Interoperability Standards for Digital Assets (MIT/SODA)
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Standards Organization for Digital Assets (SODA) published a white paper that addresses the need for global standards to enable tokenized real-world assets to move seamlessly across different blockchain networks and traditional financial systems. The White Paper describes the need to create neutral, open standards through three workstreams: a data model defining asset information, common digital functions for smart contracts, and legal/governance frameworks ensuring regulatory compliance. The paper draws parallels to historical standardization successes like the internet’s TCP/IP protocol and shipping containers, arguing that without interoperability standards, tokenization will only deliver isolated efficiencies rather than transforming global finance. Contributors from major institutions including Chainlink, Fireblocks, Wormhole, and others emphasize that true scalability requires standardized approaches to cross-chain transfers, identity verification, compliance, and connectivity with existing financial infrastructure, ultimately enabling the tokenized asset market by 2030 to reach its full potential. [Source: SODA]
Ethiopia Unveils 5-Year National Digital Payment Strategy (NBE)
[December 9, 2025] The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) published a draft National Digital Payment Strategy 2026–30. The five-year framework outlines a roadmap to build a trusted, innovative, and integrated digital payments ecosystem. Part of the study involves studying stablecoins, cryptocurrencies, and central bank digital currency (CBDC), map their current use in Ethiopia, and identify concrete, locally viable use-cases for future policy and product development. Furthermore, white papers will be published and, if deemed necessary, required regulatory frameworks and pilot programs will be implemented. [Source: NBE]
Upcoming Speaking Engagements:
The Digital Euro Conference 2026 (Frankfurt, March 26) will explore the future of money with a focus on CBDCs, stablecoins, and commercial bank tokens. This hybrid event offers the perfect platform to understand the future of digital money! [Register here and get 20% off the regular ticket price by using the Kiffmeister20 code!]
I produce a monthly digest of digital fiat currency (DFC) developments exclusively for the official sector (e.g., central banks, ministries of finance and international financial institution (e.g., the BIS, IMF, OECD, World Bank)) plus academics and firms that are active in the DFC space (commercial banks, technology providers, consultants, etc.). (DFCs include central bank digital currency (CBDC), stablecoins and tokenized deposits.) It goes out via email on the first business day of every month, and if you’re interested in being on the mailing list, please email me at john@kiffmeister.com.
