Visa, the payment processor, has successfully completed the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) Pilot Programme in collaboration with HSBC and Hang Seng Bank. The program, known as e-HKD, involves the tokenization of deposits, where money deposited with a bank is converted into digital tokens on the bank’s blockchain ledger. Visa’s pilot […]
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has completed the first phase of its e-HKD pilot program, which aims to assess the viability of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The program focuses on six areas, including payments, tokenization, and settlement of digital assets. The findings of the trial highlighted the potential benefits of programmability, tokenization, […]
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has concluded the first pilot project of the e-HKD, a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC), but remains undecided on whether to introduce it. While CBDCs have the potential to offer unique benefits, the HKMA emphasized the need for further research into their potential impact on the monetary system. […]
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has announced its plans to collaborate with the Financial Services Agency of Japan (FSA), the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), and the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to promote joint digital asset pilots. This initiative is an extension of Singapore’s ongoing asset tokenization project, known as Project […]
The Federal Reserve Board is actively researching a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and related technologies, according to Vice Chair Michael Barr. The focus of their research is on the system architecture, including ledgers, tokenization, and custody models for an intermediated CBDC. Barr emphasized that a digital dollar would require a congressional mandate, but learning […]
The global push for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) is facing a significant challenge: the need for collaboration with the private sector to ensure widespread acceptance. CBDCs have emerged as a potential alternative to fiat and other digital currencies, aiming to increase financial inclusion and enhance efficiency in the global monetary system. However, their success […]
The price of Bitcoin has reached new all-time highs against several inflationary fiat currencies. Over a span of 30 hours, Bitcoin’s value surged against the Argentine peso, Nigerian naira, Turkish lira, Laotian kip, and Egyptian pound. However, it’s important to note that this increase is primarily due to the ongoing devaluation of these currencies, which […]
The Central Bank of Spain has joined other European banking institutions in promoting the benefits of the “digital euro.” In a recent publication, the Bank of Spain explained the potential uses of the European Union’s central bank digital currency (CBDC). The bank argues that physical cash limits the advantages of digitalization in the economy and […]
Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) has successfully completed an extensive offline payments trial for Hong Kong’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), e-HKD. The trial focused on ensuring inclusiveness, security, and reliability of transactions, particularly in regions with unreliable internet access. Over several months, the trial involved 200 individuals and over ten merchants, who made transactions […]
The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced that it will be moving into the next phase of its digital euro project. This comes after a two-year investigation phase, and the preparation stage is set to begin on November 1 and last for two years. During this phase, the ECB will finalize the digital euro rulebook, […]
