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Canadian central bank identifies retail CBDC archetypes in theory-heavy analysis
6.10.2022
An analyst at the Bank of Canada has written a paper that identifies recurring patterns in CBDC models and how those patterns impact a list of performance criteria
Namibian Central Bank: Virtual Assets ‘Remain Without Legal Tender Status’ but Merchants Can Still Accept Them as Payment
6.10.2022
The Bank of Namibia recently said it has brought virtual assets and virtual asset service providers under its fintech innovations regulatory framework, and that it plans to amend applicable laws and regulations. According to the central bank’s governor, there is an ongoing “battle...
UN Report Urges Fed to Suspend Interest Rate Hikes, Presses for ‘Public Spending’ Increases
4.10.2022
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has warned that the U.S. Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes and the slew of other central banks raising rates, could pose harm to the global economy. UNCTAD calculated that for every Fed basis point rise, the economic output...
Kenyan Central Bank Rejects Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Claims Country Lacks Forex to Import Oil
4.10.2022
The Central Bank of Kenya appeared to rebuke the country’s new deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, after it rejected the latter’s claims the East African nation lacks enough foreign exchange to import oil. According to the bank, all the foreign exchange used in private transactions...
Bank of Russia Adds Digital Assets to Banking Chart of Accounts
3.10.2022
Central Bank of Russia has introduced digital assets, including the digital version of the Russian ruble, to the recently published draft of the new banking chart of accounts. In the future, financial institutions will be able to provide data about operations with these assets. Russian Banks...
Forex Shortages Blamed After Nigerian Currency Hits New Low Versus the US Dollar
3.10.2022
A surge in the demand for foreign exchange and the general scarcity of the resource may be the reasons why the naira currency recently slumped to a new all-time low of 735 versus the U.S. dollar, a report has said. One Nigerian currency dealer said he expects the naira to further depreciate to...
Kenyan Central Bank Raises Key Rate by 75 Basis Points
2.10.2022
The monetary policy committee of the Kenyan central bank recently revealed it increased the central bank rate by 75 basis points from 7.5% to 8.25%. Justifying its decision to act, the committee cites growing inflationary pressures and increased global risks, as well as their likely impact on...
US Senator Introduces ‘No Digital Dollar Act’ to Prohibit Treasury and the Fed From Interfering With Americans Using Paper Currency
2.10.2022
A U.S senator has introduced the “No Digital Dollar Act to prohibit the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve from interfering with Americans using paper currency” if a central bank digital currency is adopted. The bill further states: “No central bank digital currency shall...
Russia to Supply Electricity to Kazakhstan’s Cryptocurrency Miners
1.10.2022
Russia is preparing to provide Kazakhstan with additional energy needed to operate crypto mining farms in the Central Asian nation. New arrangements will allow Kazakhstan’s miners to buy electricity directly from the Russian power generation and distribution giant Inter RAO. Miners...
Central banks can push DeFi into mainstream: Swiss National Bank official
30.9.2022
A combination of centralization and decentralization is a perfect mix for the development of crypto and DeFi, according to a Swiss National Bank official
Billionaire Stan Druckenmiller Discusses Cryptocurrency Having ‘Big Role in a Renaissance’ — ‘People Aren’t Going to Trust Central Banks’
30.9.2022
Renowned billionaire hedge fund manager Stanley Druckenmiller says he could see cryptocurrency “having a big role in a Renaissance because people just aren’t going to trust the central banks.” He added that he will be “stunned” if the U.S. isn’t in...
Chinese Central Bank Says It Will Prioritize Stabilizing Currency After Yuan Plunges to 14-Year Low Versus USD
29.9.2022
Moments after the Chinese yuan’s onshore exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar slumped to 7.2458 per dollar, the Peoples Bank of China responded by stating that it will prioritize stabilizing the currency. Similar to other currencies that have been depreciating against the dollar, the yuan...
China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and UAE Trial Cross-Border Transactions With Digital Currencies
29.9.2022
The monetary authorities of four jurisdictions in Asia have carried out tests with international settlements using state-issued digital currencies. Cross-border payments and foreign exchange transactions totaling over $22 million were made as part of the pilot project with the participation of...
Hong Kong Protects Local Currency in Forex Market Amid Capital Flight to US Dollar
29.9.2022
Following the Bank of England explaining that it would be meddling in U.K. bond markets and the Bank of Japan defending the yen in the foreign exchange market last week, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) revealed it intervened in forex markets on Wednesday. Hong Kong’s central bank...
The Caribbean is pioneering CBDCs with mixed results amid banking difficulties
29.9.2022
Emtech’s Cadet talks about CBDCs in emerging markets as the U.S. Congress and United Nations hear about the traditional banking crises
French Central Banker Warns Complex Crypto Regulations Could Create ‘Uneven Playing Field’
29.9.2022
The governor of France’s central bank, François Villeroy de Galhau, has urged EU regulators to “avoid adopting diverging or contradictory regulations, or regulating too late.” He warned that “To do so would be to create an uneven playing field, risking arbitrage...
Fed Chair Jerome Powell Updates Work on Digital Dollar — Says US Central Bank Digital Currency Will Take ‘at Least a Couple of Years’
29.9.2022
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says the U.S. central bank is looking at whether to issue a digital dollar with a “very broad scope.” He noted that the Fed is collaborating with Congress and the executive branch on whether to issue a central bank digital currency. Fed Chair...
Nigerian Central Bank Hikes Key Interest Rate Just Days After Naira Plunges to New Low
28.9.2022
Following the latest meeting of the monetary policy committee, the Central Bank of Nigeria says it has hiked the monetary policy rate to 15.5%. By increasing the key interest rate by 150 basis points, the central bank hopes to “narrow the negative real interest rate gap and rein...
Israel, Norway and Sweden's central banks partner with BIS to explore CBDC
28.9.2022
The Project Icebreaker initiative aimed to improve cross-border payments by reducing costs and increasing speed and transparency, with a final report expected in Q1 2023
Settlements With China — Russia Plans Next Step for Digital Ruble
28.9.2022
Russia intends to use its digital ruble, to be introduced early next year, for payments with its key ally, China. Authorities in Moscow hope other nations will be willing to adopt the Russian digital currency in trade, which will allow the country to circumvent sanctions imposed over the Ukraine...