How Singapore’s stablecoin rules could boost crypto’s ‘mainstream’ banking role

How Singapore’s stablecoin rules could boost crypto’s ‘mainstream’ banking role
  • Industry executives say the proposed rules by the Monetary Authority of Singapore are timely and will boost investor confidence
  • Recent moves by Hong Kong and Europe on rules governing stablecoins will also spur wider adoption of cryptocurrencies, according to the executives

 

The unpredictable price fluctuations of cryptocurrencies have been a make-or-break game for myriad investors across Asia for months.

However, only a handful of regional policymakers have ventured to integrate these volatile assets into the mainstream financial landscape.

Now, the latest move by Singapore’s central bank to introduce regulatory guidelines for stablecoins could prove to be a milestone for its rapid adoption in traditional channels like banks, analysts say.

Unlike other cryptocurrencies, stablecoins are viewed as safe haven assets as their values are pegged to traditional currencies or other assets such as government bonds and gold.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore building in Singapore. Photo: Bloomberg
The Monetary Authority of Singapore building in Singapore. Photo: Bloomberg

The Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) regulations announced last week will apply to nonbank users of single-currency stablecoins pegged to the Singapore dollar, or any currency from the world’s 10 biggest economies, and would require issuers to maintain low-risk reserves and return par value to investors within five days of receiving a redemption request.

“The MAS seems to be paving the way for greater trust and potential formal integration of stablecoins into the banking system.

However, as these regulations are scheduled to come into effect in 2024, their precise impact on bank transactions will [need to] be monitored closely,” said Chen Zhuling, founder and CEO of crypto finance gateway RockX.

The central bank would need to hold legislative consultations before Parliament passes amendments that would bring the framework into force. The coins will be labelled as MAS-regulated stablecoin.

The distinction of having central bank-regulated stablecoins, as opposed to non-regulated cryptocurrencies, is likely to ease concerns about their stability that have curtailed their usage for physical transactions, analysts say.

Stablecoins have been the backbone for cryptocurrency trading and can potentially slash transaction costs associated with traditional banking systems to a nominal amount, while speeding up processing times to seconds.

But stablecoins have in the past failed to make inroads into mainstream financial systems because of a lack of transparency about their reserves.

Popular cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether tend to suffer from high price volatility. Photo: Reuters
Popular cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether tend to suffer from high price volatility. Photo: Reuters

Anndy Lian, author of the book NFT: From Zero to Hero, said Singapore’s guidelines could bridge the gap between fiat currrencies and digital assets.

“But this should not necessarily mean that banks will start to accept all kinds of cryptocurrencies. The volatility of other cryptocurrencies is still a red flag for many,” he said.

Popular cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether tend to suffer from high price volatility, whereas stablecoins tend to hold steady since they are linked to fiat currencies and other such assets.

Despite their relative safety, clamours for regulation of stablecoins grew after two such sister currencies – Terra and Luna, whose values were algorithmically pegged to the US dollar and not backed by cash – suddenly collapsed in May last year.

Singapore’s strict guidelines are meant to reassure both investors and institutions that could open new avenues for the asset class, industry executives say.

“Banks may even issue stablecoins for tokenised bank deposits as part of their rapidly developing digital transformations,” said Gerald Goh, co-founder and CEO of Sygnum Singapore, a digital assets fintech group.

“This model – fully regulated, traditional-asset backed and pegged to a high-quality ‘stable’ fiat currency like the Singapore dollar – has the potential to become a blueprint for the industry,” he added.

Do Kwon, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur who created the failed Terra stablecoin, is taken to court in handcuffs in Montenegro in March. Photo: Reuters
Do Kwon, the cryptocurrency entrepreneur who created the failed Terra stablecoin, is taken to court in handcuffs in Montenegro in March. Photo: Reuters

First among digital equals

Singapore’s stablecoin framework will put it among the first jurisdictions to have rules to prevent mishaps.

Rival financial hub Hong Kong is, meanwhile, undergoing a public consultation on stablecoins and seeks to introduce regulation for them next year.

The European Commission set the ball rolling with the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which it introduced with the purpose of establishing a global benchmark for governing cryptos.

After being proposed by the commission in September 2020, the European Parliament approved the MiCA regulation on April 20. It is due to come into force for stablecoins from June 2024, and for other assets from December.

Anne-Sophie Cissey, head of legal and compliance at crypto firm Flowdesk, said the European legislation has set the tone for markets. “With clarification on the legal status, all crypto actors will feel more at ease to deal with those.”

Singapore’s regulation could speed up stablecoins adoption across the region, industry executives say.

“Regulators now collaborate with international entities, for example, MiCA’s announcement in Europe led to similar guidelines in various countries,” said Danny Chong, co-founder of online asset tracker Tranchess.

“This trend suggests that financial hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong should move towards converging rules. This convergence might take a few years to materialise, rather than happening immediately,” he said.

Hong Kong’s regulations are likely to follow Singapore’s soon, as it has been earnestly trying to woo crypto investors. In June, it introduced retail trading and licensing guidelines for crypto.

Many investors have already begun to gravitate towards tokenised assets.

“We are increasingly seeing more stablecoin adoption in Asia,” said Henry Zhang, founder and CEO of DigiFT, a Singapore-based decentralised digital asset exchange, adding that they were looking forward to introducing MAS-regulated stablecoins.

Tokenised US short-term bills have exploded to US$600 million this year, said Timo Lehes, co-founder of Swarm, a regulated decentralised finance platform based out of Germany, citing data from Coindesk.

The digital assets have also started making inroads past intermediaries in traditional financial channels, he said.

“We are already seeing applications taking tokenised forms of cash and financial products that cut out the middleman. In this new world, financial institutions will need to rethink financial product design that puts consumers at the heart,” Lehes said.

Central banks have laid the groundwork for cyptocurrency adoption with countries like China, India and Australia either planning to or having launched a central bank digital currency that can compete with stablecoins, said an industry executive.

“This will drive the choice and innovation needed in the market that will lead to mass adoption,” said Vincent Chok, CEO of Hong Kong finance firm First Digital.

Source: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3231578/how-singapores-stablecoin-rules-could-boost-cryptos-mainstream-banking-role

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

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How Hong Kong’s stricter crypto regulations aim to boost investor confidence

How Hong Kong’s stricter crypto regulations aim to boost investor confidence

Hong Kong has been a major financial hub for many years, and in recent years, it has shown increasing interest in blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies. The government of Hong Kong has indicated its support for the industry’s development, and many initiatives are underway to help create a favorable environment for crypto and blockchain businesses.

Hong Kong has a well-established regulatory framework for financial services, which has helped attract many crypto and blockchain companies. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has launched several initiatives to support the development of blockchain and digital currencies. For example, the HKMA is working on developing a central bank digital currency (CBDC), and has also launched a blockchain-based trade finance platform.

Many active blockchain and cryptocurrency communities in Hong Kong provide support and resources for businesses and developers in the industry. Many events and conferences related to blockchain and cryptocurrency in the city help create networking opportunities and promote the industry’s growth.

In December 2022, the Legislative Council of Hong Kong passed an amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Ordinance (AMLO), introducing a licensing regime for virtual asset service providers (VASPs).

Hong Kong’s New Regulatory Framework

Hong Kong has recently implemented new regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrency trading and services. The updated Anti-Money Laundering Ordinance is in line with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 15, which requires virtual asset service providers (VASPs) to adhere to anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) regulations.

The new regulations require all VASPs operating in Hong Kong to obtain a license from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). Without a license, individuals and businesses cannot offer VA services or declare themselves as a provider.

The Hong Kong government closely regulates all activities related to the provision of virtual asset (VA) services. The term “VA services” encompasses a broad range of electronic services that include, but are not limited to:

  • (a) Offering virtual assets for sale or purchase regularly, resulting in a binding transaction; regularly introducing or identifying persons to other parties with the purpose of negotiating or concluding virtual asset transactions that are binding or with the reasonable expectation of doing so;
  • (b) Possessing direct or indirect control over client money or client virtual assets in the provision of such services.

It is important to note that crypto trading platforms that allow trading in financial products such as securities and futures contracts are not subject to the new licensing regime, as they are already regulated under the Securities and Futures Ordinance. Another thing to note is that the new licensing requirements extend to all crypto exchanges registered in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance, including those based outside of Hong Kong that actively target Hong Kong citizens in their marketing efforts.

Prohibition on Unlicensed VA Service Providers

The amended Ordinance also prohibits unlicensed persons from performing regulated functions related to the business of providing VA services. Such functions may include the buying or selling of virtual assets, managing virtual asset portfolios, and providing virtual asset custodian services.

Unlicensed individuals or businesses cannot advertise VA services in Hong Kong. The SFC can take enforcement actions against unlicensed entities, including issuing fines and revoking licenses.

Impact on VASPs

The new regulations have significant implications for VASPs operating in Hong Kong. The licensing process is rigorous and requires VASPs to demonstrate compliance with AML/CFT requirements. Licensed VASPs are subject to ongoing supervision and monitoring by the SFC.

The licensing process requires VASPs to provide detailed business information, including ownership structure, management team, and risk management systems. VASPs must also conduct customer due diligence and transaction monitoring to detect and report suspicious activities.

VASPs that fail to comply with the regulatory requirements may face severe consequences, including fines, license revocation, and reputational damage. The regulations aim to promote a safe and stable virtual asset market in Hong Kong and protect the interests of investors and consumers.

Benefits of the New Regulatory Framework

The new regulatory framework for virtual asset services in Hong Kong has several benefits for VASPs and investors. Firstly, the regulations provide clarity and certainty about the legal and regulatory environment for virtual asset services in Hong Kong. This clarity can help attract more investors and businesses to the market.

Secondly, the regulations promote transparency and accountability in the virtual asset market. Licensed VASPs must maintain proper records, conduct regular audits, and report suspicious activities to the relevant authorities. These requirements can help deter fraud and other illicit activities in the market.

Thirdly, the regulations help promote a level playing field for all VASPs operating in Hong Kong. The licensing process ensures that all VASPs meet the same high standards and are subject to the same regulatory requirements. This can help create a more competitive and fair market for virtual asset services in Hong Kong.

How to get the license?

Crypto businesses must obtain a license from the Securities and Futures Commission, the regulatory body for securities and futures markets. To get a license, the business must pass a ‘fit and proper’ test that involves criminal background checks, AML/CFT performance history, financial standing, educational or other qualifications, reputation, experience, character, reliability and financial integrity of the person. The business must also apply for approval of the premises to keep records or documents required under the Ordinance. Additionally, each director of the applicant and the ultimate owner must be determined as ‘fit and proper’ to be associated with providing the VA service.

To meet the regulatory requirements of the new Ordinance, licensed crypto businesses must introduce AML/CTF measures, including customer due diligence, transaction monitoring and record-keeping, screening clients against international sanctions and watchlists for PEP status, and screening clients in adverse media. They must also comply with Travel Rule requirements and appoint an eligible auditor within one month after becoming a licensed provider. Furthermore, they must prepare financial statements and other documents for prescribed periods and submit them with the auditor’s report to the Commission within four months after the end of the financial year to which they relate.

The licensed provider must also submit an annual return to the Commission and pay a prescribed fee within one month after each anniversary of the license’s grant date. Finally, the licensed person must notify the Commission in writing of any change in information that the licensed person or ultimate owner has provided under the requirements of the Ordinance, including intended cessation of business or intention to change the address at which it proposes to provide any VA service.

Final words

The SFC will have broad powers to supervise AML/CTF and regulatory compliance by licensed VASPs, including imposing sanctions. Businesses that operate without a license or violate AML rules can face significant fines and imprisonment for senior management. In the case of fraudulent activities or deception involving virtual assets, fines can reach up to 10,000,000 HKD (1,277,000 USD) and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

The new regulations will come into effect on April 1, 2023. Some provisions, including licensing requirements, will go into effect on June 1, 2023. Businesses are advised to start preparing for the new regulations as soon as possible and reviewing their AML/CTF policies and controls to identify potential gaps in the requirements.

Overall, implementing these new regulations is expected to attract more institutional investors to the Hong Kong cryptocurrency market, as they will have greater confidence in the safety and legitimacy of the industry. The move also brings Hong Kong’s cryptocurrency regulations in line with global standards and best practices.

Hong Kong has experienced significant events since 2019 that have had a major impact on the city and its people. Hong Kong has faced many challenges, from protests and political unrest to the COVID-19 pandemic to the introduction of national security law and political changes. I hope the city’s new crypto agenda pushes a critical step forward. By embracing the opportunities of new technologies, protecting investors, and promoting transparency, Hong Kong can continue to be a leader in the global financial industry.

Some “#AnndyLian Food for Thought” before I end this article:

The Japanese government recognized early on that allowing retail investors to participate in the cryptocurrency market could help drive adoption and promote innovation. My question is: “Will Hong Kong follow Japan’s approach to allowing retail investors to trade cryptocurrencies in a regulated environment?”

This could be one of their selling points. I am eager to find out.

 

Source: https://cryptoslate.com/op-ed-how-hong-kongs-stricter-crypto-regulations-aim-to-boost-investor-confidence/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

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MATIC price prediction: Will going green boost Polygon value?

MATIC price prediction: Will going green boost Polygon value?

On 12 April 2022, Polygon (MATIC) made headlines with the  release of  its “Green Manifesto”, pledging to make its blockchain universe more environmentally friendly.

Polygon’s future plans might seem bright, but its native cryptocurrency, MATIC, has been on a bearish trend since the start of 2022.

After reaching its all-time high on 26 December 2021 at $2.8768 the token has been on a downward trend, losing 50.9% of its value and dropping to $1.41 by 19 April 2022.

Amid plans to go green, can the token surpass its all time high, and what’s in stock for the Polygon crypto price prediction?

What is Polygon crypto?

In the last couple of years, ether (ETH) has become one of the most popular cryptocurrency tokens. It’s the second biggest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation and the leader in decentralised finance (DeFi) (as of 19 April) due to its compatibility with smart contracts, which make building decentralised applications (dApps) easy.

However, ETH’s growing popularity has also made the blockchain very hard to use amid rising gas fees and excessive traffic. That, in addition to low throughput and no sovereignty has pushed for the creation of Polygon.

Polygon, previously known as Matic Network, is the first easy-to-use platform for Ethereum scaling and infrastructure development. Founded by Jaynti Kanani, Sandeep Nailwal, Anurag Arjun and Mihailo Bjelic in 2017, it wants to make Ethereum a “full-fledged multi-chain system”.

Using the slogan “built by developers, for developers”, Polygon has managed to combine all existing Ethereum tools with faster and cheaper transactions.

Polygon’s key features include:

  • Fast, cheap and safe transactions on Polygon sidechains that are finalised on the Ethereum mainchain
  • High throughput and multi-chain transactions
  • Smooth user experience
  • Public sidechains that support a number of protocols

So far, Polygon has released three scaling solutions:

  • Polygon PoS – a Layer 2 scaling solution that achieves great transaction speed and cost savings
  • Polygon Hermez – a Layer 2 construction on top of Ethereum that solves its scalability issues
  • Polygon Edge – allows users to run their own blockchain network with customisable features

Three others are in development:

  • Polygon Avail – targets off-chain scaling solutions and standalone chains
  • Polygon Miden – a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum and relies on zero-knowledge technology to merge thousands of Layer 2 transactions into one single ETH transaction, increasing throughput and decreasing transaction fees
  • Polygon Zero – a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum that separates Polygon Zero from other zero-knowledge scaling solutions

Polygon Nightfall, a unique privacy-focused scalable transaction solution, is currently undergoing a testnet. The Enterprise chain is planned.

Since launching, Polygon has allowed users to develop over 10,000 dApps, attracted over 130 million unique users, experienced over 3 million daily transactions and hosted over 3.4 billion transactions.

Polygon’s native cryptocurrency is known as MATIC, an ERC-20 token running on the Ethereum network. The MATIC crypto is used to pay fees on the Polygon network, and for stacking and governance.

A maximum of 10bn MATIC tokens were released. Over 7.8bn tokens are currently in circulation, according to data provided by CoinMarketCap, as of 19 April. MATIC currently has a market capitalisation of over $11bn and is ranked as the 18th most popular token.

Will MATIC go up or down? Technical outlook

The MATIC token launched two years after Polygon was founded through an initial exchange offering (IEO) on the Binance crypto exchange platform.
Since its launch in 2019, the token struggled to speed up, moving sideways and fluctuating between $0.01 and $0.03 for the next two years.

The Polygon cryptocurrency started to gain traction in early February 2021, soaring to new price levels by May that same year. In four weeks between 22 April 2021 and 18 May 2021, the Polygon coin price surged by 602.4%, up from $0.3494 to a then record high of $2.4544.

Polygon to USD chart, 2019 - 2022

Despite its momentary success, the coin dropped to $1.0867 but managed to rebound to $2.2102 by 26 May 2021.

Following May’s highs, the Polygon coin’s price has struggled through a volatile ride. it hit a new record-high of $2.8768 on 26 December 2021, following news that the number one Ethereum App, Uniswap, had launched on Polygon.

Since then, however, the token has been on a bearish trend, with its price losing over half of its value from the record high, dropping to the $1.4222 level, as of 19 April 2022. Between 15 February 2022 and 15 March 2022, the coin lost 25.9% of its value amid general negative market sentiment as tensions started to rise on the Russia-Ukraine border.

Polygon to USD chart, January - April 2022

What is your sentiment on MATIC/USD?

MATIC token technical analysis provided by CoinCodex showed that short-term sentiment for the coin was neutral at the time of writing (19 April), with 14 indicators pointing to ‘sell’ and 13 to ‘buy’.

relative strength index (RSI) of 35 was neutral, yet close to an oversold territory. A reading of 30 or below would indicate that the asset is becoming undervalued and a trend reversal is likely to occur. The token is trading above its five-and 10-day moving averages, yet close to its R1 resistance level of $1.47.

Is Polygon a good investment?

Some of the biggest Polygon (MATIC) news came as the platform announced that it would be going carbon-negative in 2022, revealing its “Green Manifesto” – a $20m pledge to tackle climate change.
The crypto industry has been heavily criticised for its high electricity consumption by climate change activist groups, including Greenpeace.
By joining the green movement, Polygon is not only aiding the battle against climate change, but has the potential to catch the attention of investors who value the environment, thus building the case for a bullish Polygon MATIC price prediction.

In addition, MATIC was recently listed on Robinhood, the leading retail investment and trading platform. According to Anndy Lian, the BigONE Exchange chair in Asia, that could be an endorsement for the MATIC token.

“With the Robinhood app adding Polygon to their crypto offerings, my guess is that they are also bullish on the token. In addition, the world’s most popular NFT Marketplace, OpenSea, has some of its functions run through Polygon,” Lian told Capital.com.

The expert added that Polygon’s low fees and fast speed are the two key points that are pushing more projects to mitigate the platform.

“On top of this, MATIC made good moves to deep dive into the NFT and gaming sectors. This allows them to scale and gain popularity a lot faster than their peers,” Lian said.

According to Lian, apart from the low fees and fast scalability, the platform is also easy to use and their community and developers are very supportive.

“They are building up their ecosystem by empowering projects to build dApps easily on top of their infrastructure. Their roadmap since 2017 is very clear and this has given them a lot of followers, especially in the South Asia region,” he said.

“Overall, MATIC is an exciting blockchain in the market. The demand of the token will continue to grow as long as ETH 2.0 is still not out.”

MATIC price prediction 2022 – 2025, 2030

Despite recent bearish MATIC token price action, algorithm-based forecasting service Wallet Investor gave a bullish MATIC coin price prediction at the time of writing (19 April).
The site noted that MATIC is “an awesome investment”, adding that it has a long-term earning potential.

Based on its analysis of past price performance, the website expected that the token could cost $2.439 in 2023 and jump to $6.701 by 2027.

DigitalCoinPrice supported the positive MATIC to USD forecast, but projected a much slower pace of growth in the following years, predicting that the token could rise to $1.98 by the end of 2022, $2.50 by the end of 2024 and $3.15 by the end of 2025, surpassing its December 2021 all-time high.

For the end of 2028, the site gave a $4.41 Polygon price target. Its long-term MATIC future price prediction suggested that the cryptocurrency could have the potential to reach $6.89 by 2030.

Note that price predictions can be wrong. Forecasts shouldn’t be used as a substitute for your own research. Always conduct your own due diligence. And never invest or trade money you cannot afford to lose.

Polygon (MATIC) price prediction: The bottom line

The green transition and Robinhood listing appear to be fuelling the bull case for the MATIC coin, in line with the upbeat predictions from algorithm-based forecasting sites.
There are many factors at play for the future of the coin, from the overall macroeconomic environment, acceptance of the crypto markets and the level of adoption. Always remember that your decision to trade should depend on your attitude to risk, your expertise in this market, the spread of your investment portfolio and how comfortable you feel about losing money. Crypto markets are  very volatile and involve high risk. Never invest money that you cannot afford to lose.

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

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