Month: September 2022
Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20220930)
Towards CBDCs in Asia and the Pacific: Results of a Regional Survey
The IMF published a Fintech Note that, drawing on survey responses from 34 Asian economies and country case studies, takes stock of recent developments related to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and crypto-assets in Asia. The survey finds that there is significant heterogeneity in terms of stage of development, but the emergence of private crypto assets has created an impetus to consider CBDCs. While most countries are engaged in research and development, with some at advanced stages of testing and pilots, very few countries are likely to issue CBDCs in the near-to-medium term, reflecting the still considerable uncertainties. Still, country experiences so far provide some key insights for others in their journey in this area. [Download at the IMF]
Importantly for my CBDC tracking, the IMF report confirmed that Laos, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tonga are conducting CBDS feasibility studies with Soramitsu, a Japan-based private-sector technology platform provider. Here are the specifics:
- On October 4, 2021, Soramitsu was selected by the Japan International Cooperation Agency to explore with the Bank of the Lao PDR the potential contribution of CBDC to the inclusive development of the financial system of the Laos People’s Democratic Republic. [Read more at Soramitsu]
- On January 10, 2022 Soramitsu was selected by the NTT Data Institute of Management Consulting to evaluate the potential risks and benefits of introducing CBDC in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. [Read more at Soramitsu]
Banks’ Crypto Asset Holdings May Be Just 0.01% of Total Risk Exposure, Basel Study Finds
The world’s largest banks are exposed to about 9.4 billion euros of crypto-assets, a study by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) found. The exposure, mainly client services involving bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH), represents 0.14% of the total exposure to risk from the 19 banks who sent in data. Exposures are distributed unevenly across reporting banks, with two banks making up 53% of overall crypto-asset exposures, and four more making up 39% of the remaining exposures. [Read more at the BIS]
The Digital Euro Association [DEA] published a blog on a CBDC design trilemma. The “Blockchain Trilemma”, is a term used to describe the challenge of increasing performance, security, and decentralization at the same time. Current enterprise blockchains are not truly decentralised. They may be structurally decentralised, but are operationally centralised. By reversing this, having structurally centralised, but operationally decentralised architecture, a CBDC can achieve a high-performance blockchain. However, any blockchain-based CBDC should not only solve the blockchain trilemma, but also the CBDC design trilemma, which notes that identity, privacy, and programmability cannot be easily enhanced at the same time. A CBDC cannot ignore privacy for the sake of achieving legal compliance and implementing programmable money. From an expertise point of view, the answer to this trilemma is the use of a decentralized identity system such as self-sovereign identity (SSID) to find the perfect equilibrium for the CBDC design trilemma. Self-sovereign identity is very popular for its advanced privacy protection. By having an SSID-based blockchain system, a CBDC can incorporate both privacy and transparency into the blockchain-based CBDC system. Additionally, a use of zero-knowledge encryption to protect the transaction privacy of blockchain data is highly recommended for any CBDC implementation. [Read more at the DEA]
Tickets available for CBDC Think Tank masterclass
The CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with the IMF and George Washington University, is hosting a full-day in-person CBDC Masterclass on October 12 in Washington DC for “official sector” staff and academics active in the CBDC / digital currency space only. The sessions are designed as instructional deep dives with full presentations and Q&A components. Tickets are $99. [Register here]
Also, the CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with Georgetown University and the DC FinTech Week, is hosting a FREE (also in-person) Digital Currency Lecture Series, a set of digital currency lightning talks delivered by subject matter experts, on October 14 in Washington DC. [Request an invite here]
Kiffmeister’s Global Central Bank Digital Currency Monthly Monitor
Just a reminder that I produce a monthly digest of central bank digital currency (CBDC) developments exclusively for the official sector. So for any of you out there who work for a central bank, ministry of finance or international financial institution who would like to receive it by email on the first business day of every month, please DM me on LinkedIn or email me at chronicles@kiffmeister.com.
Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20220929)
ECB provides update on its digital euro work
The European Central Bank (ECB) provided a status report on its central bank digital currency (CBDC) work. It confirmed that a digital euro would incorporate individual user holding limits to slow the possible conversion of bank deposits into digital euro (disintermediation risk). A digital euro would also bear interest calibrated to make digital holdings above a certain threshold unattractive compared to other highly liquid low-risk assets. Offline payments will only be allowed for low value, low risk, close proximity transactions. [Read the report here] In addition, ECB board member Fabio Panetta set out a plan for a digital euro scheme involving a set of rules, practices and standards with plans to start working on a rulebook. [Read the plan here]
Digital Currency: Yuan comes with an expiry date: Spend or it will vanish
China is reportedly exploring putting expiration dates on its e-CNY retail CBDC, which could force holders to use it up by a certain date. This idea has most recently been explored in a Celo working paper that advocated using expiration dates to increase the “velocity” of money, based on an an unconventional monetary policy instrument known as a Gesell money. [Read more at the Economic Times]
Bank of England: FMI Sandbox will start with DLT securities post trade
The Bank of England announced that the U.K.’s Financial Market Infrastructure (FMI) Sandbox would initially focus on distributed ledger technology (DLT) based securities settlement systems. The Sandbox is a joint initiative between HM Treasury, the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority. [Read more at the Bank of England]
ERC-20R and ERC-721R: Reversible Transactions on Ethereum
This paper proposes reversible versions of ERC-20 and ERC-721, whereby a transaction is eligible for reversal for a short period of time after it has been posted on chain. After the dispute period has elapsed, the transaction can no longer be reversed. Within the short dispute period, a sender can request to reverse a transaction by convincing a decentralized set of judges to first freeze the disputed assets, and then later convincing them to reverse the transaction. The paper provides a prototype implementation. [Read more at arxiv.org]
Tickets available for CBDC Think Tank masterclass
The CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with the IMF and George Washington University, is hosting a full-day in-person CBDC Masterclass on October 12 in Washington DC for “official sector” staff and academics active in the CBDC / digital currency space only. The sessions are designed as instructional deep dives with full presentations and Q&A components. Tickets are $99. [Register here]
Also, the CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with Georgetown University and the DC FinTech Week, is hosting a FREE (also in-person) Digital Currency Lecture Series, a set of digital currency lightning talks delivered by subject matter experts, on October 14 in Washington DC. [Request an invite here]
Kiffmeister’s Global Central Bank Digital Currency Monthly Monitor
Just a reminder that I produce a monthly digest of central bank digital currency (CBDC) developments exclusively for the official sector. So for any of you out there who work for a central bank, ministry of finance or international financial institution who would like to receive it by email on the first business day of every month, please DM me on LinkedIn or email me at chronicles@kiffmeister.com.
Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20220928)
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and the central banks of Israel, Norway and Sweden are launching Project Icebreaker, a joint exploration of how central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) can be used for international retail and remittance payments. using a hub-and-spoke model. The project will run through the end of the year, with a final report expected in the first quarter of 2023. [Read more at the BIS]
CBDC pilots and research, lessons for the digital euro
The Digital Euro Association published a very nice summary of the current state of play in the CBDC space. It’s part of a series of articles, this first one providing a general overview of global CBDC projects, motivations, with a particular focus on the Bahamas, China, Eastern Caribbean Union, Nigeria and Russia. Subsequent articles in this series will provide a deeper understanding of CBDC research and development in countries with different challenges and policy objectives. The articles will highlight that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to CBDC, but that CBDC solutions must be based on the needs and challenges of each country. [Read more at the DEA]
ESMA not planning blockchain securities rule changes before DLT pilot regime starts
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) says there is no need for new regulatory technical standards before the start of the European Union’s distributed ledger technology (DLT) pilot regime in March 2023. The regime aims to reduce the regulatory burden to enable blockchain-based securities trading and settlement to be trialed at scale and provide legal certainty. Tokenized stocks, bonds and investment funds fall within the DLT Pilot regime and have monetary limits. [Read more at Ledger Insights]
FCA green lights Revolut, making no UK crypto firms operating under temporary status
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has added crypto-friendly payments app Revolut to its list of companies authorized to offer crypto products and services in the country. Revolut was among a small number of entities granted an extension to the FCA’s temporary cryptocurrency licensing program in March 2022. It was the last company on this list as other applicants withdrew their requests, were refused registration, or had their licenses granted before the end of June. [Read more at CoinTelegraph]
France’s CBDC Projects to Manage DeFi Liquidity, Settle Tokenized Assets
The Banque de France announced two new wholesale CBDC projects. The first will look at improving CBDC market liquidity management in decentralized finance (DeFi), such as via automated market makers. The second will focus on issuing and distributing tokenized bonds on a blockchain. [Read more at the Banque de France]
Tickets available for CBDC Think Tank masterclass
The CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with the IMF and George Washington University, is hosting a full-day in-person CBDC Masterclass on October 12 in Washington DC for “official sector” staff and academics active in the CBDC / digital currency space only. The sessions are designed as instructional deep dives with full presentations and Q&A components. Tickets are $99. [Register here]
Also, the CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with Georgetown University and the DC FinTech Week, is hosting a FREE (also in-person) Digital Currency Lecture Series, a set of digital currency lightning talks delivered by subject matter experts, on October 14 in Washington DC. [Request an invite here]
Kiffmeister’s Global Central Bank Digital Currency Monthly Monitor
Just a reminder that I produce a monthly digest of central bank digital currency (CBDC) developments exclusively for the official sector. So for any of you out there who work for a central bank, ministry of finance or international financial institution who would like to receive it by email on the first business day of every month, please DM me on LinkedIn or email me at chronicles@kiffmeister.com.
Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20220927)
First Project mCBDC Bridge Pilot Complete
Project mBridge is a prototype real-time cross-border payments platform based distributed ledger technology (DLT) and multiple central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) developed by the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub and four central banks. The first pilot is now complete, with over $12 million in value issued onto the platform facilitating over 160 cross-border payments and FX transactions totaling more than $22 million in value between 20 participating commercial banks over the course of a month. A detailed report will be released in October. [Read more on LinkedIn]
Central Bank Digital Currency: Financial Inclusion vs. Disintermediation
The Dallas Fed published a working paper that analyzes the impact of introducing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) on financial inclusion, and its potential adverse effect on bank funding. The paper highlights the role of two design parameters: the fixed cost of CBDC usage and the interest rate it pays, and derive principles for maximum inclusion and for mitigating the inclusion-intermediation trade-off. Agents’ choice of money instrument is endogenously driven by income heterogeneity. Pre-CBDC, wealthier agents adopt deposits, while poorer agents adopt cash and remain unbanked. CBDCs with low fixed costs (and low interest rates) are adopted by cash holders and directly increase inclusion. CBDCs with high fixed costs (and high interest rates) are adopted by deposit holders and increase inclusion by raising deposit rates. The former allows for more favorable inclusion-intermediation trade-offs. [Read more at the Dallas Fed]
Regulating the crypto ecosystem: The case of unbacked crypto assets
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) published a Fintech Note that recommends that global bodies work to develop common crypto-asset taxonomies that can inform global and cross-sectoral standards while improving data insights. Standards should be risk-based, with greater requirements on entities and activities that generate more risk. Crypto asset service providers that deliver core functions and generate key risks should be licensed, registered, or authorized. [Read more at the IMF]
Regulating the crypto ecosystem: The case of stablecoins
The IMF published a Fintech Note that provides key elements that should feature in any stablecoin regulatory arrangement. Global regulation for stablecoins should be comprehensive, consistent, risk-based, flexible, and focus on their structural features and use. Requirements on stablecoins should cover the entire ecosystem and all its key functions, and there should be additional oversight for systemic stablecoin arrangements. In markets where risks are growing quickly, authorities should take immediate action by using all the tools at their disposal. For effective implementation, domestic and international collaboration are key. [Read more at the IMF]
Distributed ledger technology (DLT) options for CBDC
The Swiss National Bank’s Thomas Moser was one of the authors of a paper on the options for designing CBDCs using distributed ledger technology (DLT). It analyzes the various structures for implementation offered by DLT – public, permissioned and private – and the implications that each has for the central bank and the existing financial system. While a CBDC built on an open, permissionless system would provide the full functionality offered by DLT, it is also far more disruptive to the existing financial system and consequently requires more new infrastructure on the part of the central bank. Within the current DLT landscape, public-private partnerships offer the most practical and efficient means of building a DLT-based CBDC. A selection of existing DLT providers able to support a CBDC is also discussed. [Read more at SSRN]
The impact of fintech lending on credit access for U.S. small businesses
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) published a working paper that explores the characteristics of pre-pandemic (2016-2019) small business lending (SBL) in the United States, using proprietary loan-level data from two fintech SBL platforms (Funding Circle and LendingClub). The results show that fintech SBL platforms lent more in zip codes with higher unemployment rates and higher business bankruptcy filings. Moreover, fintech platforms’ internal credit scores were able to predict future loan performance more accurately than the traditional approach to credit scoring, particularly in areas with high unemployment. Overall, fintech lenders have a potential to create a more inclusive financial system, allowing small businesses that were less likely to receive credit through traditional lenders to access credit and to do so at lower cost. [Read more at the BIS]
Tickets available for CBDC Think Tank masterclass
The CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with the IMF and George Washington University, is hosting a full-day in-person CBDC Masterclass on October 12 in Washington DC for “official sector” staff and academics active in the CBDC / digital currency space only. The sessions are designed as instructional deep dives with full presentations and Q&A components. Tickets are $99. [Register here]
Also, the CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with Georgetown University and the DC FinTech Week, is hosting a FREE (also in-person) Digital Currency Lecture Series, a set of digital currency lightning talks delivered by subject matter experts, on October 14 in Washington DC. [Request an invite here]
Kiffmeister’s Global Central Bank Digital Currency Monthly Monitor
Just a reminder that I produce a monthly digest of central bank digital currency (CBDC) developments exclusively for the official sector. So for any of you out there who work for a central bank, ministry of finance or international financial institution who would like to receive it by email on the first business day of every month, please DM me on LinkedIn or email me at chronicles@kiffmeister.com.
Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20220926)
Australian CBDC Pilot for Digital Finance Innovation
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) published a white paper that explains in detail the objectives and approach of their eAUD central bank digital currency (CBDC) project. They also invited interested industry participants to make submissions on CBDC use cases, and offered participants the chance to express interest in operating their use case in a pilot (or proof of concept?) project to test and demonstrate the value proposition. The DFCRC will develop and install the eAUD platform as a private, permissioned Ethereum (Quorum) implementation, and the eAUD ledger will operate as a centralised platform, under the management and oversight of the RBA. [Read more at the RBA]
Nomura invests in Fnality institutional blockchain payments platform
Nomura is investing in Fnality, the interbank payment and settlement platform that uses “synthetic” wholesale CBDC to settle transactions on distributed ledger technology (DLT) based financial market infrastructures (FMIs). (A “synthetic CBDC” is essentially a stablecoin backed by central bank deposits.) Fnality reportedly says it will launch its first such synthetic CBDC in October 2022, pegged to the British Pound (GBP) and backed by deposits at the Bank of England. [Read more at Ledger Insights]
Demystifying wholesale central bank digital currency
According to European Central Bank (ECB) executive board member Fabio Panetta, the ECB is looking at the potential of DLT in improving the efficiency of interbank settlements. However, after listing the many benefits of DLT, Panetta highlighted some drawbacks, and made a case for a system that builds on the ECB’s existing infrastructure for wholesale settlements, instead of building a new one based entirely on DLT. [Read more at the ECB]
DTCC’s DLT stock settlement system live in parallel production
In August the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) DLT-based Project Ion platform for stock settlement went into production. The R3 Corda-based platform runs in parallel with the DTC’s classic settlement system, which remains the definitive record. At this stage, Project Ion is designed to only deal with bilateral equity transactions but is already processing an average of 100,000 transactions per day. [Read more at DTCC]
Tickets available for CBDC Think Tank masterclass
The CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with the IMF and George Washington University, is hosting a full-day in-person CBDC Masterclass on October 12 in Washington DC for “official sector” staff and academics active in the CBDC / digital currency space only. The sessions are designed as instructional deep dives with full presentations and Q&A components. Tickets are $99. [Register here]
Also, the CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with Georgetown University and the DC FinTech Week, is hosting a FREE (also in-person) Digital Currency Lecture Series, a set of digital currency lightning talks delivered by subject matter experts, on October 14 in Washington DC. [Request an invite here]
Kiffmeister’s Global Central Bank Digital Currency Monthly Monitor
Just a reminder that I produce a monthly digest of central bank digital currency (CBDC) developments exclusively for the official sector. So for any of you out there who work for a central bank, ministry of finance or international financial institution who would like to receive it by email on the first business day of every month, please DM me on LinkedIn or email me at chronicles@kiffmeister.com.
Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20220925)
I’ve updated my tabulation of retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) explorers; just minor updates and link repairs. [Click here]
How the US can regulate stablecoins now without congressional action
The Brookings Institution published a paper that proposes a US federal framework for the issuance of stablecoins within the existing regulatory framework for insured depository institutions, a structure that would not require any new legislation. Under current law, the Comptroller of the Currency could authorize a national trust bank charter, organized as an operating subsidiary of an insured depository institution, to create stablecoins through the use of a dedicated trust vehicle. The Comptroller would adopt standards limiting the investment of stablecoin reserves to high quality liquid assets and address redemptions and operational resilience, among other matters. The proposed framework guarantees that holders of a failed stablecoin are paid out rapidly and in full, because it uses the same resolution process by which failed banks are wound up. [Read more at Brookings]
Financial Inclusion and Central Bank Digital Currency in The Bahamas
The Central Bank of the Bahamas (CBOB) published a paper that attempts to assess the introduction of CBDC in the Bahamas. It uses a theoretical model that assumes that CBDC will lead to a decrease in the number of unbanked. As these individuals acquire access to financial institutions, the fraction of hand-to-mouth agents in the economy falls. If the number of unbanked individuals is cut in half, the economic benefits include: a reduction in the volatility of all shocks; monetary policy is more effective at controlling inflation and contributes less to the volatility of the overall economy; fiscal policy becomes more Ricardian, mitigating the size of fiscal shocks. [Read more at the CBOB]
Privacy and Central Bank Digital Currency in the Digital Economy
A paper written by European Central Bank staff studies how the choice of payment instruments affects privacy and welfare in the digital economy. Cash allows merchants to preserve their anonymity but cannot be used for online transactions that generate higher sales. Bank deposits can be used online but do not preserve anonymity. Payment tokens issued by digital platforms allow merchants to hide from the bank but also enable platforms to stifle competition. However, a CBDC that allows agents to share their payment data with selected parties can overcome all frictions and achieve efficient allocation. [Read more at SUERF]
Tickets available for CBDC Think Tank masterclass
The CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with the IMF and George Washington University, is hosting a full-day in-person CBDC Masterclass on October 12 in Washington DC for “official sector” staff and academics active in the CBDC / digital currency space only. The sessions are designed as instructional deep dives with full presentations and Q&A components. Tickets are $99. [Register here]
Also, the CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with Georgetown University and the DC FinTech Week, is hosting a FREE (also in-person) Digital Currency Lecture Series, a set of digital currency lightning talks delivered by subject matter experts, on October 14 in Washington DC. [Request an invite here]
Kiffmeister’s Global Central Bank Digital Currency Monthly Monitor
Just a reminder that I produce a monthly digest of central bank digital currency (CBDC) developments exclusively for the official sector. So for any of you out there who work for a central bank, ministry of finance or international financial institution who would like to receive it by email on the first business day of every month, please DM me on LinkedIn or email me at chronicles@kiffmeister.com.
Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20220924)
What’s next for DAOs? Breaking down the CFTC’s latest enforcement action
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed a lawsuit against Ooki DAO in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint alleged that the Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) was an unincorporated association involved in unlawful activity. This complaint has broad implications for the crypto industry. There are now 2,276 DAOs, which control about $10 billion of crypto in a wide array of blockchain-based financial tools. [Read more at]
PBOC to expand e-CNY trials to four entire provinces
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) will reportedly expand its e-CNY trials to Guangdong, Jiangsu, Hebei and Sichuan provinces. Deputy Governor Fan Yifei, reportedly said the number of users, merchants and transactions is “steadily growing”, but he did not provide details. [Read more at the South China Morning Post]
Bitcoin was almost named Netcoin by Satoshi Nakamoto
Historical data of domain name purchases suggest that Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin (BTC), had an alternate naming option in mind that did not make it to the whitepaper. Bitcoin.org, the website domain linked to the original Bitcoin, was created on August 18, 2008, a day after the creation of Netcoin.org using the same registrar. [Read more at CoinTelegraph]
Tickets available for CBDC Think Tank masterclass
The CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with the IMF and George Washington University, is hosting a full-day in-person CBDC Masterclass on October 12 in Washington DC for “official sector” staff and academics active in the CBDC / digital currency space only. The sessions are designed as instructional deep dives with full presentations and Q&A components. Tickets are $99. [Register here]
Also, the CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with Georgetown University and the DC FinTech Week, is hosting a FREE (also in-person) Digital Currency Lecture Series, a set of digital currency lightning talks delivered by subject matter experts, on October 14 in Washington DC. [Request an invite here]
Kiffmeister’s Global Central Bank Digital Currency Monthly Monitor
Just a reminder that I produce a monthly digest of central bank digital currency (CBDC) developments exclusively for the official sector. So for any of you out there who work for a central bank, ministry of finance or international financial institution who would like to receive it by email on the first business day of every month, please DM me on LinkedIn or email me at chronicles@kiffmeister.com.
Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20220816)
US Fed Opens Pathway for Crypto Banks to Tap Central Banking System
The U.S. Federal Reserve published its final guidance for novel financial institutions to access its master accounts. It seemingly moves the Fed one step closer to possibly allowing Wyoming special purpose depository institutions (SPDI), like Custodia (formerly Avanti) and Kraken Bank, access to these accounts so they would not need intermediary banks. The guidance will create a multi-tiered system allowing the Fed to adapt its evaluation process for granting access depending on what kind of financial institution is applying. Each tier corresponds to a respectively more stringent review process. [Read more at the FRB]
How the Crypto Industry is Writing its Own State Laws
This Tech Transparency Project report details the recent experience in three states: Wyoming, Colorado and New Hampshire. While the details differ, the result is largely the same: The states have effectively delegated the task of regulating the crypto sector to those with the greatest financial stake in its success, with little regard for those who may stand to lose. [Read more at the Technology Transparency Project]
Kiffmeister’s Global Central Bank Digital Currency Monthly Monitor
Just a reminder that I produce a monthly digest of central bank digital currency (CBDC) developments exclusively for the official sector. So for any of you out there who work for a central bank, ministry of finance or international financial institution who would like to receive it by email on the first business day of every month, please DM me on LinkedIn or email me at chronicles@kiffmeister.com.
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]
The CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with Georgetown University and the DC FinTech Week, is hosting a Digital Currency Lecture Series, a set of digital currency lightning talks delivered by subject matter experts, on October 14 in Washington DC. [Request an invite here]
Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20220923)
Decentralized Insurance Alternatives: Market Landscape, Opportunities and Challenges
The Society of Actuaries (SOA) published a report on the business models and operating designs of decentralized insurance alternatives. Instead of aggregating risks by centralized insurance entities, these platforms enable cost-effective and scalable peer-to-peer risk sharing with new forms of decentralized business models that leverage global accessibility and transparency, self-executing smart contracts, as well as social media tools like Discord and Twitter to coordinate community decision-making to support operations. [Read more at the SOA]
Tickets available for CBDC Think Tank masterclass
The CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with the IMF and George Washington University, is hosting a full-day in-person CBDC Masterclass on October 12 in Washington DC for “official sector” staff and academics active in the CBDC / digital currency space only. The sessions are designed as instructional deep dives with full presentations and Q&A components. Tickets are $99. [Register here]
Also, the CBDC Think Tank, in partnership with Georgetown University and the DC FinTech Week, is hosting a FREE (also in-person) Digital Currency Lecture Series, a set of digital currency lightning talks delivered by subject matter experts, on October 14 in Washington DC. [Request an invite here]
Kiffmeister’s Global Central Bank Digital Currency Monthly Monitor
Just a reminder that I produce a monthly digest of central bank digital currency (CBDC) developments exclusively for the official sector. So for any of you out there who work for a central bank, ministry of finance or international financial institution who would like to receive it by email on the first business day of every month, please DM me on LinkedIn or email me at chronicles@kiffmeister.com.