Exploring the role of digital money in wholesale tokenized asset markets (RBA)
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) published a consultation paper which seeks industry feedback on a new research initiative, Project Acacia. This project will explore how different forms of digital money and associated infrastructure could support the development of wholesale tokenized asset markets in Australia. The consultation paper seeks expressions of interest from industry in participating in an experimental research phase for Project Acacia, and in joining an Industry Advisory Group for the project. Input is also sought on the technical and functional capabilities of new forms of settlement infrastructure and digital money, including wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) and tokenized bank deposits, that could promote well-functioning tokenized asset markets and stability in the financial system. [Read more at the RBA]
Digital yuan visual hard wallet launched (Global Times)
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) launched a credit card-sized digital yuan (e-CNY) hard wallet that supports online and offline payments, and features a screen that displays balance and payment details, and dynamic QR codes for payments. The digital wallet enables both “tap-to-pay” and “scan-to-pay” options, letting merchants accept payments on POS machines, scanners and mobile devices, without requiring new hardware. The wallet is reportedly already available for public transport payments in some cities. [Read more at Global Times and iHome.com]

An earlier version launched in 2021 included buttons so that users could enter the payment amount and the e-ink visual display was small (see below). [Read more at Ledger Insights]

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