The Swiss city of Basel recently settled a series of tokenized bonds using a wholesale central bank digital currency (WCBDC) as part of Helvetia III, a WCBDC pilot program. The system is designed to prioritize efficiency, as having on-chain funds bypasses the need for reconciling transactions with a private bank account. Basel Issues Tokenized Bonds…
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The commissioner said the potential of blockchain and cryptocurrency to change existing markets necessitates a new retail investor protection office similar to that of the SEC. Commodity Futures Trading Commissioner (CFTC) Caroline Pham has proposed the creation of an “Office of the Retail Advocate” aimed at expanding the CFTC’s consumer protection mandate. Pham referred to…
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SWIFT, the interbank payments protocol and messaging system, has announced it is working to connect the different central bank digital currency (CBDC) protocols in development today. The company has partnered with Capgemini, a digital services provider, making a series of experiments to ensure that the new set of CBDCs have cross-border payments and remittance capabilities.…
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A major global blockchain trade network welcomes one of Russia’s largest banks. Alfa-Bank, one of the largest private commercial banks in Russia, has joined a blockchain trade finance network backed by HSBC. According to an official announcement on Nov. 3, Alfa-Bank is the first Russian bank to become a member of Contour — a blockchain…
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Bangladesh is now on the blockchain map. Standard Chartered PLC, a British multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in London, England, has successfully leveraged blockchain technology to conduct Bangladesh’s first blockchain trade transaction, according to Newage on August 16. The Standard Chartered bank issued a Letter of Credit (LC) for the trade between garment…
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R3’s widely-used open source blockchain platform Corda now supports the DAML smart contract language. DAML, a major smart contact language designed for building business-level blockchain applications, has been integrated with R3’s blockchain. Developed by United States’ blockchain startup Digital Asset, DAML, or Digital Asset Modeling Language, is now available on R3 commercial blockchain platform, Corda…
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The Singapore Fintech Association and R3 have entered a partnership to provide startups in the SFA network with access to R3’s Corda blockchain. The Singapore Fintech Association and R3 have entered a partnership to provide startups in the SFA network with access to R3’s Corda blockchain. In an announcement on July 14, the SFA said…
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Nasdaq is partnering with the blockchain solution provider R3 to build institution-grade digital assets and marketplaces. The world’s second-largest stock exchange and capital markets technology company, Nasdaq, has entered a partnership with enterprise blockchain solutions platform, R3. R3 announced the partnership on April 29, 2020, stating that Nasdaq will use its blockchain software, Corda, among…
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BCB Group, a British crypto firm that provides services to exchanges like Coinbase and Bitstamp, is now officially approved by U.K. financial watchdog, the FCA. BCB Group, a European crypto-focused payment processor for the likes of major global crypto firms like Coinbase, has secured a license from British regulators. The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority…
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Hong Kong and Thailand’s central banks have stepped closer to implementing a joint central bank digital currency project for cross-border payments. Hong Kong and Thailand’s central banks have stepped closer to implementing a joint central bank digital currency (CBDC) for cross-border payments. On Jan. 22, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Bank of…
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