assist with the development of virtual asset regulations.

Dubai last week adopted its first law governing virtual assets and established a regulator to oversee the sector.



Gold Gains on Softer Dollar as Investors Weigh Trump Tariff Impact

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
TT

Gold Gains on Softer Dollar as Investors Weigh Trump Tariff Impact

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices rose on Tuesday, helped by a softer US dollar and inflationary risks posed by President-elect Donald Trump's potential tariff policies, which could influence the pace of Federal Reserve monetary policy easing this year.

Spot gold was up 0.3% to $2,668.79 per ounce as of 1200 GMT. US gold futures gained 0.1% to $2,682.30.

"Gold prices are benefiting from reports that the incoming Trump administration is considering a gradual implementation of tariff increases to mitigate their impact on inflation," said Ricardo Evangelista, senior analyst at ActivTrades, referring to a Bloomberg report.

"This news led to a slight decline in US Treasury yields and a weakening of the dollar."

The dollar index fell 0.3% from a more than two-year high hit in the last session as traders scaled back US rate cut bets for 2025 after a strong jobs report. A softer dollar makes gold more affordable for buyers using other currencies, Reuters reported.

Investors are looking out for US Producer Price Index (PPI) data at 1330 GMT and Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers due on Wednesday. A Reuters poll of economists gives a median forecast for an annual rise in CPI of 2.9%, up from November's 2.7%.

Also due is US retail sales on Thursday for further insights into the economy and the Fed's 2025 policy trajectory.

"If inflation increases again based on Trump´s spending policy, we may even see no cuts at all in the mid-term," said Henrik Marx, head of precious metals trading at Heraeus Precious Metals Germany.

Bullion is used as a hedge against inflation, although higher interest rates reduce the non-yielding asset's appeal.

Elsewhere, spot platinum was down 0.4% to $949.80.

"We look for platinum to be under-supplied by 500,000 ounces, or 6.4% of demand, in 2025," UBS said in a note.

Spot silver firmed 0.5% to $29.75 per ounce and palladium climbed 0.5% to $943.70.