Cryptocurrency
Iceland central bank holds first meeting of payment council
New body aims to ensure security and efficiency in payments and financial infrastructure
Thai SEC executive explains country’s ban on crypto-asset trading
Thai authorities struggled to find a happy medium between consumer protection and innovation
Bank of Samoa warns of crypto asset con
The Ponzi scheme is apparently spreading via churches
FSB to tackle technological innovation under Japanese G20 presidency
Crypto assets, tech firms and cyber risks all on the agenda, says Randal Quarles
US crypto-asset regulation needs strengthening – Massad
Former CFTC chair Timothy Massad recommends a path for regulatory reforms
Basel Committee clarifies ‘expectations’ on crypto
Banks must meet certain minimum standards if they want to trade crypto assets; more details on prudential expectations to follow
Bahamian central bank chooses start-up to spearhead CBDC project
The pilot currency is expected to be running by 2020, governor says
Central bank digital currencies need bigger incentive to succeed, researchers find
IMF paper estimates the potential demand for central bank digital currencies
IMF board says Malta must tighten AML-CFT regime
Maltese Financial Services Authority needs better funding and more independence – IMF board
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
Central Banking expands fintech bandwidth
New fintech category; newsletter to offer insights into related opportunities and threats
US sanctions on Venezuela could be death knell for petro
Crypto asset is backed by oil reserves the country can barely commercialise
Book notes: Democratizing Money?, by Beat Weber
This is a timely book about ‘how money really works’
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
BIS’s Borio calls on economists to take money more seriously
Money is too often explored in isolation, or ignored completely, the BIS economist says
EC should conduct ‘comprehensive’ crypto analysis, says EBA
Regulator says crypto assets fall outside the scope of current EU financial services regulation
Divergent motives fuelling CBDC discussion, BIS survey reveals
Majority of central banks are researching the various forms of CBDC, but very few expect to launch in the next six years
South African central bank launches review of payment system
Sarb says its regulatory mandate needs more clarity and calls for more powers over fintech
Singapore’s financial system resilient amid increased global risks – MAS
Despite headwinds the financial system can withstand ‘severe shocks’, the central bank says
Central banks should challenge risky fintech projects – Carstens
Crypto assets do not measure up against the “laws of economics”, BIS chief warns