Russia Expands Digital Ruble Pilot With New Features: Widespread Use Expected in 2025

Russia’s central bank is expanding its digital currency pilot program, involving 9,000 individuals and 1,200 companies. New features for the digital ruble, including payments via QR code, will be tested. Full-scale implementation is expected by late 2025. According to officials, demand for the digital ruble is growing, with successful integration anticipated due to ongoing sanctions. … Read more

Central Bank of Brazil Reveals New Use Cases to Be Tested in Its Drex CBDC Second Pilot Phase

The Central Bank of Brazil disclosed a new set of use cases that will be part of the second phase of the ongoing pilot of its drex CBDC. Among the 13 instances selected from the 46 presented are platforms for tokenizing real estate, liquidity pools for trading public securities, and even automating automobile transactions. Central … Read more

Central Bank of Brazil Hints at a Future Integration of AI Into Its CBDC

The Central Bank of Brazil has hinted at implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and data monetization processes into Drex, its central bank digital currency (CBDC). In a recent presentation, Roberto Campos Neto, the Central Bank of Brazil’s president, stressed that the bank’s innovation agenda had four blocks: Pix, Drex, Currency Internationalization, and Open Finance. However, he … Read more

India’s HDFC Bank Launches New UPI and CBDC Features

HDFC Bank, a leading private sector bank in India, has introduced new features for Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and central bank digital currency (CBDC) to enhance digital banking for its customers. Announced at the Global Fintech Fest 2024 in Mumbai, India, these innovations, developed in partnership with fintech companies like Kreditpe, Tonetag, and Payu, aim … Read more

JPMorgan Executive Sees Big Future for India’s CBDC Initiative

Naveen Mallela, global co-head of Onyx, JPMorgan’s blockchain and digital currency unit, highlighted the rapid adoption of blockchain technology in India, particularly after the 2022 launch of the central bank digital currency (CBDC), the e-rupee. He noted that CBDCs represent a significant advancement for Indian payments, positioning them as the next step in the evolution … Read more

India’s Central Bank Governor Discusses CBDC Progress and International Strategy

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is actively exploring the potential of central bank digital currency (CBDC) on an international scale, according to Governor Shaktikanta Das at the Global Fintech Fest. The RBI is focusing on enhancing CBDC’s interoperability with existing retail payment systems like the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) to facilitate seamless cross-border transactions. … Read more

RBI Governor Warns Against Rapid CBDC Launch, Advocates Gradual Approach

The governor of India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Shaktikanta Das, has highlighted the challenges of implementing cross-border digital currency interoperability and the necessity for robust governance. He emphasized the importance of gradual central bank digital currency (CBDC) rollout and data-driven insights from pilot programs. RBI Governor Warns of Challenges in Digital … Read more