Latest news with #Aubert
The Star
11-08-2025
- Business
- The Star
When eritage meets orological innovationWhen eritage meets orological innovation
Dimitri Aubert has been entrusted with the unique role of international sales director of two exceptional watch brands. Since taking on the position last year, Aubert has had to strike the balance between preserving the legacy of watch brands Arnold & Son and Angelus while driving innovation. 'This is a new role for me. The interesting part is that there are two brands, instead of managing just one. 'You have to be deeply involved in both brands and give both the same attention, despite them having very different strategies and developments,' says Aubert. 'Each is distinct with their own DNA and rich history. The Arnold & Son space at Sincere Fine Watches boutique in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. 'You have to consider carefully what works for each brand,' he says. Arnold & Son and Angelus are sister brands, but each has very individual personalities, aesthetics, values and priorities. This keeps Aubert on his toes as he juggles a balancing act of constantly switching between the two brands, while keeping a firm hand on the respective brand's objectives. In terms of structure, the brands are independent with a smaller team. Aubert showing off the intricate back of one of the watches. Inevitably, Aubert draws inspiration from each of the brand's storied past while keeping an eye on the horizon and what's to come. Arnold & Son is a brand with English origins, tracing its roots all the way back to 1764. The brand was founded by English watchmaker John Arnold. Arnold made significant contributions to the world of horology, especially in the development of marine chronometers, which were of vital importance in navigating the seas. The brand celebrated its 260th anniversary not too long ago and continues to integrate their legacy of precision, craftsmanship and innovation into their modern timepieces through traditional techniques. Meanwhile, Angelus was founded in 1891 in Switzerland and has been one of the most influential horological manufactures of the last century. Arnold & Son Ultrathin Tourbillon Skeleton Platinum. Watchmaking connoisseurs have universally praised Angelus' pioneering, in-house developed movements and timepieces, which continue to be coveted by collectors all over the world. Over the past century, Angelus has forged a fine reputation for creating exceptional chronograph and multi-complication wristwatches, multi-display travel clocks with long power reserves, and alarm watches. Today, the Angelus collection blends the very best of vintage high watchmaking with contemporary design and materials. Aubert is quick to point out that one of the things that both brands have in common is a long history of innovation, from Arnold's marine chronometry firsts to the groundbreaking Angelus mid-century chronographs. The goal is to leverage these splendid legacies and build on them to introduce new complications and exciting new designs. Inspired by the past Aubert is very much aware that watch collectors these days are well-informed when it comes to what's going on in the watchmaking world. Arnold & Son Luna Magna White Gold 'Ultimate II'. 'This is largely due to the digital world we live in today. 'The Internet contains all the information which customers can easily access from around the world. 'Customers are reading up more, asking a lot of interesting questions about the watches and the brands.' But he admits that watch trends can happen differently in certain parts of the world. 'Now in Europe, there is a stronger trend for vintage watches and smaller sized timepieces. 'In other countries such as those in South-East Asia, including Malaysia, these trends have yet to pick up,' he says. During his recent trip to Kuala Lumpur, Aubert had the opportunity to curate a presentation of the latest novelties, including signature complications and recent releases from both brands. Special guests of the brands were introduced to the rich heritage, technical savoir-faire and horological artistry of Arnold & Son and Angelus – highlighting the mechanical mastery and visionary innovation that define each brand. Angelus Flying Tourbillon Titanium. 'What we wanted to show in this anniversary was the introduction of the Longitude model, which celebrates the quest for precision in calculating longitude using marine chronometers that John Arnold had during his lifetime. 'At Watches and Wonders this year, we continued this legacy by introducing a piece that comes from a watch in the British museum.' According to Aubert, this watch was a gift from Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1808 (after the death of Arnold) in memory of the friendship between the two great watchmakers of their time. The timepiece was presented to John Roger Arnold, the son of John Arnold. 'The Constant Force Tourbillon 11 watch (fitted with the constant force mechanism) is limited to 11 pieces. 'We translated the design of the movement from a pocket watch to a wristwatch, but with a modern movement with a dead-beat second,' says Aubert. Having been in the watch industry for 30 years and managing different brands, he has come to appreciate over time what can be done and the intricate techniques behind each watch movement. A watch is an important part of one's outfit – be it for men or women, he opines. He says his passion for watches is constantly ignited when he sees a new watch and how it looks. 'It's also the use of the watches and how it was made that keeps me going. 'This is something that you build over the years, and know more about over time. 'All these keep me going so nothing is boring; there is always something new to learn and find out,' Aubert declares.
Japan Today
17-06-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Why stablecoins are gaining popularity
Tether is a stablecoin pegged to the dollar By Lucie LEQUIER Stablecoins -- a form of cryptocurrency backed by traditional assets -- are gaining traction, with the U.S. Senate set to vote Tuesday on a bill to regulate such digital tokens. But as stablecoins move closer to the financial mainstream, experts warn that weak regulation could leave investors and the financial system vulnerable. What are stablecoins? Stablecoins play a key role in crypto markets, enabling users to trade digital assets without relying on traditional banks, instead using a decentralised register known as blockchain. Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, stablecoins track the value of traditional assets -- such as the U.S. dollar or gold -- enabling greater stability. Tether and USDC, for example, are pegged to the dollar, backed by reserves held by their issuing companies. They are useful internationally because they enable "fast, low-cost cross-border payments", Dessislava Aubert, analyst at crypto insights firm Kaiko, told AFP. This is "especially valuable in emerging markets where access to hard currency and traditional banking services is often limited", Aubert added. Examples include Argentina, Nigeria and Turkey, The market value of stablecoins soared to $246 billion in May, up from $20 billion in 2020, according to Deutsche Bank. And the total number of transactions in 2024 surpassed those of Visa and Mastercard. USDC's issuer, Circle, made a splash this month when it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Why is the U.S. regulating them? To ensure the stability of stablecoins, the United States is pushing for issuers to hold sufficient low-risk, liquid assets -- such as dollars and Treasury bills. This could also boost demand for U.S. debt and the greenback. The proposed legislation would require major stablecoin issuers to undergo regular audits and make it tougher to launch new tokens. These safeguards became more urgent after the collapse of the Terra stablecoin in 2022, which showed how these tokens can "depeg", or lose the link to the asset they are meant to track. There's a risk that an organisation may not be trustworthy or could be hacked, making audits and checks vital, explained Murat Kantarcioglu, a computer science professor at Virginia Tech University in the United States. Another possibility is that a loss of trust in the stablecoin may ripple beyond the crypto world, hitting the assets that back these tokens. Does the bill go far enough? "The new rules could make it harder for start-ups to issue stablecoins, creating a risk that a few big companies -- such as tech giants -- could dominate the market," Aubert told AFP over email. According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon and Walmart are considering issuing their own stablecoin, which their customers could use for purchases. Democrats opposing the bill say risks of speculation, money laundering and political conflicts of interest associated with stablecoins are not sufficiently addressed. Notably, President Donald Trump's family has helped launch a stablecoin called USD1, used by Emirati fund MGX. And even with new regulations, in the event of issuer bankruptcy, stablecoin losses "are not explicitly covered by government insurance programs", unlike "bank deposits, which are insured up to $250,000", Aubert pointed out. How do other countries regulate them? In Europe, regulation on cryptocurrencies (MiCA), effective since the end of December, provides a framework for issuing stablecoins. The UK, South Korea and Brazil are moving forward with regulations. China banned cryptocurrencies in 2021 and is instead developing its own central bank digital currency, the e-yuan. Russia is considering a stablecoin backed by the rouble or friendly currencies such as the yuan. © 2025 AFP
Time of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Why stablecoins are gaining popularity
Stablecoins -- a form of cryptocurrency backed by traditional assets -- are gaining traction, with the US Senate set to vote Tuesday on a bill to regulate such digital tokens. But as stablecoins move closer to the financial mainstream, experts warn that weak regulation could leave investors and the financial system vulnerable. What are stablecoins? by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mengubah kehidupan Anda dengan Lift Tangga Mungkin Lebih murah Daripada yang Anda kira. Lift Tangga | Cari Iklan Cari Sekarang Undo Stablecoins play a key role in crypto markets, enabling users to trade digital assets without relying on traditional banks, instead using a decentralised register known as blockchain. Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, stablecoins track the value of traditional assets -- such as the US dollar or gold -- enabling greater stability. Live Events Tether and USDC, for example, are pegged to the dollar, backed by reserves held by their issuing companies. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories They are useful internationally because they enable "fast, low-cost cross-border payments", Dessislava Aubert, analyst at crypto insights firm Kaiko, told AFP. This is "especially valuable in emerging markets where access to hard currency and traditional banking services is often limited", Aubert added. Examples include Argentina, Nigeria and Turkey, The market value of stablecoins soared to $246 billion in May, up from $20 billion in 2020, according to Deutsche Bank. And the total number of transactions in 2024 surpassed those of Visa and Mastercard. USDC's issuer, Circle, made a splash this month when it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Why is the US regulating them? To ensure the stability of stablecoins, the United States is pushing for issuers to hold sufficient low-risk, liquid assets -- such as dollars and Treasury bills. This could also boost demand for US debt and the greenback. The proposed legislation would require major stablecoin issuers to undergo regular audits and make it tougher to launch new tokens. These safeguards became more urgent after the collapse of the Terra stablecoin in 2022, which showed how these tokens can "depeg", or lose the link to the asset they are meant to track. There's a risk that an organisation may not be trustworthy or could be hacked, making audits and checks vital, explained Murat Kantarcioglu, a computer science professor at Virginia Tech University in the United States. Another possibility is that a loss of trust in the stablecoin may ripple beyond the crypto world, hitting the assets that back these tokens. Does the bill go far enough? "The new rules could make it harder for start-ups to issue stablecoins, creating a risk that a few big companies -- such as tech giants -- could dominate the market," Aubert told AFP over email. According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon and Walmart are considering issuing their own stablecoin, which their customers could use for purchases. Democrats opposing the bill say risks of speculation, money laundering and political conflicts of interest associated with stablecoins are not sufficiently addressed. Notably, President Donald Trump's family has helped launch a stablecoin called USD1, used by Emirati fund MGX. And even with new regulations, in the event of issuer bankruptcy, stablecoin losses "are not explicitly covered by government insurance programs", unlike "bank deposits, which are insured up to $250,000", Aubert pointed out. How do other countries regulate them? In Europe, regulation on cryptocurrencies (MiCA), effective since the end of December, provides a framework for issuing stablecoins. The UK, South Korea and Brazil are moving forward with regulations. China banned cryptocurrencies in 2021 and is instead developing its own central bank digital currency, the e-yuan. Russia is considering a stablecoin backed by the rouble or friendly currencies such as the yuan.
IOL News
17-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Q&A: Why stablecoins are gaining popularity
Tether illustration. Stablecoins - a form of cryptocurrency backed by traditional assets - are gaining traction, with the US Senate set to vote Tuesday on a bill to regulate such digital tokens. Image: AFP Stablecoins - a form of cryptocurrency backed by traditional assets - are gaining traction, with the US Senate set to vote Tuesday on a bill to regulate such digital tokens. But as stablecoins move closer to the financial mainstream, experts warn that weak regulation could leave investors and the financial system vulnerable. What are stablecoins? Stablecoins play a key role in crypto markets, enabling users to trade digital assets without relying on traditional banks, instead using a decentralised register known as blockchain. Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, stablecoins track the value of traditional assets - such as the US dollar or gold - enabling greater stability. Tether and USDC, for example, are pegged to the dollar, backed by reserves held by their issuing companies. They are useful internationally because they enable "fast, low-cost cross-border payments", said Dessislava Aubert, an analyst at crypto insights firm Kaiko. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ This is "especially valuable in emerging markets where access to hard currency and traditional banking services is often limited", Aubert added. Examples include Argentina, Nigeria and Turkey, The market value of stablecoins soared to $246 billion (R4.4 trillion) in May, up from $20bn in 2020, according to Deutsche Bank. And the total number of transactions in 20 24 surpassed those of Visa and Mastercard. USDC's issuer, Circle, made a splash this month when it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Why is the US regulating them? To ensure the stability of stablecoins, the US is pushing for issuers to hold sufficient low-risk, liquid assets - such as dollars and Treasury bills. This could also boost demand for US debt and the greenback. The proposed legislation would require major stablecoin issuers to undergo regular audits and make it tougher to launch new tokens. These safeguards became more urgent after the collapse of the Terra stablecoin in 2022, which showed how these tokens can "depeg", or lose the link to the asset they are meant to track. There's a risk that an organisation may not be trustworthy or could be hacked, making audits and checks vital, explained Murat Kantarcioglu, a computer science professor at Virginia Tech University in the United States. Another possibility is that a loss of trust in the stablecoin may ripple beyond the crypto world, hitting the assets that back these tokens. Does the bill go far enough? "The new rules could make it harder for start-ups to issue stablecoins, creating a risk that a few big companies - such as tech giants - could dominate the market," Aubert told AFP over email. According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon and Walmart are considering issuing their own stablecoin, which their customers could use for purchases. Democrats opposing the bill say risks of speculation, money laundering and political conflicts of interest associated with stablecoins are not sufficiently addressed. Notably, President Donald Trump's family has helped launch a stablecoin called USD1, used by Emirati fund MGX. And even with new regulations, in the event of issuer bankruptcy, stablecoin losses "are not explicitly covered by government insurance programs", unlike "bank deposits, which are insured up to $250 000", Aubert pointed out. How do other countries regulate them? In Europe, regulation on cryptocurrencies (MiCA), effective since the end of December, provides a framework for issuing stablecoins. The UK, South Korea and Brazil are moving forward with regulations. China banned cryptocurrencies in 2021 and is instead developing its own central bank digital currency, the e-yuan. Russia is considering a stablecoin backed by the rouble or friendly currencies such as the yuan. AFP
France 24
17-06-2025
- Business
- France 24
Why stablecoins are gaining popularity
But as stablecoins move closer to the financial mainstream, experts warn that weak regulation could leave investors and the financial system vulnerable. - What are stablecoins?- Stablecoins play a key role in crypto markets, enabling users to trade digital assets without relying on traditional banks, instead using a decentralised register known as blockchain. Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, stablecoins track the value of traditional assets -- such as the US dollar or gold -- enabling greater stability. Tether and USDC, for example, are pegged to the dollar, backed by reserves held by their issuing companies. They are useful internationally because they enable "fast, low-cost cross-border payments", Dessislava Aubert, analyst at crypto insights firm Kaiko, told AFP. This is "especially valuable in emerging markets where access to hard currency and traditional banking services is often limited", Aubert added. Examples include Argentina, Nigeria and Turkey, The market value of stablecoins soared to $246 billion in May, up from $20 billion in 2020, according to Deutsche Bank. And the total number of transactions in 2024 surpassed those of Visa and Mastercard. USDC's issuer, Circle, made a splash this month when it was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Why is the US regulating them? To ensure the stability of stablecoins, the United States is pushing for issuers to hold sufficient low-risk, liquid assets -- such as dollars and Treasury bills. This could also boost demand for US debt and the greenback. The proposed legislation would require major stablecoin issuers to undergo regular audits and make it tougher to launch new tokens. These safeguards became more urgent after the collapse of the Terra stablecoin in 2022, which showed how these tokens can "depeg", or lose the link to the asset they are meant to track. There's a risk that an organisation may not be trustworthy or could be hacked, making audits and checks vital, explained Murat Kantarcioglu, a computer science professor at Virginia Tech University in the United States. Another possibility is that a loss of trust in the stablecoin may ripple beyond the crypto world, hitting the assets that back these tokens. Does the bill go far enough? "The new rules could make it harder for start-ups to issue stablecoins, creating a risk that a few big companies -- such as tech giants -- could dominate the market," Aubert told AFP over email. According to the Wall Street Journal, Amazon and Walmart are considering issuing their own stablecoin, which their customers could use for purchases. Democrats opposing the bill say risks of speculation, money laundering and political conflicts of interest associated with stablecoins are not sufficiently addressed. Notably, President Donald Trump's family has helped launch a stablecoin called USD1, used by Emirati fund MGX. And even with new regulations, in the event of issuer bankruptcy, stablecoin losses "are not explicitly covered by government insurance programs", unlike "bank deposits, which are insured up to $250,000", Aubert pointed out. How do other countries regulate them? In Europe, regulation on cryptocurrencies (MiCA), effective since the end of December, provides a framework for issuing stablecoins. The UK, South Korea and Brazil are moving forward with regulations. China banned cryptocurrencies in 2021 and is instead developing its own central bank digital currency, the e-yuan. Russia is considering a stablecoin backed by the rouble or friendly currencies such as the yuan. © 2025 AFP
