CBDC
What is a CBDC?
A central bank digital currency (CBDC) is a new digital form of sovereign money. CBDCs are issued by the government, where monetary policies are still formed by the central bank.
A central bank digital currency (CBDC) is a new digital form of sovereign money. CBDCs are issued by the government, where monetary policies are still formed by the central bank.
Texas lawmakers propose gold-backed state digital currency
Two Texas lawmakers have introduced bills proposing a state-based digital currency backed by gold, with each unit of the currency representing a fraction of a troy ounce of gold held in trust. The bills are set to take effect in September 2023, but have yet to be passed or presented for a vote. This move comes despite objections from several U.S. lawmakers who are against the introduction of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).
Bank of Russia Delays CBDC Pilot Rollout
The Bank of Russia's CBDC pilot rollout has been delayed indefinitely due to legislation only passing through the first reading. The number of participating private banks has also changed to 13 from 15, with the pilot involving real operations and limited consumers.
UAE's Central Bank Nears Launch of Digital Dirham
The UAE's central bank is close to launching its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital dirham, for domestic and cross-border payments. The CBUAE has partnered with G42 Cloud and R3 to be the infrastructure and technology providers for the CBDC implementation, which will boost financial inclusion and help the country become a cashless society. The first phase of the CBDC strategy includes the soft launch of "mBridge," proof-of-concept work for bilateral CBDC bridges with India, and domestic CBDC issuance for wholesale and retail use.
Ted Cruz Introduces Bill to Block Fed CBDC
Republican Senator Ted Cruz has introduced a bill to prevent the Federal Reserve from launching a central bank digital currency (CBDC) that could be used for financial surveillance. This is his second attempt at blocking the Fed's CBDC initiative.
eNaira Adoption Grows Amid Nigeria's Cash Shortages
Nigeria's eNaira, a central bank digital currency (CBDC), is being adopted at an increasing rate as the country faces severe cash shortages due to demonetization. The value of eNaira transactions has increased by 63%, and the total number of CBDC wallets has grown more than 12 times compared to October 2022.
RBI and Central Bank of UAE sign MOU on CBDC bridge
The Reserve Bank of India and the Central Bank of UAE have signed an MOU to collaborate on CBDC interoperability, specifically for the development of a CBDC bridge to facilitate remittances and trade.
South Dakota Governor Vetoes Bill Excluding Cryptocurrencies from State's Definition of Money
Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota has vetoed House Bill 1193, which sought to exclude cryptocurrencies from the state's definition of money. The governor believes that the bill would put South Dakota at a disadvantage and potentially lead to future overreach from the federal government in issuing a digital dollar.
Iran Completes Pre-Pilot Phase for Digital Rial
Iran's central bank has completed a pre-pilot phase for its digital rial, according to an official statement by the Monetary and Banking Research Institute. The CBDC will align with the rules governing the national currency, the Iranian rial, and be distributed among individuals and banks. Ten banks have applied to join the project, and all banks and credit institutions in Iran are expected to start offering electronic wallets for the digital currency.
India tests offline functionality of digital rupee
The Reserve Bank of India is testing the offline functionality of its recently launched digital rupee, which has completed 800,000 transactions worth $134 million since its wholesale segment pilot launched on Nov. 1, 2022.
The IMF Releases a Report on Jordan Preparations for a Central Bank
The IMF published a technical analysis on Jordan's retail central bank digital currency.