CBDC

The year 2020 is coming to an end, and it has been quite beneficial for the cryptocurrency industry. Despite ever-stricter regulations, Bitcoin (BTC) and altcoins have shown their strength in times of crisis, and new blockchain sectors have emerged. We take stock of upcoming trends for 2021. DeFi will consolidate to offer viable financial alternatives Decentralized finance (DeFi) has been the major story for the crypto industry in 2020. The explosion of the sector in the summer raised fears of…

The Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan has passed a resolution to legalize cryptocurrency and crypto mining in the region. This resolution is expected to drive a new wave of adoption of cryptocurrencies and crypto mining in the Asian nation. Dr. Sumera Shams, a member of the assembly, revealed the decision via Twitter. She remarked that it was a major step towards digitalization and thanked her colleagues for passing the resolution. Zia Ullah Bangash, an advisor for the ministry…

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has started exploring a central bank's digital currency's possibilities. The Apex bank has partnered with Australia’s two largest banks and Ethereum software company ConsenSys to explore its digital currency.  Findings from the research are expected to be presented in early 2021. The Assistant Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Michele Bullock, further explained the project's details. According to him, the project is to research and test the viability of a CBDC for wholesale…

The President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, has stated that the regional Bank is considering launching a Digital Euro. This, according to her, is due to the immense growth and development in the digital ecosystem. In a series of tweets, Lagarde revealed the European Central Bank's achievements over the past 12 months. This included the launch of the European Central Bank Strategy Review (ECBStrategyReview). She also spoke on her viewpoint on climate change and the news to…

The race to develop Central Bank Digital Currencies continues to heat up, and Cambodia is the latest to launch its digital currency. As per reports from Thai news outlet Bangkong Post, Cambodia launched its digital currency named ‘’Bakong’’ on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. Digital Currency to be used via smartphones Bakong was developed by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) in collaboration with Japanese tech startup Soramitsu Co. The launch culminates the Digital currency developments, which began with pilot testing…

The Central Bank of the Bahamas (CBOB) today officially introduced its own central bank digital currency (CBDC), the “Sand Dollar.” This makes the Bahamas one of the first countries in the world to launch a CBDC beyond a pilot program. The information was shared during a webinar broadcast on Facebook via the dedicated Sand Dollar page. Today, the 386,000 inhabitants of the archipelago can create a digital wallet on their smartphone and carry out transactions. The entire Sand Dollar ecosystem…

Social messaging platform LINE is set to develop a blockchain platform for Central Banks Digital Currencies (CBDC). Korean paper Chosun reported on Monday that LINE is in discussion with several Asian banks regarding the new development. The blockchain platform would enable the Central bank to launch CBDCs in a safe and scalable environment. Central Banks would also be able to add customizable features on the platform using different economic parameters. LINE has been proactive in its use of blockchain technology.…

Former Goldman Sachs chief Raoul Pal says CBDCs are at the forefront of new banking policies. Pal, in a series of tweets, referenced several sources to buttress his point. Biggest financial overhaul in history? Pal believes that the introduction of CBDCs will be the biggest financial move since Bretton Woods. He also revealed that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would hold a conference on October 19. The potentials of digital currencies and cross border payments will be the major topics…

Spain's apex bank Banco de Espana is set to research the development of a CBDC. Banco de Espana released a strategic plan report where it revealed its priorities from 2020 to 2024. The apex bank plans to analyze policies from the European Central Bank (ECB) and trends within the Spanish economy. The report also looks at the effect of covid on banks, negative interest rates, and policies. Also, it revealed that CBDC research was a priority as part of new financial…