Hong Kong, Thailand Central Banks Mull Over Digital Currencies

Wednesday, 22/01/2020 | 11:49 GMT by Arnab Shome
  • Multiple central banks recently formed a consortium to study CBDC.
Hong Kong, Thailand Central Banks Mull Over Digital Currencies
FM

The central banks of Hong Kong and Thailand are working hand-in-hand for the issuance of digital currencies for their utilization in cross-border Payments between the two countries.

Reported by Reuters on Wednesday, the monetary regulators published a report mentioning the technical feasibility of issuing such central bank digital currencies (CBDC). This, according to the regulators, will make cross border payments more efficient, cheaper, lower risk, and more transparent.

Despite the announcement, no time frame for the launch has been revealed yet.

Unlike decentralized currencies like Bitcoin , CBDCs are fully controlled by the central banks and can be considered as a digital form of fiat currencies.

Earlier, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) scrapped the necessity of developing a CBDC; however, now its stance on the regulator changed as the development is already in force.

2020 - a year of CBDC?

Hong Kong and Thailand regulators are not the only two with a positive view on digital currencies. However, though many regulators are studying the feasibility to issue CBDC, only a few are on the frontline with real progress.

The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) is on its way to becoming the first major central bank to issue its own digital currency. Though the regulator was rumored to issue CBDC last year, its launch this year is expected.

Meanwhile, Facebook’s push for Libra also forced the regulators to think about regulations and the utilities of digital currencies seriously.

As Finance Magnates reported today, multiple central banks from Asia and Europe initiated a joint study to issue digital currencies.

The central banks of Hong Kong and Thailand are working hand-in-hand for the issuance of digital currencies for their utilization in cross-border Payments between the two countries.

Reported by Reuters on Wednesday, the monetary regulators published a report mentioning the technical feasibility of issuing such central bank digital currencies (CBDC). This, according to the regulators, will make cross border payments more efficient, cheaper, lower risk, and more transparent.

Despite the announcement, no time frame for the launch has been revealed yet.

Unlike decentralized currencies like Bitcoin , CBDCs are fully controlled by the central banks and can be considered as a digital form of fiat currencies.

Earlier, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) scrapped the necessity of developing a CBDC; however, now its stance on the regulator changed as the development is already in force.

2020 - a year of CBDC?

Hong Kong and Thailand regulators are not the only two with a positive view on digital currencies. However, though many regulators are studying the feasibility to issue CBDC, only a few are on the frontline with real progress.

The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) is on its way to becoming the first major central bank to issue its own digital currency. Though the regulator was rumored to issue CBDC last year, its launch this year is expected.

Meanwhile, Facebook’s push for Libra also forced the regulators to think about regulations and the utilities of digital currencies seriously.

As Finance Magnates reported today, multiple central banks from Asia and Europe initiated a joint study to issue digital currencies.

About the Author: Arnab Shome
Arnab Shome
  • 7307 Articles
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About the Author: Arnab Shome
Arnab Shome is an electronics engineer-turned-financial editor. He holds a Bachelor of Technology from the National Institute of Technology, Agartala. He entered the retail trading industry about a decade ago, covering the cryptocurrency market for Finance Magnates, and later expanded his coverage to include forex and CFDs as well. His work at Finance Magnates includes C-level interviews, data-driven analysis, opinion pieces, and scoops of industry exclusives. He also contributes to Finance Magnates’ quarterly industry report. Area of coverage: 1. CFD broker-related news 2. Industry-related Regulatory updates and developments 3. New retail trading trends 4. Prop trading industry updates 5. Executive interviews Education: Bachelor of Technology - National Institute of Technology, Agartala (India)
  • 7307 Articles
  • 133 Followers

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