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Intended to prevent unscrupulous merchants from embezzling prepayments made by buyers, a new digital yuan management tool has been unveiled. Merchants can apply to execute the smart contract when they complete services that consumers pay for, and the contract will transfer the prepaid funds to the merchants after verifying that all conditions have been met. This technically rules out the possibility of embezzling the prepayments via artificial operations.

AntGroup's Alipay added a feature that permits its users to transfer sums to WeChat users, bridging the two Chinese digital payments providers.  To perform a transfer, Alipay users first need to select the payment amount they would like to transfer. After that, the app generates a QR code that can be shared with counterparties via WeChat, QQ, Sina Weibo, or DingDing. The move follows the launch of anti-trust measures by the Chinese central government targeting the two payment platforms, as well as practices such as exclusive agreements with vendors and the use of big data to engage in discriminatory pricing.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) completed its Project Tridecagon proof-of-concept (PoC) probing into the viability of cross-border delivery-versus-payment (DVP) bond settlements using blockchain technology. It connected key market infrastructures: central banks' real-time gross settlement systems (RTGS) and central securities depositories' (CSD) book-entry systems, but did not use central bank digital currency (CBDC). The settlement of cross-border securities transactions was proven in principle and across different vendor solutions, but full application may depend on necessary changes to legal and regulatory prescriptions which could take years.

Forbes published an interview focused on central bank digital currency (CBDC) with Jamiel Sheikh , CEO of the CBDC Think Tank (CBDCTT). The CBDCTT delivers education, the CBDC Summit in Washington D.C in collaboration with the IMF,  and is expanding into advisory with a number of key clients and central banks.  A key interview takeaway for me was the stressing of the importance of central banks building internal CBDC competencies instead of relying on vendors.

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) published a report that analyses the operating, technology, third-party and business continuity risks for the central banks that issue central bank digital currency (CBDC). It proposes an integrated risk-management framework that can be applied to the entire life cycle of a CBDC. For CBDCs to be a reliable means of payments, central banks need to address, among others, the risks of interruptions or disruptions and ensure integrity and confidentiality. Key risk are the potential gaps in central banks' internal capabilities and skills. While many of the CBDC-related activities could in principle be outsourced, doing so requires adequate capacity to select and supervise vendors.

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub published a guide on the technology underpinning offline central bank digital currency (CBDC) payments. This follows up on an earlier overview report, by deep diving into the requirements and design choices, based on information gathered in a series of workshops conducted in collaboration with 12 solution vendors and 6 observing central banks. Currently, very few offline CBDC solutions are production-ready or working at scale in a live environment, but there are a number of mature pilots. The report discusses requirement trade-offs, for which the report suggests that central banks take an iterative approach to design, exploring alternative ways to achieve their objectives.

"In today's fast changing environment, High Value Payment System operators require enhanced efficiency, more security, more resilience, and deeper integration from their RTGS vendors to make sure they meet the demands of the interbank market. As the world's premier supplier of open, future proof and platform independent RTGS solutions, Montran is fully aligned to market expectations and future initiatives."

OMFIF and G+D: "Everyone should have access to convenient, secure digital payments and other financial services. CBDC has the potential to make this a reality. It is a digital version of physical cash - a ubiquitous and fully inclusive financial instrument that people can use independently from the issuer. For the 1.4bn unbanked adults globally, as well as unbanked children who form the next generation, CBDCs promote participation in the digital economy. This should also inspire developed nations to leverage offline functionality, where a bank account is not needed, and introduce a digital form of public currency that is simple, resilient and universally accepted. CBDCs could ease life for many people by offering a cheaper way for cross-border payments for migrant workers or enabling digital payments for small merchants like rural market vendors."

The Bank of England (BOE) published the minutes of the October 2023 retail CBDC Technology Forum meeting. The four subgroups presented their objectives, expected outputs and timelines. Subgroup 1 will look at privacy-enhancing technologies and aliases. Subgroup 2 will focus on alternative models of interaction between payment infrastructure providers (PIPs). Subgroup 3 will explore options for the core ledger design in general terms, rather than the technology or solutions provided by specific vendors. Subgroup 4 will assess what a platform for innovation might look like and explore the possible technology requirements for one.

"We have built the most advanced CBDC ecosystem solution based on the concept of Chaum and Moser's eCash 2.0 that holds the promise of cash-like privacy. With our solution, Central Banks will be able to launch a sovereign digital currency that compliments hard-cash and supplements Commercial Bank money, helping them to maintain monetary and fiscal stability with greater control over the economy."

The Banco Central do Brasil's Lift Challenge Real Digital has chosen nine partners to help develop a digital real, Brazil's central bank digital currency (CBDC). They received 47 project proposals from Brazil, Germany, the U.S., Israel, Mexico, Portugal, the U.K. and Sweden. An implementation phase for the selected projects will begin on March 28 and last until July 27, with an eye towards launching a pilot in 2022 and introducing a final version in 2024.

Banca D'Italia published a paper on financial technology providers and their crucial role in enabling firms - even small ones - to become more efficient and keep pace with innovation. It draws attention to how interdependencies between such providers and financial entities may pose new systemic risks, deserving the attention of financial regulators and overseers. Although it doesn't cover central bank digital currency (CBDC) explicitly, all of the points it makes seem relevant to the role such technology providers play in CBDC launches and pilots.

The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic (NBKR) has received proposals from twelve firms to develop and test a demo version of a digital som central bank digital currency (CBDC). The NBKR will select from Axellect, DCM, EMTECH, FIS, G+D Filia GmbH, Knox Networks, MONTRAN,Nahmii, Ltd, R3 Corda, SICPA/Nabatech, TCS Quartz, and Xiamen Strait Chain Technology. The selection criteria will focus on blockchain platform technology.