KodeLab joins the Digital Pound Foundation as an Associate Member
We are pleased to announce the addition of KodeLab to the Digital Pound Foundation’s membership community. They join the Foundation as an Associate Member. KodeLab is a full service consultancy specialising in digital assets, blockchain and AI. They also have a technology product suite enabling business end-users to instantly unlock ultra-flexible credit/liquidity in their properties […]
Project Agorá launched with seven central banks, featuring USD, Euro, GBP, and Yen CBDC digital currencies
Project Agorá was launched this week by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub, aiming to transform cross-border payments using tokenization. This initiative is aligned with the novel concept of a Unified Ledger, aiming to harmonise the efforts of seven central banks along with commercial banks on a unified, programmable platform designed to streamline […]
SWIFT to Unveil CBDC Platform in Move Towards Digital Banking
In a significant development for the global banking sector, SWIFT, the international banking communications network, has announced plans to launch a new platform within the next 12 to 24 months. This platform aims to integrate the emerging central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) with the current financial system. The initiative underscores the rapidly growing interest in […]
Sweden Explores Offline Payments in the Final E-Krona CBDC Pilot Report
Sweden’s central bank, the Riksbank, has concluded its exploration into the potential of a digital krona with the publication of its fourth and final report on the project, released on March 20. This culminating document sheds light on the outcomes of the e-krona pilot, particularly emphasising the user experience and the digital currency’s offline capabilities, […]
From Pilot to Policy: The Accelerated Adoption of Digital Currencies in MENA
A significant focus has been placed on the development of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, highlighting the UAE’s strides in digital currency integration. A recent EY report outlined the UAE Central Bank’s ongoing efforts to incorporate the digital Dirham, inviting commercial banks and payment processors to […]
Exploring the Future of Digital Currency in Africa | Poundcast Episode 14
In Episode 14 of the Poundcast, we delve into the dynamic world of African digital currency with Adedeji Owonibi, Founder and CEO at Convexity. Adedeji shares his expertise on the developments in the Nigerian CBDC and stablecoin space, shedding light on initiatives like the eNaira and the African Stablecoin Consortium. He discusses the vision behind […]
Innovation vs Access to Cash: Priorities for a Retail CBDC
Author: Claire Conby, Operations and Innovation Lead at the Digital Pound Foundation and Co-founder of OneStep Financial – with thanks to Phil Kenworthy for his input into this article (and for the waving of the £5 note!) A few weeks ago, I was sitting on a panel talking about the evolution of digital money and what we […]
Project Agila to Finalise Philippines Wholesale CBDC Pilot in 2024
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Philippines Central Bank) is set to finalise its wholesale CBDC pilot, known as Project Agila, within the year. The project, which sees the collaboration of six local financial institutions, is exploring the potential of using CBDC for securities transactions, as indicated by Mamerto Tangonan, the Deputy Governor for Payments and […]
Hong Kong’s HKMA Launches Project Ensemble: A Significant Move Towards Tokenized Banking
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has unveiled Project Ensemble, a new wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) initiative aimed at enhancing interbank settlements through the tokenization of commercial bank money, or tokenized deposits. This project is set to trial in a dedicated wCBDC Sandbox, focusing on the settlement of various tokenization scenarios, including the […]
EU Backs Plans for an EU-Wide Digital Wallet for Secure Online Authentication
The European Union has backed plans for a new EU-wide wallet, which would enable EU citizens to securely identify and authenticate themselves online without relying on third-party commercial services, addressing concerns related to trust, security, and privacy. The Digital Identity Wallet would be designed for voluntary use. Throughout the negotiation process, Members of the European […]
