Fintech
Two in five CBDCs designed to be programmable
Over half of respondents’ retail CBDC projects are at research phase
Some central banks expect CBDC to boost seigniorage
Result depends on design features of digital currency, with many central banks unsure of the outcome
Iraq’s KRG launches payment system for government bills
Central bank-approved platform forms part of digitisation efforts in autonomous Kurdistan Region
Payment innovation is top fintech research priority
Recruitment and retention of talents is biggest tech challenge, but constraints vary somewhat by teams
Central banks facing fintech hiring challenges tend to have bigger teams
Private sector opportunity is most widely reported issue for fintech staffing
World will choose dollar stablecoins over CBDCs – Bessent
Treasury secretary expects private sector option to be “important source of funding” for US government
HKMA wants lenders to accelerate post-quantum planning
De facto central bank to unveil preparedness index, among other future-proofing tech initiatives
Nigeria’s central bank publishes first fintech report
Inaugural edition focuses on how current regulatory frameworks impact innovation
Bank Indonesia becomes full member of Nexus
Cross-border network seeking system architect to lead global instant payments interoperability
BdF governor and Coinbase CEO clash over stablecoins at Davos
De Galhau warns of ‘full dollarisation’, while head of crypto exchange heralds dawn of ‘bitcoin standard’
Iran using Tether’s stablecoin to bypass sanctions, report finds
Central bank thought to be using USDT to buy rial on crypto exchanges as domestic currency plummets
India proposes linking Brics countries’ CBDCs
Bloc, which has already committed to improving payments interoperability, faces geopolitical challenges
Trad-fi ethereum adoption creates regulatory dilemma – study
Collapse in price of ether could trigger validator exodus from blockchain, Bank of Italy paper says
Trump crypto startup inks stablecoin deal with Pakistan
Central bank will integrate World Liberty Financial’s USD1 into country’s payment system
Academics call on European Parliament to back digital euro
Signatories of open letter say CBDC is vital to ensure Europe is not reliant on US payment providers
Private credit to play bigger role in AI boom – BIS study
Hidden leverage may dispel notion that sector poses only moderate stability risks, authors say