Month: June 2024

Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20240630)

~ kiffmeister

Ousmène Jacques Mandeng on why CBDC?

“Central bank digital currency (CBDC) has brought a new thinking about the utility and functionality of money. It should be seen as an extension of existing payment systems but may be most effective for specific use cases only. CBDC is to equip financial systems with new functionality to address actual and future payment demands. It is to ensure central bank money can remain competitive… When being asked whether CBDC is a solution in search of a problem, I normally answer, that the question is referring only to problems we know. If we are looking to address the problems we know today, we are unlikely to be ready for the future.” [Read more on LinkedIn]

Minutes of the Bank of Japan’s 7th Liaison Meeting on CBDC

The Bank of Japan published the minutes of the seventh “Liaison Meeting on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)” held on May 29, but it’s in Japanese only. However, Norbert Gehrke has kindly provided a translation (for informational purposes only). Here are some of the points (all via the Ministry of Finance) that I found particularly interesting [Read the original text here and Norbert’s translation here]:

  • It is not essential to allow non-residents to use CBDC from the initial issuance stage, because of the challenges associated with KYC and AML/CFT for non-residents and the possibility that their need for CBDC might not be particularly high.
  • No concrete decisions have yet been made regarding CBDC cost sharing between the public and private sectors, in response to a suggestion from the Japan Securities Dealers Association that the public sector should bear all the cost because CBDC is the foundation of economic activities.
  • CBDC is viewed as complementary to cash, and it is not essential for CBDC to replicate all cash functionalities. For instance, offline functionality, which carries risks of double-spending and counterfeiting, might not be necessary during the initial stages if cash remains usable. Regarding anonymity, the extent to which it can be ensured, given AML/CFT concerns, is still under consideration.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

  • CBDC Conference, Istanbul, September 10-12. The conference will offer representatives of central banks, commercial banks, technology providers, policy makers and academics the perfect platform to learn about the latest CBDC developments, exchange ideas with experts and peers. [Find out more and register here][Central bank delegates may be eligible for free registration (email registration@cbdc-conference.com to find out more)]
  • Digital Currency Conference, London, September 23-24. The conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, and technology and innovation experts to network and discuss all aspects of digital currencies. And enter the KiffmeisterDCC code at registration to get a 20% discount! [Find out more and register here]

And 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 john@kiffmeister.com.

Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20240629)

~ kiffmeister

SEC sues Consensys over MetaMask’s brokerage, staking services

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a lawsuit against Consensys, the parent company of MetaMask. It alleges that the company has been operating as an unregistered broker and engaging in the unregistered offer and sale of securities through MetaMask Swaps since 2020. The complaint claims that Consensys has collected more than $250 million in fees by brokering crypto-asset transactions, and offering staking services (through their Lido and Rocket Pool tokens) without proper registration. The SEC seeks a permanent injunction, civil penalties and other equitable relief against Consensys for these alleged violations of federal securities laws. [Read more at Coin Telegraph]

Crypto as a marketplace for capital flight

The IMF published a paper that shows how cryptocurrency markets can fuel cross-border capital flight by serving as marketplaces that match counterparts with and without (illicit) access to FX. In countries where international transactions are restricted, crypto exchanges effectively allow domestic agents to pay a premium to buy foreign currency. The counterparts to these transactions are agents with access to FX, who sell crypto holdings purchased abroad. A stylized model illustrates that restricted foreign currency amid economic imbalances incentivizes these transactions via persistent crypto premia in local relative to global markets. The analysis of relative crypto pricing data in several country case studies provides empirical support that crypto markets serve as marketplaces for capital flight that already took place, rather than a novel channel for capital flight. [Read more at the IMF]

Promise (un)kept? Fintech and financial inclusion

The IMF published a paper that investigates the relationship between fintech and financial inclusion in a panel of 84 countries over the period 2012–2020. It finds that the impact of fintech on financial inclusion is statistically insignificant (and negative) in advanced economies, but it becomes positive in developing countries with a statistically highly significant overall effect. Taken as a whole, these results—robust to alternative estimation methods—indicate that fintech endeavors may have so far failed to promote financial inclusion across all countries, but helped expand financial inclusion to a certain extent in developing countries. The paper concludes that policymakers need to develop an adequate regulatory framework that balances fostering innovation and ensuring equitable treatment of individuals and groups. This requires better financial education, strong regulatory institutions, and well-calibrated prudential regulations for a level playing field and effective supervision. [Read more at the IMF]

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

  • CBDC Conference, Istanbul, September 10-12. The conference will offer representatives of central banks, commercial banks, technology providers, policy makers and academics the perfect platform to learn about the latest CBDC developments, exchange ideas with experts and peers. [Find out more and register here][Central bank delegates may be eligible for free registration (email registration@cbdc-conference.com to find out more)]
  • Digital Currency Conference, London, September 23-24. The conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, and technology and innovation experts to network and discuss all aspects of digital currencies. And enter the KiffmeisterDCC code at registration to get a 20% discount! [Find out more and register here]

And 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 john@kiffmeister.com.

Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20240628)

~ kiffmeister

MAS expands industry collaboration to scale asset tokenization

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) published a white paper on the first phase of its Global Layer One (GL1) tokenization initiative. GL1 is envisaged as a public permissioned distributed ledger technology (DLT) network developed by regulated institutions for use by the financial industry across jurisdictions to deploy inherently interoperable digital asset applications, governed by common standards and technology for assets, smart contracts, and digital identities. Financial institutions will be able to develop, deploy and use applications for financial industry use cases along the value chain, such as issuance, distribution, trading and settlement, custody, asset servicing, and payments. The whitepaper details the design principles, objectives, considerations and potential uses of GL1. GL1 plans to expand collaboration with more policymakers, central banks, regulators, international standards setting bodies and financial institutions as work on GL1 progresses. [Read more at the MAS]

BdF and HKMA to unlock new WCBDC cross-border opportunities

The Banque de France (BdF) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) have launched a collaboration relating to wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC). They will delve into the study of interoperability between their wholesale CBDC infrastructure, i.e. the BDF’s DL3S and the HKMA’s Project Ensemble Sandbox, with the main focus on real-time cross-border and cross-currency payments. The cross-border experiment aims to explore how to optimize settlement efficiency of cross-border transactions, and facilitate interoperability between financial market infrastructures in different jurisdictions. [Read more at the HKMA]

Going cashless has turned Sweden into a high-crime nation?

Financial crime has become a growing risk for Sweden, with criminals taking 1.2 billion kronor in 2023 through scams, doubling from 2021. And law-enforcement agencies estimate that the size of Sweden’s criminal economy could amount to as high as 2.5% of the country’s gross domestic product. A Fortune article links these developments to switch from cash to electronic payments, and the pervasiveness of the BankID system that speeds such transactions up. It requires a six-digit code, a fingerprint or a face scan for authentication, but the system is being abused by fraudsters and scammers. Some are calling for banks to bear a bigger share of the burden when customers are defrauded, as will be the case in the United Kingdom, where, starting in October, banks will have to reimburse customers who have been conned into making transfers. [Read more in Fortune]

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

  • CBDC Conference, Istanbul, September 10-12. The conference will offer representatives of central banks, commercial banks, technology providers, policy makers and academics the perfect platform to learn about the latest CBDC developments, exchange ideas with experts and peers. [Find out more and register here][Central bank delegates may be eligible for free registration (email registration@cbdc-conference.com to find out more)]
  • Digital Currency Conference, London, September 23-24. The conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, and technology and innovation experts to network and discuss all aspects of digital currencies. And enter the KiffmeisterDCC code at registration to get a 20% discount! [Find out more and register here]

And 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 john@kiffmeister.com.

Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20240626)

~ kiffmeister

Central banks of France and Luxembourg publish results of Project Venus

The Banque de France (BdF) and Banque Centrale du Luxembourg have published the results of Project Venus, a successful 2022 experiment demonstrating the use of distributed ledger technologies (DLTs) in digital bond issuance and settlement. On 29 November 2022, the European Investment Bank (EIB) successfully issued a euro‑denominated digital bond on a private blockchain using wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) for settlement. Goldman Sachs Bank Europe, Santander and Société Générale facilitated the subscription and distribution processes. While project Venus was considered a success, further experimentation and policy work will be required before the decision is made to issue issue a wholesale CBDC. Meanwhile, the Eurosystem is conducting additional experiments and trials, with conclusions expected by mid-2025. [Read more at the BdF]

Boerse Stuttgart, German banks to test settle tokenized securities

The Boerse Stuttgart Group (BSG) will be part of the second wave of the European Central Bank (ECB) European Union-wide wholesale DLT trials for central bank money settlement. Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank, DZ Bank, LBBW, Bankhaus Metzler and V-Bank, who are directly connected to the Bourse’s new blockchain-based settlement solution, will act as trading and settlement participants to test the settlement of exchange transactions with tokenized securities against central bank money. The Deutsche Bundesbank is providing its trigger solution, which connects blockchain transactions with the traditional euro payment system, for the test. [Read more at BSG]

India’s retail CBDC transaction volumes continue to slump

Usage of India’s e-rupee, has slumped to just a tenth of the 1 million retail transactions per day peak hit in December 2023, according to a Reuters report. The transactions that are continuing are in part due to banks disbursing benefits to their employees via the e-rupee. This has helped to push up transactions to about 250,000 to 300,000 per day towards the end of each month. Apparently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is not planning to rapidly expand the pilot and the current focus is on testing the technology and developing use cases for the digital currency. [Read more at Reuters]

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

  • CBDC Conference, Istanbul, September 10-12. The conference will offer representatives of central banks, commercial banks, technology providers, policy makers and academics the perfect platform to learn about the latest CBDC developments, exchange ideas with experts and peers. [Find out more and register here][Central bank delegates may be eligible for free registration (email registration@cbdc-conference.com to find out more)]
  • Digital Currency Conference, London, September 23-24. The conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, and technology and innovation experts to network and discuss all aspects of digital currencies. And enter the KiffmeisterDCC code at registration to get a 20% discount! [Find out more and register here]

And 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 john@kiffmeister.com.

Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20240625)

~ kiffmeister

ECB announces 48 participants in wholesale DLT trials

The European Central Bank (ECB) gave its approval for an additional group of participants to test distributed ledger technology (DLT) for the settlement of wholesale transactions in central bank money. In total, 48 private firms from the financial sector and three central banks will take part in the second wave of the Eurosystem’s exploratory work. From July to November 2024, the group will explore specific use cases, joining a first group of participants who have already been testing since May 13. This second wave will broaden the scope of the exploratory work and will cover (i) domestic payments within the euro area with mock settlement, (ii) a wide set of securities-related use cases with both real and mock settlement, and (iii) foreign exchange payment-versus-payment (PvP) transactions with other central banks with mock settlement. Meanwhile, nine participants from the first group will add further use cases and interoperability-type solutions. [Read more at the ECB]

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

  • CBDC Conference, Istanbul, September 10-12. The conference will offer representatives of central banks, commercial banks, technology providers, policy makers and academics the perfect platform to learn about the latest CBDC developments, exchange ideas with experts and peers. [Find out more and register here][Central bank delegates may be eligible for free registration (email registration@cbdc-conference.com to find out more)]
  • Digital Currency Conference, London, September 23-24. The conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, and technology and innovation experts to network and discuss all aspects of digital currencies. And enter the KiffmeisterDCC code at registration to get a 20% discount! [Find out more and register here]

And 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 john@kiffmeister.com.

Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20240624)

~ kiffmeister

Mt Gox to start distributing $9 billion in bitcoin to creditors

On June 24, 2024, Mt. Gox’s rehabilitation trustee announced that it will start processing reimbursements starting in July 2024. More than $9 billion worth of Bitcoin (BTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is owed to approximately 127,000 creditors of Mt. Gox. These creditors have been waiting for over 10 years to recover their funds following the exchange’s collapse in 2014 due to multiple unnoticed hacks. The trustee had transferred BTC and BCH worth $9.62 billion into a new wallet, “1Jbez,” from several other cold wallets associated with Mt. Gox in May 2024 as part of a consolidation plan to prepare to start repaying creditors. [Read more at Mt. Gox]

ECB publishes first progress report on digital euro preparation phase

The European Central Bank (ECB) published its first progress report on the digital euro preparation phase, which was launched on 1 November 2023 with the aim of laying the foundations for the potential issuance of a digital euro. The report outlines the progress made on key digital euro design aspects and the envisaged next steps for the project. [Read more at the ECB and a summary at Ledger Insights]

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

  • CBDC Conference, Istanbul, September 10-12. The conference will offer representatives of central banks, commercial banks, technology providers, policy makers and academics the perfect platform to learn about the latest CBDC developments, exchange ideas with experts and peers. [Find out more and register here][Central bank delegates may be eligible for free registration (email registration@cbdc-conference.com to find out more)]
  • Digital Currency Conference, London, September 23-24. The conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, and technology and innovation experts to network and discuss all aspects of digital currencies. And enter the KiffmeisterDCC code at registration to get a 20% discount! [Find out more and register here]

And 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 john@kiffmeister.com.

Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20240620)

~ kiffmeister

Swiss wholesale CBDC trial with SDX extended by two years

The Swiss National Bank (SNB) will continue its Project Helvetia pilot focusing on tokenized securities settlement on SIX Digital Exchange (SDX) in Swiss franc wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) for at least two more years. This will come after the successful completion of Project Helvetia III, which will run until the end of June 2024. This included the SNB becoming the world’s first central bank to carry out a monetary policy operation in a live production environment using distributed ledger technology (DLT) when it issued CHF 64 billion in SNB one-week bills on the SDX platform in early June. The next stage of the pilot aims at expanding the scope with the intention to gradually include additional financial institutions and to serve a broader range of financial market transactions. [Read more at the SNB]

IMF seen as overstretched in expanding its work, including digital currency

The Independent Evaluation Office of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded that newer IMF policy areas, including digital money, climate change and gender issues, are leading to serious challenges, including overburdening staff. It finds that the systematic widening of the IMF’s areas of work is posing adaptation challenges, necessitating trade-offs, and overburdening staff within a context of budgetary and expertise constraints. The evaluation offered a framework for approaching these challenges that is centered on a trilemma that exposes the tension between the steady expansion of the IMF’s scope of work, its limited resources, and the need to maintain the high quality and value-added of its policy advice. [Read the IEO Chair’s summary here and the Managing Director’s response here]

BIS finds a third of jurisdictions not developing crypto regulations

Last week I reported on the Bank for International (BIS) annual survey of global CBDC developments, but this year they also surveyed central banks on their jurisdictions’ approaches to cryptocurrency. On crypto, the survey showed that stablecoins are hardly used for payments outside the crypto ecosystem, apart from some use by niche groups for remittances and retail payments.. ore than 60% of responding jurisdictions currently have or are developing a regulatory framework for stablecoins and other crypto-assets. Most of these jurisdictions opted for or are developing bespoke regulation (48%), as the opportunities, risks and/or features of crypto-assets would not neatly fit within their existing regulatory frameworks. [Read more at the BIS]

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

  • CBDC Conference, Istanbul, September 10-12. The conference will offer representatives of central banks, commercial banks, technology providers, policy makers and academics the perfect platform to learn about the latest CBDC developments, exchange ideas with experts and peers. [Find out more and register here][Central bank delegates may be eligible for free registration (email registration@cbdc-conference.com to find out more)]
  • Digital Currency Conference, London, September 23-24. The conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, and technology and innovation experts to network and discuss all aspects of digital currencies. And enter the KiffmeisterDCC code at registration to get a 20% discount! [Find out more and register here]

And 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 john@kiffmeister.com.

Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20240619)

~ kiffmeister

Korea to trial digital vouchers based on WCBDC-backed deposit tokens

The Korean Ministry of Science and Information and Communications Technology (MSIT) and the Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA) launched an investment project to promote the domestic blockchain industry. It is committing Won 20 billion ($14.5 million) across 14 projects, divided into two public sector and the private sector parts. One of the public sector projects includes the development of a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC)-based digital voucher management platform by the Bank of Korea. This platform will allow various voucher programs to be used on mobile devices, improving the efficiency and accessibility of digital payments. [Read more at the MSIT]

SEC closes Ethereum 2.0 investigation, will not sue Consensys

The Enforcement Division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has notified Consensys that it is closing its investigation into Ethereum (ETH) 2.0, and will not pursue an enforcement action against the technology incubator that develops decentralized software services and applications that operate on the Ethereum blockchain. The SEC was investigating whether ETH had become a “security” after it switched from a proof-of-work (PoW) to proof-of-stake (PoS) protocol (from “ETH 1.0” to “ETH 2.0”). In April 2024, Consensys had filed a lawsuit against the SEC, alleging that the investigation was an “unlawful seizure of authority” over Ethereum, on the grounds that ETH is a “commodity” and therefore outside the SEC’s jurisdiction. [Read more at Consensys]

Tether launches USD-pegged gold-backed Alloy stablecoin

Tether is launched Alloy (aUSD₮), a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar overcollateralized by Tether Gold (XAU₮). Users can mint aUSD₮ by depositing XAU₮ as collateral through a process managed by Ethereum-compatible smart contracts. The aUSD₮ smart contract ensures transparency by keeping track of all collateral and minted tokens, using price oracles to constantly evaluate the Mint to Value (MTV) ratio. [Read more at Tether]

National Australia Bank shutters stablecoin project

The National Australia Bank has reportedly shuttered its AUDN stablecoin project. The core team, including long time NAB staff, left the bank to start an independent Australian dollar stablecoin, Ubiquity. NAB gave the reason for ending the project as a lack of customer demand. One of the use cases was blockchain-based settlement of tokenized carbon credits as a blockchain-based project. However, blockchain technology was ditched, removing one of the AUDN motives [Read more at Ledger Insights]

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

  • CBDC Conference, Istanbul, September 10-12. The conference will offer representatives of central banks, commercial banks, technology providers, policy makers and academics the perfect platform to learn about the latest CBDC developments, exchange ideas with experts and peers. [Find out more and register here][Central bank delegates may be eligible for free registration (email registration@cbdc-conference.com to find out more)]
  • Digital Currency Conference, London, September 23-24. The conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, and technology and innovation experts to network and discuss all aspects of digital currencies. And enter the KiffmeisterDCC code at registration to get a 20% discount! [Find out more and register here]

And 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 john@kiffmeister.com.

Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20240618)

~ kiffmeister

Iran’s central bank to pilot CBDC pilot on Kish Island

The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) will launch a pilot its digital rial central bank digital currency (CBDC) in July 2024. It will allow banking customers and tourists on Kish Island to make purchases and transfer funds using digital wallets and QR codes. The CBI has been developing its CBDC since 2022, and started proof-of-concept work in June 2023. The digital rial has been targeted solely for use in Iran and to facilitate domestic micro payments operations. The overarching goal of the project is to modernize and simplify domestic transactions. [Read more at the CBI]

Fnality, HQLAᵡ aim to launch blockchain intraday repo this year

Fnality and HQLAᵡ have completed end-to-end testing to enable intraday sterling repo settlement on the Eurex Repo F7 platform via their two blockchain networks. They plan to go live in Q4 2024 subject to UK regulatory approvals. Fnality is a UK-regulated systemic payment system and HQLAᵡ operates a digital collateral registry to enable intraday collateral movement. Fnality’s settlement instrument is effectively a “synthetic” wholesale CBDC – i..e., a sterling-denominated stablecoin backed by deposits in a Bank of England omnibus account. In conventional repo transactions, the collateral settlement takes two days, but on the Fnality/HQLAᵡ platform, trades can be settled on a atomically intra-day delivery-versus-payment (DvP) basis. [Read more at Ledger Insights]

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

  • CBDC Conference, Istanbul, September 10-12. The conference will offer representatives of central banks, commercial banks, technology providers, policy makers and academics the perfect platform to learn about the latest CBDC developments, exchange ideas with experts and peers. [Find out more and register here][Central bank delegates may be eligible for free registration (email registration@cbdc-conference.com to find out more)]
  • Digital Currency Conference, London, September 23-24. The conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, and technology and innovation experts to network and discuss all aspects of digital currencies. And enter the KiffmeisterDCC code at registration to get a 20% discount! [Find out more and register here]

And 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 john@kiffmeister.com.

Kiffmeister’s #Fintech Daily Digest (20240616)

~ kiffmeister

Ethiopia paves the way for central bank digital currency

The Ethiopian government’s Council of Ministers approved a draft proclamation that would establish a legal framework for the introduction of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The proposed National Bank of Ethiopia Establishment Proclamation revisions will soon be referred to the House of People’s Representatives for review, comment, and final ratification. [Read more on LinkedIn]

Project Meridian FX to test synchronized settlement in FX

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub and Bank of England have launched Project Meridian FX to experiment with FX transaction synchronization concepts. This will be achieved via a “synchronization operator” (SO) that uses distributed ledger technology (DLT) to interlink central bank settlement (RTGS) systems, and orchestrate the settlement of a payment versus payment (PvP) FX transactions. The experiments, which will take place towards the end of 2024, will connect Meridian FX’s SO to the three solutions being explored as part of the Eurosystem’s broader exploratory work on wholesale settlement. [Read more at the BIS]

Philippine government unveils eGOVchain blockchain

The Philippine Government’s Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has reportedly introduced eGOVchain, a government blockchain aimed at enhancing transparency, security, and efficiency in public transactions. DICT’s efforts to streamline government services are encapsulated in its five-pillar strategy under the e-Gov office. These include developing e-government platforms, assisting local and national government agencies, innovating at the grassroots level, building cloud services and aligning government information systems. [Read more at CoinGeek]

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

  • CBDC Conference, Istanbul, September 10-12. The conference will offer representatives of central banks, commercial banks, technology providers, policy makers and academics the perfect platform to learn about the latest CBDC developments, exchange ideas with experts and peers. [Find out more and register here][Central bank delegates may be eligible for free registration (email registration@cbdc-conference.com to find out more)]
  • Digital Currency Conference, London, September 23-24. The conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, and technology and innovation experts to network and discuss all aspects of digital currencies. And enter the KiffmeisterDCC code at registration to get a 20% discount! [Find out more and register here]

And 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 john@kiffmeister.com.