Swiss City of Lugano Launches Blockchain Bond with Wholesale CBDC Settlement
In Switzerland, the city of Lugano has announced the issuance of its second blockchain bond, following its initial blockchain bond launch a year prior. This recent issuance, valued at CHF 100 million, integrates with the Swiss National Bank’s (SNB) Project Helvetia, marking a significant step by settling transactions in wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC). […]
Bank of England awards digital pound ‘sample wallet’ contract
Source: Global Government Fintech The Bank of England (BoE) has inked a contract with a consultancy to develop a central bank digital currency (CBDC) digital wallet proof-of-concept as it looks to ‘make the CBDC product more tangible’. A decision has yet to be made on whether to introduce a digital pound. But the central bank, […]
‘Seven out of 10 – maybe higher’: Bank of England deputy on ‘Britcoin’ likelihood
Source: Global Government Fintech A UK retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) has a seven out of 10 chance and ‘maybe higher’ of becoming a reality, in the personal view of a Bank of England (BoE) deputy governor. Sir Jon Cunliffe quoted the odds, which he emphasised were his private thoughts, to a parliamentary committee […]
BoE engages external experts for CBDC projects
Source: Global Government Fintech The Bank of England (BoE) is advancing its research into the technical possibilities of a potential central bank digital currency (CBDC) by engaging a consultancy, Consult Hyperion, on a pair of assignments each carrying a value of more than £100,000 (about $122,000), Global Government Fintech can reveal. A decision has yet to be […]
UN pilots blockchain and USDC stablecoin for disbursements in Ukraine
Source: Global Government Fintech The United Nations (UN) agency that helps refugees is trialling blockchain technology and a well-known so-called ‘stablecoin’ pegged to the US dollar for digital cash distribution to internally displaced persons and other war-affected people in Ukraine. UNHCR is working with the US-headquartered Stellar Development Foundation on the pilot initiative, which is […]
Bank of England focuses on offline payments in CBDC proof-of-concept
Source: Global Government Fintech The Bank of England (BoE) is looking to bring in external expertise for a project exploring the ‘complicated’ possibilities and challenges of offline central bank digital currency (CBDC) payments. A decision has yet to be made on whether to introduce a CBDC in the UK and the BoE has been relatively […]
Government payments among three priority use cases for digital euro: ECB
Original Source: Global Government Fintech Government payments are among three use cases that officials have “singled out” for the “first release” of a potential digital euro, a senior figure at the European Central Bank (ECB) has said. The ECB is halfway through a two-year ‘investigation phase’ into a potential central bank digital currency (CBDC) for the 19-member […]
Government payments among three priority use cases for digital euro: ECB
Original Source: Global Government Fintech Government payments are among three use cases that officials have “singled out” for the “first release” of a potential digital euro, a senior figure at the European Central Bank (ECB) has said. The ECB is half way through a two-year ‘investigation phase’ into a potential central bank digital currency (CBDC) for the […]
ECB consults experts over ‘privacy-enhancing’ digital euro tech
Original Source: Global Government Fintech The European Central Bank (ECB) has invited external experts to participate in a short series of technical deliberations on data privacy-related challenges involved in designing a digital euro. Talks are set to focus on the ‘large-scale application of privacy-enhancing technologies in settlement of retail payments’, according to a short ECB online […]
CBDCs on the rise: public policy motivations under the microscope
Original Source: Global Government Fintech Global Government Fintech Lab: Panel Session Five The Global Government Fintech Lab 2022’s fifth panel session explored the public policy considerations behind the mounting interest in central bank digital currencies Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are an increasingly prominent topic for government authorities worldwide. The fifth (and final) session of […]