??? The blind side of digital assets.

Could tokenising real-world assets create new risks for the financial system? And how will digital and traditional financial systems work together smoothly?

Today, we're looking into how Project Guardian is setting up universal rules and infrastructure where digital assets can move as freely and securely as traditional money does today.

If you're new to us, join the 23,666 readers who rely on us for their updates by subscribing here.

??? The blind side of digital assets.?

Digital asset networks are like the wild west.

We don’t quite get who should be in charge – centralised or decentralised systems.?

The traditional centralised systems – where a single entity calls the shots, have been around for ages and work well, but they can be slow and expensive.

Then there are decentralised ones – which theoretically should be more resilient but often aren’t due to power concentrations among a few players.

Digital efforts so far haven't quite delivered on their promises of making financial services more efficient and accessible.

So Project Guardian wants to change all that.

They want to create a framework for open, interconnected networks where digital assets can be easily traded across different platforms.

To better understand the context and importance of Project Guardian, let's take a closer look at its framework.?

Background

• Financial assets like bank deposits and securities have always been tracked through account balances on many platforms owned by different institutions.
• Smart contracts and blockchain are making it possible to do financial transactions directly between people, without needing a central authority like a bank.
• Turning real-world assets into digital tokens can make it easier to trade and invest, but this market is still in the early stage.?
• There are big questions around digital assets networks and how they should be regulated to make sure they're safe and reliable.

Today

• There’s an estimated $16 trillion worth of assets that could be tokenised, yet only a small fraction is currently being traded.
• Current digital efforts haven't really made things faster or easier as expected.
• Liquidity and governance are major problems.?
• Digital money is fragmented because different systems don’t communicate well with each other, leading to inefficiencies.
• Technology needs to be more reliable and ready for large-scale use.

What's Next

• Project Guardian is about building a future where digital and traditional financial systems can work together smoothly.?
• It aims to create a standardised approach to digital assets, making them more secure, efficient, and accessible.?
• It proposes a structure with different layers for access, services, assets, and platforms, each managed by different entities.
• Project Guardian suggests trusted financial institutions to verify and authenticate participants.

?? Will digital assets always be all over the place? Or will regulators and the private sector come together to align?

?? Egypt’s Banknbox partner with CSC Jordan to increase financial inclusion and offer advanced services to customers of both countries.?

?? Central Bank of the Philippines plans to launch its wholesale CBDC by 2029, which will mark the first wholesale CBDC after the Swiss National Bank.?

?? The Qatar Central Bank has launched DLT guidelines to boost and regulate the use of blockchain in the financial sector.

?? Quantix is the first fintech to receive a Finance Company Licence from the Central Bank of the UAE, allowing it to offer different lending and credit services .

?? Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) has launched a 'Request to Pay' feature on its Fawran instant payment service, so that users can request payments instantly through the QIB Mobile App.

?? MNT-Halan, Egypt’s largest non-bank financial institution, expands to Turkey by acquiring Tam Finans.

?? Visa and First Abu Dhabi Bank collaborate to streamline cross-border payments for UAE businesses.

?? Zopa Bank and D?One partner to improve credit assessments and accessibility through open banking.

?? HSBC, Lloyds, TSB, and AIB breach CMA's open banking rules on customer information accuracy.

?? Web3 startups are bouncing back, raising $2 billion in Q2 2024 and breaking the year-long decline in venture funding.

?? CoinStats partners with FIO Protocol to let users claim free, secure web3 handles for easier crypto management.

?? Ferrari will start accepting Bitcoin and crypto payments at its European dealerships this month, after its US rollout last year.?

?? TON blockchain now supports gasless transactions with the new W5 smart wallet standard, letting users pay fees with USDT and Notcoin instead of toncoin.

?? Iraqi VC firm EQIQ leads a $500,000 pre-Seed round for Finnish edtech startup Corrsy to expand its educational solutions throughout the MENA region.

?? UAE fintech Mamo has raised $3.4 million in funding to simplify finishing operations for SMEs in the MENA region.?

?? UAE retail tech firm Pathfinder has raised $325 million from Silver Rock Group to support the global rollout of its RetailGPT platform.

?? Saudi fintech startup TechMal has secured $1 million in pre-seed funding to expand its services and reach more customers in the residential rental sector.

Tokenisation of RWAs & Yield-Bearing Stablecoins: What does the growing trend of? tokenised treasuries mean for traditional finance? This report looks into the tokenisation of RWAs that could hit a market value of $16 trillion by 2030. It shows that as the rules get clearer, we can expect tokenised securities to move beyond treasuries and start including stocks and new types of credit products. Click here to read the full report.

This week on Couchonomics with Arjun, I had the pleasure of chatting with Ahmed Wadi, Founder and CEO of Money Fellows. We looked into how Money Fellows is modernising ROSCAs and discussed the fintech scene updates in Egypt. Ahmed shared insights on their operational strategy, expansion plans, and the challenges they face from crowdfunding and P2P lending. Tune in for this insightful episode by clicking here.

Now, a quick break for your wellness. Chief Wellness Officer at FAB Diego Carrete is on a mission to help executives get fit, increase their energy, and live longer.

Today, he shares 5 golden rules for body recomposition.?

Hello there,?

Follow these tips for a good body shape without stepping into a gym.

1. Walk After Every Meal for 10 Minutes:

This improves digestion and stabilizes blood sugar levels (and also adds 3,000 steps to your day, equivalent to 200-300 calories).

2. Drink Your Bodyweight in Water x 0.033:

This is the number one thing that helps my clients decrease hunger. It also aids in the efficient breakdown of fat.

3. Consume Protein in EVERY Meal:

Protein has a higher thermic effect, meaning the body burns more calories digesting it. Protein also helps preserve muscle mass during weight loss and increases feelings of fullness.

4. Use the 50% Rule Every Time You Eat:

Fill half your plate with vegetables, which are nutrient-dense and high in fiber. This helps reduce overall calorie intake and promotes satiety due to the high volume and fiber content.

5. Eliminate Liquid Calories:

Liquid calories from sugary drinks, alcohol, and other beverages can significantly contribute to daily calorie intake without providing satiety. Cutting out these calories can create the caloric deficit necessary for weight loss.

That’s it for now. Found this helpful? Share this with someone who needs it. See you next week, where we'll talk about 7 uncommon tips to improve your sleep.?

Subscribe for weekly updates on all things fintech here . Thank you to our sponsors ToYou , Mastercard , M2P Fintech , Thunes , geidea , and Adyen for making today's edition possible.

?? Want to guest post in this newsletter?

This newsletter reaches over 20,000 subscribers interested in fintech’s latest developments. If you have an insightful perspective to share, drop us a line at [email protected] .