Hong Kong to Start Testing Digital Currency in Coming Months

China’s special administrative region of Hong Kong is going to trial а digital version of its dollar as early as this year, in preparation for eventual roll-out. The territory is trying to catch up with those that are already launching central bank digital currencies, including the People’s Republic with its digital yuan project. Trials of … Read more

China to Expand Digital Yuan Testing in Pilot Cities to Provincial Level

China’s central bank intends to enlarge the area covered by trials of its digital yuan currency in four regions of the country. A top representative of the monetary authority announced the move while highlighting that the People’s Bank has been stepping up digitalization efforts this year. Government to Increase Digital Yuan Coverage in 4 Provinces … Read more

Ethereum-Based ‘Cryptoruble’ Token Under Development in Russia

Developers are working on a “cryptoruble” that, as they say, can improve Russians’ access to global exchanges and be used for cross-border payments. Defi platform Indefibank, which is behind the project, says the token will be pegged to the national fiat but independent from a state-issued digital ruble. Cryptoruble to Give Russian Companies Another Option … Read more

Foreigners to Be Given Anonymous Entry Points to Digital Ruble, Russian Official Suggests

Foreign nationals should be able to buy Russia’s upcoming digital ruble through entry points providing anonymity, according to a high-ranking member of the Russian parliament. The idea circulated in Moscow aims to protect these investors from Western sanctions. State Duma Deputy Proposes Anonymous Digital Ruble Purchases to Avoid Sanctions Foreign investors should be provided with … Read more

Russian Businesses to Choose Which Crypto to Use for Cross-Border Settlements, Lawmaker Says

Russian companies may start transacting in cryptocurrency with partners abroad as early as next year and will be free to pick the coin they want to use, officials in Moscow have indicated. The sanctioned country is preparing to legalize foreign trade settlements with digital assets and this could happen in the coming months. Russian Government … Read more

Norway Releases Source Code for Digital Krone Sandbox, Utilizes Ethereum Technology

A crypto company working with the central bank of Norway has published the source code for the sandbox created to trial the digital version of the Nordic nation’s fiat currency. The prototype digital krone is being built on the Ethereum network and the regulator wants to test various technologies and evaluate the potential impact on … Read more

Central Bank of China Calls for Increasing Use of Digital Yuan

The People’s Bank of China has urged for widening of the array of use-case scenarios for its central bank digital currency. The monetary authority believes that deeper interconnection with traditional e-payment platforms will make the digital yuan more convenient for consumers. China’s Central Bank Insists on Expanding Digital Yuan Environment The monetary policy regulator of … Read more

Russia’s Tech Giant Rostec to Test Digital Asset Payments in International Trade

Russia’s leading technology company, Rostec, is working on a project to integrate digital assets into cross-border trade. The state-owned corporation says the market is interested in cryptocurrency payments which can reduce sanctions pressure on Russian exporters and importers. Rostec Eyes Russky Island for Trials of Digital Currency Payments The largest Russian industrial and technology conglomerate, … Read more

Bank of Russia to Promote Digital Ruble in Foreign Trade as Finance Ministry Pushes for Crypto Option

Days after the two institutions agreed on the need for cross-border crypto payments, the finance ministry and the central bank of Russia are once again highlighting their different priorities. While the treasury department aims for legalizing cryptocurrency payments in the coming months, the monetary authority says it will “actively promote” its digital currency for international … Read more

Report: Saudi Arabia’s Central Bank Hires Virtual Assets and Digital Currency Program Lead

The Saudi Arabian central bank has reportedly appointed Mohsen Al Zahrani as the lead of the bank’s virtual assets and digital currency project. The emergence of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the regional crypto hub is believed to have forced authorities in Saudi Arabia to consider formally regulating cryptocurrencies. Saudi Arabia’s Changing Position on … Read more