Central Banks

Central Banks

Decentralizing Central Banks: How R3 Envisions the Future of Fiat

In a new report, bank consortium R3 compares two competing concepts for moving fiat currency to a blockchain or distributed ledger.

Markets  ·  5 April 2017
Singapore

Singapore’s Central Bank Completes Digital Currency Trial

Singapore’s central bank has completed a distributed ledger trial focused on inter-bank payments, officials said today.

Tech  ·  9 March 2017
Regulation

Fed Governor Voices Caution on Central Bank Digital Currencies

Central bank-issued digital currencies could stifle private-sector payments innovation, a senior Federal Reserve official said today.

Policy & regulation  ·  3 March 2017
Regulation

UAE Central Bank: We Are Not Banning Bitcoin

The UAE's central bank isn't banning bitcoin, senior officials said in a statement today.

Policy & regulation  ·  1 February 2017
Germany

Germany’s Central Bank Details Blockchain Trading Test Results

For Germany’s central bank, blockchain has proven to be a promising – if somewhat complicated – technology.

Tech  ·  31 January 2017
Bitcoin

Nigeria: Banks That Handle Bitcoin Do So ‘At Their Own Risk’

Nigeria’s central bank has a message for domestic institutions: don’t touch virtual currencies.

Policy & regulation  ·  18 January 2017
Banking

Blockchain in Finance: From Buzzword to Watchword in 2016

As Big Finance starts to better understand blockchain, central bank-issued cryptocurrencies will likely follow, says FirstRand Bank's Farzam Ehsani.

Business  ·  20 December 2016
South Africa

‘Sovereign’ Blockchains Will Change Monetary Policy, Bank Paper Argues

A new research paper published by South Africa’s FirstRand Bank argues blockchains could revolutionize central banking.

Business  ·  9 December 2016
Bank of Japan

ECB, Bank of Japan Launch Joint Distributed Ledger Research Effort

The European Central Bank is weighing the use of distributed ledger tech in partnership with Japan’s central bank.

Markets  ·  6 December 2016
Regulation

Japan’s Central Bank is ‘Test-Driving’ Distributed Ledgers

A senior Bank of Japan official revealed new details about the bank's blockchain work today.

Policy & regulation  ·  5 December 2016
Bank of England

Bank of England Considers Blockchain Compatibility for Settlement Service

The UK’s central bank said last week that it wants its next-generation settlement system to be blockchain-compatible.

Tech  ·  19 September 2016
Regulation

Bank of Canada Researcher: Bitcoin Monetary Standard Would Fail

A research consultant for Canada's central bank has published a paper that envisions a world with a monetary standard based on bitcoin.

Policy & regulation  ·  31 March 2016
Regulation

Financial Stability Board Seeks ‘Better Understanding’ of Blockchain Tech

The Financial Stability Board, a group of central bank governors and financial regulators, has begun working on blockchain technology issues.

Policy & regulation  ·  9 February 2016