ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, the Bank of Israel has proposed a design scheme for a central bank digital currency (CBDC) that may be adopted in the future, provided that a decision is made to launch such a currency. In a document released on Tuesday, the Israeli central bank described the proposed digital shekel (DS) as a "multi-purpose CBDC," which can be used for both retail and wholesale.The document states, "The digital shekel will be a multi-purpose digital currency that meets the retail needs of end users such as households and businesses, as well as the wholesale needs of financial institutions." Therefore, the Bank of Israel will provide a digital currency equivalent to cash while upgrading the existing settlement systems of financial institutions, adding "smart" features such as composability and programmability.The Bank of Israel also emphasized that no decision has yet been made on whether to issue a CBDC. Therefore, the design scheme proposed in the document should only be regarded as a preliminary concept.

ChainCatcher news, according to BTCTN, the pilot project of Brazil's central bank digital currency DREX has encountered significant obstacles. An official report indicates that the implementation of this central bank digital currency lacks a key element: privacy protection.Although three potential solutions were tested, none were able to meet the requirements of balancing transaction privacy with regulatory needs. While these technologies can hide transaction details from third parties, they also hinder regulatory agencies' monitoring of fraud and compliance.The Central Bank of Brazil emphasizes that if transactions cannot be audited, the security and integrity of the Drex platform may be at risk. As it enters a new pilot phase, addressing privacy issues remains a top priority before considering new proposals.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, reported that on February 20, the European Central Bank (ECB) is expanding the development of a wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) payment system for settling transactions between institutions.The establishment of the new system will be carried out in two phases. First, a CBDC settlement platform will be developed, and the second phase will involve deeper integration with existing ECB systems, such as the foreign exchange trading market.Piero Cipollone, a member of the ECB's Executive Board and an official responsible for overseeing the wholesale CBDC program, stated that the initiative will help achieve "a more coordinated and integrated European financial ecosystem."

ChainCatcher news, the think tank OMFIF conducted a latest survey on central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and found that nearly three-quarters (72%) of the surveyed central banks intend to issue CBDCs. Among them, most (48% of respondents) plan to issue within five years, while 12% of respondents plan to issue within the next two years.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, Federal Reserve Chairman Powell stated that we will never launch a central bank digital currency.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, Swiss National Bank President Schlegel stated: Switzerland's current monetary conditions are appropriate. He believes there is no need to introduce a retail central bank digital currency.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin News, the Bank of England has announced the launch of the "Digital Pound Laboratory," aimed at experimenting with potential central bank digital currency. This laboratory will enable the Bank of England to conduct practical research in the process of exploring the design and potential implementation of the digital pound.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, Scott Bessent, the Treasury Secretary nominee by President-elect Trump, stated during his nomination hearing at the Senate Finance Committee that he believes the United States "has no reason" to have a central bank digital currency (CBDC).He said, "I believe the United States has no reason to issue a central bank digital currency; in my view, central bank digital currencies are meant for countries that have no other investment options."Bessent was appointed by Trump as a cryptocurrency expert at the end of November last year, and he holds a positive attitude towards cryptocurrencies. In an interview, he told Fox Business that he is "excited about the president's acceptance of cryptocurrencies."

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, the Bank of England will launch the "Digital Pound Lab" this year as part of its blueprint for the design phase of a potential central bank digital currency (CBDC).The lab will operate in a sandbox environment, supporting practical experiments on CBDC APIs, innovative use cases, and potential business models. According to the progress report on the digital pound released by the Bank of England on Tuesday, the lab will provide a platform for collaboration with private sector partners to explore functionalities and technological innovations. The initiative aims to provide insights for the UK's payments and technology sectors during the ongoing design phase.

ChainCatcher news, according to Pressreader, Bank Negara Malaysia is collaborating with several local financial institutions to explore the potential of wholesale central bank digital currency through a proof of concept (POC), aiming to optimize Malaysia's wholesale payment system RENTAS.Bank Negara Malaysia is also actively involved in several cross-border wholesale digital currency and innovation projects led by the Bank for International Settlements Innovation Hub, such as the "Dunbar" project, "Mandala" project, "Rialto" project, and "mBridge" project, primarily serving as an observer in these initiatives. "These projects delve into the applications of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and central bank digital currencies, with the goal of enhancing the efficiency of cross-border payments."It is reported that Bank Negara Malaysia's initial intention in participating in these projects is to deepen the understanding of central bank digital currencies among institutions and the financial industry, laying the groundwork for potential future developments.

ChainCatcher news, according to DL News, the interest of central banks in using central bank digital currencies to enhance cross-border payments is waning. According to the OMFIF 2024 Payments Future Survey, instant payment systems are becoming the preferred solution. Currently, only 13% of respondents believe that CBDC networks are the most promising approach, a significant drop from 31% last year.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Shaktikanta Das, stated that the central bank is not in a hurry to launch the central bank digital currency (CBDC), and there is currently no specific release date. He pointed out that the CBDC project is still in the implementation phase. There is a noticeable increase in market interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDC), especially in the area of cross-border payments.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptonews, the Norwegian central bank is advancing its research on central bank digital currency (CBDC) and plans to make a related decision by the end of 2025. Although the European Central Bank is preparing for digital currency, Norway has stated that it is not in a hurry to accelerate the process.According to Norway's Deputy Governor Pål Longva, Norway's research on CBDC is in line with other central banks, with the current focus on assessing complex issues. Norway is known for its leading position in digital payments, and although cash usage declined during the pandemic, it has recently stabilized.

ChainCatcher news, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, John Lee, stated that the government will continue to promote the policy stance and guidelines for innovative financial services applications of central bank digital currency, mobile payments, virtual banks, virtual insurance, and virtual asset trading using artificial intelligence.Measures include: 1. Promoting the application of central bank digital currency for cross-border payments. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is actively testing and exploring more technological solutions and scenarios related to cross-border trade settlement on various central bank digital currency cross-border networks, and expanding the participation of public and private institutions. 2. Improving the regulation of virtual assets and trading. The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau will complete the second round of consultation on the regulation of over-the-counter trading of virtual assets and submit a virtual licensing system to regulate virtual asset custodial service providers. 3. Promoting the tokenization of real-world assets and the digital currency ecosystem. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is promoting the progress of the Ensemble project.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released a report titled "Inclusive Strategies for the Adoption of Central Bank Digital Currencies for Intermediaries and Users." The report recommends implementing inclusive strategies for intermediaries and end users. It introduces a high-level framework of Regulation, Education, Design, and Incentives (REDI) to help promote the adoption of CBDCs.IMF staff stated that the successful adoption of CBDCs requires proactive strategic policies and design choices that benefit end users and intermediaries. Therefore, they urge central banks to focus on stakeholder engagement.The REDI framework was developed by IMF staff to assist central banks in improving the adoption of CBDCs.

ChainCatcher news, Assistant Governor Jones of the Reserve Bank of Australia stated that an industry project will be launched regarding central bank digital currency (CBDC) at the wholesale level and tokenized commercial bank deposits. This is part of a three-year digital currency research project.The Reserve Bank of Australia will prioritize wholesale central bank digital currency. Wholesale central bank digital currency has greater economic benefits compared to retail central bank digital currency. The introduction of retail central bank digital currency will be decided by the Australian government and requires legislation. (Jin Ten)

ChainCatcher News: Former U.S. President Trump stated at the Bitcoin 2024 conference that there will never be a central bank digital currency (CBDC) during my presidency, and he will order the Treasury to stop the creation of central bank digital currencies.

ChainCatcher News, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis stated on social media that Bitcoin and digital assets are the future.Her main agenda includes: banning retail central bank digital currencies; clearly protecting self-custody Bitcoin wallets; restoring the dominance of the U.S. dollar in the 21st century. Previously, she mentioned on a FOX News program that "having Bitcoin reserves can help keep the dollar strong."

ChainCatcher News, Taiwan has established a prototype platform for central bank digital currency. The Central Bank of Taiwan will continue to research and develop central bank digital currency, planning to hold multiple hearings and forums next year. Reports indicate that the central bank has developed a CBDC prototype platform with a two-tier issuance structure. The initial CBDC will not accrue interest, and the CBDC wallet may include both anonymous and registered types.