Fintech
Fintech is the future – Menon
Central bankers weigh in on potential of fintech, agreeing there is a need to separate use cases from the hype
DNB abandons digital currency initiative to focus on blockchain
Blockchain could offer better resilience for payment systems against cyber threats, says head of FMI policy; digital currency not the most “promising” use of blockchain
‘We still don’t do the basics well’ – Chris Gale on cyber security
Central banks are doing “aggressive” and “pretty cool” things to shore up cyber defences, says former Boston Fed VP; notes more could be done in the realm of information sharing
Central banks will be using blockchain by 2019 – research
Study examines pros and cons of central banks adopting blockchain and considers use cases
Riksbank outlines three visions of ‘e-krona’
Sweden’s central bank presents three cryptocurrency models as a solution to the payments conundrum
All central banks may have to consider crypto-currencies – BIS
BIS economists examine the case of central banks issuing own digital currency in both the retail and wholesale landscape
PBoC research head defends ICO ban
Central bank official stresses ban on ICOs will not hinder research on blockchain
DLT not ‘necessary’ for central bank digital currency – BoE economist
BoE economist says there are many technological requirements for successful digital currency, but ultimately there are serious economic questions to answer too
Bank of Finland paper deems bitcoin ‘revolutionary’
Bitcoin cannot be regulated, say economists, who give the volatile cryptocurrency a glowing review
‘Red teams’ will test cyber-security of European financial infrastructure
Bundesbank official praises “bug bounty” programmes that pay hackers to uncover vulnerabilities
Central banks unlikely to issue digital money, argues author
David Birch’s book discusses how communities could be at the heart of the new electronic monetary system
Six large banks join UBS digital currency project
UBS announces the third phase of its digital currency project; analysts question whether the project can deliver all it promises
PBoC bans ICOs in latest crypto-currency battle
Price of bitcoin falls as China’s central bank takes action against projects that have raised 2.6 billion yuan; regulators in other areas also wary of ICO funding
Basel Committee offers guide to fintech revolution
Document offers guidelines to supervisors grappling with rapid innovation, and imagines some of the repercussions of a world without traditional banks
Brazil's central bank ponders fintech lending regime
The central bank says digital lenders could expand credit to families and small companies
Kenya’s central bank issues new cyber security guidelines
Banks will have to report breaches within 24 hours with senior management taking on a greater role
BoE economist argues against benefits of cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies have “failed” to compete with fiat currencies as an alternative store of value
Fintech can give emerging markets an edge – PNG governor
Loi Bakani says the central bank is supportive of attempts to develop financial technology, though it present regulators with a “massive challenge”
Fintech has potential to lower cost of financial services – paper
BIS research highlights continued inefficiencies in current financial services system; fintech could alleviate costs but only if regulation permits it to do so
International organisations should lead the way for cyber defence – IMF paper
Working paper outlines holes in current cyber regulatory framework and urges firms to adopt reporting system to improve oversight; cyber risks should be addressed on multilateral level
Lithuanian central bank mulls fintech sandbox
Regulator says it may suspend some regulations on a “case by case” basis
Wide differences exist in European fintech regulation, EBA says
Largest proportion of surveyed firms subject to no regulation
Sarb denies fintech firms have joined ‘sandbox’
South African central bank denies claims a blockchain start-up has been accepted into the scheme, as it does not currently exist; a working group is in discussions on feasibility