Cryptocurrency exchange Binance will suspend its crypto debit card services in Latin America and the Middle East from Aug. 25.
The crypto debit card worked like other debit cards, allowing users to pay for day-to-day goods and services. The only difference is that these cards were funded by cryptocurrency assets.
The crypto debit card services in Latin America and the Middle East will be terminated by Sept. 21, but the exchange claimed refunds and disputes can still be processed until Dec. 20, 2023.
The issue first came to light when an X (formerly Twitter) user enquired about issues with crypto debit cards in Colombia. Binance responded to the query with an announcement suggesting that debit card services will be suspended starting Aug. 25 without clarifying what led to the decision.
Hello there, The Binance Card will no longer be available to users in Latin America and the Middle East. The product, like most debit cards, has been utilized by Binance’s users to pay for basic daily expenses but in this case, the cards are funded with crypto assets. Only a tiny…
— Binance Customer Support (@BinanceHelpDesk) August 23, 2023
Binance first announced its plan for crypto-backed debit cards in April 2020 as it aimed to enter the global payment market. By July 2020, the crypto debit cards were being shipped to European countries and several others worldwide. The crypto exchange later partnered with payment processor Swipe, with intentions to offer crypto debit cards in the United States.
Cointelegraph reached out to Binance about the possible reasons behind suspending its crypto debit cards in Latin America and the Middle East, but the exchange did not provide this information. However, Binance told Cointelegraph that “only a tiny portion of our users (less than 1% of users in the markets mentioned) are impacted by this.”
While Binance claimed only 1% of such users would be impacted by the decision, some of Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao’s X posts about the announcement and responses to it were deleted.
Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield has resigned from the Labour Party.
The 53-year-old MP is the first to jump ship since the general election and in her resignation letter criticised the prime minister for accepting thousands of pounds worth of gifts.
She told Sir Keir Starmer the reason for leaving now is “the programme of policies you seem determined to stick to”, despite their unpopularity with the electorate and MPs.
In her letter she accused the prime minister and his top team of “sleaze, nepotism and apparent avarice” which are “off the scale”.
“I’m so ashamed of what you and your inner circle have done to tarnish and humiliate our once proud party,” she said.
Since December 2019, the prime minister received £107,145 in gifts, benefits, and hospitality – a specific category in parliament’s register of MPs’ interests.
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Ms Duffield, who has previously clashed with the prime minister on gender issues, attacked the government for pursuing “cruel and unnecessary” policies as she resigned the Labour whip.
She criticised the decision to keep the two-child benefit cap and means-test the winter fuel payment, and accused the prime minister of “hypocrisy” over his acceptance of free gifts from donors.
“Since the change of government in July, the revelations of hypocrisy have been staggering and increasingly outrageous,” she said.
“I cannot put into words how angry I and my colleagues are at your total lack of understanding about how you have made us all appear.”
Ms Duffield also mentioned the recent “treatment of Diane Abbott”, who said she thought she had been barred from standing by Labour ahead of the general election, before Sir Keir said she would be allowed to defend her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat for the party.
Her relationship with the Labour leadership has long been strained and her decision to quit the party comes after seven other Labour MPs were suspended for rebelling by voting for a motion calling for the two-child benefit cap to be abolished.
“Someone with far-above-average wealth choosing to keep the Conservatives’ two-child limit to benefit payments which entrenches children in poverty, while inexplicably accepting expensive personal gifts of designer suits and glasses costing more than most of those people can grasp – this is entirely undeserving of holding the title of Labour prime minister,” she said.
Ms Duffield said she will continue to represent her constituents as an independent MP, “guided by my core Labour values”.