Payments
Initiative of the year: Bank of Thailand
The Thai central bank has used two-way communications to support the delivery of major initiatives, including an instant payment system
Data services: Swift
Better data is making global payment chains safer and more efficient
Custody initiative: Euroclear
The securities depository has debuted instant dollar settlement in central bank money outside the US – a service that has virtually eliminated settlement risk
Governor of the year: Mark Carney
Carney has played a vital role in managing Brexit risks while driving efforts towards climate, payments and dollar funding reform
Cambodia’s blockchain payment network will go live in early 2020
National Bank of Cambodia to become first central bank to launch peer-to-peer payment system
Central bank of the year: Bank of Ghana
The African central bank has carried out extensive reform of Ghana’s banking sector
Payments and market infrastructure development: European Central Bank
The ECB has created a framework to help payments and market infrastructure firms bolster cyber defence that is being disseminated on a global scale
Payment services: Swift
The organisation has responded strongly to threats from cyber crime and the decline of correspondent banking
PBoC extends market closure as coronavirus spreads rapidly
Chinese central bank extends interbank markets closure and vows to maintain ample liquidity
South Africa’s financial regulators urged to adopt tiered licensing regime
New regime would help lower the barriers for fintechs, working group says
Emerging market central banks keener to issue CBDCs – BIS
BIS survey shows central banks shifting emphasis from wholesale to retail CBDCs
Hong Kong and Thailand launch next phase of cross-border CBDC project
CBDC-based payments can cut costs and boost speed, HKMA and Bank of Thailand study shows
Remittances can cause volatility if concentrated – IMF paper
Flows of remittances are broadly stabilising for the receiving country, but not if they are too concentrated, paper finds
Belgium to launch new ‘smart’ ATM network
Network will look to solve geographical disparity and maintain cash services
People: Modi’s government appoints new RBI deputy governor
Michael Patra takes position left by Viral Acharya in June 2019; EBA names new executive director; UK Payment Systems Regulator appoints a new head of policy
Bank of Ghana payments overhaul to focus on fintech
Central bank will ensure regulation is fintech-friendly, while promoting adoption through new licensing regime
KYC initiative could help stem correspondent banking decline
South Pacific KYC utility will be based on digital identification databases; decisions on minimum data requirement yet to be made
RBA: stablecoins must wait until framework in place
Australian central bank says it may step up CBDC research efforts this year
Interview: Björn Segendorf
Riksbank senior adviser thinks it highly unlikely cash will disappear completely in Sweden, but says if it does, the central bank will continue to keep stocks of cash
ECB paper offers tiering solution to CBDC structural concerns
Separating CBDC functions between tiers could disincentivise use during crisis periods, but disintermediation of the banking sector still a risk, author warns
Eurochain: CBDC project seeks secure anonymity
Proof of concept blends anonymity with AML/CFT regulation
Bahamas rolls out first phase of CBDC pilot
Pilot will be rolled out to rest of country after June 2020, says governor Rolle, contingent on success of Exuma and Abaco case studies
Are we sleepwalking into a cashless society?
Cash could be crowded out of the payment landscape if current trends continue, but should central banks be responsible for ensuring its survival?
India’s approach to national biometric ID applicable to ‘all economies’
BIS paper examines how India created digital financial infrastructure as a public good