Russian Banks Baulk at Digital Ruble Implementation Costs

Russian banks, particularly smaller ones, are unhappy about the high cost (between $1.25 million and $2 million) of integrating with the central bank’s digital ruble platform. This cost is seen as prohibitive for many banks, exceeding their IT budgets. The central bank has mandated different deadlines for various bank categories to offer digital ruble services, … Read more

Taiwanese Central Bank to Test CBDC, Not Race to It

Taiwanese Central Bank Governor Yang Chin-long stated that the development of digital currency (CBDC) is not an international competition, and being the first to launch does not guarantee success. He disclosed that the Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan) will conduct three scenario tests for the digital New Taiwan Dollar. Despite no current … Read more

Ethiopia Approves CBDC Launch Draft Proclamation

The Ethiopian Council of Ministers recently approved a draft proclamation that paves the way for the launch of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) stated that the draft considers rapid technological advancements and draws from the experiences of fellow central banks. Proclamation Grants Ethiopian Central Bank Authority to Launch … Read more

Despite $250 Billion Worth of Transactions, Digital Yuan Users Prefer Physical Cash

Some participants of China’s Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot program, specifically state workers paid in digital yuan (e-CNY), are quickly converting their digital currency to physical cash due to concerns over its utility and lack of incentives like interest on savings. Despite China’s advancement towards becoming a cashless society, the digital yuan faces skepticism … Read more

Zano Blockchain’s Hard Fork Facilitates Privacy Coin Creation, Introduces Confidential Assets

The Zano blockchain’s recently completed Zarcanum hard fork (HF4) will enable users and organizations to create custom tokenized assets that meet their specific needs. These custom tokenized assets or confidential assets, will be untraceable on the Zano blockchain. The team believes that without privacy and security, cryptocurrencies cannot achieve the much-hyped widespread adoption. Hosting Multiple … Read more

Digital Euro Association Partners With HBAR Foundation to Boost Understanding of CBDCs and Stablecoins

The Digital Euro Association (DEA) has entered into a partnership with the HBAR Foundation. This collaboration aims to bolster its comprehension of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and stablecoins. Although this partnership marks a significant milestone in the digital currency landscape it nevertheless does not amount to an endorsement of any ideologies or products. Enhancing … Read more

Report: Regulations Governing Tokenized Deposits and Crypto Assets in South Africa Set to Effect in January 2025

Regulations governing tokenized deposits and crypto assets are likely to become effective on Jan. 1, 2025, a senior fintech analyst at the South African central bank has revealed. However, according to the analyst, regulators are still trying to understand or learn the risks that come with using distributed ledger technology. Central Bank Considers Appropriateness of … Read more

Zambia Testing Technology to Regulate Cryptocurrency — Government Minister

The Bank of Zambia and the country’s securities regulators are currently testing the technology to regulate cryptocurrencies, a Zambian government minister has said. According to Felix Mutati, cryptocurrency is a revolutionary technology that embodies a future his country desires to achieve. Achieving an Inclusive Digital Economy The Zambian central bank and the country’s Securities and … Read more