The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has established a new digital yuan operations center in the nation’s financial hub, Shanghai, in a move to foster the internationalisation of the yuan. State-run media Xinhua News Agency said Thursday that the establishment is among the eight new initiatives announced by the PBOC. As reported earlier, the central bank Governor Pan Gongsheng laid out an ambitious plan to create a multi-polar monetary system, where multiple currencies support the global economy. He also st ...

China has quietly taken a bold step in its bid to expand the global footprint of its digital currency. On Thursday, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) inaugurated an international operations centre for its central bank digital currency, the digital yuan (e-CNY) in Shanghai, according to a report from the South China Morning Post. PBOC Deputy Governor, Lu Lei, framed the move as part of a “historical inevitability” in payments innovation, with the aim of offering a more efficient, inclusive, and open globa ...

Nine European banks plan a MiCA-regulated euro stablecoin by 2026, aiming to rival USD tokens as ECB’s digital euro stalls. | Credit: Getty Images. Key Takeaways Nine leading European banks have formed a consortium to launch a euro-backed stablecoin. The project is designed as a counterweight to the dominance of U.S. dollar stablecoins. The stablecoin is planned for release in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory approval. Europe’s biggest financial institutions are taking the stablecoin i ...

Tom Lee: Can Stablecoins Solve US Debt Issues?In an interview with Mario Nawfal, Tom Lee, Chairman of Bitmine, pointed out that stablecoins can currently be observed as a microcosm of how debt problems are addressed: for dollar-pegged stablecoins, their issuers use collateral assets to purchase government bonds, forming a circular mechanism that provides a degree of sustained financial stability. If the Federal Reserve rolls out a true Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) – one that enables every American t ...

Legislative Action - The House passed a bill to prevent the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) [1] - The vote was 219-210 [1]

Summary of the BRICS+ Payments System Conference Call Industry Overview - The document discusses the evolving payments system among BRICS+ countries, focusing on the de-dollarization efforts and the development of independent payment infrastructures separate from US and Western systems [2][4][11]. Key Points and Arguments 1. **De-dollarization Debate**: The debate on the US dollar's reserve currency status is intensifying due to geopolitical fragmentation and the use of financial sanctions by the US and its allies [2][4]. 2. **BRICS+ Payment Sovereignty**: BRICS+ countries are pursuing 'payments sovereignty' by developing independent payment infrastructures, which are at various stages of discussion and implementation [4][11]. 3. **Challenges to Alternative Systems**: Geopolitical factors and divergent national objectives among emerging market countries pose significant challenges to establishing an alternative payments system, rather than technical barriers [4][8]. 4. **Multi-CBDC Platform**: The potential for a multi-Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) platform is highlighted, with several BRICS+ countries advancing their domestic digital payment infrastructures [4][9]. 5. **Role of Multilateral Institutions**: Institutions like the AIIB and NDB are seen as foundational for an alternative international financial system, although they currently lack sufficient liquidity support mechanisms [4][11]. 6. **SWIFT and CHIPS**: The document emphasizes the importance of SWIFT and CHIPS in the current global payments architecture, with the dollar accounting for nearly half of all SWIFT transactions [27][31]. 7. **BRICS+ Leaders Summit**: The upcoming BRICS+ leaders summit in Rio de Janeiro is expected to focus on trade, investment, and finance, but no major announcements regarding de-dollarization are anticipated [11][50]. Additional Important Content 1. **Historical Context**: BRICS countries have long opposed the existing international financial architecture, advocating for greater representation of emerging economies [6][38]. 2. **Geopolitical Dimensions**: The geopolitical landscape, particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has intensified discussions around reducing reliance on the dollar [40][41]. 3. **Future Initiatives**: Various proposals for de-dollarization are being discussed, including a BRICS common currency and cross-border payment initiatives, though many remain in the proposal stage [51][54]. 4. **Political Will**: The main hurdle to establishing an alternative payments architecture is political will, as diverging objectives within BRICS+ countries complicate consensus [9][40]. 5. **US Response**: The US has expressed concern over BRICS+ de-dollarization efforts, with former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen emphasizing the importance of protecting the dollar [47][48]. This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call regarding the BRICS+ payments system and the ongoing efforts towards de-dollarization, highlighting both the challenges and potential pathways forward.

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the stablecoin industry or specific companies involved in it. Core Insights - The rollout of the Stablecoin Bill in Hong Kong is seen as a significant advancement in the region's digital finance landscape, with the HKMA beginning to accept license applications from August 2025 [4] - USDC is considered a more relevant reference for Hong Kong's stablecoins compared to USDT, which is unregulated [4] - The stablecoin ecosystem is rapidly evolving, with USDT holding approximately 70% of the market balance and USDC around 20% [8] - Stablecoins are expected to play a larger role in global payments, potentially replacing credit card systems within five years due to lower costs and faster processing [8] Summary by Sections Regulatory Developments - The HK Stablecoin Bill was passed on May 21 and will be enacted on August 1, 2025, with the HKMA releasing consultation documents on AML/CFT requirements and supervision of licensed stablecoin issuers [4] - The US Genius Act mandates that stablecoins must be one-to-one backed and properly audited, affecting USDC but not USDT [8] Market Dynamics - USDT's reserve assets include treasuries and commercial paper but lack transparency, raising concerns about its backing [8] - USDC ensures one-to-one backing with reserves held under bank custodianship, sharing interest earnings with Coinbase [8] Implications for Financial Institutions - There may be a decrease in payment and credit card revenues for banks, but they could engage in the stablecoin ecosystem as custodians or issuers [4] - Among listed HK banks, STAN is noted for its involvement in digital asset development and participation in the stablecoin sandbox [4] Future Outlook - Stablecoins are projected to become a $3.7 trillion market by 2030, with significant implications for global trade and retail applications [8] - Key questions remain regarding the reserve assets for HK's stablecoin, its retail use cases, and its role in enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international financial center [4]

Initiative Launch - Bank of England launched the Digital Pound Lab to explore UK central bank digital currency (CBDC) use cases [1] - The Digital Pound Lab is part of the ongoing design phase for the digital pound [1] Participation & Collaboration - Organizations can now apply to participate in the Digital Pound Lab [1] - The Lab encourages collaboration between the Bank of England and private-sector innovators [2] - Digital Pound Foundation will arrange a member discussion to enable compelling use case consideration and identification [2] Purpose & Focus - The Lab aims to experiment with and assess the technical feasibility of various digital pound design features [2] - Interested parties are encouraged to contribute to shaping the future of digital currency in the UK [2] - Information about intermediary roles and scheme rulebook is available [3]