UK to explore blockchain-based government bond
The Financial Services and Markets Bill 2022 has been introduced into the U.K. Parliament. Section 22 of the Bill contains a new power for the government to introduce bespoke rules on the regulation of payments, payment systems and service providers in relation to the payments that include “digital settlement assets”, which includes any digital representation of value or rights that “(a) can be used for the settlement of payment obligations; (b) can be transferred, stored or traded electronically, and (c) uses technology supporting the recording or storage of data (which may include distributed ledger technology).” The Chancellor of the Exchequer said that HM Treasury will be working to understand how distributed ledger technology could be applied to a U.K. sovereign debt instrument. [Read more at Gov.uk]
The Österreichische Nationalbank (ONB) published a paper that summarizes the results of a survey of 2006 Austrian residents about their central bank digital currency (CBDC) design preferences and their likelihood of using a digital euro. Respondents were satisfied with the existing payment options, and only about half expressed at least some interest in a digital euro. In terms of CBDC design, high importance was placed on security against fraud and theft, but less than a third considered privacy important. [Read more at the ONB]
Upcoming events I’m affiliated with:
The CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with the International Monetary Fund and George Washington University, is hosting a full-day in-person CBDC Masterclass on October 12 in Washington DC. The sessions are designed as instructional deep dives with full presentations and Q&A components. [Register here]
