September 2023
US legislators to discuss CBDC prevention bill on Sept. 20
The U.S. House Financial Services Committee announced last Friday that it will discuss a new bill to prevent the issuance of a CBDC.
Nepal central bank plans CBDC within two years, crypto and stablecoin still excluded, says spokesperson
It has been more than a year since Nepal’s central bank, the Nepal Rastra Bank, initiated amendments to the law to enable the issuance of the digital version of the Nepalese rupee. What is the status of its CBDC?
August 2023
Asia’s richest man bets on blockchain, CBDC
Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man from India, said on Monday that his Reliance Industries Ltd. is exploring blockchain-based platforms and central bank digital currencies (CBDC).
BTC Markets CEO sees silver lining in Australian banks’ crypto clampdown
Australian banks are heightening scrutiny on digital asset exchanges and restricting crypto payments due to rising scams and frauds. Caroline Bowler, CEO of BTC Markets highlights the challenges and opportunities faced by the industry in the country.
Why smart money is pushing the big idea of ‘purpose-bound money’: Opinion
Recently proposed by Singapore in collaboration with fintech heavy hitters, PBM can be a powerful tool for promoting accountability and efficiency, writes Anndy Lian. But it’s not without risks.
July 2023
Tourists from Mainland China can now shop in Hong Kong with Chinese CBDC
Mainland tourists can now shop in Hong Kong with Chinese CBDC, as part of a digital yuan shopping festival launched this week by the Bank of China (Hong Kong).
USDT’s goal is to be the dollar, not beat it, says Tether CTO
Scrutiny on the stablecoin’s reserves has intensified since USDT’s latest depegging scare. Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Tether and Bitfinex, delves into the composition of USDT reserves, explaining how the firm ensures dollar redemptions, irrespective of secondary market prices.
XRP’s partial victory as Russia inches toward CBDC; Arkham draws flak
Welcome to Forkast IQ, presented by Angie Lau, where we look beyond the headlines to get you insights that power smarter decisions. Coming up on today’s show:
Blockchain Alliance’s Raj Kapoor says the technology can reshape India’s governance systems
Kapoor founded the India Blockchain Alliance five years ago and gives an update on how the technology is being used in police reports to real estate transactions, as well as challenges of CBDC adoption and plans for tokenization of assets. He spoke in an interview for Forkast IQ.
June 2023
EU publishes draft bill for digital euro and cash payments
The European Commission released two proposals on Wednesday, one for the digital euro, the ECB’s CBDC, and a legislative proposal to safeguard the role of cash.
Shanghai Clearing House launches digital yuan services for commodity trading
The Shanghai Clearing House started digital yuan clearing and settlement services for trading in commodities on Monday.
Singapore central bank, Amazon, IMF unveil ‘purpose-bound’ money technical concept
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) released on Wednesday a whitepaper for “purpose bound” money, detailing a technical overview of digital currencies designed for specific purposes.
IMF says common global CBDC platform, rules needed for international transactions: Reuters
Central banks need to agree on a common global platform and rules to ensure international use of CBDCs, IMF’s Kristalina Georgieva said.
May 2023
Warren Buffet-backed Nubank, Visa, Mastercard to join Brazil’s CBDC pilot
Banco Central do Brasil, the central bank of Brazil, has selected 14 institutions to participate in the pilot run of the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) named Real Digital.
Hong Kong Solidifies Crypto Regulations even as Malaysia bears down on Huobi
The launch of Hong Kong’s very own CBDC comes with new regulations for crypto trading platforms operating in the city.
Are deposit tokens the new stablecoins — or a wolf in sheep’s clothing?
Stablecoins are a key part of the crypto ecosystem, but banks like JPMorgan are now exploring deposit tokens as an alternative. Which is better, and why?
Big buys fail to lift NFT markets as regulatory uncertainty weighs heavy on crypto
Investors remain cautious as U.S. debt talks continue despite slowing inflation and large NFT purchases.
Ripple joins Hong Kong CBDC pilot, partners with Fubon Bank
Ripple Labs has launched a new payment platform for a central bank digital currency in Hong Kong.
XRP gains; Lift-off for Space Pepe NFTs; US investor sentiment up on positive debt talks
Bitcoin and Ether prices fell on Friday morning in Asia. XRP gained after Hong Kong CBDC announcement by issuer Ripple.
Hong Kong’s e-HKD pilot puts the world on notice
Rollout of the central bank digital currency in Hong Kong is a potential game-changer and a move that others may soon look to follow.
China’s Jiangsu Province to expand digital yuan adoption in education sector
China’s Jiangsu Province plans to expand the use of digital yuan to its public education system, as the province seeks to spearhead the country’s CBDC pilot.
It’s a fight for the future of money in the US, says Christopher Giancarlo
The U.S. is resisting digitization of the dollar due to it being a threat to the country’s dominance over traditional financial system, said Christopher Giancarlo, former chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and author of “Crypto Dad: Fight for the Future of Money.”
Central bank digital assets can legitimize risk in the crypto space, says Standard Chartered’s Geoff Kendrick
In the second installment of a three-part interview series, Geoff Kendrick, head of crypto research and EM FX West at Standard Chartered Bank, talks altcoins, stablecoins and the legitimization of crypto risk through central bank digital assets.
April 2023
Coinbase sues SEC in bid for clarity on crypto rules
Top blockchain and crypto news: Coinbase in court to force SEC’s hand. PEPE surge lifts memecoin mood. China paves CBDC path with payroll.
China’s Changshu city to pay civil servant salaries in digital yuan
State employees in China’s Changshu City will receive their salaries in digital yuan from May, as China’s CBDC expands in daily uses.
Equinix, Astra in pact to advance Indonesia’s digital infrastructure needs
Nasdaq-listed Equinix and Indonesian conglomerate Astra International have set up a joint venture to help local businesses and multinationals capitalize on emerging technologies.
ECB’s Lagarde gets pranked, reveals digital euro will have ‘limited’ control
ECB President Christine Lagarde said the digital euro would have “limited control” in a prank call.
India prioritizes offline CBDC transfers, targets 1 mln users in three months: CoinDesk
India is reportedly aiming to have one million users of its CBDC within three months of launch, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by CoinDesk.
March 2023
Japan’s finance ministry to launch panel to assess digital yen: NHK
Japan’s Finance Ministry is reportedly planning to launch an expert panel next month to assess the feasibility of issuing a digital yen, according to NHK.
Russia delays CBDC pilot to await new law
Russia has postponed the trial of a digital ruble originally scheduled for April 1, as it awaits a regulatory framework to be adopted before the pilot, according to a report by state-owned news agency TASS.
India, UAE to collaborate on cross-border central bank digital currencies
The Indian central bank and the UAE will jointly run pilot programs on their central bank digital currencies, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
China’s WeChat social media giant integrates digital yuan into payment platform
WeChat, China’s leading social networking and payment app, has integrated the digital yuan into its payment network, which may help adoption of the CBDC.
CBDC: Boon Or Bane?
Critics fear CBDCs could mean the end of cryptocurrencies, and an increasing number of countries are racing to develop their own.
Australia’s central bank identifies CBDC use cases as it prepares pilot launch
Australia has outlined potential use cases and providers for a central bank digital currency (CBDC), with a pilot program to be launched in the coming months.
China’s digital yuan initiative gets cold reception from Hong Kong visitors
China is promoting digital yuan to Hong Kong visitors, but has not received much enthusiasm so far.
Creation of U.S. digital dollar would ‘crowd out’ crypto: ex-Biden adviser
A U.S. central bank digital currency would “crowd out” the cryptocurrency ecosystem and protect national security, according to an ex-top presidential adviser.
February 2023
Japan to launch digital yen pilot programme in April
Japan will start a pilot programme to test the use of a digital yen in April, joining a growing number of countries seeking to launch their own CBDCs.
Crypto Clarity Coming?
The UK and Europe are following suit in trying to regulate crypto. Just how far along have they come and what more do they have in store?
UAE central bank to issue CBDC, promote digital asset growth
The United Arab Emirates plans to launch a central bank digital currency (CBDC), among other initiatives, to become a financial and digital payment hub.
CBDCs are coming. Here’s why you should worry
Governments are pushing central bank digital currencies to exert more control over macro policy, writes Josef Tětek of Trezor. But your money and privacy are also at stake.
India’s largest retailer Reliance starts CBDCs sales
Indian retail giant Reliance Retail announced on Thursday that it has started accepting digital rupee payments to become the largest Indian firm to adopt the nation’s CBDC.
Why the cloud will be critical to US competitiveness in world finance
The future global financial system will be reliant on the cloud, especially when it comes to CBDCs and stablecoins, writes Michael Greenwald and Logan Weber.
Digital yuan sales during Lunar New Year up from last year, online retailers say
Digital yuan sales at online retail platforms in China have surged during the Lunar New Year holidays fueled by local governments’ red packet coupons.
January 2023
Will Genesis meet its maker amid creditors closing in?
Top blockchain and crypto news: Genesis bankruptcy begins. FTX chief ponders a reboot. China’s CBDC gets a smart-contract upgrade.
Universal digital payments network for stablecoins, CBDCs launches at Davos
The Universal Digital Payments Network (UDPN), which aims to offer interoperability between regulated stablecoins and CBDCs, was launched today at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
What does the future hold for digital assets in 2023?
NFTs, tokenization and blockchain-based cross-border payments will see big paradigm shifts, but their success will depend on regulation, investment and adoption, writes Stephen Richardson of Fireblocks.
CBDCs may drive more funds into DeFi protocols, says Immunefi’s Mitchell Amador
Immunefi founder Mitchell Amador believes the future security risks of CBDCs will highlight the benefits of DeFi.
December 2022
Regulatory issues ‘still challenging’ as CBDCs gain popularity globally, says German tech firm Giesecke+Devrient’s Chief Evangelist Lars Hupel
Central bank digital currencies (CBDC) development and interest are growing rapidly worldwide but regulatory issues remain a challenge, especially for cross-border CBDC transactions. But German technology company Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) – winner of Best Technology Award in the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Global Fast Track CBDC 2022 competition during the city’s FinTech Week in November – […]
Why local currency stablecoins are needed in non-US countries
Stablecoins in USD are becoming the digital world’s default currency — which burdens ordinary crypto users and monetary policies in smaller nations, writes Wei Zhou of Coins.ph.
S.Korea central bank puts hand up to regulate stablecoins
The Bank of Korea (BOK) claimed it needs the authority to monitor and supervise stablecoins, according to the South Korean central bank’s report published on Monday.
Indonesia central bank releases whitepaper on digital rupiah, to develop wholesale CBDC first
Indonesia’s central bank has released a whitepaper detailing plans for its central bank digital currency (CBDC), as the country looks to “advance digital transformation.”
November 2022
Japan’s central bank to test digital yen with three megabanks: report
The Bank of Japan, the country’s central bank, will conduct experiments with three megabanks and regional banks on a digital yen, according to a report by Nikkei on Wednesday.
Singapore’s central bank partners New York Fed to explore wholesale CBDCs
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has partnered The New York Innovation Center of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, to study if wholesale central bank digital currencies (wCBDCs) can make cross-border payments more efficient.
The Future of Money
CBDCs are the latest fad amongst central banks around the world – but how can they change our lives?
Stablecoin, CBDC issues take center stage at Singapore’s Future of Finance Forum
Central bank digital currencies draw fire over inflation, privacy and threat to innovation, as questions raised over status of stablecoins in digital asset ecosystem.
Digital Transformation Boost
How can collaboration help advance digital age and blockchain technologies?
Singapore still aims to be a crypto hub, minus speculative trading
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) wants to build the city-state into a “crypto hub” fueled by instant settlements, tokenized assets and programmable money, not “speculating in cryptocurrencies,” Ravi Menon, the central bank’s managing director, said at the Singapore FinTech Festival on Thursday.
Singapore’s Project Ubin+ to study cross-border FX with CBDCs
The MAS launched Project Ubin+ on Thursday, a collaborative initiative with international partners to explore cross-border foreign exchange settlements using wholesale CBDC.
India’s finance minister urges G20 nations to come on board to regulate crypto
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged all Group of 20 (G20) nations, as well as international bodies like the International Monetary Fund and Financial Stability Board, to come together to help regulate crypto assets. See related article: India’s finance minister sees 46% growth in blockchain technology use in next few years Fast facts Sitharaman […]
BIS’ ‘Project Mariana’ to explore CBDC integration with DeFi
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has launched a new project with the central banks of Singapore, France and Switzerland to study the possibility of integrating some decentralized finance (DeFi) features with central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). See related article: mBridge participants to end domestic payments of foreign CBDCs Fast facts The BIS announced on […]
Payments platform StraitsX to show real-world stablecoin use at Singapore Fintech Festival
Singapore-based StraitsX, a payments infrastructure for digital assets, will pilot stablecoin applications at the ongoing Singapore Fintech Festival.
mBridge participants to end domestic payments of foreign CBDCs
Bank of Thailand’s Vachira Arromdee said on Tuesday the four central banks in the mBridge CBDC trials agreed to end use of foreign CBDCs domestically.
October 2022
India shortlists nine banks to start CBDC trial from Nov. 1
India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), will pilot the country’s first digital rupee in the wholesale segment (e₹-W) from Nov. 1 and has identified nine banks for participation in the trial.
Hong Kong announces policies to win back role as digital asset hub
Hong Kong reveals digital asset policies to distinguish itself from China, where cryptocurrency trading was banned in September last year.
Kazakhstan’s central bank to test CBDC on BNB chain
The National Bank of Kazakhstan [NKB] will be testing the integration of their central bank digital currency (CBDC) on the BNB Chain.
Aptos debut underwhelms amid questions over design and performance
Top blockchain and crypto news: Aptos launch falls short. Why FTX chief is calling for crypto regulations. Is Hong Kong paving way for a retail CBDC?
Hong Kong, BIS explore CBDC-backed stablecoins in retail prototype
The BIS Innovation Hub Hong Kong Centre has completed its CBDC study, Project Aurum, which examined the feasibility of intermediated CBDCs and CBDC-backed stablecoins.
Horizon Worlds fails to lift Meta as users stay away
Top blockchain and crypto news: Mark Zuckerberg’s empty metaverse. South Korea to roll out blockchain IDs. Macau bets on digital money.
Macau is betting on digital currency, CBDC as legal tender
The city of Macau, a special administrative region of China and home to a thriving casino industry, is seeking to grant digital currency status as legal tender, the Executive Council of Macau announced on Friday. See related article: Macao needs China’s heft in tech to introduce CBDC, official says Fast facts See related article: Macao […]
Shenzhen leads China in cross-border CBDC transactions: report
Companies in Shenzhen in mainland China made up one-third of the transaction volume in a cross-border central bank digital currency (CBDC) bridge pilot project, according to a report by Chinese media outlet 21Caijing, citing Shenzhen’s local financial authority. See related article: Australia Senator proposes regulating Chinese banks in country using e-CNY Fast facts See related […]
The Digital Rupee
Despite India’s repeated warnings against cryptocurrencies, crypto exchange giants WazirX remain hopeful of a digital rupee.
WazirX wants to integrate India’s digital rupee
Cryptocurrency exchange WazirX will look to integrate India’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) “if all goes well,” vice president Rajagopal Menon told Forkast in a video interview on Monday. See related article: RBI to begin CBDC pilots, outlines wholesale, retail concepts Fast facts “We would love to onboard the e-rupee and you can buy your […]