Cash
BoE sets out design principles for retail CBDC
Paper sheds new light on BoE’s thinking on design process and possible pitfalls
RBNZ prepares unconventional policy tools
Central bank is not planning to use them yet, governor stresses
Fed ramps up Covid-19 response
Central bank in “firefighting mode”, undoing repo tapering and offering regulatory relief to banks
IMF urges caution on CBDCs in Eastern Caribbean
Scope to modernise payments, but central bank must proceed with caution, IMF staff warn
BIS paper lays out ‘crucial’ design choices for CBDC
Challenge is to design a currency that balances credibility and convenience, says Hyun Song Shin
Policy responses to Covid-19
The coronavirus outbreak poses a real threat to the global economy, writes Sayuri Shirai
Cash usage falling rapidly in Denmark
Share of the population not carrying cash doubled from 2017 to 2019
Bank of Canada developing CBDC ‘contingency plan’
Central bank could issue CBDC if private sector alternatives become quickly dominant, deputy governor says
Why Bulgaria needs to deepen its currency board
The BNB’s currency board rules should be extended to transaction deposits at commercial banks, which could in turn issue digital currencies, even in the event of euro adoption
RBNZ governor: lawmakers must help preserve cash access
New Zealand governor says industry and politicians must respond to the rise of “less cash” society
Brazil to launch instant payments platform
System is set to become operational in November 2020 and will allow tax payments
Bank of England launches new £20 banknote
BoE says the new polymer note is the “most secure” it has issued
Lawmakers should halt closures of Canadian bank branches – research
Bank of Canada paper urges lawmakers to look at Swedish proposal to keep remote branches open
Initiative of the year: Bank of Thailand
The Thai central bank has used two-way communications to support the delivery of major initiatives, including an instant payment system
Currency manager: Bank of Mexico
Central bank invested in new printing plant to address capacity and concentration risks
Belgium to launch new ‘smart’ ATM network
Network will look to solve geographical disparity and maintain cash services
Interview: Björn Segendorf
Riksbank senior adviser thinks it highly unlikely cash will disappear completely in Sweden, but says if it does, the central bank will continue to keep stocks of cash
RBI launches app to help visually impaired
App can be used by people with visual impairment to identify banknotes
Are we sleepwalking into a cashless society?
Cash could be crowded out of the payment landscape if current trends continue, but should central banks be responsible for ensuring its survival?
Riksbank to work with Accenture on e-krona pilot
First year will see development of user interface for mobile, card and watch-based payments
CBDC has been “over-hyped” – former RBI deputy
Focus on retail CBDCs is a potential distraction from core central banking functions, says Sinha
ECB welcomes Swedish draft law to order banks to supply cash
Proposed law follows Riksbank’s warnings on risks of Sweden’s rapid move away from cash
Swedish MPs propose dual mandate for Riksbank
Proposals aim to redefine institution’s role in monetary policy, financial stability and payments, while enhancing independence
The pursuit of ‘fintecgrity’
Digital currencies, distributed ledgers and deep learning are set to transform the financial economy. How can regulators maintain integrity at the confluence of finance and technology?