By Valentina Za MILAN, Feb 18 (Reuters) - The digital euro will be designed to ensure it protects European card schemes and keep banks at the core of the euro zone payments system, a ‌senior European Central Bank policymaker said on Wednesday. As a currency managed directly by the ECB through ‌accounts users will open with the central bank, the digital euro project has sparked fears among banks they will lose their role in ​handling payments. Digitalisation of payments has reduced the role of cash, th ...

Core Insights - China plans to start paying interest on digital yuan holdings, with payments beginning in January, to accelerate the adoption of its central bank digital currency, E-CNY [1] - The initiative is a significant milestone in the development of the digital yuan, which has been in progress since 2014, and is expected to reshape the legal and technical framework supporting it [2] Adoption and Competition - Despite pilot programs in over half of mainland China's provinces, the digital yuan has not been formally launched nationwide and competes with established digital payment services like WeChat Pay and Alipay [3] - The global expansion of the digital yuan has faced challenges, including the withdrawal of the Bank for International Settlements from the mBridge cross-border payment platform due to concerns over sanctions evasion and the US dollar's dominance [4] Current Financial Landscape - Interest on demand deposits at major Chinese banks has decreased to approximately 0.05%, raising questions about whether offering interest on E-CNY will significantly enhance its adoption [4] - Banks are experiencing high deposit inflows as households save more, while loan growth has reached historic lows, prompting the People's Bank of China (PBOC) to intensify its digital currency initiatives [5] Regulatory Environment - Unlike the US, which allows privately issued stablecoins, China continues to focus on its state-backed E-CNY, with regulators expressing concerns about the risks associated with stablecoins [6] - As of the end of November, China had processed 3.48 billion digital yuan transactions, amounting to 16.7 trillion yuan (approximately $2.38 trillion) [6]

Group 1: Lighter Protocol - Lighter Protocol is set to launch its LIT token by the end of the year after raising $68 million from notable investors including Peter Thiel's Founders Fund and Andreessen Horowitz [2] - The decentralized exchange operates on a custom Ethereum Layer-2 zero-knowledge rollup, capable of processing tens of thousands of orders per second with a latency of 5 milliseconds, rivaling Coinbase [2] - Lighter has a total value locked (TVL) of $1.4 billion and has generated $2.94 billion in trading volume over the last 30 days [3] - An airdrop of 250 million LIT tokens is anticipated, with Polymarket odds for this event exceeding 90% [3] - Pre-market trading shows LIT priced around $3.48, with conservative targets of $5-$6 (40-70% upside) and bullish scenarios reaching $15+ (330%+ upside) if it captures 30-40% market share [4] Group 2: VeChain - VeChain completed its Hayabusa hard fork on December 19, transitioning to Delegated Proof-of-Stake and achieving MiCAR compliance under EU regulations [5] - The upgrade introduced StarGate 2.0 staking, increasing yields for active stakers from 2% to over 9% [5] - VeChain supports over 350 active business applications in sectors such as logistics and pharmaceuticals, with total value locked increasing by 800% in Q3 2025 to $6.1 million [6] - Currently trading at $0.053, conservative targets are set at $0.055 (4% upside), while bullish forecasts could reach $0.37 (600% upside) if EU Digital Product Passport mandates drive mass adoption [6] Group 3: Algorand - Algorand is trading at $0.11, down 95% from its all-time highs, but the launch of AlgoKit 3.0 is attracting developers due to its near-instant finality and low transaction costs [7] - The platform can handle nearly 1 million transactions per day and is positioned for Central Bank Digital Currency infrastructure and real-world asset tokenization [7] - Conservative forecasts suggest a price of $0.14 (27% upside), while bullish scenarios could see it reach $1.35 (1,100% upside) if a major nation selects Algorand for CBDC infrastructure [8] Group 4: Hedera - Hedera, governed by Google, processes over 10,000 transactions per second with a finality of 3-5 seconds and average fees of $0.0001 [10] - Currently trading at $0.11 with a market cap of $4.5 billion, Hedera has attracted ETF applications that may lead to increased institutional capital inflows [10] - Conservative price targets are set at $0.25 (120% upside), while bullish forecasts could reach $1.05 (850% upside) if ETF approval and enterprise adoption accelerate [10]

Group 1 - The Council of the European Union supports the European Central Bank's (ECB) initiative to explore an official digital currency, viewing it as an evolution of money and a means for financial inclusion [1][3] - The ECB is advised to impose limits on the total value held in online accounts and digital wallets to prevent the digital euro from being used as a store of value, which could threaten financial stability [2][4] - The endorsement from the Council indicates a strong alignment among EU member states regarding the design of the central bank digital currency, increasing the likelihood of legislation reflecting the ECB's approach [3] Group 2 - Concerns have been raised that allowing unlimited holdings of digital euros could lead to a significant shift of deposits from commercial banks to the ECB, particularly during financial stress, potentially accelerating bank runs [4][6] - The ECB's worries extend beyond general financial stability, as unrestricted digital euro holdings could reduce banks' deposit bases, constrain credit creation, and inadvertently tighten monetary conditions [5][6] - The design of the digital euro is intended to function primarily as a payment system rather than a store of value, with limits in place to ensure it does not compete with traditional bank deposits [7]

Russian financial chief warns crypto can never replace the ruble. Source: Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images. Key Takeaways The head of Russian Financial Markets has said that crypto can never replace the ruble. The comments came amid Russia’s growing use of cryptocurrencies for international trade. Putin has played a key role in advancing pro-crypto policies in the country despite the central bank’s opposition. Russia has a new emerging crypto critic in the form of Anatoly Aksakov, chairm ...

🇨🇦 NEW: Bank of Canada will only approve high-quality stablecoins tied to central bank currencies under upcoming regulations, expected in 2026. https://t.co/NW63Trngc5 ...

Core Insights - Franklin Templeton has launched Hong Kong's first Luxembourg-registered tokenized money-market fund, the Franklin OnChain US Government Money Fund, which invests in short-term US government securities and utilizes blockchain technology for transaction processing and ownership recording [1][2][7] Group 1: Fund Details - The fund is initially open to institutional and professional investors with a minimum investment of HK$8 million (approximately US$1 million) [2] - A retail version of the fund is planned, pending approval from Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), aimed at democratizing access to digital asset investments [3][7] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - The launch is part of the Fintech 2030 plan by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), which includes over 40 projects to promote tokenization, AI, and central bank digital currency (CBDC) in Hong Kong's financial sector [4] - Franklin Templeton has developed the blockchain platform for the fund and partnered with HSBC and OSL Group to enhance digital asset infrastructure [5] Group 3: Market Positioning - Hong Kong is positioning itself as a trusted hub for digital assets, with Franklin Templeton enhancing its blockchain capabilities since 2018 and previously launching the world's first U.S.-registered blockchain-integrated mutual fund in 2021 [6]

Core Points - The European Central Bank (ECB) has been instructed by the European Council to expedite the development of the digital euro, a central bank digital currency (CBDC) [1][3] - If the European Parliament approves the necessary regulations in 2026, a pilot for the digital euro will occur in 2027, with a full rollout planned for 2029 [1][4] - Christine Lagarde, ECB president, emphasized the importance of the digital euro in digitizing cash and reducing reliance on physical currency [2][3] Development Timeline - The ECB is entering the "next and final phase" of the digital euro's development [2] - The European Parliament's approval in 2026 is crucial for initiating a pilot exercise and initial transactions by mid-2027 [4] - The formal release of the digital euro across Europe is targeted for 2029 [1][4] Financial Aspects - The total estimated development cost for the digital euro is €1.3 billion (approximately $1.5 billion) until its first issuance in 2029 [5] - Annual operating costs post-launch are projected to be €320 million (around $369 million) [5] Technical Characteristics - The digital euro will not utilize public blockchains for transactions but will incorporate key design principles from digital ledger technology [3] - Unlike stablecoins, CBDCs like the digital euro are issued by central banks and are distinct in their operational framework [3]

Core Viewpoint - The Bank of England's recent decision to impose caps on stablecoin ownership is seen as detrimental to innovation and competitiveness in the UK financial sector, potentially pushing capital offshore and harming the demand for UK gilts [1][4][8]. Cryptocurrency and Stablecoins - The stablecoin market has rapidly grown to nearly $300 billion (£222 billion), and the Bank of England's restrictions have drawn criticism from various stakeholders who argue it could disadvantage the UK compared to other countries [2][5]. - Supporters of stablecoins argue they facilitate easier payments by providing a fast, cheap, and anonymous method for global transactions, contrasting with the volatility of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin [5][15]. Regulatory Environment - Critics, including Nigel Farage and Zia Yusuf, accuse the Bank of England of being "openly hostile to innovators" and failing to create a conducive environment for the development of digital assets [6][12]. - The proposed caps on stablecoin ownership are viewed as a significant regulatory overreach that could stifle growth and innovation in the UK financial system [8][19]. Economic Implications - The restrictions on stablecoins could lead to reduced demand for UK gilts, further diminishing London's status as a global financial hub [3][8]. - The digital asset industry is already a significant employer in the UK, and the potential for GBP-backed stablecoins could attract capital and strengthen the pound in the digital economy [17][18]. Future Outlook - There is a call for a regulatory framework that is transparent and pro-growth to make the UK an attractive jurisdiction for crypto and digital finance [14][20]. - The article emphasizes the urgency for the UK to embrace innovation in the digital economy to avoid falling behind other countries that are actively fostering such developments [21].

Regulatory Landscape - EU officials are considering issuing the digital euro on public blockchains like Ethereum or Solana [1] - The U S House of Representatives' defense bill includes an anti-central bank digital currency provision [1] Cryptocurrency Mining - Over 32% of Bitcoin is mined by publicly listed companies [1]