Bitcoin
Bitcoin exchange halts service after PBoC clampdown
BTC123 becomes first exchange in China to halt services due to ongoing investigation by government agencies into virtual currency; cuts rates on wealth products
PBoC to investigate bitcoin firms
Bitcoin price falls by 33% in January; PBoC to investigate four largest bitcoin companies
French central bank reveals details of blockchain experiment
Banque de France teams up with a fintech start-up to run distributed ledger tech through Sepa; the results of project expected to be presented at a conference in 2017
Federal Reserve conducts in-depth study into distributed ledger technology
Central bank publishes first paper discussing the benefits of distributed ledger technology in the realm of payments, and clearing and settlement; use of DLT could address “financial frictions”
Fiat currencies stand firm against bitcoin
The cryptocurrency is a victim of its own success as strong demand pushes its price up, increasing speculative flows
‘Digital sterling’ could bring benefits but would reshape banking – BoE’s Broadbent
Bank of England deputy says central bank digital currency could entail a redesign of the banking system; research points to potential growth and stability benefits
Threats and opportunities for money and payments in the digital age
Supervisors will need to adapt their frameworks to protect trust in new protocols associated with cryptocurrencies and distributed ledgers, not merely guard against new risks
Research considers use of blockchain in securities settlement
Paper published by SWIFT Institute says full application of technology could lead to, and would require, change in existing business processes in the industry
Riksbank adviser Segendorf offers insight into distributed ledger technology
Financial stability adviser evaluates the benefits of adopting distributed ledger technology and what effect digital currencies will have on cash
Mersch sets out broad questions around distributed ledgers
Yves Mersch considers how access to central bank money could work if market infrastructure adopts the technology; ECB publishes paper on its application in post-trade market for securities
Redesigned digital currency could keep central banks in control
Researchers at UCL launch “RSCoin” idea, highlighting its superiority over bitcoin; new digital currency framework would be controlled by central banks
FSB intrigued by potential uses of distributed ledgers
Mark Carney says FSB members see ‘exciting opportunities’ in financial technology, including the potential for distributed ledgers to bring security and efficiency
Broadbent weighs pros and cons of digital currency
Issuing central bank digital currencies could make commercial banks safer but might also ‘impair’ their ability to make loans, BoE deputy says
Distributed ledgers could impact FMIs, report finds
Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures report on digital currencies sees potential for technology to have a ‘much broader application beyond payments’
Haldane weighs solutions to ZLB constraint
Andrew Haldane considers benefits and costs of adopting higher inflation targets, accepting QE as a conventional policy tool and creating central bank-issued digital currencies
NYSE offers exchange-calculated bitcoin index, with more to come
The New York Stock Exchange announces launch of NYSE Bitcoin Index, the first exchange-calculated and disseminated bitcoin index
ECB revisits virtual currencies in new report
Research concludes virtual currencies do not pose ‘material risk’ to central bank operations in eurozone, but could if they become more widely used or entwined with the real economy
Central banks weighing the benefits of bitcoin
Digital or ‘crypto’ currencies are controversial among central banks, but some see merits in their use and a few may even issue their own; more digital currency innovation likely in future
Payments technology progressing in ‘leaps and bounds,' says Canada deputy
Carolyn Wilkins says Bank of Canada is keeping a close eye on risks posed by new forms of electronic money and modernising its oversight framework for payments
Poll: Central bankers favour clampdown on bitcoin
Latest Central Banking poll shows most central bankers favour regulating or banning virtual currencies, despite most institutions so far just issuing warnings or advice
Key innovation behind Bitcoin could prompt ‘fundamental change' to payment systems
Article published by Bank of England says ‘distributed ledger' technology could have ‘much broader' impact beyond payment systems
UK government to 'explore potential of virtual currencies'
Major study will look into whether regulation is required for businesses to set up in the UK, says chancellor George Osborne, who adds virtual currencies can ‘transform lives’
RBA's Debelle doesn't fear digital disruption to payments and currencies
RBA assistant governor Guy Debelle tells London conference digital disruption is a micro, not macro story - saying central banks can deal with a change in the transmission mechanism
Temasek marks 40th birthday by opening New York office
Office is the Singaporean sovereign fund's first in the US; chair Lim Boon Heng says Temasek is forward-looking - even experimenting with Bitcoin