- SWIFT will be initiating a test with Hong Kong, Kazakhstan and another unnamed central bank for CBDC interoperability.
- Additionally, a second phase of sandbox testing for exploring additional use cases is initiated with 30 global financial institutions.
- The experiment comes days after G20 nations announced the Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).
The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications, better known as SWIFT, is moving forward with its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) tests. The digital fiat has been the focus of many countries, as have fund transfer facilitators such as SWIFT. With this experiment, if successful, CBDCs could potentially be fast-tracked globally into becoming a mode of fund transfer.
Read more - New York Fed successfully tests bespoke digital asset payment system even though technology already exists
SWIFT takes on CBDCs
In an announcement on September 13, the money messaging system stated that it would soon be initiating its next CBDC experiment. SWIFT noted that the beta test would be enrolling three central banks - the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the National Bank of Kazakhstan, as well as a third unnamed bank. Through this, SWIFT would test its innovative solution for interlinking CBDCs.
This test, if successful, would forge paths for interoperability, which refers to the ease of exchange of information and data among various systems. In the case of digital currencies, interoperability would allow for the transfer of CBDCs of one country to another’s through SWIFT, minimizing friction.
In addition to this experiment, SWIFT is also initiating the second phase of its sandbox testing. In this testing, commercial banks, central banks and financial market infrastructures are set to explore additional use cases of CBDCs. At the moment, about 30 leading global financial institutions, including the likes of The Reserve Bank of Australia, Deutsche Bundesbank, HKMA, and Bank of Thailand, will be participating, marking a 66% increase from the first sandbox testing participation.
The CBDC beta testing is the second major international money transfer experiment taken up this year. Earlier in July, the New York Federal Reserve completed its regulated liability network experiment. The experiment, which took place in partnership with Citi, SWIFT and other financial institutions, would be the New York Fed’s solution to instantaneous international settlement of transactions.
Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), the underlying tech behind cryptocurrencies, is the basis of this experiment.
Cryptocurrencies, on the other hand, are also finding global acceptance, with 20 of the world’s largest economies joining hands in establishing standardized regulation. During the G20 summit this week, nations including the US, UK, India, and China, among others, announced the Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), which would come into effect by 2027.
Read more - Bitcoin adds 265k new users in 24 hours as G20 closes in on crypto regulation standardization
Bitcoin, altcoins, stablecoins FAQs
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, a virtual currency designed to serve as money. This form of payment cannot be controlled by any one person, group, or entity, which eliminates the need for third-party participation during financial transactions.
What are altcoins?
Altcoins are any cryptocurrency apart from Bitcoin, but some also regard Ethereum as a non-altcoin because it is from these two cryptocurrencies that forking happens. If this is true, then Litecoin is the first altcoin, forked from the Bitcoin protocol and, therefore, an “improved” version of it.
What are stablecoins?
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to have a stable price, with their value backed by a reserve of the asset it represents. To achieve this, the value of any one stablecoin is pegged to a commodity or financial instrument, such as the US Dollar (USD), with its supply regulated by an algorithm or demand. The main goal of stablecoins is to provide an on/off-ramp for investors willing to trade and invest in cryptocurrencies. Stablecoins also allow investors to store value since cryptocurrencies, in general, are subject to volatility.
What is Bitcoin Dominance?
Bitcoin dominance is the ratio of Bitcoin's market capitalization to the total market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies combined. It provides a clear picture of Bitcoin’s interest among investors. A high BTC dominance typically happens before and during a bull run, in which investors resort to investing in relatively stable and high market capitalization cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. A drop in BTC dominance usually means that investors are moving their capital and/or profits to altcoins in a quest for higher returns, which usually triggers an explosion of altcoin rallies.
Like this article? Help us with some feedback by answering this survey:
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers. The author will not be held responsible for information that is found at the end of links posted on this page.
If not otherwise explicitly mentioned in the body of the article, at the time of writing, the author has no position in any stock mentioned in this article and no business relationship with any company mentioned. The author has not received compensation for writing this article, other than from FXStreet.
FXStreet and the author do not provide personalized recommendations. The author makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of this information. FXStreet and the author will not be liable for any errors, omissions or any losses, injuries or damages arising from this information and its display or use. Errors and omissions excepted.
The author and FXStreet are not registered investment advisors and nothing in this article is intended to be investment advice.
Recommended Content
Editors’ Picks
Turn off Solana and win $400,000 - Solana Foundation executive announces offer
Solana has been touted as an Ethereum killer, but as with every blockchain in the crypto market, the network does not come without its fair share of issues. While many who get hacked or exploited deal with the issues after the fact, Solana intends to get a step ahead by making a very lucrative offer to white hat hackers.
Grayscale vs. SEC deadline: Commission faces a midnight Friday deadline to challenge August 29 loss
Grayscale Investments secured a resounding victory in its longstanding case against the US Securities and Exchange Commission in late August. The lawsuit started in October after the firm approached the D.C. Circuit Court pushing to have its Bitcoin Trust converted to an Exchange-traded fund.
Loom Network price hits strong weekly resistance after 32% surge as LOOM ranks high on Korea’s Upbit
Loom Network token is highly bullish, passing as a rather lucrative investment for scalping traders, buying and selling the asset within a short period to make small profits.
Voyager founder charged by CFTC for fraud and by FTC for misleading investors that lost $1 billion
Voyager was among the first crypto companies to collapse and file for bankruptcy in 2022. While the platform has been making efforts to return its customers' assets since then, it looks like the regulatory bodies are not willing to be patient.
Bitcoin: Can BTC bears challenge crypto’s 2023 bull rally?
Bitcoin (BTC) price is at a critical juncture in the weekly time frame, where bulls and bears are battling for control. However, a multi-time-frame analysis shows that BTC is bullish daily and is likely to rally higher.