‘Firmly’ in Plan A: England on ‘right path’ but must be cautious ahead of Christmas, Javid says

Published

3 years ago

November 21, 2021

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Sajid Javid has played down the need for more restrictions to be introduced in the coming weeks, telling Sky News that England is “firmly” in Plan A at the moment.

Speaking on Trevor Phillips On Sunday, the health secretary said ministers must “remain cautious, not complacent in any way” – but said he hoped people can “look forward to Christmas together”.

Mr Javid added that the government will take action if needs be, as infection rates rise across other European countries, telling Sky News: “If we needed to take further measures with Plan B then we would do so, but we’re not at that point.”

Earlier this week, the Austrian government announced a nationwide lockdown and said coronavirus vaccinations would become mandatory by law next year, blaming the country’s high infection numbers on those who have failed to take up the jab.

The nationwide lockdown will start on Monday and will initially last for 10 days, before being re-assessed, and will last a maximum of 20 days.

Mr Javid said he believes England has the “right measures” in place to curb infections, but warned that the virus “can be very unpredictable” and ministers “need to be ready” to act.

The health secretary told Sky News: “As we all look forward to Christmas, it’s very sad to see cases rising – surging in parts of Europe. We’ve always known that this virus, it loves the winter, it like the cold, darker days that winter brings and we need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to protect ourselves against that.

“What’s made a real difference here in the UK is our booster programme – our hugely successful booster programme – almost 15m booster jabs given already, covering some quarter of the population over the age of 12.

“That’s 400,000 a day across the UK, and that’s making the difference and we know that because just this week there was more data published on more studies that shows the protection you get from your booster the change in protection, it almost doubles – from 50% to over 90%.”

He continued: “All of us, we’ve all got a role to play in this and in our national vaccination programme. And if you’re eligible for your first shot, second shot, third shot, please come forward, and let’s look forward to Christmas together.”

Asked if the government should be dusting off its Plan B and bringing in vaccine passports and mandatory requirements to wear face coverings, Mr Javid added: “Well the first thing I’d say if I may is we made a tough decision back in the start of the summer.

“Other countries didn’t follow our course and we decided that of course we want to start opening up, and if you are going to do that, it is best to do it into summer – it is far safer to do it in summer.

“Sadly, other countries in Europe did not do that. But looking ahead, as we look down towards winter, we need to make sure that we remain cautious, we are not complacent in any way.

“I have mentioned the importance of the booster programme, but in terms of any other potential measures, we have said all along we have got Plan A and that is where we firmly are at the moment.

“If we needed to take further measures with Plan B than we would do so, but we are not at that point.”

Last week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed that there was “nothing in the data” that suggests the government should move forwards with Plan B.

The health secretary also confirmed that approximately 5.9 million people are on the NHS waiting list and that this number “is going to go up before it comes down”.

From Monday, people aged above 40 will be eligible to receive their booster jab, and Mr Javid urged those who can to take up the offer of a third jab to help keep their family and friends safe during the Christmas period.

Sixteen and 17-year-olds will also be able to book in for their second jab from Monday.

Germany and Slovakia are countries which, alongside Austria, have introduced further, strict measures in the weeks leading up to Christmas, as a debate intensifies over whether vaccines alone are enough to tackle coronavirus.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced fresh curbs on public life for those who have not had a vaccine in areas where hospitals are filling dangerously fast with coronavirus patients.

And last week, Europe accounted for more than half of the seven-day average of infections globally and about half of the latest deaths, according to a tally by Reuters news agency.

Greece has also imposed more restrictions on unvaccinated people following a recent surge in cases – barring them from all indoor spaces, such as cinemas, museums, and gyms.

On Saturday, the UK reported 40,941 new COVID cases and a further 150 deaths in the latest 24-hour period.

The number of cases was a small drop on Friday’s figures, when 44,242 were recorded.

The total number of COVID deaths in the UK since the start of the pandemic now stands at 143,866.

Politics

Nasdaq files to list 21Shares Dogecoin ETF

Published

1 hour ago

April 29, 2025

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Nasdaq files to list 21Shares Dogecoin ETF

The United States exchange Nasdaq has asked regulators for permission to list a 21Shares exchange-traded fund (ETF) holding the popular memcoin Dogecoin, regulatory filings show.

The move follows 21Shares’ April 10 filing of its initial proposal to launch its Dogecoin ETF, shortly after similar applications from rivals Bitwise and Grayscale. The asset manager has also sought regulators’ permission to list ETFs holding other cryptocurrencies, including Solana (SOL), XRP (XRP), and Polkadot (DOT).

Nasdaq must gain approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) before it can list and trade the fund. The request amounts to a regulatory review process that could determine whether Dogecoin becomes accessible to a broader range of investors through an ETF structure.

Onslaught of altcoin ETFs

Fund issuers requested to list dozens of altcoin ETFs after US President Donald Trump instructed the SEC to take a friendlier stance toward cryptocurrencies after his second term began in January.

As of April 21, more than 70 crypto ETFs were awaiting the SEC’s review. The list includes alternative layer-1 (L1) native tokens, such as SOL and Sui (SUI), as well as memecoins such as Bonk (BONK) and Official Trump (TRUMP).

While exchanges such as Nasdaq seek to list more crypto ETFs, they are also pushing for firmer US regulatory oversight of digital assets. In an April 25 comment letter, Nasdaq urged the SEC to hold digital assets to the same regulatory standards as securities if they constitute “stocks by any other name.”

Dogecoin utility

Dogecoin (DOGE) is a popular memecoin with a market capitalization of nearly $26 billion as of April 29, according to CoinGecko.

It is distinct from most other memecoins because DOGE is the native token of the Dogecoin network.

The proof-of-work blockchain network is designed as a faster, cheaper alternative to Bitcoin (BTC) for peer-to-peer payments.

It processed more than 40,000 transactions in the past 24 hours, according to data from Bitinfocharts.com.

In September 2024, blockchain developers QED Protocol and Nexus tipped plans to launch a layer-2 (L2) scaling solution designed to bring smart contracts to Dogecoin.

Magazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra’s plan to win trust: Hodler’s Digest, April 13 – 19

Politics

UK gov’t proposes crypto rules in response to scams

Published

4 hours ago

April 29, 2025

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<div>UK gov't proposes crypto rules in response to scams</div>

The United Kingdom’s Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, have proposed new crypto rules aimed at “support[ing] innovation while cracking down on fraudsters.”

In an April 29 notice, the UK government announced draft rules for cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), that would bring “crypto exchanges, dealers and agents” in line with regulations, as many residents were “exposed to risky firms and scams.” It cited discussions with US government officials, including a proposed US-UK cross-border sandbox from the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Hester Peirce.

“Today’s announcement sends a clear signal: Britain is open for business — but closed to fraud, abuse, and instability,” said the notice. “The government will bring forward final cryptoasset legislation at the earliest opportunity, following engagement on the draft provisions with industry.”

Treasury and Reeves said the UK was committed to making the country a “global hub for digital asset technologies,” referencing the goals of the previous government under the Conservative Party. A 2023 consultation paper from Treasury proposed “bringing a wide range of cryptoasset activities” — including trading and issuing stablecoins — in line with UK regulations.

Praise from industry

In a statement shared with Cointelegraph, Ian Silvera, the associate director for the self-regulatory trade association CryptoUK, called the government announcement a “very much welcomed and a big victory” for crypto firms. However, he added that the industry could also benefit from regulatory clarity on liquid staking and DeFi.

“Though there has been good regulatory progress from the [Financial Conduct Authority], which published its crypto roadmap late last year, the UK government first committed to becoming a global crypto hub in 2022,” said Silvera. “Progress has been slow since then, but as the Chancellor has recognised herself the mainstreaming of the industry has continued, with now 12% of all UK adults owning some sort of crypto, up from 4% in 2021.”

The FCA plans to publish final rules on crypto sometime in 2026, setting the groundwork for the UK regulatory regime to go live. The roadmap to greater regulatory clarity in the UK could follow the European Union, which started to implement its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework in December.

Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again

Politics

$649B stablecoin transfers linked to illicit activity in 2024: Report

Published

5 hours ago

April 29, 2025

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9B stablecoin transfers linked to illicit activity in 2024: Report

Cryptocurrency compliance firm Bitrace found that $649 billion worth of stablecoins flowed through addresses classified as high-risk in 2024, according to an April 29 report.

Bitrace defines high-risk blockchain addresses as those used by illegal entities to receive, transfer or store stablecoins.

Crypto compliance firms typically score crypto wallet addresses based on their likelihood of involvement in illicit activities. The higher the risk, the higher the likelihood of foul play, and the less likely compliant crypto businesses are to accept the assets.

Per the report, the amount accounted for roughly 5.14% of all stablecoin transaction volume in 2024. This is down 0.8% from 5.94% the previous year, but significantly higher than the 2.8% reported in 2022 and 1.63% in 2021.

$649B stablecoin transfers linked to illicit activity in 2024: Report — *Proportion of high-risk stablecoin transactions. Source:* *Bitrace*

Tron USDT tops high-risk transactions

Tron-based USDt (USDT) dominates high-risk stablecoin transactions, with Bitrace data indicating that well over 70% of the volume moved on the network. The remaining high-risk stablecoin transactions are mostly Ethereum-based USDt and a small amount of USDC (USDC).

A likely explanation for the prevalence of USDT is likely due to its larger market capitalization and adoption compared with other stablecoins. At the time of writing, CoinMarketCap shows that USDt has a market cap of over $148 billion, while USDC stands at over $62 billion.

Tron’s prevalence is not as easy to explain. Ethereum remains the more popular choice for most stablecoin users, with DefiLlama showing nearly $124.3 billion worth of stablecoins circulating on the network. Tron ranks second, with about $71 billion — almost 43% less than Ethereum.

When comparing USDT balances alone, Tron holds slightly more than Ethereum: 47.4% of USDT supply, versus Ethereum’s 45.44%.

Crypto gambling continues its rise

Bitrace also reported that in 2024, online gambling platforms processed $217.8 billion worth of stablecoins — a 17.5% increase over the previous year.

Once again, USDT also dominated this type of activity. Still, USDC’s market share is rapidly rising, clocking in at 13.36% in 2024.

The data follows recent reports that crypto casinos generated more than $81 billion in revenue in 2024, even as regulators in key jurisdictions continued to block access to the platforms, according to a new report.

Magazine: Ridiculous ‘Chinese Mint’ crypto scam, Japan dives into stablecoins: Asia Express