Central banks
Riksbank to work with Accenture on e-krona pilot
First year will see development of user interface for mobile, card and watch-based payments
CBDC talk has been “overhyped” – former RBI deputy
Focus on retail CBDCs is potential distraction from core central banking functions, says Sinha
Central banks should collaborate on multicurrency CBDC – research
Lithuania’s central bank notes national CBDC projects will not solve global payment inefficiencies
Chile to sell $400m a day in first week of FX interventions
Central bank selling $200 million in spot market and $200 million in 30-day forwards
Focus on cross-border payments, not CBDC – Bundesbank
German central bank board member says prioritise “fast and efficient” payment network over digital currency
Singapore may allow trading in bitcoin-based derivatives
MAS opens consultation on proposal to allow trading of “payment token derivatives”
Interest-bearing CBDCs could solve welfare trade-off – IMF paper
Making CBDCs interest-bearing would avoid dangers to cash use or bank deposits
Crypto assets may force central banks into policy synchronisation
Paper examines the impact a global crypto asset would have on the “impossible trinity”
Argentina’s currency controls help stabilise peso and reserves
Uncertainty about the fiscal policies of the incoming president is contributing to falling bond prices
Benoît Coeuré to head BIS innovation hub unit
Senior ECB official is highly regarded for work on payments and has warned of need for change
Singapore develops multi-currency blockchain network
Prototype developed in tandem with JP Morgan and Temasek enables payments to be carried out in different currencies
PBoC to rein in fintech firms after President Xi praises blockchain
Central bank will verify blockchain-compatible products in bid to ensure financial stability and curb speculation
ECB: Libra a “black hole” of legal certainty
But current global standards fit for purpose to underpin digital assets
IMF praises Bank of Mexico for not intervening in FX market
Peso strengthens against regional peers
Argentine central bank restricts crypto asset purchases
Central bank continues with measures to resist peso’s decline by curbing digital assets
Cambodia extends blockchain payment system pilot
Central bank lengthens trial to end of year and explores including cross-border transactions
ECB and PBoC renew bilateral currency swap
Euro-renminbi currency swap agreement will stay in place until October 2022
Facebook not trying to replace central banks, claims Zuckerberg
Facebook chief plays down economic impact and says libra can help fight financial crime
BdF paper looks at digital currency and remuneration
Remuneration is key consideration for design of central bank-issued digital currencies, paper argues
‘Hegemonic digital currency’ could help fix global system – Carney
Using CBDC to facilitate online sales could bring about more rapid change, governor says
Bankers are ignoring crypto assets’ flaws – expert
Technologists are more worried than financiers by problems, expert tells IMF panel
PBoC says its bills are better tools than bonds for China
Central bank bills will play a bigger role in stabilising yuan exchange rates, suggests PBoC research note
Bahamas takes steps towards digital currency as legal tender
Central bank proposes changes to governing law to give itself authority to issue a CBDC
BIS and SNB co-operate on central bank digital currency
Technology research hub will also investigate how to use DLT infrastructure