Venezuela is days away from launching its own cryptocurrency, and Israel is considering making a similar move. But one expert says that a digital coin for a country, controlled by a single government rather than decentralized like Bitcoin and others, doesn’t truly capture the essence of crypto. “It’s like taking a magazine and saying, ‘Well now it’s digital.’ But you really just converted the magazine to a website,” said Shaun Newsum, founder of ICO Watchdog. “What it will effect though, is people that are mining. Miners will probably have to be ‘approved miners.’ That would be regulated. And also exchanges. They will probably ban all exchanges unless you’re using the central exchanges that they approve.” Venezuela’s *petro* will be backed by 5.3 billion barrels of oil, worth about $267 billion. The government hasn’t provided any technical details, but officials hope the coin can be used to pay off debt and offset losses in its main currency, the bolivar. Israel, meanwhile, hasn’t made any specific plans for its own digital currency, though the central bank is reportedly exploring options as it tries to reduce the amount of cash in its financial system. For the full segment [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/keeping-cryptocurrencies-accountable).

Share:
More In Business
Ford Cuts Production of F-150 Lightning Electric Truck
Ford says it’s reducing production of the F-150 Lightning electric pickup vehicle as it adjusts to weaker-than-expected electric vehicle sales growth. The automaker said about 1,400 workers will be impacted by the move.
Apple Overtakes Samsung as Top Seller of Smartphones
Dan Ives, Managing Director and Senior Equity Analyst at Wedbush Securities dives deeper into a report by the International Data Corporation (IDC) that Apple has ended Samsung's 12-year reign as the world's largest smartphone seller.
AI is the Big Opportunity and the Risk to Watch at Davos
Artificial intelligence is the biggest buzzword at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos. Advances in generative AI stunned the world last year, and the elite crowd is angling to take advantage of its promise and minimize its risks.
A Smarter Smart Phone?
Smartphones could get much smarter this year as the next wave of artificial intelligence seeps into the devices that accompany people almost everywhere they go.
Load More