Cryptocurrency
Instant payments crucial to stop crypto disruption – Mersch
ECB board member reiterates concerns around viability of crypto-currencies, while encouraging banks to adopt instant payment networks
Book notes: Hole in the Wall, by James Shepherd-Barron
Cash machines have changed the way cash is managed, but is there a future for such machines in a world looking to go cashless?
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
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
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
BoE economist argues against benefits of cryptocurrencies
Cryptocurrencies have “failed” to compete with fiat currencies as an alternative store of value
IMF paper backs issuance of central bank digital currencies
Fund finds large benefits to issuing own digital currency in terms of cost savings and efficiency gains, but issues around distribution remain
Chinese bitcoin exchanges continue prohibiting withdrawals
Bitcoin exchanges suspend withdrawals indefinitely following statement from PBoC official; central bank does see benefits to the technology
Fed’s Powell warns of central bank digital currency impact on private sector
Powell says digital currencies issued by central banks could “stifle” private sector payment innovation, though he is confident DLT will have benefits for faster payments
Government regulation needed for digital currencies to remain secure – paper
Canadian paper draws historical comparison between banknotes and digital currencies, concluding regulation is needed to ensure safety
Fintech is threatening universal banking as we know it – Carney
Carney highlights how fintech could threaten conventional banking through the provision of services; BoE governor also explores the pros and cons of a centrally issued digital currency
Central Bank of Nigeria bans banks from using digital currencies
CBN warns on AML-CFT risk to banks from dealings with “virtual currency exchangers”
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
Central banks ‘critical’ in the development of blockchain
Large South African commercial bank examines what a central bank digital currency would look like, coining the phrase “sovereign blockchain”
Bundesbank unveils blockchain settlement system
Prototype system able to transfer digital coins or securities as well as settling “basic corporate actions”; Deutsche Bundesbank to continue working on project to create a test concept
Central Bank of West African States to regulate national digital currency
BCEAO to distribute digital currency first in Senegal before rolling it out across the west African bloc; 'eCFA' developed by regional bank and Irish fintech start-up eCurrency Mint
Riksbank considering e-krona issuance – Skingsley
Cash use is declining, but people still need access to central bank money, raising the need for a central bank digital currency; design challenges remain, says deputy governor