Welcome to the Panama Weekly News Roundup! Here’s the latest.
Largest Crypto Options Exchange Heads for Panama Amid Scrutiny.
Deribit, the world’s dominant exchange for trading cryptocurrency options, is relocating to Panama from the Netherlands next month in anticipation of rising regulatory scrutiny.
The Netherlands is likely to adopt new European Union regulations that “would mean that we have to demand an extensive amount of information from our current and future customers,” the Amsterdam-based company said in a letter to customers obtained by Bloomberg News. Deribit accounts for about 80% of Bitcoin options volume, according to data tracker Skew.
Source: Bloomberg
Drought, Climate Change Threaten Panama Canal.
It takes tons of water to move ships through the locks of the Panama Canal.
When there’s not enough water, the canal’s managers have to limit the amount of cargo ships can carry — even after a huge expansion in 2016 that allowed much larger ships to make the trip between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
“The impact of climate change is quite evident on the Panama Canal,” warned its administrator Ricaurte Vasquez on the 20th anniversary of the United States handing control of the canal over to Panama.
Recurrent droughts have left the 50-mile-long system of locks with only 3 billion cubic meters of water this past year, instead of the 5.2 billion cubic meters needed for normal operation, according to the Panama Canal Authority.
Source: Weather.com
How the U.S. giving up control of the Panama Canal boosted the Houston economy.
The U.S. transferred operation of the Panama Canal to the Panamanians 20 years ago this week, a move that ultimately fueled the canal’s expansion and opened Houston for larger container ships bringing in consumer goods and outgoing tankers laden with products including liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas.
And now that larger ships are calling on Houston, local port officials and energy companies are lobbying Congress for funding to deepen and widen portions of the Houston Ship Channel.
“The growth that we’ve seen now that larger ships are able to go through the canal has really increased business into the Houston Ship Channel,” Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther said.
Source: Houston Chronicle
Moving to Panama With Kids: What you need to know first!
When you plan on moving to Panama, for many of us, this means moving with the whole family. And in many cases, that means kids, and kids of all ages. Relocating anywhere with your kids can be tough on the whole family, and it’s understandable.
There are so many changes that take place, and it is a big transition, especially when you’re young. But that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have to be fun. Moving to Panama can be a rewarding, and learning experience for people of all ages, and a great way to bond with your kids. Here are 5 things we recommend knowing, before you move to Panama, to make the transition as fun, and as easy as possible.
