A blockchain trade finance platform developed by eight major banks, among them HSBC, BNP Paribas, and Citi, is now ready for commercial launch in Singapore in Q2 2020. Named Contour, the launch follows a successful trial of the platform involving over $30 million in letter-of-credit transactions last year, South China Morning Post reported on March 5. Letter-of-credit transactions are a payment mechanism widely used in international trade, in which a bank provides a seller with an economic guarantee for a buyer’s payment. As the coronavirus continues to shake global markets, a regional executive told reporters that the platform can ensure …

The Supreme Court of India has struck down the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) controversial ban on banks’ dealings with crypto-related firms. The court’s bench of Justices Rohinton Nariman, S Ravindra Bhat, and V Ramasubramanian, delivered the judgment earlier today, March 4, litigation news site Live Law reported. Landmark ruling India’s central bank, RBI, had imposed a blanket ban on banks’ dealings with crypto businesses back in April 2018, which came into effect in July of that year. Following both public and industry-led petitions, a case combining challenges against the central bank was brought before the Supreme Court by the …

Major crypto exchange Binance announced that their fiat on-ramp for Turkish Lira is live thanks to a partnership with major Turkish bank Akbank, Cointelegraph Turkey reported on March 2. Binance users from Turkey can now deposit and withdraw directly through money order or EFT, whether they have an Akbank account or not. “As one of the biggest banks in Turkey, Akbank is serving the crypto community since 2017,” Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao told Cointelegraph. He continued: “By working with Akbank, Binance KYCed users who have Turkish bank accounts will be able to buy crypto via instant bank transfers at …

Cross-border payments do not appear to be a priority as countries all over the world to engage with their own digital currency projects, a new report says. While global governments are competing to become the first country in the world to issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC), no CBDC project really focuses on cross-border payments, according to a new study released by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). No ongoing global CBDC projects explicitly focus on cross-border payments The BIS’ new CBDC revelation is part of the bank’s quarterly review, the “International banking and financial market developments,” issued on …

The Central Bank of Brazil made some waves last week with its new instant payment system. While not blockchain-based, the new system, dubbed PIX, nevertheless is imbued with some of blockchain’s core attributes. Money transfers have historically been slow, cumbersome and expensive. For example, Bank A takes its fee when a payment is sent and Bank B also charges its fee when the payment is received. More intermediaries mean additional fees and sometimes more delays. But now the Brazilian central bank, or BCB, wants to cut out those intermediaries. The central bank will enable peer-to-peer and business-to-business transactions in 10 …

Your bank, no matter how neo or how challenger, can’t bank Bitcoin (BTC). They could bank blockchain companies, adding value and providing services for the space, which would be good for both the bank and the clients, but they are afraid of repercussions from regulators and their partners. Since many smaller banks use “correspondent banks,” whose direct access to the Federal Reserve system’s FedWire and other official payment rails they leverage, they can’t make the decision to accept Bitcoin clients in a vacuum. They must consider their correspondents (generally, big banks), who don’t want their partners working with crypto — …

A major blockchain identification project backed by South Korean tech giant Samsung is being rolled out for first commercial use. South Korea’s NongHyup (NH) Bank has introduced a blockchain-based mobile ID system developed within a tech consortium established by major local firms including Samsung Electronics and LG Uplus. According to a Feb. 25 report by South Korea’s news agency JoongAng Ilbo, NH Bank is jointly implementing the new ID system with South Korea's largest wireless carrier, SK Telecom. NH Bank held a blockchain ID card demo with 20 executives According to local reports, NH Bank president and CEO Lee Dae-hoon …

Central banks should develop a deeper understanding of the consequences of issuing a digital currency, according to a Bank of Japan official. According to Reuters on Feb. 27, Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Masayoshi Amamiya explained that central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) could streamline settlements and facilitate private money flows, but also stifle private financial innovation and banks: “When countries consider issuing central bank digital currencies, they must conduct a comprehensive study on how it affects their settlement and financial systems.” CBDC less urgent in advanced economies Amamiya noted that — unlike emerging economies — Japan could not and can …

Research on a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in China has been delayed as the coronavirus epidemic continues. Global Times reported on Feb. 25 that the epidemic’s impact on staff has resulted in significant setbacks. A source familiar with the matter reportedly said: “The coronavirus outbreak has led to postponed work resumption in government institutions, including the People's Bank of China. Policymakers and research staff involved in the DCEP [Digital Currency Electronic Payment] project are no exception, which weighs on the development process.” Shentu Qingchun, the CEO of Shenzhen-based blockchain company BankLedger — which is involved in the project — …

Caitlin Long announced yesterday that she is launching Avanti Bank, and seeking a charter for it to become the first bank in the U.S. to offer crypto custody services. Today, in an exclusive interview with Cointelegraph, she elaborated on why trust companies as crypto custodians are insufficient for institutional investors. Long explains “There’s a reason why the big custodians for institutional investors in securities markets are banks – two reasons, actually – 1) unlike trust companies, banks have direct access to the Fed for liquidity purposes, and 2) the treatment of a bank in bankruptcy is clear, while the treatment …

Despite considerable testing and research, the prospect of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) still raises significant concerns for bankers in Ukraine. At a Feb. 21 conference in Kyiv, the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) presented the results of testing its CBDC project, the e-hryvnia, noting that the bank is continuing to look into issuing its own CBDC. However, the central bank apparently is still concerned about such a currency’s effect on financial stability as well as the possible threat to the traditional banking system. An official announcement by the NBU reads: “The banking system may cease to be a …

United Kingdom-based digital bank Revolut has raised $500 million in a fresh funding round and tripled its valuation to hit $5.5 billion. This, as the Financial Times reported on Feb. 25, makes the crypto-supporting app one of Europe’s most valuable fintech firms. Since late 2017, Revolut’s app has enabled its users to complete transactions in cryptocurrencies that include Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), Ether (ETH) and XRP. In Dec. 2018, the firm received a banking license in Lithuania, paving the way for a transition away from prepaid cards toward offering a fuller suite of banking services. Valuation equals erstwhile record for …