DeSpread and Crypto Times Team Up to Bridge Blockchain Information Gap in Korea and Japan

Having made significant strides in undertaking testing of the digital yuan in recent times, Hong Kong is expanding its e-CNY pilot testing while at the same time crafting its own central bank digital currency (CBDC), dubbed the e-HKD.Photo by Simon Zhu on UnsplashIntegrating e-CNY with FPSDuring a recent budget speech Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary Paul Chan unveiled plans to empower Hong Kong residents to bolster their digital yuan wallets through the local “Faster Payment System” (FPS), marking another move forward in bolstering cross-border payment efficiency.FPS is a real-time payment settlement system which enables the user to complete payments across banks through the use of recipient mobile phone numbers and email addresses. The move dovetails with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's (HKMA) successful completion of the inaugural phase of its e-HKD pilot, propelling it into the second phase. The e-HKD pilot is focusing on retail applications such as programmable payments, offline transactions and tokenized deposits. At the same time as the e-CNY garners momentum, the HKMA is progressing the e-HKD in terms of unlocking the full potential of CBDCs in everyday financial transactions. This consists of the exploration of retail applications in the initial phase, coupled with the transition towards more intricate functionalities in the subsequent phase, underscoring Hong Kong's intent towards driving ever greater CBDC innovation within the Chinese autonomous territory. Streamlining transactionsThe integration of the e-CNY with Hong Kong's FPS promises to streamline transactions and elevate the fluidity of cross-border payments between Hong Kong and mainland China. This initiative follows on from an announcement back in September of last year to expand the e-CNY pilot program in Hong Kong. Financial Secretary Paul Chan aims to forge a bridge between mainland China and international markets, potentially setting a global precedent for CBDC interoperability and utilization. Furthermore, Hong Kong's issuance of the world's premier multi-currency tokenized bond, followed by a subsequent batch of tokenized green bonds, signifies the city's leadership in fusing digital finance with sustainable investment strategies, drawing significant interest from global institutional investors. mBridge initiativeThe collaborative efforts of the HKMA with the Bank for International Settlements and other central banks on the mBridge CBDC project further demonstrate Hong Kong's proactive stance in shaping the trajectory of international finance. Last month, authorities in China outlined yet another initiative that is designed to bring about cross-border use of the e-CNY with Hong Kong. The mBridge initiative, a multi-CBDC platform to support cross-border payments is being harnessed to bring about greater trade using digital currency across various jurisdictions. The project involves the central banks of China, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand. This concerted endeavor, coupled with Hong Kong’s array of digital currency ventures, positions the city at the forefront of CBDC innovation. All of this development comes as China has established new milestones recently, with the completion of an international oil deal using the digital yuan together with similar deals involving gold and iron ore. 

JPMorgan Adopts Blockchain for 24/7 Interbank Transactions in IndiaAmerican multinational financial services company JPMorgan Chase has partnered with six major Indian banks to introduce a blockchain-based platform that leverages the technology’s benefits to address the restraints of traditional finance.Photo by Naveed Ahmed on UnsplashInterbank settlementThe collaboration aims to enable interbank settlement of US dollar transactions in India’s Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), positioning it as an alternative trading center to Singapore and Dubai. That’s according to a report from Bloomberg, published on Monday. The participating banks in this pioneering initiative include HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Yes Bank, IndusInd Bank, and JPMorgan’s own banking unit at GIFT City.Onyx blockchainThe blockchain project, utilizing JPMorgan’s Onyx platform, aims to expand the capacity of the existing settlement system. Kaustubh Kulkarni, JPMorgan’s senior country officer, stated that the platform will enable the participating banks to process instant transactions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. By leveraging blockchain technology, the interbank settlement process will become faster and more efficient, overcoming the current limitations of time and availability.Onyx blockchain was established in 2020 and serves as JPMorgan’s digital assets network. It was specifically designed with interbank settlement and wholesale payment transactions in mind.Reduced settlement timeUnder the prevailing interbank settlement system, transactions could take several hours to complete, and settlement is not available on weekends or public holidays. JPMorgan’s blockchain pilot, however, will remove these barriers, as Kulkarni explained: “By leveraging blockchain technology to facilitate transactions on a 24x7 basis, processing is instantaneous and enables GIFT City banks to support their own time-zone and operating hours.”This initiative not only addresses the operational challenges of interbank settlement but also serves New Delhi’s strategic goal of positioning GIFT City as a prominent alternative trading center. With the implementation of blockchain technology, GIFT City can provide a competitive advantage by offering efficient, real-time transaction capabilities.The success of Onyx is evident, as the bank reportedly processed nearly $700 billion in short-term loan transactions through the platform as of April 2023. The utilization of Onyx for the interbank dollar transfers in India further demonstrates JPMorgan’s commitment to exploring the potential of blockchain technology in the financial sector.Positioning for de-dollarizationAdditionally, JPMorgan’s involvement in this initiative aligns with the evolving landscape of global finance. The bank’s currency strategists have highlighted signs of emerging de-dollarization, with the US dollar’s share declining in foreign exchange reserves and exports. The adoption of blockchain technology for dollar transactions not only improves efficiency but also aligns with the changing dynamics of the global financial system.As JPMorgan launches the pilot project in collaboration with the Indian banks, the coming months will be crucial for analyzing the experiences and outcomes. This initiative marks a significant step towards streamlining financial operations, embracing innovative solutions, and strengthening India’s role in the adoption of blockchain technology within its financial infrastructure.

India’s RBI Collaborates Internationally on Digital Rupee PaymentsIndia’s Reserve Bank (RBI) is expanding its exploration of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) by focusing on cross-border functionality, despite its cautious approach to CBDC development.The RBI aims to experiment with various use cases for CBDCs in international payments, as it believes this can enhance the efficiency of cross-border transactions. That’s according to a report which was recently published by local media source, the Economic Times. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das emphasized the potential benefits of quicker, seamless, and cost-effective cross-border payments. The RBI is actively engaging in dialogue with other central banks that have already implemented or are planning to introduce CBDCs.Photo by rupixen.com on UnsplashUAE collaborationIn collaboration with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the RBI is promoting joint studies on using CBDCs for settling international payments. The partnership is driven by the high volume of remittances between the two countries, a consequence of the large number of Indian migrants in the UAE.These recent developments follow the RBI’s retail and wholesale CBDC pilot programs, which began just seven months ago. Although the retail pilot attracted 50,000 users within 60 days, the RBI remains committed to a gradual and cautious approach to mitigate potential risks.Onboarding one million CBDC usersWhile expanding the pilot program to new cities, the RBI aims to onboard one million CBDC users within the coming weeks, despite the digital rupee currently having a very low circulation level. On the wholesale side, the RBI’s pilot has shown promising results, with the digital rupee being explored for government bond transactions, money market funds, and short-term lending.RBI Deputy Governor T. Rabi Sankar emphasized the importance of exploring multiple use cases for CBDCs, including account-based CBDCs. The RBI aims to offer as many applications for CBDCs as possible while ensuring the existing National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) and other systems are not disrupted.Global surge in CBDC developmentThe surge in CBDC development worldwide can be attributed to various factors. The imposition of sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine led to a significant increase in wholesale CBDC initiatives as Russia sought alternatives to bypass the sanctions.Additionally, the diminishing use of cash and the rise of dollarization and cryptocurrency adoption in local economies have motivated over 120 central banks to initiate CBDC research. These central banks are attracted by the potential benefits of financial inclusion and the opportunity to address the decline in cash usage.India has been selective in terms of the aspects of digital asset technology it wants to see further developed within its borders. At a recent conference organized by the RBI, a central bank official called on Indian banks to adopt blockchain technology. When it comes to stablecoins, the central bank is apprehensive, warning of associated risks while calling for global regulation.As India’s RBI continues its CBDC exploration, the focus on cross-border functionality underscores the growing recognition of CBDCs as a transformative tool for international payments. The ongoing collaborations and pilots demonstrate India’s level of interest in staying at the forefront of CBDC development while taking measured steps to ensure a secure and efficient transition to digital currency.