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South Korea’s central bank is collaborating with the Bank for International Settlements for a test run on wholesale central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) seeking to assess the feasibility of setting South Korea’s future monetary framework based on CBDCs. The test project focuses on the CBDC’s efficiency as a settlement asset and its programmability potential.

The South Korean central bank, BOK, is advancing towards a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot, scheduled for late 2024. By testing a wholesale CBDC model first, it aims to streamline inter-bank settlements while preparing for retail use. The bank collaborates with domestic institutions and international bodies like the BIS, though it remains undecided on fully endorsing a digital won.

Denis Beau, the first deputy governor of Banque de France, advocates Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) as the future of the global monetary system. However, he acknowledges the potential risks of crypto technologies. He believes that CBDCs need to focus on cross-border payments and invites a partnership between public and private sectors for efficiency. Beau proposes that CBDCs follow established models from the Bank for International Settlements and International Monetary fund. Despite skepticism, project collaborations like Project Mariana indicate the ongoing exploration of CBDCs and blockchain technology.

“The Bank of Korea initiates pilot project to design infrastructure for a central bank digital currency (CBDC), aiming to enhance cross-border payments and potentially establish a new international monetary system. However, the journey towards CBDC’s full implementation isn’t guaranteed and potential pitfalls in the unregulated crypto world can nurture high stakes and fraud risks.”

The Banque de France views central bank digital currency (CBDC) as a crucial component for the new international monetary system, enhancing cross-border payments. It’s being considered from an international perspective right from the outset. Two potential development pathways include building interoperability with legacy systems and creating regional or international platforms for CBDCs.

“France, Singapore, and Switzerland recently experimented with cross-border Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) using public blockchain and DeFi technology in a venture named Project Mariana. Despite successful trials, further investigation and iterations are required to fully understand the complexities of implementing such systems.”

“Project Sela, a joint initiative led by BIS, and the central banks of Hong Kong and Israel, points to the feasibility of CBDCs settling on centralized ledgers while ensuring privacy. Addressing cost factors and potential risks, it put forth an efficient solution, ‘Access Enabler,’ that allows network settlement without merchants retaining users’ CBDC. This opens a promising pathway for digital currencies to potentially become a universally accepted retail payment form.”

“Project Sela showcases the potential of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), implementing a novel intermediary approach to reduce liquidity risk. Dealing with concerns about cybersecurity and privacy, it signals a future where transactions settle directly on the central bank’s ledger, inspiring global central banks’ digital transformation.”

The Regulated Liability Network (RLN), a U.K. based financial marketplace infrastructure, is working on a use case involving the consumer domestic payment case with the central bank digital currency (CBDC). Exploring how commercial bank money and CBDC could coexist, the RLN aims to maintain equilibrium between the two. The network further mitigates authorized push payment fraud and quickens settlement time. Despite the complexity of regulations and jurisdictions, systems like RLN are key to a seamless digital economy transition.

South Korea’s KEB Hana Bank is actively collaborating with the Central Bank of Korea in developing blockchain-based currency systems and exploring tokenized deposits. The bank is also investing heavily in research related to the crypto sector, including areas beyond traditional banking like real estate. The potential growth of the domestic security token market is predicted to reach $27 billion next year.

By the end of this decade, around 15 retail central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) could be globally available, covering nearly 95% of the world economy according to BIS. This emerging technology can offer significant benefits, but also brings challenges like privacy concerns.

“Six Clovers founded by ex-PayPal execs, announced the inception of the Versal Network on the Sui blockchain, aiming to improve speed and efficiency of cross-border transactions. Alongside high-speed transactions and instant processing, Sui offers 10 billion SUI tokens with 14% open for purchase by investors.”

The Bank of England and the BIS completed a yearlong project, Rosalind, exploring the practicality and potential benefits of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Findings suggest CBDCs could expedite person-to-person payments, enable innovative financial products, and reduce fraud, paving the way for the Digital Pound, informally known as “Britcoin.”

The Bank of Thailand has launched a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot project in collaboration with local banks and a Singapore-based payment service provider, highlighting the country’s commitment to exploring new technologies. The main challenge lies in distinguishing CBDCs from existing payment platforms like PromptPay.

JPMorgan collaborates with six Indian banks to enable real-time interbank dollar settlements on its blockchain-based platform, Onyx. However, concerns emerge over AI-generated fraud in the crypto and blockchain sectors. Meanwhile, the UK’s APPG proposes recommendations for crypto regulation, and the US Treasury Department’s sanctions on Tornado Cash face legal challenges.

JPMorgan collaborates with six Indian banks to enable real-time, round-the-clock interbank dollar transactions on its blockchain-based platform, Onyx. This aims to significantly increase transaction efficiency, enhance security and transparency, and potentially transform the financial industry.

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) published a paper on retail central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) as central banks worldwide explore their potential. Retail CBDCs, designed for public use, could support monetary and financial stability but also face concerns including political interference, financial instability, and data privacy.

“Project Mariana, a collaboration between the Bank for International Settlements and the central banks of France, Singapore, and Switzerland, has successfully tested a system leveraging cryptocurrency concepts and DeFi technology for seamless cross-border trading in wholesale Central Bank Digital Currencies (wCBDCs).”