Australia Sets Digital Asset Rules, Aims for Global Lead

March 24, 2025

Catenaa, Monday, March 24, 2025-The Australia government on Thursday announced plans to establish a ‘fit for purpose’ digital asset framework aimed at fostering innovation while ensuring consumer protection.  The Treasury released a paper Thursday detailing efforts to regulate digital asset platforms (DAPs) and stablecoins, with input from industry leaders, regulators, and the public. The initiative […]

Bank of England Unveils Digital Pound Labs for CBDC

January 18, 2025

Catenaa, Saturday, January 18, 2025 – The Bank of England (BoE) has announced the launch of the Digital Pound Labs, a sandbox initiative to test a potential central bank digital currency (CBDC), also referred to as a “digital pound.”  In a Jan. 14 progress report, the BoE outlined potential use cases for a CBDC, business […]

Belarus Breaks Chains by Launching Blockchain CBDC to Sidestep Sanctions

February 23, 2024

Minsk, Belarus, Wednesday, February 14, 2024 – The central bank of Belarus, the National Bank of Belarus (NBB), confirmed plans to launch a blockchain-powered central bank digital currency (CBDC), the “digital Belarusian ruble (DBR),” by 2026. The move comes amidst ongoing economic constraints following Western sanctions imposed due to the Ukraine war. However, analysts caution […]

China Opens Hub for Yuan CBDC Development in Shenzhen

October 30, 2023

SHENZHEN, China, October 11, 2023- China opened an industrial park on Wednesday dedicated to the development of the digital yuan central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the southern city of Shenzhen. The park in the Luohu district is home to nine companies developing digital yuan-related products and services, including payment solutions, smart contracts, and tricky […]

ECB Now Seeks Partners for Digital Euro Rollout

January 31, 2024

Frankfurt, Germany, Tuesday, January 09, 2024- The European Central Bank (ECB) has issued five separate calls for applications to establish framework agreements with potential providers of components and related services for a digital euro, if and when it is launched. This move marks a significant step in exploring the development of a central bank digital […]

House Panel Approves Bill to Block Fed-Issued Digital Dollar

April 4, 2025

Catenaa, Friday, April 03, 2025- A US House committee has approved legislation aimed at halting the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency, escalating Republican opposition to a government-backed digital dollar. The House Financial Services Committee voted 27-22 on Thursday to advance the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, sponsored by Majority Whip Tom Emmer, […]

Russia Advances Digital Ruble With Successful Budgetary Pilot

February 7, 2025

Catenaa, Thursday, February 06, 2025 – Russia’s digital ruble rollout has reached a new milestone after the government and Central Bank completed a pilot using the central bank digital currency (CBDC) for budgetary payments, officials confirmed last Wednesday, January 29.  The trial, conducted behind closed doors in late 2024, involved the Central Bank, the Treasury, […]

South Korea Launches ‘Hangang’ CBDC Pilot in April

March 19, 2025

Catenaa, Wednesday, March 19, 2025- South Korea’s central bank will begin a large-scale pilot of its central bank digital currency (CBDC) project, named “Hangang,” in April, testing digital payments with 100,000 citizens and seven major banks.  The Bank of Korea (BOK) announced the three-month trial, running through June, to evaluate whether tokenized deposits can streamline […]

South Koreans Adopt Expanding CBDC Amid US Election Worries

November 8, 2024

Seoul, Friday, November 8, 2024 – In a significant step forward for central bank digital currencies (CBDC), several major South Korean banks and retailers are collaborating with the Bank of Korea (BOK) in an extensive “real-world” pilot program. Leading banks such as Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, and Nonghyup Bank, as well as retail giants like […]

SWIFT Mulls CBDC Platform Launch Within Two Years  

April 9, 2024

Brussels, Monday, April 1, 2024-The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), a global messaging network for banks, is gearing up to launch a new platform for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) within the next 12 to 24 months, according to a Press release issued by SWIFT. Earlier in September 2023, SWIFT completed a six-month […]