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What is a CBDC?
A central bank digital currency (CBDC) is a new digital form of sovereign money. CBDCs are issued by the government, where monetary policies are still formed by the central bank.

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What is CBDC?
CBDC stands for Central Bank Digital Currency, and represents the digital form of a nation’s fiat money (currency backed by trust or faith in the regulating government).

Can CBDC Drive Financial Inclusion?
There are still 1.7 billion unbanked in the world. What are the reasons behind such a significant number of unbanked? Can CBDC drive their financial inclusion?

Bank of Japan Testing Digital Yen CBDC
The Bank of Japan (BoJ) has just announced that it will begin experimenting with a Digital Yen, its own Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to test its technical application and feasibility.

Messaging Giant LINE is Developing a Platform for CBDC
Japanese messaging giant Line is developing a platform to aid Asian central banks in their pursuit of central bank digital currencies (CBDC).

Consensys Report: CBDC are Risk-Free Compared to Facebook Libra
In a recent white paper entitled Central Banks and the Future of Digital Money—Consensys offers an insightful and practical overview of the potential and risks of CBDC. The research paper also offers an example of how the Ethereum blockchain can be leveraged to design and build a CBDC and takes a deep dive into what the practical implementation of a CBDC would require.

Facebook's Libra Sparked CBDC Race, COVID-19 Made Central Banks Realize Its Necessity
Digital innovation and central bank digital currency adoption (CBDC) have been on the rise despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. What has driven CBDC forward?

Bank of Canada Governor Advocates Globally Coordinated Approach to CBDC
The governor of the Bank of Canada Tiff Macklem has advocated for a “globally coordinated” approach with respect to CBDC development.

Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Race: 2020 Year in Review
As 2020 comes to a close, we take a look back at the most important developments regarding the pursuit of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC).

US Federal Reserve Weighs the Pros and Cons of a Digital Dollar CBDC
The US Federal Reserve has continued to research the benefits and impact of implementing a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Bank of Spain Plans to Look at Design Proposals and Economic Implications of a CBDC
Spain’s Central Bank mentioned that it would study the design proposals and economic implications of a CBDC in the country.

Reserve Bank of Australia May Still Have Its Eye on CBDC After All
Reserve Bank of Australia's Tony Richards has said that the RBA will continue to consider the potentials of issuing a CBDC.

South Korea’s CBDC Pilot to Enter into Distribution Phase Next Year
South Korea’s central bank is looking to start the testing of the distribution of its central bank digital currency (CBDC) next year.

Albania to Begin Levying Crypto Tax Next Year, Report says
Southern European country Albania is reportedly on track to begin taxing digital currency earnings as of 2023. Individual miners could be charged up to 15% of capital gain tax.

Australian Senator Bragg Releases New Draft on Digitial Assets
Australian Liberal Senator Andrew Bragg proposed a new draft of the titled Digital Assets (Market Regulation) Bill 2022, aimed at regulating digital asset exchanges.

Dutch Central Bank Grants First-Ever Crypto Service Registration
The Amsterdam Digital Asset Exchange (AMDAX) has secured the De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) in line with EU Anti Money Laundering guidelines.

Leaked EU Commission Draft on Crypto Assets Law: How Will Cryptocurrency be Regulated?
A leaked European Union legislative draft on digital assets reveals the country's plans for cryptocurrency trading and issuance across the nation.

UK Treasury Drafting Private Stablecoin Regulations and Researching CBDC with BoE
The United Kingdom’s Treasury Department has announced it is drafting private stablecoin regulation while it continues central bank digital currency (CBDC) research.

IMF to Play a Crucial Role in Monitoring Digital Money Evolution
The IMF is set to play a crucial role in monitoring the advancement of digital currencies.

Canada's Federal Government Begins Consultations on Digital Currency
The federal government of Canada announced in a budget address that it has started discussions on cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and central bank digital currencies.

G20 Lays Regulatory Foundation to Accept Digital Payments by November Summit
G20 officials have announced that they will begin the preliminary regulatory groundwork for the group to accept digital payments.

Singapore Payment Services Act Now in Effect For Crypto Firms
The Monetary Authority of Singapore now requires cryptocurrency providers and exchanges to be licensed under some of the same regulatory elements as traditional financial service providers.

ECB Report: Striking the Balance Between Allowing Privacy and Ensuring Compliance with CBDC
The European Central Bank has recently developed an “anonymity voucher” to safeguard potential central bank digital currency (CBDC) users’ privacy for low-value retail transactions, while ensuring that high-value transfers are subject to anti-money laundering (AML) approvals.

The Bank of Russia Wants Strict Limits for Non-Professional Russian Crypto Investors
Russia has published a proposal that sets strict limits on the amounts of digital assets acquired by non-professionals investors in a year.

Bank of Lithuania Calls For Uniform Regulation for Digital Financial Innovation Across Europe
Bank of Lithuania, Lietuvos Bankas, has proposed uniform regulations throughout the European Union in response to the European Commission’s consultations for the development of the digitalization of financial services in Europe.

Japan’s Financial Watchdog Believes Deregulating Crypto Does Not Necessarily Propel Technical Innovation
After assuming the helm of Japan’s Financial Services Agency mandated with overseeing the monetary sector in July, Ryozo Himino has voiced his reservation of promoting cryptocurrency trading.

G7 Will Meet to Discuss CBDC and Digital Tax this Week Says Japan’s Finance Minister
The Group of Seven (G7) will meet on Feb.12 to discuss central bank digital currencies (CBDC), digital taxation and global debt according to Japan’s Finance Minister Taro Aso.

Spanish Lawmakers Receive Bitcoin in Cryptocurrency Education Campaign
All 350 Deputies of the Spanish Congress have received Bitcoin as part of an educational campaign aiming to teach legislators about the uses and functions of crypto.

China's Central Bank Publishes Rules for Blockchain-Based Financial Applications
The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) has published a set of evaluation rules for blockchain-based finance applications. The published rules aim to provide regulatory oversight using three basic standards bordering on technical, performance, and security.

European Digital Currencies Soon to Become Legal Tenders, ECB Says
Central Bank Digital Currencies may soon become legal tenders in their jurisdictions as planned by major central banks in Europe as officials are currently studying such initiatives.

Australia to Continue Treating Cryptos as Assets
According to the Australian government's budget announcement on Tuesday, legislation will be put upon treating digital currencies such as bitcoin as an asset.

Hong Kong Securities Regulator Aims to Tighten Digital Asset Regulations Later This Year
The CEO of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) recently stated that security tokens must be regulated by the regulatory authority.

Digital Assets Should be Regulated as Part of Banking Industry: Ex-Regulator
Financial experts are advocating for digital currency innovation and activities to be subsumed into the banking industry, a move that will let regulators permit their overall growth.

JP Morgan: Groundwork Now in Place for Mainstream Blockchain and Digital Currency Adoption
JPMorgan published a report showing a significant move towards blockchain, enormous growth of blockchain, and challenges hindering mainstream adoption.

Tencent, Huawei, and Baidu Executives to Join China’s New National Blockchain Committee to Set Industrial Standards
The Chinese central government has put together a national blockchain committee to work on setting industrial standards. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) issued a notice on April 13 of the “Public Notice on the Formation of a National Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology Standardization Technical Committee.”

eToro CEO: Central Banks will Inevitably Establish Digital Currencies
Yoni Assia, eToro’s CEO, recently weighed in on the issue of Central Bank Digital Currencies. He noted that this matter was no longer an issue of “if,” but of “how and when” because the development of digital currencies by central banks was inevitable.

Mauritius Jumps on Digital Currency Bandwagon
The issuance of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) has been making airwaves with nations, such as China, leading the hype. The Bank of Mauritius, the central bank of the Republic of Mauritius, seeks to join this bandwagon based on an announcement that it wants to introduce a digital currency.

Canada’s Central Bank Considers Launching a Digital Currency to Combat the “Direct Threat” of Cryptos
Canada’s Central Bank, the Bank of Canada, is considering launching a digital currency that would enable the collection of how Canadians spend their money.

First Blockchain National Currency Platform Ready for Central Banks’ CBDC Issuance
The blockchain national currency platform issued by blockchain company Apollo Fintech was finalized and completed on August 12.

IMF Chief Economist Says Crypto Won’t Threaten Dollar Dominance Although Global Reserves Decline
The Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Gita Gopinath, expressed in an opinion piece in the Financial Times that digital currencies would not displace the US Dollar as the currency that dominates the global trade and finance.

Crypto Leaders Discuss Libra, China's CBDC and a Cashless Future at the Singapore Fintech Festival
A noteworthy panel followed on the topic of “defining the future of digital currency,” joined by Christian Catalini, co-creator of Libra and Head Economist of Calibra, Mu Changchun, Director-General of the Digital Currency Institute of the People’s Bank of China, HE Serey Chea, from the National Bank of Cambodia and Umar Farooq, Head of Blockchain at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

China’s Central Bank’s DCEP is Trying to Make WeChat Pay and Alipay Redundant
Mu Changchun, the Director-General of the Institute of Digital Currency of China’s central bank, People’s Bank of China spoke at one of the panels at the Singapore Fintech Festival held at the Singapore Expo on Nov. 12 regarding the future of digital currencies.

Six Leading Central Banks to Brainstorm the Issuance of Digital Currencies in Mid-April
The leaders of six major central banks are scheduled to meet in mid-April to conceptualize on creating their own digital currencies as they can be instrumental in substituting the digital yuan or Facebook’s Libra.

The End of Physical Cash is an Inevitable Reality and Not to be Feared Says Union Bank President
As the world tries to come to terms with the coronavirus outbreak, recently Edwin Bautista chief executive and president of UnionBank of the Philippines revealed how digital services could support consumers as they increasingly self-isolate themselves or have to work remotely for an extended timeframe. The fintech leader projected the end of cash as the coronavirus crisis provokes banks to fast track the shift towards digital. But will the end of physical cash become a reality? The trend towards cashless remains inevitable as the current events seem to accelerate this process.

The National Bank of Cambodia Looking to Launch New Centralized CBDC This Quarter
The National Bank of Cambodia digital currency, which is a central bank digital currency, called Bakong, was launched on a trial basis in Cambodia in July 2019.

Mainstream Adoption of DeFi and DLT Is Coming, It Will Replace Banks, Says US Currency Comptroller
The US acting Comptroller of the Currency disclosed that roles played by banks will soon change due to cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance (DeFi).

China’s Central Bank Partners with Commercial Banks and Telecom Giants to Test Digital Currency in Two Major Cities
New developments of China’s central bank geared towards testing its digital currency electronic payment (DCEP) in the cities of Shenzhen and Suzhou. The People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank is on track to become the first central bank on the globe to issue a national digital currency.

China’s Central Bank Rolling Out DCEP National Currency, While Saying ‘Libra Won’t Succeed'
China has been reportedly developing its central bank-issued digital currency for a while and is believed to be ready to launch by China’s central bank, People’s Bank of China (PBoC).

PayPal CEO Announces Plans for Cryptocurrency Business Expansion to Reach More Users
PayPal CEO discussed the integration of cryptocurrency into its business and potential business partnerships with central banks.

China’s Central Bank Digital Currency Research Unit Signs Deal with Huawei
The Chinese central bank, People’s Bank of China’s (PBoC) Digital Currency Research Institute has signed an agreement with multinational telecommunications giant Huawei.

South Korea Advances CBDC Pilot Project: Jeju, Busan, and Incheon Selected as Test Regions
South Korea selects Jeju, Busan, and Incheon for its CBDC pilot project, excluding Seoul. The Bank of Korea aims to test digital currency issuance and distribution.

Central African Regional Bank Seeks to Introduce Common Digital Currency
The Bank of Central African States is considering creating a common Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) that would serve its six member states.

Chinese Version CBDC (Digital Yuan) Applied to Guangzhou Housing Provident Fund Loans
The Guangzhou Housing Provident Fund Management Center has successfully implemented the usage of the Chinese version of the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), commonly known as the digital Yuan, for housing provident fund loans.

Mercado Bitcoin, Stellar Team Collaborate on Brazil’s CBDC Project
Mercado Bitcoin and the Stellar Development Foundation will explore the possibility of developing CBDC solutions to meet Brazilian future payments needs in a digital economy.

IMF Urges Countries to Consider Banning Cryptocurrencies
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen underlined the need for effective cryptocurrency regulation.

U.K. Central Bank and Treasury Believe Digital Pound is Needed
The Bank of England predicts a UK CBDC by 2030.

Bank of Korea Completes 2nd Phase of CBDC Simulation Test
The Bank of Korea said that it has completed a 10-month CBDC simulation experiment research work on the 10-month central bank digital currency.

NY Fed's digital currency Test Reveals Feasibility
The Innovation Center of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (NYIC) has successfully completed its proof-of-concept of a regulated liability network (RLN), which was carried out in collaboration with nine significant financial institutions and the Swift network.

The UK is a step closer to launching a central bank digital currency
The Bank of England thinks crypto stablecoins and a central-bank-issued "digital pound" might coexist.

US Representative Tom Emmer Introduces Legislation to Limit Fed
Representative Tom Emmer presented the "CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act" to encourage financial privacy and CBDC transparency.

Bank of Russia Delays CBDC Pilot Rollout
The Bank of Russia's CBDC pilot rollout has been delayed indefinitely due to legislation only passing through the first reading. The number of participating private banks has also changed to 13 from 15, with the pilot involving real operations and limited consumers.

South Dakota Governor Vetoes Bill Excluding Cryptocurrencies from State's Definition of Money
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota has vetoed House Bill 1193, which sought to exclude cryptocurrencies from the state's definition of money. The governor believes that the bill would put South Dakota at a disadvantage and potentially lead to future overreach from the federal government in issuing a digital dollar.

Tanzania wary about CBDC adoption following studies
Tanzania's central bank is proposing a central bank digital currency (CBDC). An East African interdisciplinary technical team examined CBDC hazards and advantages. Four governments have halted CBDC adoption plans, while six have abandoned digital currencies.

SAMA is Ramping Up Its Research into Central bank digital currencies
SAMA is expanding its central bank digital currency study (CBDCs). Saudi Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy, decrease oil dependency, and improve public services.

Bank of China Launches e-CNY Smart Contract Product for Off-campus School Education
The Bank of China, in collaboration with the Education Bureau and financial authorities of Longquanyi District, Chengdu, has launched an educational electronic RMB smart contract prepaid fund management product, according to Chinese news media Sohu.com.

Financial Services Reforms Advance UK Crypto Ambitions
The U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, laid out a number of reforms aiming to "drive growth and competitiveness" to the country's financial services sector. The reforms include consulting on proposals for the establishment of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), extending a crypto tax break for investment managers and creating a sandbox that lets firms and regulators test new technologies.

BIS builds out "game-changing" blueprint for the future monetary and financial system
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is set to redefine the global financial landscape with its newly released blueprint for a futuristic monetary system.

India UPI expanding services to Singapore
The eight-bank digital rupee pilot programme has processed 770,000 transactions.

Shaping the Future of Banking: Standard Chartered and PwC China Release White Paper on Central Bank Digital Currency"
Standard Chartered, in collaboration with PwC China, have co-published a comprehensive white paper detailing the potential advancements in the future of banking, courtesy of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC).

Bank of Korea Prepares for 2024 Public Trial of Its Central Bank Digital Currency
The Bank of Korea, South Korea's central bank, is setting the stage for its first public trial of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in 2024.

Swift's CBDC Connector Enters Beta Testing with Global Central Banks
Swift, a leading provider of secure financial messaging services, has announced beta testing of its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) interoperability solution. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between digital and fiat-based currencies, with three central banks and over 30 financial institutions participating in the second phase of sandbox experiments. Swift's CBDC initiative aims to ensure digital currencies and tokenized assets seamlessly integrate into the financial ecosystem, preventing "digital islands" and facilitating global value transfer.

Reliance Retail accept digital rupee at one store
Reliance Retail has pledged to assist India's CBDC throughout its companies.

Bank of China Hong Kong Completes Digital RMB Sandbox Trial
Bank of China Hong Kong announces that the second phase of its digital Renminbi (e-CNY) priority experience events, staged in collaboration with Bank of China's mainland branches, was a success.

UAE's Central Bank Nears Launch of Digital Dirham
The UAE's central bank is close to launching its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital dirham, for domestic and cross-border payments. The CBUAE has partnered with G42 Cloud and R3 to be the infrastructure and technology providers for the CBDC implementation, which will boost financial inclusion and help the country become a cashless society. The first phase of the CBDC strategy includes the soft launch of "mBridge," proof-of-concept work for bilateral CBDC bridges with India, and domestic CBDC issuance for wholesale and retail use.

Bank Of England Accepts CBDC Wallet "Proof Of Concept" Applications
The Bank of England (BOE) wants a "proof of concept" for a Central Bank Digital Currency wallet (CBDC). The wallet must trade value and solicit payments. The BOE wants a CBDC by 2030.

India tests offline functionality of digital rupee
The Reserve Bank of India is testing the offline functionality of its recently launched digital rupee, which has completed 800,000 transactions worth $134 million since its wholesale segment pilot launched on Nov. 1, 2022.

The United Kingdom Tax Reform Council Launches Campaign Against Bank of England
UK Tax Reform Council and Bitcoin community worry over Bank of England's CBDC intentions.

Swedish Central Bank Completes Second Phase Testing of E-Krona
The Riksbank, Sweden's central bank, said it completed the second phase of the e-krona test, known as the e-krona, ready to be integrated into the banking network and facilitate transactions.

Iran Completes Pre-Pilot Phase for Digital Rial
Iran's central bank has completed a pre-pilot phase for its digital rial, according to an official statement by the Monetary and Banking Research Institute. The CBDC will align with the rules governing the national currency, the Iranian rial, and be distributed among individuals and banks. Ten banks have applied to join the project, and all banks and credit institutions in Iran are expected to start offering electronic wallets for the digital currency.

Hong Kong and Israel Central Banks Collaborate on Retail CBDC Prototype
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Bank of Israel (BOI) have collaborated on a report titled "Project Sela – An accessible and secure retail CBDC ecosystem". The project aims to create a retail central bank digital currency framework that encourages competition and innovation in digital payments.

CBUAE Plans to Launch Central Bank Digital Currency
The government plans a uniform, rapid card payment platform.

Texas lawmakers propose gold-backed state digital currency
Two Texas lawmakers have introduced bills proposing a state-based digital currency backed by gold, with each unit of the currency representing a fraction of a troy ounce of gold held in trust. The bills are set to take effect in September 2023, but have yet to be passed or presented for a vote. This move comes despite objections from several U.S. lawmakers who are against the introduction of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

ECB Advisor Defends Amazon’s Role in Digital Euro Project
The European Central Bank (ECB) is collaborating with five firms to test “user interfaces” for the central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Japan to Launch Central Bank Digital Currency Pilot in April 2023
Private enterprises will test "digital yen" and CBDC ecosystem modeling in the trial.

Massive Online Transition for Tax and Fee Business in China, Digital Yuan Payment in Pilot Use
Shen Xinguo, Director of the Taxpayer Services Division of the State Administration of Taxation, announced that 96% of tax matters and 99% of tax declarations in China can now be handled online, marking a significant move towards digitalization in the country's financial sector.

Hong Kong Politician Seeks DeFi-Based Stablecoin CBDC
Hong Kong authorities are currently considering issuing a CBDC as a government-backed stablecoin. Wu Jiezhuang, a Legislative Council member of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, thinks converting e-HKD into a stablecoin will mitigate Web3 virtual asset concerns.

Thai Delays Testing Its Retail CBDC Until Late 2022
Thailand will be slow but prudent in testing its CBDC to ensure that it does not have problems with funder transfers and other payments.

Indonesia's Ministry of Trade is reportedly aiming to roll out a national crypto exchange
Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan has set a June 2023 start date for its crypto exchange.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic has announced a pilot digital currency project
After meeting with Ripple at the World Economic Forum, Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic launched a prototype digital currency initiative.

Central Bank Executive Says Hong Kong Working On Investor Protection Measures
Central bank governors from around the world are currently in Thailand to discuss the role of central banks amid evolving financial technology. Eddie Yue, chief executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority discussed the rise of digital assets and central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and the risks associated with the new technology. Changyong Rhee, governor of the Bank of Korea was not so optimistic about the future of blockchain technology, especially in the monetary sector.

China Guangzhou Public Transport Launches Digital RMB Payment Function
China's Guangzhou became the first city to launch a pilot function of a digital RMB payment code to pay for bus rides.

Turkey's Central Bank Finishes First CBDC Test With More In 2023.
The CBRT's Digital Turkish Lira has completed its first experiment. On Dec 29, the CBRT announced its first digital lira payments. In the first quarter of 2023, it will conduct restricted, closed-circuit pilot testing with technology stakeholders.

Gazprombank suggests banks be given more time to adjust to digital
Gazprom, a Russian state-owned company, suggested allowing banks extra time to deploy the "digital ruble."

BIS Survey: 93% of Central Banks Engaged in CBDCs, 15 Retail and 9 Wholesale CBDCs Expected by 2030
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has released a survey revealing that 93% of central banks are now engaged in some form of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) work, with retail CBDCs taking the lead over wholesale CBDCs.

Local Officials Set Ambitious Targets for Digital Yuan Transactions
In 2022, the e-CNY processed $50.5 billion in municipal transactions.

The U.K. government is recruiting for a head to its central bank digital currency project
The U.K. is hiring a central bank digital currency (CBDC) chief to establish a digital pound. CBDCs promise financial inclusion and lower corporate and consumer expenses. A former Bank of England senior advisor opposed CBDCs. In 2021, 23 million Brits did not use cash, and fewer than 15% of payments are done using cash.

Bank of Russia to Debut Digital Ruble in April 2023
The Bank of Russia is planning a consumer pilot for the digital ruble and a gold-backed cryptocurrency.

CBN is continuing to develop its eNaira
R3, the CBN's possible technology partner, will help design a new system to give the CBN complete authority over the CBDC.

Ripple's CBDC Team Reveals Real Estate Tokenization
Antony Welfare, Ripple's CBDC adviser, recently participated in a fintech conference in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), where he presented two groundbreaking use cases. One of these is the tokenization of real estate, a concept that is rapidly gaining momentum as a potential future for the real estate industry, as he claimed

HSBC CEO: No Plans for Launching Crypto Trading
HSBC revealed that the bank has no plan to offer virtual currency as investments to their clients by starting cryptocurrency trading.

The Bank of England and the United Kingdom's Treasury are working on a digital asset
UK's finance minister said the Digital Pound's goal is to create a "trust, accessible, and easy-to-use" digital asset.

CBDC Activity Subsidizes Consumption During Lunar New Year
After COVID-19 restrictions were eased, Chinese local governments are pushing the usage of the country's digital currency, the digital yuan, to boost e-CNY use and consumption.

The IMF Releases a Report on Jordan Preparations for a Central Bank
The IMF published a technical analysis on Jordan's retail central bank digital currency.

Mastercard's CBDC Initiative: Ripple Joins as Key Partner in Digital Currency Evolution
Mastercard launches a CBDC program with Ripple as a key partner, aiming to enhance digital currency interoperability and adoption globally.

Ted Cruz Introduces Bill to Block Fed CBDC
Republican Senator Ted Cruz has introduced a bill to prevent the Federal Reserve from launching a central bank digital currency (CBDC) that could be used for financial surveillance. This is his second attempt at blocking the Fed's CBDC initiative.

Hong Kong to Propose Statutory Licensing Regime for VASPs: CE John Lee
Hong Kong leader John Lee delivered his first policy address Wednesday, indicating that the administration has introduced a bill to propose establishing a statutory licensing regime for virtual asset service providers.

Russia Begins CBDC Settlement Mechanism While Sanctions Continue
A central bank digital currency will be used to establish a cross-border settlement mechanism by Russia's central bank (CBDC). The plans are anticipated in 2023's first quarter. By2024, the Bank of Russia planned to launch its digital currency.

eNaira Adoption Grows Amid Nigeria's Cash Shortages
Nigeria's eNaira, a central bank digital currency (CBDC), is being adopted at an increasing rate as the country faces severe cash shortages due to demonetization. The value of eNaira transactions has increased by 63%, and the total number of CBDC wallets has grown more than 12 times compared to October 2022.

China's Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
China's Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) now supports smart contracts. Soochow Securities' mobile app allows e-CNY purchases. Android phones may now perform contactless digital yuan wallet payments.

Financial services reforms advance UK crypto ambitions.
The U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, proposed many financial services industry changes to "promote development and competitiveness." The measures include consulting on a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and prolonging investment managers' crypto tax exemption.

Ex-Chinese Central Banker Says Digital Yuan: Use Has Been Minimal
In October, two years after introduction, China's digital yuan transactions reached $14 billion (100 billion yuan). 261 million people possessed e-CNY wallets, according to a January PBOC study. China UnionPay reported 903.6 million mobile payment users in 2021. Tsinghua University finance professor Xie Ping was PBOC research director.


RBI and Central Bank of UAE sign MOU on CBDC bridge
The Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of UAE have signed an MOU to collaborate on CBDC interoperability, specifically for the development of a CBDC bridge to facilitate remittances and trade.

IMF: Latin America and the Caribbean Embrace CBDC and Crypto Assets
Interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) is on the rise in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), with several countries making significant advancements in their adoption, according to IMF.

Canadians Consulted on Digital Currency
The Bank of Canada has opened a public consultation until June 19 to gauge what features Canadians would like to see included in a digital Canadian dollar. The bank clarified it was not beginning work on a CBDC or replacing cash but was looking to explore the concept.

HSBC is looking for a top executive to work with asset tokenization
The Tokenisation Director would "create and execute" a worldwide tokenization proposal.

RBI Says India Will Initially Go for Basic Model For CBDC
India’s central bank plans to launch a basic model of the CBDC before implementing a more sophisticated version.

The Reserve Bank of India is Expanding CBDC While Dismissing Privately Issued Stablecoins
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is planning to increase the number of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) transactions to one million per day by the end of 2023, according to Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar.

Fireblocks Strengthens Support for Banking & Financial Institutions
Fireblocks, a leading enterprise platform for managing digital asset operations and fostering blockchain-based innovations, has announced the expansion of its secure MPC-CMP wallet and key management technology.

Ripple says XRP Can Be Used as a Bridge Currency for CBDCs, Will This Push XRP Higher?
Ripple released a new whitepaper that depicted XRP's utility as a bridge currency for CBDCs. XRP has broken through the key level of $0.50. What should be expected of the cryptocurrency in the short term?

E-HKD’s Development in Hong Kong- The Future Way of Currency?
Exclusive: a study shows that 90% of surveyed central banks worldwide are exploring the future issuance of CBDCs. Blockchain.News interviewed industry experts to find out the outlook of e-HKD and its potential adoption.

Exclusive: Johan Hörmark on SEB's Blockchain-Driven Bond Platform
Johan Hörmark, Project Manager at SEB, discusses the transformative potential of their blockchain-based digital bond platform, so|bond, in the financial secto

Dr. Alicia Garcia-Herrero's Take on China’s CBDC and Facebook’s Libra
In Part 2 of the interview, Garcia-Herrero explained the disruption of China’s CBDC – digital currency electronic payment (DCEP) on China’s monetary system. She also commented on the basket of currencies that Facebook’s Libra supports and Libra’s potential threat to monetary sovereignty.

Mastercard VP On Blockchain, Digital Assets and CBDC: “Everything Ends in Transactions and Payments”
Ashok Venkateswaran, Mastercard’s Blockchain and Digital Assets Lead, Asia Pacific shares insights on the payment giant's new blockchain and digital initiatives.

R3 and Asian Central Banks Join Forces to Unravel Central Bank Digital Currencies
Blockchain.News spoke with Carl Wegner, the Head of Asia Pacific at R3, who has been with the company for over three years, with a major focus on developing business and partnership opportunities for the consortium. Having been in the trade finance industry for over 30 years, Wegner feels that it is an incredible opportunity for blockchain to help streamline processes.   

Fundstrat’s Thomas Lee Discusses: What Happens After the 10 Best Days for Bitcoin?
Thomas Lee, the Co-Founder, Managing Director, and Head of Research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, known for his opinions on the Bitcoin and crypto market has sat down with Blockchain.News to discuss his views on some macro trends and the Bitcoin industry we’re currently observing.

Hong Kong's Highest-Profile FinTech Consultant: Libra Puts CBDCs to the Top of the Central Banks' Agenda
Blockchain.News interviewed Arslanian at the Asian Financial Forum held in Hong Kong earlier this month, where he was invited to speak on the development of FinTech.

Central Bank Digital Currencies Unmasked by Dr. Alicia Garcia-Herrero at Natixis
Blockchain.News has been delighted to reach out to Garcia-Herrero for her to share some thoughts on central bank digital currencies around the world. Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) have increasingly sparked interest in recent years. With the notion of China’s central bank, People’s Bank of China (PBoC) announcing its plan to issue its digital currency (DCEP) and Facebook’s Libra stablecoin emergence, the world has been paying more attention to CBDCs.

Blockchain Asia: Technological Solutions to Cultural Mistrust
Jochen Biedermann is also the Founder and CEO of Blockchain Asia which was established in 2016. In this second installment, we discuss Blockchain’s applications throughout Asia, clashes in culture and China’s mission to be the first country with an operating central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Binance CZ: We Have No Immediate Plans for a Chinese Yuan-Based Stablecoin
Recent announcements have created waves in the blockchain industry. Binance has been making its way around the world, enabling better adoption and an overall understanding of crypto. With China’s President Xi Jinping urging its nation to use blockchain technology and its development, how is Binance leveraging on new collaborations around the world?

Hyperledger's Brian Behlendorf on Blockchain Interoperability, China's BSN, ID2020 and CBDC
Brian Behlendorf, Executive Director of Hyperledger discusses open-source software development and blockchain technology, China's BSN, ID2020, and CBDC.

Huawei Files Patent For Blockchain Ledger Storage and Device
Chinese technology giant Huawei has applied for a patent on a new blockchain-based storage systems.

Chess Grandmaster Garry Kasparov Supports Bitcoin as Tool for Human Rights and Financial Autonomy
Chess Grandmaster and rising human rights advocate, Garry Kasparov, sees cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum as a way to fight tyranny and restore liberal democracies.

RBL Bank Partners with Accenture to Build A Digital Bank Infrastructure
RBL Bank announced that it will partner with Accenture, who envisions that it will enhance the bank’s information technology (IT) network and services.

Ripple to Build The Core Ledger that Will Power Central Bank Digital Currencies
Ripple has been making headway in pursuing projects involving central bank digital currency issuances.

Central Banks Doubt Cryptocurrency Limited Role in Reserve Operations
A survey conducted by UBS investment bank shows that central banks do not expect a cryptocurrency to replace gold as a digital reserve asset.

At least 70% of Global Finance Leaders Believe CBDCs Will Spur Financial Inclusion - Ripple Study
Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) have triggered overwhelming consensus among global finance leaders, according to a survey by Ripple, a leader in enterprise crypto and blockchain solutions.

Fed Chair Powell: Cryptocurrencies not Useful Stores of Value and CBDC Issuance Will not be Immediate
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s stance on Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies remains unchanged – he views them primarily as “a speculative asset.”

Bulgaria to Introduce Crypto Payment Options
The Bulgarian government is currently in discussion with industry stakeholders and the Bulgarian National Bank with respect to its crypto payment initiative.

G20-Backed FSB Sets Out Roadmap for Stablecoins and CBDCs, Optimizing Cross-Border Payment System
The FSB, a G20-backed think tank, has cited the duo of government-issued CBDCs and stablecoins as key drivers in the pursuit of better cross-border payments.

Next 2-3 Years to be a Turning Point for Bitcoin, BTC to follow Tesla's Footsteps - Deutsche Bank Analyst
According to Deutsche Bank analyst and Harvard economist Marion Laboure, the next two to three years should be a turning point for Bitcoin.

Facebook and Calibra Head David Marcus: What Problems Would Wholesale CBDCs Even Solve?
During a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum which included the topic of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), David Marcus, Head of Calibra, highlighted that digital currencies are the key to innovate cross-border payments and solve the issues of the unbanked—regardless of if that digital currency is Libra or not.

Ripple Co-Founder says US-China Tech Cold War Will Be Won and Lost on Crypto and Blockchain Battlefield
Ripple Co-Founder, Chris Larsen believes the Cold Tech War between China and the United States is going to be won and lost on the blockchain battlefield.

Ripple to Acquire 40% Stake in Asia Cross-Border Payments Firm Tranglo
Ripple announced its plans to take a 40% stake in Asian cross-border payments company Tranglo.

Banks Will Start Mulling the Possibility of Crypto Trading in 3 Years: Former Citi CEO
According to Vikram Pandit, most financial institutions are likely to integrate digital currency trading services within the next one to three years

Bitcoin Can’t Drive Financial Inclusion for Unbanked But CBDC Can says Mastercard CEO
Ajay Banga, the CEO of Mastercard believes Bitcoin is unable to function as an inclusive currency for the world’s unbanked due to volatility, CBDCs are a different story.

China’s Central Bank Digital Currency DCEP Has Been Processed in Pilot Transactions Worth 1.1 Billion Yuan
In the race to be the first country to launch a functional CBDC, China appears to be in the lead, as it has begun experimenting with its digital currency.

Qatar to Explore CBDC
Qatar is exploring use cases of introducing a CBDC, including all aspects, the pros and cons of the digital currency as well as digital banking.

Visa Blockchain Payments Will Help Promote Bank CBDC Integration
Visa is enhancing its blockchain payment drives among its merchants through research while forming partnerships with central banks for CBDC issuance

Bank of Jamaica Collaborates with Local Government to Expand CBDC Adoption
In a recent update, it was reported that the Bank of Jamaica is set to partner with the Government to boost the adoption of its central bank digital currency, JamDex, as a payment method.

Digital Dollar Project Floats Sandbox for Harness Potential CBDC Solutions
The Digital Dollar Project (DDP) has announced the launch of its Technical Sandbox Program that will make further exploration into the potential of the technical exploration of a US CBDC or the Digital Dollar.

IMF Believes Central Banks Need Strong Legal Frameworks for CBDCs to Work
The issuance of CBDCs by apex global banks has become a hot topic in the crypto space, and the IMF has delved into it with some precautionary measures.

The Bank of Ghana Cooperates with German Giesecke+Devrient to Conduct its CBDC Pilot
The Bank of Ghana has launched cooperation with Giesecke+Devrient to conduct a pilot project for its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in West Africa Ghana.