# Banking Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Banking", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

Bank of Russia: 12 Largest Banks to Connect Digital Ruble from September 1, 2026

The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) announced that all 12 of the country's systemically important banks will be ready to offer clients digital ruble accounts and transactions starting September 1, 2026. According to Alla Bakina, director of the CBR's national payment system department, these banks cover over 80% of the domestic payment market. The digital ruble is described as a new form of the existing currency, functioning as a cashless payment method but held directly in a user's wallet on the CBR platform. Nine other banks designated as significant payment market participants are also expected to provide access, with most aiming to complete integration by autumn 2026. Starting from the September launch date, major retail chains with annual revenue exceeding 120 million rubles will be required to accept digital ruble payments, though adoption for citizens remains voluntary. The rollout follows a delayed pilot phase, with mass implementation postponed from 2025. The CBR's model currently offers basic account functionality without interest accrual, unlike China's digital yuan, which began paying interest in early 2026. The announcement positions Russia among dozens of countries testing Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), though the digital ruble's potential role in cross-border settlements, particularly within BRICS, remains an open question for its future international relevance.

cryptonews.ru08/19 08:15

Bank of Russia: 12 Largest Banks to Connect Digital Ruble from September 1, 2026

cryptonews.ru08/19 08:15

EtherFi Founder Criticizes: All Crypto Apps Are Variants of Casinos, We Choose to Be a "Boring" Bank

**Title:** EtherFi Founder Criticizes Crypto "Casino" Apps, Embraces "Boring" Banking Model **Summary:** EtherFi CEO Mike Silagadze argues that mainstream crypto applications like Pump.fun, CEXs, and Polymarket are merely "casino" variants—highly profitable but failing to retain ordinary users. In contrast, EtherFi is pursuing a "boring" and sustainable path by building a self-custody neobank that aims to function as a new brokerage. The platform's summer rollout introduces key features aligned with this vision: expanded fiat on-ramps, an integrated Aave credit line, and tokenized stocks/metals (starting with xStocks). This marks a progression from its initial focus on savings (via liquid restaking vaults) and spending (stablecoins & card) to now include "investing" and "borrowing." A core anti-casino design is embedded in its new Aave-powered lending market. Unlike typical DeFi lending pools which Silagadze calls "woodchippers" for users, EtherFi's system features a conservative threshold that halts further borrowing well before liquidation, aiming to serve as a personal finance tool rather than a high-leverage gambling venue. Silagadze highlights the untapped potential, noting that traditional neobanking is a $300 billion revenue industry—roughly 300 times larger than current DeFi. He believes moving beyond the "casino" phase is crucial for crypto's real economic accumulation. Looking ahead, EtherFi's "Autumn" update plans to add a social, peer-to-peer layer, envisioning money transfers that instantly create functional, self-sovereign accounts for recipients. The success of this neobroker model against the dominant "casino" narrative remains to be seen, but EtherFi is positioning itself as a leading contender in the shift.

marsbit08/17 07:36

EtherFi Founder Criticizes: All Crypto Apps Are Variants of Casinos, We Choose to Be a "Boring" Bank

marsbit08/17 07:36

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