The Bank of Thailand announced that it plans to develop a prototype to test real-life business use cases of its central bank digital currency (CBDC). The bank said in its official statement that before it launches the CBDC payment system for all businesses, it plans to test it with large-scale enterprises. They have partnered with the largest cement and building material provider in Thailand, Siam Cement Group (SCG), and Thailand-based fintech firm Digital Ventures Company Limited to pilot test their payment prototype system. The project is scheduled to start in July 2020 and the pilot test with SCG is expected …
A new ban in Turkey will prohibit crypto holders from using their digital assets for payments in addition to preventing payments providers from providing fiat onramps for crypto exchanges. According to a Friday announcement by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, the ban will come into effect on April 30, rendering any crypto payments solutions and partnerships illegal. The bank stated that “any direct or indirect usage of crypto assets in payment services and electronic money issuance” will be forbidden. While banks are excluded from the regulation, which means users can still deposit Turkish lira on crypto exchanges …
Thailand’s central bank has reportedly entered a new phase in the development of its central bank digital currency, or CBDC. The Bank of Thailand, or BOT, has reportedly deployed its CBDC, and has been using the digital currency for financial transactions with some large businesses, local English-language newspaper The Nation reports July 16. Thailand to roll out CBDC testing with the Hong Kong’s central bank in September The bank has entered the third phase in development of the digital baht and plans to expand to more businesses, BOT assistant governor, Vachira Arromdee, reportedly announced on Wednesday. According to the report, …
The Bank of Thailand (BoT) has recently allowed local banks to set up subsidiaries for dealing with cryptocurrencies, local Thai source Blognone reported August 3. According to a regulatory announcement published by the BoT on August 1, Thai banks can now issue digital tokens, provide crypto brokerage services, run crypto-related businesses, and invest in cryptocurrencies through subsidiaries. However, the recent announcement has reaffirmed that all banks and other financial institutions are still banned from direct dealing with cryptocurrencies. While banks are now allowed to establish crypto-dealing branches, those branches are prohibited from offering crypto-related services to its customers and the …
Zimbabwe’s central bank has recently banned dometic financial institutions from dealing with cryptocurrencies, local media outlet NewsDay reports today, May 12. According to the report, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s (RBZ) director and registrar of banking institutions Norman Mataruka issued a circular Friday ordering all financial institutions to terminate servicing cryptocurrency exchanges within 60 days and begin to liquidate existing crypto-related accounts. Financial institutions have been ordered to “ensure that they do not use, trade, hold and/or transact in any way in virtual currencies,” a move which applies to both businesses and individuals. Explaining the decision, Mataruka highlighted the interconnectedness …