Currency Research published the July 2024 edition of its Central Bank Payments News, featuring an article by Joachim Samuelsson (Crunchfish) on the assumptions to avoid when developing retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) systems. There is also an article by the Bank of Ghana’s Kwame Oppong and Docia Boakye on legal considerations for the development of a CBDC, plus numerous updates on central bank payment systems. [Download the edition here]

Swiss FINMA publishes guidance on stablecoins (FINMA)

The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) published guidance on the issuance of stablecoins. It provides information on aspects of financial market law that arise in relation to stablecoin projects and the impact of such projects on the supervised institutions. The guidance also draws attention to the increased risks in the areas of money laundering, terrorist financing and the circumvention of sanctions. In particular, the identity of all persons holding the stablecoins must be adequately verified by the issuing institution or by appropriately supervised financial intermediaries. In other words anonymous transfers are prohibited. [Read more at FINMA]

Donald Trump backs strategic Bitcoin stockpile (Wired)

U.S. Presidential hopeful Donald Trump announced that if elected, he would create a strategic bitcoin reserve in the United States. “It will be the policy of my administration to keep 100 percent of all bitcoin the US government currently holds or acquires in the future … as a core of the strategic national bitcoin stockpile,” he said. Right now, the U.S. government owns more than 210,000 bitcoin that were seized via illegal operations. Trump also pledged to create a framework for ensuring the safe expansion of stablecoins, and doubled down on his vow to scrap any effort to issue CBDC. He also defended the right to crypto-asset self custody and promised to fire Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler. [Read more at Wired]

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:

• Intertribal Foreign Affairs Council Forum 2024, Yidindji, August 30-31. The conference will bring together indigenous nations to showcase the excellence of their governance practices and generate new ideas for the future. I’ll be on a panel focused on the future of money and indigenous financial inclusion. [Find out more and register here]
• 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.