Norway’s central bank is on track to decide by 2025 whether to adopt a central bank digital currency (CBDC), but officials stress there’s no urgency. Despite Norway’s cashless society, with only 2% using cash, the bank is carefully studying both retail and wholesale CBDC options, emphasizing complex issues and the need for collaboration with other…
Brazil’s central bank has made it clear that participants should participate in the experiments to foster privacy solutions. The introduction of Drex in Brazil will lead to stepping ahead in becoming a digital currency friendly country. Brazil is trying to position itself at a place from where it can open the way for integrating additional…
Global investment bank JPMorgan’s analysts have highlighted the growing impact of the “debasement trade” in boosting gold and bitcoin prices. Gold’s rise is linked to inflation, geopolitical instability, and waning trust in fiat currencies. Both institutional and retail investors are viewing gold and bitcoin as safe havens amid global economic uncertainty, with future trends depending…
According to data from the Central Bank of Brazil, purchases of cryptocurrency made abroad have soared this year, surpassing the numbers registered in 2023. These purchases, considered imports, have reached $12.37 billion year-to-date, exceeding the total crypto purchases of 2023. This indicates that exchanges and trading platforms are preparing to accommodate a large demand for…
New data shows that 134 countries, representing 98% of global GDP, are now exploring central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), with 66 nations advancing to pilot or development stages. Every G20 nation is engaged in CBDC efforts, with notable leaders such as China and the European nations pushing forward. The U.S. remains lagging behind Europe and…
Elvira Nabiullina, head of Russia’s central bank, has highlighted challenges in cross-border settlements, including payment issues and falling trade volumes. She emphasized the importance of finding new solutions, such as using digital currencies and cooperating with global partners, to address these issues. Russia Faces Cross-Border Payment Issues Amid Declining Trade Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira…
The Bank of Russia aims to open the payment infrastructure for the Russian central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital ruble, by July next year. Larger banks will offer digital ruble accounts and services by this deadline, with smaller institutions following later. The initiative seeks to enhance payment efficiency and reduce costs, with retailers also…
Swift has unveiled a plan to enable the movement of digital assets and currencies on its global payment network. The initiative aims to integrate regulated digital currencies into Swift’s platform, building on past experiments. “We’re paving the way towards real-world solutions that will enable our members to access and transact with regulated digital assets and…
China’s digital yuan initiative has advanced considerably, backed by over a decade of research and four years of pilot experimentation, according to Lu Lei, Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC). Trials for the Chinese central bank digital currency (CBDC) have been conducted in 17 different areas, accumulating a total transaction value of…
The Moscow Exchange (MOEX), Russia’s largest securities marketplace, will not participate in an experimental program for cryptocurrency trading, as confirmed by Nikolai Trunichkin, head of digital projects at the exchange. This decision follows the Russian State Duma’s July approval of a legislative package to legalize digital currencies, allowing exchange trading under the oversight of the…
Russia’s central bank is expanding its digital currency pilot program, involving 9,000 individuals and 1,200 companies. New features for the digital ruble, including payments via QR code, will be tested. Full-scale implementation is expected by late 2025. According to officials, demand for the digital ruble is growing, with successful integration anticipated due to ongoing sanctions….
The Russian economy has experienced substantial growth across various sectors, with unemployment rates remaining historically low, despite ongoing Western sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict. Industrial production, driven by military manufacturing, saw a 3.3% increase in July, and the GDP growth rate for the first half of the year reached 4.6%, compared to 1.8% in…
As the U.S. Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) gears up for its meeting on Sept. 18, anticipation is building for a rate cut. Market participants are placing their bets, with expectations leaning toward either a 25 basis points (bps) reduction or a 50bps cut. However, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is urging the Fed…
The Bank of Russia is exploring the use of stablecoins in cross-border transactions, considering them as digital financial assets (DFAs) under existing regulations if they have a responsible entity. The initiative may involve a limited group of qualified investors and would require testing for regulatory feasibility. Bank of Russia Explores Stablecoin Use for Cross-Border Transactions…