The latest Bank for International Settlements (BIS) survey reveals that 94% of central banks are exploring central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). There has been a notable increase in wholesale CBDC experiments, especially in advanced economies. Central banks are examining various factors for retail CBDCs, including holding limits and offline functionality. 94% of Surveyed Central Banks […]
The Ghanaian central bank recently collaborated with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to demonstrate the use of digital credentials in international trade. The second phase of Project DESFT culminated in the execution of cross-border trade between the West African nation and Singapore in April 2024. Ghana’s CBDC to Streamline Cross-Border Trade The Bank of […]
The Central Bank of Kenya is amending the country’s payment systems law, which will allow it to issue operating licenses to fintech startups. Governor Kamau Thugge said he expects the bank to complete the process of amending the law soon. Central Bank Aims to Support Fintech Startups The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) will soon […]
UBS has raised its gold price forecast following a record surge in gold prices, driven by anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts and a weakening U.S. dollar. The main factors behind the investment bank’s upgraded gold price prediction include softer U.S. economic data, increased central bank demand, and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. UBS Revises Gold Price Prediction […]
The House of Representatives has passed Congressman Tom Emmer’s CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act, which prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing a surveillance-oriented central bank digital currency (CBDC). The lawmaker emphasized that the bill protects American values of privacy and individual sovereignty, countering potential governmental overreach. CBDC Anti-Surveillance Act Clears House Following the passage of the […]
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)’s May 2024 bulletin warns retail investors that “the crypto ecosystem lacks accountability and stability and is marked by regulatory ambiguity.” The Indian central bank also cautioned that some cryptocurrency systems may be “prone to crisis without safeguards.” RBI Bulletin’s Crypto and Defi Warnings India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank […]
The Central Bank of Brazil outlined its crypto regulation calendar, defining a three-phase process for finalizing these tasks in 2024. The bank aims to consult market actors regarding VASPs, establish plans to regulate stablecoins and finalize the rules to welcome VASPs into the country later this year. Central Bank of Brazil to Finalize VASPs and […]
The Nigerian naira continued with a downward which recently saw it being named the worst-performing currency when it slid by just over five per cent to erase the previous day’s gains. The naira’s depreciation is said to have occurred just a day after the central bank intervened by injecting between $ 80 million and …
The World Bank has announced that it will issue its first CHF digital bond on June 11. This 7-year, CHF 200 million ($ 219 million) bond is the largest CHF issuance by the World Bank since 2009. It utilizes distributed ledger technology and settles using Swiss Franc wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) from …
Following the policymaker’s survey, U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) announced the introduction of H.R. 8421, known as the “Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act.†This legislation aims to dismantle the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve and close its branches across the continental United States. Federal Reserve Board Abolition Act Resurfaces Two days ago, Massie, […]
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank of the Philippines, has approved PHPC, a stablecoin pegged to the Philippine peso, aimed at facilitating cost-effective remittances. Crypto exchange Coins.ph, the stablecoin issuer, plans to attract 20,000 to 30,000 users in the first month. The PHPC will be the first peso-backed stablecoin available for retail use, […]
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s cryptocurrency sector argue that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s previous decision to exclude cryptocurrency entities from the banking ecosystem has fueled the growth of peer-to-peer crypto trading. Nigerian authorities are reportedly seeking to ban peer-to-peer crypto trading. One stakeholder has urged participants in the Nigerian crypto space to ‘identify the bad actors […]
Joachim Nagel, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank and Member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB), has raised concerns about central banks’ business model. “If part of your core product is loosening attractiveness then you have to think about another new core product,” he stressed. ‘We Need to Speed up on All […]
India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), is in the process of making its central bank digital currency (CBDC) available without relying on internet access. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das has emphasized the importance of ensuring the digital rupee’s ease of use. RBI Governor Updates Digital Rupee Progress During an event hosted by the […]
The Central Bank of Nigeria has directed four fintech companies to cease the creation of new accounts, citing their potential use by cryptocurrency traders. An executive from one of the affected fintech companies has associated the Central Bank’s directive with a current audit of the Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures implemented by these firms. Fintech […]