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This collaboration seeks to digitize various sectors, including government services, healthcare, and education. The Google Distributed Cloud (GDC) services will enhance local infrastructure and data processing capabilities, aligning with El Salvador’s vision to become an innovation hub. President Nayib Bukele emphasized the importance of technology and foreign investment for the nation’s development: “Google’s global experience combined with the audacity of El Salvador will redefine the technological landscape.” 
With MiCA's launch on the horizon, Croatia's government is hard at work developing rules to address the shortcomings. This includes a June directive that mandates all cryptocurrency companies to register within a two-month period. Officials are now on the path to implement "passporting," a MiCA feature that permits financial entities from a single country to serve the entire European Union under their home country's rules. Croatia's intention with these moves is to make the nation more appealing to cryptocurrency companies than other EU countries. 
Rishi Sunak is directing public funds toward acquiring high-performance artificial intelligence chips to ensure the country remains competitive in the global race for computing capabilities. The government has initiated talks with major IT firms such as Nvidia, AMD, and Intel to secure resources for a national “AI Research Resource.” This effort aligns with prime minister’s vision to establish Britain as a leading force in the field of artificial intelligence. Though the project has been allocated £100 million, there are concerns that this funding might fall short of the government’s AI aspirations. Government officials are advocating for additional funding in the coming months to match the scale of this initiative. Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) are vital components in constructing AI systems like ChatGPT, with the latest version trained on as many as 25,000 Nvidia chips. 
Partnering with Paxos Trust, financial giant PayPal has unveiled PayPal USD (PYUSD), focusing on swift and budget-friendly payments.
With backing from dollar deposits, short-term government securities, and similar cash equivalents, PayPal's CEO, Dan Schulman, envisions the stablecoin bolstering the company's foothold in the digital currency space:
"The vision over time is that this becomes a part of the overall payments infrastructure." 
The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has published a report suggesting that a more robust regulatory framework is required for the use of blockchain in finance.
The report highlighted the lack of regulation around crypto asset trading platforms and stablecoins and identified non-security crypto asset spot markets as the main regulatory gap. According to the GAO, Congress could address these issues by designating a federal regulator to oversee these markets.
Moreover, the report suggests a need for more regulatory coordination and proposes the establishment of a formal mechanism to identify risks and respond to them within an agreed timeframe. 
Israeli Authorities Strike a Blow Against Terrorism Funding!
In a milestone operation, Israel's National Bureau for Counter Terrorist Financing has successfully intercepted millions of dollars in cryptocurrency funds allocated for terror activities. This significant achievement was the outcome of a cooperative effort involving multiple branches of the Israeli government, intelligence services, and cutting-edge technological tools. Is the UK Paving the Way to Become a Global Crypto Hub?
Led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the UK government is on the brink of ushering in comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation. Lisa Cameron, Chair of the Crypto & Digital Assets All-Party Parliamentary Group, foresees the coming generation of Brits leading the charge in the fintech sector. 
UK Parliamentarians Push for Rapid Crypto Regulatory Framework
A cadre of British politicians, members of the Crypto and Digital Assets All Parliamentary Group (APPG), have issued a call for accelerated implementation of cryptocurrency regulation within the United Kingdom. Furthermore, the group urges the appointment of a dedicated government official to oversee this crucial process. 
Cheongju’s administration has reached out to seven South Korean crypto exchanges, including Upbit and Bithumb, to investigate the holdings of around 8,520 individuals who owe a minimum of 1 million won ($750) in local taxes. After the investigation, authorities in Cheongju aim to seize cryptocurrency assets from such tax evaders. Crypto have increasingly been used for hiding assets in South Korea. Over the span of 2021 and 2022, a total of around $180 million worth of crypto were seized by the South Korean government from individuals who evaded their taxes. 
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has received permission from a U.S. judge to request assistance from the South Korean government in questioning Daniel Shin, co-founder of Terraform Labs.
Officials plan to question Shin in connection with their own lawsuit against Do Kwon and to obtain documents related to Chai Corporation, a secondary company that was also used in the illegal scheme. 
Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, a husband and wife duo of crypto hackers, have pleaded guilty to federal money laundering conspiracy charges related to the 2016 hack of the cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex.
Their guilty plea comes after a year and a half since their arrest and charges in February 2022 and seven years after the initial hack.
According to the government’s allegations, Lichtenstein hacked into Bitfinex and stole 119,754 bitcoins, which were valued at $72 million at the time and are now worth approximately $3.5 billion, for his personal benefit. 
OECD Countries to Implement the Crypto Asset Reporting Framework
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has introduced to its member nations CARF - an all-encompassing tax regime designed specifically for the crypto sector. It seems that cryptocurrencies are no longer serving as a "silent harbor" for anarchists who prefer not to share their hard-earned money with the government. Tether and Georgia Government Collaborate to Drive Blockchain
Tether, the leading stablecoin provider, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Georgia to develop and promote blockchain, Bitcoin, and peer-to-peer infrastructure. This strategic partnership aims to position Georgia as a central hub for cutting-edge technologies, sparking a wave of innovation and economic growth. Hong Kong Government Explores Regulatory Framework for Stablecoin
Chen Haolian, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong Financial Services and Treasury Bureau, recently announced that the government has conducted a public consultation on the launch of stablecoins and aims to establish a regulatory framework by the end of next year. 
Romania Launches Government-Backed NFT Marketplace
Not long ago, Romania declared its intent to adopt Web3 and blockchain technologies at a national level. While officials often seize the opportunity to bask in the spotlight of innovation, the Romanian authorities have already started to deliver on their promises.