World Bank exploring Swiss franc digital bond settling in wholesale CBDC
Building on two previous digital bond issuances, the World Bank says the next logical step is to issue one that’s settled with a central bank digital currency.
Latest Retail CBDC News
Philippines eyes wholesale CBDC in 2 years; retail version out of the picture
The Philippine central bank said it would not develop a retail central bank digital currency, and the wholesale CBDC will be deployed on a custom-built infrastructure independent of blockchain technology.
Hongkong’s eHKD still in progress, while mBridge to launch by mid-2024
Initial experiments with e-HKD have shown promise, but they are still conducting trials to explore a handful of use cases, according to Hong Kong Monetary Authority CEO Eddie Yue.
BIS partners with Israel, Hong Kong for retail CBDC experiment
The Bank for International Settlements has announced a successful CBDC proof of concept—Project Sela—prioritizing inclusivity and privacy, poised to revolutionize CBDC services.
Retail CBDCs could open a can of worms for central banks: IMF director
Unlike wholesale CBDCs, which can be put in place without significant disruptions, retail CBDCs are more risky and could threaten the world's financial stability, according to IMF's Kristalina Georgieva.
IMF: CBDC will solve Jordan’s cross-border challenges
Launching a CBDC would open a pathway for Jordan to improve its domestic payment systems, but the IMF warned that the country should tread carefully to avoid potential financial repercussions.
BIS wraps up cross-border retail CBDC ‘Project Icebreaker’
The Bank for International Settlements’ "Project Icebreaker" project delved into the benefits and risks of launching retail central bank digital currencies with cross-border functionalities.
Israel, Sweden, Norway collaborate on retail CBDCs to offer instant cross-border transactions
Retail CBDCs could solve cross-border friction, but Yaron admitted that several challenges remain, including enforcing AML rules and possibly pushing private operators out of business.
Spain’s central bank dives head first into CBDCs with new study
The Bank of Spain joins nations exploring CBDCs, with plans to utilize the digital version of its currency, focusing on its pros and cons and analyzing asset liquidation, among others.
India’s central bank to launch retail CBDC pilot in December
A number of commercial banks will participate in the project with RBI noting that each financial institution will test the CBDC with at least 10,000 to 50,000 of their customers, according to reports.
Monetary Authority of Singapore in no rush to launch CBDCs after concluding retail pilot
MAS says it will conduct four more trials to test the viability of retail CBDCs despite the earlier claims that it was in no rush to carry out a full-scale launch.
Consortium to carry out first private digital sterling initiative in UK
The United Kingdom will become a testbed for the adoption of the first privately-led digital sterling program, paving the way for the introduction of new payment rails for the global financial system.