Fintech
Basel Committee clarifies ‘expectations’ on crypto
Banks must meet certain minimum standards if they want to trade crypto assets
Experts debate regulatory support for energy-hungry technology
Blockchain requires a vast amount of power
Menon backs blockchain as Project Ubin enters new phase
The MAS aims to expand Project Ubin into instant 24/7 cross-border platform, says Menon
ECCB announces digital currency pilot
Governor Antoine says pilot is not “academic exercise”
Sub-Saharan Africa could be fintech hub – IMF author
Wider adoption of mobile banking provides platform for further developments, says Amadou Sy
UN report questions value of fintech sandboxes
Regulators are “unprepared” for the level of effort and resources needed to launch a sandbox
Bank of Spain paper rejects bitcoin as alternative to large-scale payment system
Objectives of crypto asset make it unsatisfactory as a payment network – research
African countries leveraging data for regtech
IMF paper shows countries are looking at how to use tech to streamline supervision processes
Big tech companies poised to disrupt financial services – FSB
New report claims fintech hasn’t had an impact on competition in financial sector
Central Banking expands fintech bandwidth
New fintech category; newsletter to offer insights into related opportunities and threats
Five digital currency questions for central banks
Central bankers need to take a view on the ongoing disruption to monetary systems, argues Adam Csabay
US sanctions on Venezuela could be death knell for petro
Crypto asset is backed by oil reserves the country can barely commercialise
CBDC is mixed bag for financial stability – Bank of Korea
Central bank paper highlights stability concerns but adds some positives
Thailand and Cambodia join forces on QR code network
Central banks to pilot QR code network for retail payments
Countries must counter money-laundering through fintech – IMF official
IMF’s Adrian calls for regional co-operation and consultation on new payment systems
UAE central bank and Sama partner for blockchain project
New system aims to provide more efficient central financial transfer system
Book notes: Democratizing Money?, by Beat Weber
This is a timely book about ‘how money really works’
Latin America has 66% more fintech startups than in 2017 – IDB
IDB report also reveals region has a higher proportion of female founders than global average
Dutch central bank and regulator call for AML law for crypto assets
But regulations should change to make crypto asset financing easier for small firms – DNB
Crypto assets hobbled by proof of work, finds BIS economist
Raphael Auer says bitcoin payments could take “nearly a year” to become truly final
Malta’s crypto asset plan means greater money laundering risks, IMF warns
Authorities must rapidly improve AML regime and guarantee FSA’s independence, mission says
Adoption of a privately-issued digital currency can reduce social welfare, researchers find
Optimal policy can be achieved through central bank digital currency, authors say
AML/CFT regulation to cover crypto assets – Sarb
New proposals will construct a “limited” regulatory framework for crypto assets