Chinese visitors to Singapore can use digital yuan
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and People’s Bank of China (PBOC) have agreed to allow tourists from either country to use the pilot digital yuan central bank digital currency (CBDC). Visitors to China have likely been able to use the digital yuan for some time, so the innovation here is that Chinese visitors will be able to use it in Singapore. This follows increasing integration between the digital yuan and Hong Kong, enabling visitors in both directions to use the CBDC, but given China’s control over Hong Kong, that’s rather different. [Read more at the MAS]
Robinhood launches crypto trading services in Europe
Robinhood launched crypto trading services for over 25 crypto-assets on its platform for all eligible European Union customers. This comes just a week after the firm launched its stock trading application in the United Kingdom. The new crypto app charges zero trading fees, and customers will also receive a percentage of their trading volume back every month in Bitcoin. The new platform also prioritizes transparency, allowing customers to view the spread, including the rebate received by the company from sell and trade orders in the app. [Read more at Robinhood]
Cash usage grows for first time in a decade
Cash usage in the United Kingdom has grown for the first time in a decade, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) annual Payments Survey, with coins and banknotes accounting for 19% of transactions in 2022, , up from 15% in 2021. It’s the first time that the retailer lobby group has recorded any growth in cash uptake since it first began monitoring payments in 2013. Card payments were used for 76% of transactions (83% in 2021), with debit cards accounting for four-fifths of these transactions. [Read more at the BRC]
Coinbase rolls out crypto transfers via links sent on WhatsApp, Telegram (republished from yesterday)
Coinbase Wallet now allows for the transfer of crypto through a link that can be sent through popular social media sites and messaging apps apps like iMessage, Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. And there are no payment fee when sending USD Coin (USDC). Clicking the link will take the recipient to their device’s app store to download Coinbase Wallet — if not already downloaded — where they can create a wallet in one click. If the funds aren’t claimed within two weeks, they will be returned to the sender. [Read more at Coinbase]
FYI here are some of my upcoming speaking engagements:
– Digital Euro Conference 2024 (Frankfurt on February 29)[Register here]
*For those interested in intra-day updates, check out my searchable Diigo Fintech developments database, which is also a good place to go to query for past developments: https://www.diigo.com/user/kiffmeister/ART.
Kiffmeister’s 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 (only) if you work at a central bank, ministry of finance or international financial institution (e.g., the BIS, IMF, OECD, World Bank) and 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
The Sovereign Official Digital Association (SODA) is a technology-agnostic firm offering advisory services at the intersection of central banking, digital finance and the web3 industry, aiming to make public digital money a reality. SODA believes institutions in the existing financial ecosystem should have access to the tools and resources they need to move from discussion to action. SODA offers ‘real life’ use cases to help test digital money and drive adoption as central banks and other public institutions explore the future of a more financially inclusive world powered by interoperable blockchain-based networks. SODA would love you to join us on this journey – please get in touch (chris@sodapublicmoney.org).
Satoshi Capital Advisors is a New York-based, global advisory firm that works with central banks, governments, and the private sector to architect, implement, and operate varying initiatives. Satoshi Capital Advisors’ central bank work revolves around CBDC architecture and implementation, providing advisory services from research phase through to growth phase. Utilizing a product-market fit and technology agnostic approach to CBDC architecture and implementation enables Satoshi Capital Advisors to build tailored solutions, bespoke to local financial system nuances. Satoshi Capital Advisors welcomes requests from central bank officials for virtual and in-person CBDC workshops. [Click here for more information]
WhisperCash offers the first fully offline digital currency platform that has the same properties as physical cash. It can perform secure consecutive offline payments without compromising on security, privacy or accessibility. WhisperCash allows direct person to person offline payments without any server infrastructure or internet connectivity. It comes in various form factors including the self-contained credit card-sized “Pro” that sports an eInk screen and capacitive keyboard, and lasts for two weeks between recharges assuming a few transactions per day. [Click here for more information]
