Currency
Payments and market infrastructure provider of the year: VocaLink
The UK payments provider has built on domestic success to support real-time payments in Thailand and the US
PBoC issues second warning to bitcoin exchanges
Nine platforms told to enforce AML and forex regulation if they are to continue operating within China; bitcoin price holds firm against news
Philippines central bank enforces virtual currency regulation
Exchanges will have to apply for certificate of registration and implement specific risk management framework; central bank imposes transaction limit
National Bank of Poland to release new highest value banknote
500-zloty note will enter circulation on February 10 and be the last of the new series, which was first announced in 2014
ECB reports 20.7% drop in number of counterfeits
Number of counterfeits ticked up in the second half of 2016, but annual figures are down; €50 note still dominates in terms of counterfeit volume, with new note to be released in April
RBI signals end to cash controls
Central bank prepares to lift restrictions on cash withdrawals but shift from “demonetisation” to “remonetisation” is only partially complete
Swift records 29.5% decline in renminbi payments
Canadian dollar overtakes renminbi to become fifth most used for international payments; latest data shows slowdown of Chinese economy as well as volatility in exchange rate could be to blame
IMF: Indian demonetisation to have ‘limited impact’ on Nepal
Some households have been affected, the IMF says, but holdings of Indian rupees were “small”; the Central Bank of Nepal is offering an exchange facility to those wanting to exchange cash
Bitcoin exchange halts service after PBoC clampdown
BTC123 becomes first exchange in China to halt services due to ongoing investigation by government agencies into virtual currency; cuts rates on wealth products
PBoC to investigate bitcoin firms
Bitcoin price falls by 33% in January; PBoC to investigate four largest bitcoin companies
Polymer banknote provider Innovia bought for $845 million
Innovia bought by Canadian competitor following a “successful” year; CCL to build on the polymer provider's expertise in the field
Venezuela’s Maduro backtracks on bolivar withdrawal
Venezuelan currency crisis continues with delay of new series and re-integration of 100 bolivar note, as president blames “international sabotage”
Macedonian notes: world’s first security thread in long window
New designs entering circulation feature De La Rue’s Kinetic StarChrome; central bank also begins withdrawal of the D5,000 note