Fed Chair Jerome Powell Updates Work on Digital Dollar — Says US Central Bank Digital Currency Will Take ‘at Least a Couple of Years’

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says the U.S. central bank is looking at whether to issue a digital dollar with a “very broad scope.” He noted that the Fed is collaborating with Congress and the executive branch on whether to issue a central bank digital currency. Fed Chair Powell on Digital Dollar Progress Federal Reserve … Read more

ECB Chooses Amazon and 4 Other Companies to Help Develop Digital Euro

The European Central Bank (ECB) has selected five companies to help develop user interfaces for a digital euro. Each company will work with the ECB and focus on one specific use case of the digital euro. Amazon has been chosen to focus on e-commerce payments. ECB Collaborates With 5 Companies on Digital Euro The European … Read more

White House Releases ‘First-Ever’ Framework for Digital Asset Development — Crypto Industry Leader Says Recommendations Are Unclear

The White House has now released what it called its “first-ever” comprehensive framework for the responsible development of digital assets just over six months after U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order on the same matter. However, one crypto industry leader has lamented the lack of clarity and understanding of the technology in the … Read more

Ripple to Participate in the Digital Dollar Project’s CBDC Sandbox Program

The non-profit organization promoting the creation of the digital dollar, the Digital Dollar Project, has announced the launch of a sandbox program to kickstart the probe of the technical implementations of the envisaged digital currency. The fintech firm Ripple is among the four participants that are expected to help the Digital Dollar Project “explore technical … Read more

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe ‘Developed a Roadmap for Adoption of CBDC,’ Says Governor

The governor of the Zimbabwean central bank, John Mangudya, recently said his organization “has developed a roadmap for adoption of CBDC [central bank digital currency] in Zimbabwe.” Mangudya also revealed that two fintech startups had been admitted into the central bank’s fintech regulatory sandbox. Stakeholders’ Views Wanted Nearly six months after announcing the Reserve Bank … Read more

Central Bank of Brazil Director Praises Bitcoin as a Financial Innovation, Talks Programmable Digital Real

Fabio Araujo, Director of the Central Bank of Brazil, has praised the properties of Bitcoin, saying it is a financial innovation using new technologies. To Araujo, Bitcoin was the catalyst for what is today known as Web3. At an event, Araujo also commented about the status of the development of the digital real, stating that … Read more

Reserve Bank of India Is Working on ‘Phased Implementation’ of Central Bank Digital Currency

India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), is working on a “phased implementation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in both wholesale and retail segments.” Necessary amendments have been made to the RBI Act, 1934 to allow the central bank to pilot and issue a digital currency. India’s Central Bank Digital Currency … Read more

Harvard Professor Rogoff: Central Banks, Governments Are ‘Way Behind the Curve’ in Regulating Cryptocurrencies

Harvard Professor of Economics and former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kenneth Rogoff says central banks and governments are “way behind the curve” in regulating cryptocurrencies. He added that officials throw out the idea of having central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) “to distract the conversation.” Harvard’s Professor on Cryptocurrency Regulation American economist … Read more