Hong Kong exploring CBDC as part of fintech strategy
On Monday, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) launched an legitimate white paper exploring the capacity of a retail-targeted primary financial institution virtual currency (CBDC), the virtual Hong Kong dollar (e-HKD).
According to the document, the HKMA will are seeking for to recognize the “capacity architectures and layout options” from a technical and regulatory coverage perspective, with the ambition of making a dual-tier system — the primary being designed for a “primary financial institution to problem and redeem CBDC,” and the second one being retail-centric for “business banks to distribute and flow into both rCBDC or CBDC-sponsored e-money.”
Hong Kong debuted its research into CBDCs in 2017 with Project LionRock, and in early 2020, it launched into a seven-month collaboration with the Bank of Thailand, prospecting the “capacity of wholesale CBDC for go-border bills.”
The initiative quickly advanced into Multiple CBDC Bridge in February 2021 following the advent of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and the Digital Currency Institute of the People’s Bank of China. This “m-CDBC” will intention to apply disbursed ledger generation to supply a proof-of-idea version for a unified bills network.
In June of this year, the HKMA introduced Fintech 2025, a economic generation initiative targeted on 5 regions of innovation, such as imparting aid to primary banks withinside the adoption of a CBDC, growing a professional workforce, in addition to the initiative delivered today. HKMA leader govt Eddie Yue said:
Related: CBDCs can reduce go border remittance charges with the aid of using half: BIS report
“We additionally look ahead to receiving comments and hints from the academia and enterprise to enhance our perspectives,” Yue added.
Despite issuing a blanket ban on all crypto-associated sports along Hong Kong, the People’s Republic of China has been continually formidable in its pursuit of a CBDC, organising itself as a distinguished chief withinside the burgeoning international market.