CBDCs

Swift has announced a major step toward integrating digital assets with traditional financial systems, as stated in its press release issued on 3 October 2024. Swift is a global cooperative and the leading provider of secure financial messaging services, connecting over 11,500 banking and securities organizations, market infrastructures, and corporate customers in more than 200 […]

John Deaton, a well-known attorney and advocate for cryptocurrency, has taken a strong stance against a Federal Reserve-issued central bank digital currency (CBDC) as he campaigns for a U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts, according to a recent report by Josh O’Sullivan for Cointelegraph. In an interview with Generation Infinity, Deaton made it clear that he […]

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is an international financial institution that acts as a central bank for central banks, helping to promote global financial and monetary stability. Founded in 1930, it facilitates cooperation among central banks, provides a platform for discussion on key economic issues, and conducts research that influences global financial policies. The […]

According to a report by Kyle Bakx and Meegan for CBC News, the Bank of Canada has paused its efforts to introduce a digital version of the Canadian dollar.  After years of research, the central bank has decided to step back from the idea, focusing instead on broader developments in payment systems both within Canada […]

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has announced that it will prioritize exploring the use cases for a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC), according to a report by Swati Pandey for Bloomberg. While the idea of a retail CBDC has been widely discussed globally, the RBA’s Assistant Governor Brad Jones emphasized that such a […]

Russia’s central bank, the Bank of Russia (BoR), has announced plans to launch digital ruble services for public use by 1 July 2025, as reported by Jordan Finneseth for Kitco News on September 16. By that date, major banks will be required to offer digital ruble accounts and facilitate transactions, including transfers and deposits. The […]

On 29 August 2024, CCData Research unveiled the August 2024 edition of its “Stablecoins & CBDCs” report, providing a comprehensive overview of recent trends and market dynamics within the stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) sectors. CCData, authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as a benchmark administrator, is a prominent provider of institutional-grade […]

Wyoming is already positioning itself for the next significant evolution in the crypto space: consumer payments, according to a report by Tanaya Macheel for CNBC. The state is planning to launch its own U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, named the Wyoming Stable Token, by the first quarter of 2025. This initiative aims to provide a faster and […]

On 31 July 2024, CCData Research unveiled the July 2024 edition of its “Stablecoins & CBDCs” report, providing a comprehensive overview of recent trends and market dynamics within the stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) sectors. CCData, authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as a benchmark administrator, is a prominent provider of institutional-grade […]

In a recent interview with Kitco News, Bernie Moreno, the Trump-endorsed Republican Senate nominee from Ohio, shared his perspectives on the current political climate, the role of cryptocurrencies, and the potential dangers posed by Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). Speaking on the sidelines of Consensus 2024, Moreno emphasized the importance of preserving financial freedom and […]

SWIFT, or the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, is a global messaging network used by banks and other financial institutions to securely transmit information and instructions through a standardized system of codes. Established in 1973 and headquartered in Belgium, it facilitates the vast majority of international wire transfers, making it a cornerstone of the […]

Reflexivity Research, a subsidiary of DeFi Technologies, held its first-ever Bitcoin Investor Day in New York City on 22 March 2024. The event sought to merge traditional financial principles with the innovative potential of Bitcoin. Hosted by Anthony Pompliano, the co-founder of Reflexivity, the conference featured prominent discussions about the role of Bitcoin in both […]

In a March 7 hearing of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee (“Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress”), Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell offered a candid update on the Fed’s stance on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). His statements provide crucial insights into the Fed’s priorities regarding a potential digital dollar amid growing public debate. […]

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are digital forms of a country’s fiat currency, issued and regulated by the nation’s central bank. Unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, CBDCs are centralized and backed by the government, mirroring the value of the country’s physical currency. They aim to modernize the financial system by providing a digital payment method […]

At a recent town hall event in Greenville, South Carolina, broadcast by Fox News on Tuesday, former U.S. President and Republican front-runner Donald Trump shared his evolving views on Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market. This discussion comes at a critical juncture ahead of South Carolina’s Republican primary. As CoinDesk reported earlier today, during the […]

In a recent interview with Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo on “Mornings With Maria,” former President Donald Trump provided a comprehensive overview of his perspectives on various issues, ranging from economic policies to the potential dangers of artificial intelligence (AI). Trump, who is anticipated to be named the Republican Party’s nominee for the 2024 United […]

U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has declared his opposition to the development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in the United States, aligning his views with those of fellow candidate Donald Trump. Kennedy, notable for being the first presidential candidate to accept Bitcoin for campaign donations, has voiced concerns over the privacy and […]

During an interview on January 23, Vivek Ramaswamy, a former Republican presidential candidate, articulated his concerns regarding the potential future launch of a Central Bank Digital Currency (the “digital dollar”), labeling it a significant threat to individual liberty. This conversation was with Bloomberg TV in Manchester, New Hampshire. Here are the key takeaways from this […]

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has attributed his firm opposition to Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in the U.S. to the economic vision of Vivek Ramaswamy. This revelation came during Trump’s campaign stop in Laconia, New Hampshire, where he reiterated his stance against the federal government issuing a digital dollar. Yesterday, during his speech at […]

Ryan Selkis, Co-Founder and CEO of Messari, published a thought-provoking thread on the social media platform X on January 20, offering his perspective on former President Donald Trump’s political approach and leadership style. Selkis’s commentary, marked by frankness and critical analysis, explores various aspects of Trump’s persona and policy stances. Here are the key takeaways […]

Former President Donald Trump has openly declared his opposition to the concept of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), a stance he detailed in a campaign stop in New Hampshire on January 18. This position aligns with Trump’s broader economic and political agenda, resonating particularly with his conservative base. Trump’s Key Assertions Preventing Government Overreach: […]

CCData, a global leader in digital asset data and an FCA-authorised benchmark administrator, has released the December 2023 edition of the “Stablecoins & CBDCs” report. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the stablecoin sector, which has seen significant growth and interest over the past year. CCData’s expertise in aggregating and analyzing diverse datasets offers […]

On 14 December 2023, Ripple released a 23-page report titled “CBDCs: The Digital Evolution of Money,” which provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolving role of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and stablecoins in the modern financial ecosystem. The report offers an insightful perspective on how these digital currencies are set to digitize economies and […]

In a recent episode of Ripple’s YouTube series “Crypto in One Minute,” James Wallis, VP of Central Bank Engagements, shared his expertise on how Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) could be instrumental in fostering financial inclusion across the globe. CBDCs, or Central Bank Digital Currencies, are a digital form of a country’s fiat currency, issued […]

The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) has embarked on a pioneering journey into the digital currency space by selecting Ripple, a prominent enterprise blockchain and crypto solutions provider, as its partner for the Digital Lari pilot project. This collaboration is set to explore the capabilities of Ripple’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) platform, assessing its […]

According to an announcement from the European Central Bank (ECB), the institution will proceed to the preparation stage for its digital euro initiative. This follows the conclusion of an investigation stage initiated by the ECB in October 2021, aimed at understanding the possible framework and distribution channels for a digital euro. Per the ECB’s press […]

James Wallis, Vice President of Central Bank Engagement at Ripple, recently shared his insights on the evolution of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in an opinion piece published in CoinDesk earlier today. Wallis argues that the conversation surrounding CBDCs has evolved from a question of “if” to a matter of “when” they will become a […]

Introduction James Wallis, Vice President of Central Bank Engagement at Ripple, recently spoke to PYMNTS about the transformative potential of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in global payments. Prior to his current role at Ripple, he was the Vice President of Global Sales Strategy & Operations at Ripple from May 2019 to January 2021. In […]

CCData, a renowned FCA-authorized benchmark administrator and global leader in digital asset data, has unveiled the September 2023 edition of its “Stablecoins & CBDCs Report”. The CCData Stablecoins Report is designed to highlight significant trends and activities in the stablecoins industry. The report centers on evaluations concerning market capitalization and trading volumes of various stablecoins, breaking […]

According to Ripple, the convergence of blockchain technology and the decline in global cash usage have accelerated the research and development of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). In a blog post published on 19 September 2023, Ripple cites that nine out of ten central banks are currently investigating the potential of CBDCs. Furthermore, Juniper Research […]

Yesterday, Mastercard shared insights into the evolving landscape of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and their potential impact on the global financial system. CBDCs, essentially digital versions of government-backed fiat currencies, are gaining traction as a more stable alternative to the speculative nature of cryptocurrencies. Mastercard points out that according to the Bank for International […]

The Federal Reserve has launched a new payment system called FedNow, which will allow banks and financial institutions to perform interbank transactions instantly and at a cost of 0.40 cents, with 24/7 availability. The FedNow system has been the topic of discussion for many politicians, financial institutions, cryptocurrency enthusiasts, and the average US citizen. So […]

IDuring an interview on 28 July 2023, Ripple’s Vice President of Central Bank Engagements and CBDCs, James Wallis, shared some interesting insights about the company’s ongoing discussions with central banks and the impact of the SEC case on these talks. Wallis told CoinDesk TV that the SEC case had “almost no impact” on Ripple’s ongoing […]

Fubon Bank, the Hong Kong subsidiary of Taiwan’s Fubon Financial Holding Co., has reportedly announced its intention to launch a pilot program for real estate tokenization. The program is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2023 and will utilize Ripple’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) platform. According to a report published earlier today […]

In a bid to address the challenges of fraud and money laundering, Europe has initiated several measures to utilize the potential of blockchain technology. The European Commission has launched a comprehensive Digital Financial Package in line with the recently introduced Markets in Crypto Assets regulation (MiCA). This package aims to promote the use of cryptocurrencies […]

In a recent interview with the Digital Pound Foundation, which is an independent forum supporting the implementation of a well-designed digital Pound, Susan Friedman, Head of Policy at Ripple, offered her perspective on the future of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and the role of the Digital Pound in this transformative journey. Friedman’s role at […]

Ripple, a leading enterprise in blockchain and crypto solutions, has announced a partnership with Colombia’s Central Bank, Banco de la República, to explore and implement use cases for blockchain technology. This collaboration is part of the third phase of blockchain experimentation led by The Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies (MinTIC). The pilot program will […]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (aka “RFK Jr.”), a 2024 U.S. presidential candidate, emerges as a staunch supporter of Bitcoin and its decentralized promise. Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., born on January 17, 1954, is an American environmental lawyer, author, member of the Kennedy family, 2024 Democratic Party presidential candidate, and a controversial figure known for promoting […]

Montenegro has turned to Ripple for a cutting-edge pilot program to create a digital currency. Montenegro is a small country in Southeastern Europe, which is a part of the Balkans. On 14 December 2021, Ivan Boskovic, the former Director of Payment Systems and Financial Technology Department at the Central Bank of Montenegro (“CBM”), published an article in Currency […]

Cardano Foundation CEO Frederik Gregaard recently traveled to London, where he engaged with influential policymakers and stakeholders invested in the UK’s blockchain future. The Cardano Foundation is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting the Cardano blockchain ecosystem. Its primary goals are to drive the adoption of the Cardano platform, shape legislation and […]

Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, recently proposed legislation to prevent the Federal Reserve from creating a central bank digital currency (CBDC) for consumer use. Co-sponsored by Senators Braun (R-Ind.) and Grassley (R-Iowa), the legislation is designed to safeguard financial privacy by […]

Russia’s central bank is launching a digital ruble pilot program, paving the way for the country’s entry into the world of CBDCs. According to a report by Helen Partz for Cointelegraph published earlier today, which cited a report by the news agency TASS, the Bank of Russia is getting ready to launch the first consumer […]

Recently, Dr. Dritan Abazović, who has been the prime minister of Montenegro since 28 April 2022, reported on his meeting with two executives from FinTech firm Ripple. Montenegro is a small country in Southeastern Europe, which is a part of the Balkans. On 14 December 2021, Ivan Boskovic, the former Director of Payment Systems and […]

On Thursday (26 January 2023), Jeremy Hogan, a partner at the American law firm Hogan & Hogan, who has been closely following and commenting on the U.S. SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple, explained how the XRP Ledger (XRPL) could work with central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). The XRP Ledger was created in 2012 by David Schwartz, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur […]

On Monday (28 November 2022), National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), which is the central bank of Ukraine, talked about the potential benefits of “E-hryvnia”, an electronic form of the monetary unit of Ukraine. According to the English translation (by Google) of NBU’s press release, yesterday, the NBU “presented to the representatives of banks, non-banking financial institutions […]

On 4 November 2022, Arthur Hayes, Co-Founder and former CEO of BitMEX, said that the programmability of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) could take away “the ability to purchase Bitcoin”. In a blog post published two days ago, Hayes explained the difference between CBDCs and the current forms of electronic cash: “A CBDC is government […]

Recently, Raj Dhamodharan, Executive Vice President of Blockchain / Digital Asset Products and Digital Partnerships at Mastercard, explained what his firm is doing to unlock crypto’s “potential to transform the financial system’s infrastructure”. In a blog post published on Wednesday (October 12), Dhamodharan gave examples of things that Mastercard is doing to “turn cryptocurrencies into an […]

In a recent interview, Charles Hoskinson, Founder and CEO of Input Output Global (“IOG”), the blockchain technology firm behind Cardano’s R&D, shared his thoughts on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Here is how Binance Academy explains the concept of CBDCs: “A central bank digital currency (CBDC) is a digital form of fiat currency. As such, […]

Recently, former Goldman Sachs executive Raoul Pal explained why he is bullish on Ripple and the XRPL Ledger (XRPL). Prior to founding macro economic and investment strategy research service Global Macro Investor (GMI) in 2005, Pal co-managed the GLG Global Macro Fund in London for global asset management firm GLG Partners (which is now called “Man GLG”). Before that, Pal […]

During an interview published on Tuesday (August 2), Mastercard CFO Sachin Mehra shared his thoughts on crypto. His comments were made during an interview with Bloomberg’s Lisa Abramowicz. With regard to crypto, he said: “In the crypto world, we play the role as an on-ramp, with people using our debit and credit products to buy […]

Recently, Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), shared her thoughts on cryptoassets in general and stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in particular. The IMF, which was established on 27 December 1945, “works to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity for all of its 190 member countries” by “supporting economic policies that […]

On Tuesday (May 31), Matt Hamilton, who is currently Director of Developer Relations at Bittensor, explained why digital asset $XRP has been able to stay among the top 10 cryptoassets by market cap. Between February 2021 and September 2021, Hamilton worked at Ripple as Director of Developer Relations, and between September 2021 and March 2022, […]

Mercado Bitcoin, Latin America’s largest crypto exchange, has announced a partnership with the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) to create a project that will explore use cases for a central bank digital currency (CBDC).  The SDF is “a non-profit organization founded in 2014 to support the development and growth of the open-source Stellar network.” The SDF […]

On Sunday (May 22), Christine Lagarde, President of European Central Bank (ECB), made a number of interesting comments about crypto while appearing as a guest on Dutch TV show “College Tour“. The Paris-born French politician, economist, and lawyer has been the ECB President since November 2019. Before then, she served for over eight years as […]

Thomas Jordan, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank (SNB) talked about Bitcoin in Berne during the central bank’s 114th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on Friday (April 29). The SNB, which has “two head offices one in Berne and one in Zurich, as well as a branch office in Singapore”, […]

On Thursday (April 7), U.S. Treasury Secretary Dr. Janet Yellen gave a speech on “digital assets policy, innovation, and regulation” at American University’s Kogod School of Business Center for Innovation. Below are some key highlights from Yellen’s speech (based on the press release issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury). Yellen started by reminding the attendees […]

Earlier this month, FinTech firm Ripple released a report titled “Crypto Trends in Business and Beyond” about a “blockchain-driven landscape” that it calls the “Internet of Value”. Ripple’s 44-page research report — which “focuses on the role of key blockchain use cases like payments and DeFi, and the token types — often referred to as […]

On Friday (February 11), the Digital Euro Association (DEA) announced that it was “delighted” about a new partnership with FinTech firm Ripple. The Digital Euro Association (DEA) is “a think tank specializing in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), stablecoins, crypto assets, and other forms of digital money.” Its mission is “to contribute to the public […]

In a recent interview, Rahul Advani, APAC Policy Director at Ripple, talked about RippleNet’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service, which is powered by digital asset XRP. Advani’s comments were made during an interview with financial news platform Bread. When asked how Ripple plans to “adapt to the growing demand for crypto-based cross-border settlements”, he replied: “A […]

Ukraine’s central bank is supervising a new digital currency pilot program using the Stellar blockchain.  According to a press release by FinTech firm Bitt, it is working with TASCOMBANK, which is one of Ukraine’s oldest commercial banks, on a pilot project to create an electronic version of Ukraine’s national currency “hryvnia” (UAH) on Stellar. As […]