WAO ART #302

French AI startup Mistral AI has secured $415m in funding, positioning itself as a major player in the European AI market and aiming to rival established players like OpenAI. The company, valued at $2B, specializes in open-source generative AI tools and plans to release its products to the public in early 2024.

Hong Kong is planning to launch its second iteration of tokenized green bonds in February 2024. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) is expected to proceed with the launch, which will rely on blockchain technology for efficiency and transparency.

A recent report revealed that 85% of respondents in Canada would not use a digital Canadian $ due to a lack of trust in institutions handling private data. The report also found that 86% of respondents mistrust technology companies and the government to handle their data, while 72% mistrust financial institutions.

Crypto 1's $500M C1 Fund is looking to enter the Australian market and acquire shares in prominent crypto companies like Animoca Brands and Chainalysis. The fund aims to purchase secondary shares at substantial discounts, offering to buy private holdings at discounts 50%-80% off their last valuations.

Argentina's President Javier Milei has fulfilled one of his campaign promises by reducing the number of ministries in the country to nine. The ministries that were closed include Environment, Tourism, Transportation, Education, Culture, Employment, Public Works, Social Development, and Women's areas.

Senator Elizabeth Warren's Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act, which aims to crack down on crypto's involvement in illicit activities, is gaining momentum in the Senate. The bill has gained support from five new senators, including three members of the Senate Banking Committee.

South African businesses are seeing a surge in interest in crypto licenses, particularly from registered financial service providers. The Financial Services Conduct Authority (FSCA) has received numerous license applications, with the majority coming from licensed financial services providers.