Transforming RTGS: Bank of England Highlights New Connectivity and Synchronisation Plans

Victoria Cleland, Executive Director for Banking, Payments, and Innovation at the Bank of England, delivered a speech at FinTech Connect on 5 December 2024, outlining the future roadmap for the UK’s Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) service. In her address, she emphasised the Bank’s commitment to enhancing the resilience, accessibility, and functionality of the RTGS system […]
The Bank of England’s New Paper Explores the Role of a CBDC in a Digital Economy

The Bank of England has published a new paper titled “The Role of Central Bank Digital Currency in an Increasingly Digital Economy“. The paper examines the potential benefits and implications of introducing an unremunerated retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) against the backdrop of declining cash usage and growing online transactions in the UK. The […]
Manchester University’s Centre of FinTech Studies Partners with the Digital Pound Foundation

We are pleased to announce that Manchester University’s Centre of Financial Technology (FinTech) Studies has joined the Digital Pound Foundation (DPF) as a strategic partner. The Centre of FinTech Studies is a Knowledge and Research hub set up by the Alliance Manchester Business School in 2022 to explore digital advancements in finance. It collaborates with […]
Former Binance Executives Launching MiCA-Compliant Euro Stablecoin Within Two Weeks

As the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) approaches its final enforcement deadline later this year, Europe is set to welcome a new euro-backed stablecoin to the digital currency landscape. Schuman Financial, a recently established cryptocurrency firm founded by former Binance executives Martin Bruncko and Eduardo Morrison, has announced its launch, unveiling its inaugural product, the […]
Xoom by PayPal Introduces Stablecoin Settlements for Cross-Border Payments

PayPal has announced that its cross-border payments platform, Xoom, will now offer settlement services using PayPal USD (PYUSD). This marks a significant step in integrating stablecoins into global money transfers. As revealed in a press release on Tuesday, 19th November, the service will initially be available to Xoom’s disbursement partners, with Cebuana Lhuillier, a financial […]
HM Treasury Aims to Modernise Payments and Drive Innovation with its New National Payments Vision

HM Treasury has announced its National Payments Vision, setting out an ambitious plan to position the UK as a global leader in payments. This strategy aims to strengthen the economy by fostering innovation, enhancing security, and offering consumers and businesses a range of trusted payment options, all underpinned by next-generation technology. In the ministerial foreword, […]
Norway Backs EU Crypto Regulation, Weighs Potential CBDC for Financial Stability

Norges Bank, Norway’s central bank, has voiced its support for the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation while evaluating the potential for a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to enhance cross-border payments and bolster financial stability. As part of the European Economic Area (EEA), Norway aligns closely with EU regulations, including MiCA. Kjetil Watne, […]
China Enhances CBDC Offline Wallet with Touch, Visual, and Scan Capabilities

China has consistently prioritised inclusivity in its development of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). With the digital RMB, or eCNY, the country aims to make the currency accessible to those who may lack smartphones or experience unreliable internet connectivity. This inclusivity is particularly important for elderly users and tourists who might prefer not to […]
From Gen Z to the Elderly: Digital Pound Foundation Workshop Identifies Key Use Cases for a Digital Currency

On 23 September 2024, as part of Currency Research’s Digital Currency Conference, the Digital Pound Foundation (DPF) ran a “hands-on” workshop where participants looked to find the killer use case for a digital currency. Participants from central banks, the IMF, corporates and academia sat down to brainstorm why “Anthony’s granny”, the financially excluded/stretched, digitally native […]
China’s Digital Yuan CBDC Gains Momentum with Huawei and IATA Integrations

In a significant leap for China’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital yuan is now finding integration across diverse sectors, from mobile operating systems to global aviation. Huawei has embedded the digital yuan directly into its Harmony OS, allowing seamless in-app payments with the CBDC, while the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced […]