Iran Central Bank Governor Announces Imminent Launch of Digital Rial
Central Bank of Iran Governor Mohammad Reza Farzin reportedly announced that the launch of a digital rial is imminent. A pilot test of the retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) reportedly commenced in July 2024 on the island of Kish, involving two major Iranian banks, Mellat and Tejarat. https://news.bitcoin.com/iran-officially-unveils-central-bank-digital-currency-project/
Stablecoins and money market funds: Less similar than you think
The Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) posted an article by several Bank for International Settlement (BIS) and European Central Bank (ECB) staffers that explores the reactions of stablecoin capitalization and money market fund assets under management (AUM) to crypto-asset market and US monetary policy shocks. Following a crypto shock, the money market fund AUMs barely budge whereas stablecoin capitalization drops significantly. After a monetary policy tightening, prime money market fund AUMs rise while stablecoin market capitalization substantially declines. As monetary policy tightens, crypto prices fall, the market turns bearish, and investors demand less stablecoins for speculative purposes. This brings into question the role of stablecoins as a crypto safe haven from either crypto or monetary policy and traditional financial market shocks.
The Swedish retail payment infrastructure needs to be modernised
Sveriges Riksbank called for the modernization of its retail payments infrastructure and the creation of processes for secure, efficient and accessible retail payments. More specifically, the central bank argued that the infrastructure for clearing (compilation and processing of payment orders) and settlement (finalization) of retail payments in Swedish kronor needs modernization. It presented its view of the way forward over the next five years. Interestingly, no mention was made of an e-kronor retail central bank digital currency (CBDC).
Deutsche Bank, UBS settle tokenized deposit payments in Bundesbank Trigger solution experiment
UBS and Deutsche Bank have reportedly simulated tokenized deposit payments between the banks as part of the European Central Bank (ECB) wholesale distributed ledger technology (DLT) settlement trials. The Bundesbank’s Trigger solution, that enables blockchain based systems to link to the Trigger Chain, which in turn initiates a payment on the Target2 payment system in central bank money, was used. Adhara, the technology partner of Fnality, provided the orchestration layer that ensures that all the separate settlement legs of the transaction happen atomically. One of the two trails simulated transactions between Deutsche Bank London and UBS in Switzerland involving pounds and Swiss francs, which were settled using euros.
Brazil’s central bank selects consortium to support Drex trade finance use case experiments
Banco Central do Brasil has reportedly selected Banco Inter alongside Microsoft Brazil, 7COMm and Chainlink to build a trade finance solution as part of the 2nd phase of Brazil’s DREX central bank digital currency (CBDC) experimentation. The solution leverages blockchain technology and oracles to automate supply chain management and improve trade finance processes. The goal of the pilot is to demonstrate the automated settlement of agricultural commodity transactions across borders, across platforms, and via different currencies.
Paxos to Buy Finland's Membrane Finance to Gain EU Access
Stablecoin issuer Paxos will gain access to the European Union (EU), by agreeing to buy Finland-based electronic money institution (EMI) Membrane Finance. "The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval [but] upon completion of the acquisition, Paxos will be a fully licensed EMI in Finland and the EU." Membrane's digital assets are regulated by Finland's Fin-FSA and fully compliant with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). This follows Tether's recent investment in Quantoz Payments to support the latter's launch of its EURQ and USDQ MiCA-compliant stablecoins. In July 2024, USDC and EURC issuer Circle claimed that it became MiCA compliant when it attained an EMI license from the French Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR). https://paxos.com/blog/paxos-to-acquire-finnish-e-money-institution-membrane-finance/
EIB issues €100m digital bond to be settled with wholesale CBDC
The European Investment Bank (EIB) issued €100 million of digital bonds that will be settled using the Banque de France's pilot wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) as part of the European Central Bank (ECB) wholesale distributed ledger technology (DLT) settlement trials. (The Banque de France actually refers to the wholesale CBDC tokens issued on its DL3S DLT platform as "tokenized representations of central bank money (CeBM)".) The bonds will be issued on the HSBC Orion platform. https://www.eib.org/en/investor-relations/press/all/fi-2024-13-eib-digital-bond-eurosystem-explanatory-work
The Oesterreichische Nationalbank (ONB) published a paper that studies the impact the introduction of the digital euro might on Austrian banks from a financial stability perspective, based on the premise that the digital euro will not bear interest and will be subject to a holding limit. With respect to bank liquidity risk and profitability, it finds substantial effects only for extreme scenarios and high holding limits. Lower holding limits effectively contain adverse outcomes both with respect to interest income losses and liquidity risk. Overall, we conclude that the introduction of a digital euro would not pose a threat to the stability of the Austrian banking system provided the digital euro is subject to a carefully designed holding limit and remuneration model. From a purely financial stability perspective, low holding limits would be preferable to higher ones.
The impact of CBDC on central bank profitability, risk-taking and capital
The ECB published a paper (co-written by Ulrich Bindseil) that uses scenario analyses to illustrate the key drivers of the impact of central bank digital currency (CBDC) on central bank profitability. It finds that CBDC will have broadly the same balance sheet and profit implications as the issuance of banknotes. It shows that pure exchange of banknotes for CBDC has no further implications on central banks’ balance sheets, and thus their financial risks, profits and capital. This is different, however, for other exchanges of monetary liabilities, such as commercial bank deposits, which increase the amount of unremunerated central bank monetary liabilities and may require the creation of additional reserves for banks via the corresponding additional central bank assets. The last two points would tend to give rise to higher income for central banks in a positive interest rate environment. However, these risk implications can be managed via well-established frameworks and likely be mitigated by measures to limit CBDC take-up.
A Method for Uncovering Tokenisation Archetypes and their Effects
Anisa Plepi and Peter Schendner posted a paper that proposes a framework for aggregating and categorizing viewpoints on fundamental issues concerning tokenization, and assessing the causal effects of tokenization on market outcomes, using bonds as an example. The framework starts with a taxonomy of bond tokenization use cases according to the tokenization model, which is fed into a causal model to assess how would the outcomes, characterizing its lifecycle processes change if a bond had been tokenized instead of using the traditional infrastructure. Or alternatively, how would the outcomes of interest change if a bond had been exchanged in the traditional infrastructure instead of being tokenized? The paper then proposes an outcomes matrix to estimate the effects of tokenization on particular outcomes for which there are 25 metrics. The framework then conceptualizes the Swiss National Bank (SNB) Project Helvetia tokenization approach and evaluate its effects on efficiency and liquidity.
Norway can wait with CBDC, government task force says
A Norwegian government-sponsored task force concluded that there's no rush for the central bank to launch an e-kroner. However, work should be started “on the necessary regulatory changes” for a possible introduction of a CBDC that may become relevant in future. “The committee doesn’t currently see a need to introduce digital central bank money for reasons of financial inclusion, privacy or emergency preparedness, but doesn’t rule out that a central bank digital currency may in the future be a relevant instrument for safeguarding these considerations." https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/nou-2024-21/id3074368/?ch=1
U.K. government confirms ongoing digital pound design phase
The U.K. HM Treasury published its National Payments Vision, in which it committed to continue the design phase for a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) in partnership with the Bank of England. It reconfirmed that no decision has been taken on whether to implement a digital pound, but any decision to proceed would be accompanied by the introduction of primary legislation, ensuring full Parliamentary scrutiny by both Houses of Parliament, before any launch. Legislation would be preceded by a further public consultation and would guarantee users’ privacy and control of their money. "Irrespective of the final decision, by partnering with the private sector on proofs of concept and experiments, the work will support private innovation in digital currency technologies [and] deepen the retail payments expertise of the UK public authorities.
Odisha launches Subhadra Yojana digital rupee direct transfer scheme
In September 2024, the Subhadra Yojana, a direct transfer initiative for women in the state of Odisha, became India's first government program to allow beneficiaries to receive payouts in digital rupee central bank digital currency (CBDC). Approximately 12,000 beneficiaries received the first annual Rs 10,000 instalment and were notified of the deposit via text messages. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subhadra_Yojana
Digital SNB Bills premature says Swiss National Bank
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) published the results of its pilot test of a monetary policy operation on the SIX Digital Exchange (SDX) distributed ledger technology (DLT) platform. As part of Project Helvetia III, in June 2024 the SNB issued digital SNB Bills settled in wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) in a production environment. The Bills were redeemed sever day later. It showed that implementing monetary policy on a DLT-based infrastructure is feasible and effective. While the corresponding processes bring about some improvements, new challenges emerge. The SNB concluded that "the question of whether to conduct monetary policy operations on a DLT-based infrastructure is premature [and] ramping up such operations would also entail significant investment for the SNB, its counterparties as well as infrastructure providers". https://www.snb.ch/en/publications/research/economic-notes/2024/economic_note_2024_04
Hence, the question of whether to conduct monetary policy operations on a DLT-based infrastructure is premature. Ramping up such operations would also entail significant investment for the SNB, its counterparties as well as infrastructure providers,
European Central Banks Warn Citizens to Have Cash "Under the Mattress"
It seems that more and more central banks in Europe are rediscovering one of the beauties of cash: its resilience. It won’t fail in a power cut or seize up during a cyber attack (although, of course, ATMs might). As Brett Scott, author of Cloudmoney: Cash, Cards, Crypto and the War for our Wallets, notes , any society that runs purely on digital platforms operated by large financial institutions “is going to have major resiliency problems.”
ABN AMRO completes second Eurosystem-digital currency test
ABN AMRO executed four repo pilot trades with DLT-based wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) utilizing tokenized commercial paper (CP) as collateral in late October 2024. This served to test one of three payment options (in this case the one being led by the Banque de France) that are part of the ECB's DLT-based wholesale settlement trials. ABN AMRO issued €1.1 million of the tokenized CP that was used as collateral in the latest transaction, which involved four reverse repo transactions between ABN AMRO Bank, ABN AMRO Clearing, and Rabobank, cleared by Eurex Clearing. In a repo Repo (repurchase) transaction one party (e.g., Bank A) sells securities to another party (e.g., Bank B) and agrees to buy them back later at a slightly higher price. ABN AMRO Bank's Treasury regularly uses repos for balance sheet management. https://www.ledgerinsights.com/euro-wholesale-cbdc-used-to-settle-abn-amro-digital-commercial-paper-on-dlt/
Intesa Sanpaolo issues tokenized commercial paper as part of ECB DLT settlement trials
Intesa Sanpaolo issued €10 million in commercial paper (CP) using Clearstream’s D7 tokenization platform, using the Bank of Italy’s TIPS Hashlink solution for settlement. TIPS Hashlink is one of three payment options that are part of the European Central Bank’s (ECB’s) distributed ledger technology (DLT) based wholesale settlement trials. Rather than use the on-chain central bank money (i.e., central bank digital currency) being used in the other two trails, the Hashlink interoperability mechanism is used to settle the transaction using the ECB-run Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross settlement Express Transfer (TARGET) Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) system. This is apparently only the second test of this platform, the other being a €25 million Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) digital bond issue in July 2024. https://www.ledgerinsights.com/cdp-issues-digital-bond-on-polygon-blockchain-using-new-italian-law/
The IMF published a staff update on global central bank digital currency (CBDC) developments, and updated the landing page for its work-in-progress CBDC virtual handbook. New chapters, which have already been released as Fintech Notes, cover the positioning of CBDC in the payments landscape, cyber resilience of the CBDC ecosystem, CBDC adoption, CBDC data use and privacy protection, implications for monetary policy operations, and cross-border payments with retail CBDC. The update also provides a roadmap of forthcoming chapters, which will presumably also be pre-released as Fintech Notes. https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/fintech/central-bank-digital-currency/virtual-handbook
Caisse des Dépôts issues €100m digital bond settled with pilot wCBDC
Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) issued a €100 million digital bond settled using the Banque de France’s DL3S DLT platform using its pilot wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC). The transaction formed part of the European Central Bank’s wholesale distributed ledger technology (DLT) settlement trials. The Banque de France avoids using the term wholesale CBDC, instead referring to it as a tokenized representation of central bank money. For the CDC issuance, it required synchronizing the issuance of the digitally native note (DNN) on Euroclear’s D-FMI platform with the settlement on the central bank’s DL3S.
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) launched a credit card-sized digital yuan (e-CNY) hard wallet that supports online and offline payments and features a screen that displays balance and payment details, and dynamic QR codes for payments. The digital wallet enables both "tap-to-pay" and "scan-to-pay" options, letting merchants accept payments on POS machines, scanners and mobile devices, without requiring new hardware. The wallet is reportedly already available for public transport payments in some cities. An earlier version of the card launched in 2021 included buttons so that users could enter the payment amount, and the e-ink visual display was small. https://www.ithome.com/0/808/679.htmhttps://www.ledgerinsights.com/china-upgrades-digital-rmb-cbdc-hardware-wallet/
Exploring the role of digital money in wholesale tokenised asset markets
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) published a consultation paper which seeks industry feedback on a new research initiative, Project Acacia. This project will explore how different forms of digital money and associated infrastructure could support the development of wholesale tokenized asset markets in Australia. The consultation paper seeks expressions of interest from industry in participating in an experimental research phase for Project Acacia, and in joining an Industry Advisory Group for the project. Input is also sought on the technical and functional capabilities of new forms of settlement infrastructure and digital money, including wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenized bank deposits, that could promote well-functioning tokenized asset markets and stability in the financial system.
Seven South Korean banks to participate in CBDC-driven pilot
South Korea‘s Financial Services Commission (FSC) has authorized seven domestic banks to participate in a pilot program testing digital financial services based on central bank digital currency (CBDC) and deposit tokens. The pilot project will offer digital vouchers via QR codes, which users can scan with their smartphones to redeem government-provided benefits digitally at registered merchants, including educational institutions, cultural centers, and welfare-related outlets. The FSC did not specify a timeline for the pilot. https://www.fsc.go.kr/no010101/83337
Crypto firms launch Paxos stablecoin-based global network
A consortium of fintech and crypto-asset companies launched the Global Dollar Network based on the U.S. dollar-pegged USDG stablecoin issued out of Singapore by Paxos. Paxos claims that USDG is "substantively compliant with the upcoming Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) stablecoin framework. Anchorage Digital, Bullish, Galaxy Digital, Kraken, Nuvei, Paxos and Robinhood are the initial partners. What is unique about USDG, versus the dominant stablecoins, is that partners (financial services and blockchain firms) receive up to 100% of the revenues generated by USDG's backing assets, and earn additional revenues for minting and acceptance. https://globaldollar.com
A paper co-written by Federal Reserve Board (FRB) staffer Elena Falcettoni proposes to differentiate individuals without a bank account but would like to have one (the "unbanked") from individuals that do not have a bank account and are not interested in having one (the "out of banking population"). While the unbanked mostly cite financial and past credit or banking history problems as reasons for not having a bank account, the out of banking population cites a growing mistrust toward the traditional banking system. The paper finds that the latter comprises over 70% of U.S. households without a bank account and concludes that to bank the unbanked (the other 30%) policy interventions should be aimed at encouraging financial institutions to offer more accessible and affordable services.
The Swiss City of Lugano issued its third digital bond on SDX, bringing Lugano's digital bond total to CHF 320 million. Aligned with SDX's objectives under Project Helvetia, this bond leverages a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) for settlement. With dual listing on SDX and the SIX Swiss Exchange, this bond also ensures seamless access for investors across both digital and traditional trading channels.
Digital money and finance: a critical review of terminology
A couple of European Central Bank (ECB) staffers, including Director General of Market Infrastructures and Payments Ulrich Bindseil, posted a paper that proposes a new approach to clarifying the essence of new payment technologies. It puts forward an etymology of key concepts and reviews terminology and definitions, in the hope of facilitating ongoing discussions about the eventual merits of, and use cases for, such technology. On the basis of the analysis, the paper identifies a number of issues with the emerging key digital payments and decentralized financed (DeFi) vocabulary, including central bank digital currency (CBDC), crypto-assets, smart contracts, stablecoins, tokenization, and wholesale (as used in the CBDC context). https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5007868
The Bank of Israel (BOI) concluded its Digital Shekel Challenge with presentations by the 14 entities selected to develop innovative use cases for the digital shekel. The use cases presented demonstrated the potential of the digital shekel to help create advanced payment solutions and lead innovation in Israel's payment system. First place was awarded to Siara for a platform for returning debtors to an economic growth path, second went to Paypal for a smart payroll payments system, third to IDEMIA for an offline payments solution, and the "People's Choice" to QEDIT for a platform that enhances trust for digital transactions using advanced cryptography. https://www.boi.org.il/en/communication-and-publications/press-releases/the-bank-of-israel-held-a-concluding-conference-for-the-digital-shekel-challenge-today-and-announced-the-winners-of-the-challenge/
"Most Europeans now juggle different cards, apps and devices depending on each payment situation, finding that the convenience of digital payments doesn’t always live up to the promise. In the euro area, we are stuck in a fragmented system, where digital payment solutions don’t cover all our needs. While you might easily use a card to pay contactless for a meal or a taxi ride in cities like Madrid or Paris, rural areas in Germany or Austria often only accept cash or local debit cards. Similarly, some mobile apps work well for sending money to family or friends but aren’t accepted for online purchases or by local businesses. In a nutshell, we still don’t have a digital payment solution that works effectively everywhere in the euro area in all payment situations." (ECB Executive Board Member Piero Cipollone)
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has handed the mBridge central bank digital currency (CBDC) based cross-border payments platform over to the central banks of China, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to BIS General Manager Agustín Carstens, this was not because of “political considerations” but because after the project’s four years it is “at a level where the partners can carry it on by themselves”. This has happened already with other projects such as the Swiss National Bank’s Project Helvetia. By “political considerations”, Mr. Carstens was referring to stories that during discussions among central bankers and finance chiefs at the October 2024 International Monetary Fund and World Bank Annual Meetings, concerns were expressed about the fact that China is supplying the platform’s key technological backbone, and that China and the UAE are BRICS members. (In that regard it is notable that the U.S. Federal Reserve has not joined the project.) https://www.bis.org/speeches/sp241031.htm
ECB looking for innovation partnerships for the digital euro
The European Central Bank (ECB) has established a digital euro innovation platform to collaborate with stakeholders. The main goal is to (i) demonstrate how conditional payments could be implemented on a technical level, (ii) provide the opportunity for participants to interact with simulated digital euro interfaces, and (iii) explore additional use cases, ideas and visions that stakeholders may have for the digital euro. The ECB is encouraging all interested stakeholders to contribute, and it will carefully consider all applications before making selections in early January 2025. Selected “visionaries” will be invited to half-day workshops to present their idea to the ECB, and will be asked to provide a summarizing outcome report.
