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ECB Keeps Subzero Interest Rates and Open-Ended QE Worth €20B a Month But Launches Policy Review
24.1.2020
The European Central Bank (ECB) has launched an extensive review that will examine a wide range of its policies by the end of this year. Under its new president, Christine Lagarde, the bank will try to establish why its monetary stimulus has failed to achieve the Eurozone’s goal of close...
Trump ‘Loves’ Negative Rates and ‘Could Get Used to’ Them, Criticizes Fed at World Economic Forum, China Trade Deal
24.1.2020
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland Tuesday saying the U.S. and other nations are “forced to compete … with nations that are getting negative rates, something very new.” Trump took direct shots at the U.S. Federal Reserve, claiming...
6 Central Banks Form Digital Currency Use Case Working Group
21.1.2020
The working group will pool research into CBDCs
ECB Wants Active Role in Crypto, Will Not Deter Private Solutions
9.1.2020
The European Central Bank (ECB) wants to play an active role in the field of digital currency, said President Christine Lagarde. As the bank works on its own digital currency and an instant payment system, Lagarde emphasizes that “central bank initiatives should neither discourage nor crowd...
European Central Bank’s CBDC Borrows Bitcoin’s Pseudo-Anonymity
20.12.2019
On December 17, the European Central Bank (ECB) published a report that showcased its blockchain technology proof-of-concept. One particular feature the central bank digital chain holds is the ability to issue “anonymity vouchers.” Also read: Lagarde Sees Demand for Stablecoins, Plans...
Bailouts From Asia to the EU Signal Recession and Potential Crypto Opportunity
19.12.2019
China’s Hengfeng Bank is set to get a $14.2 billion bailout from both Chinese government and foreign investors. An emergency decree has been approved to bail out southern Italy’s biggest lender, Banca Popular di Bari. Germany continues to struggle with bailout pains, as regional bank...
‘Anonymity Vouchers’ Could Bring Limited Privacy to CBDCs: ECB Report
17.12.2019
Europe's central bankers have developed an "anonymity voucher" to give prospective CBDC users limited privacy in their retail transactions
Regulatory Roundup: Crypto ‘Inevitable’ in India, China Rankings, NY Streamlines Policy
16.12.2019
In this regulatory roundup, we cover a positive crypto story in India, China’s year-end rankings, and the European Central Bank entering the stablecoin race. We also cover the New York regulator’s proposed Bitlicense revision — the first in five years — and several other...
German Banks Increasingly Charging Retail Clients Negative Interest Rates
16.12.2019
A growing number of banks in Germany are charging retail customers negative interest rates, starting with the very first euro deposited into their accounts. At least three German banks are reportedly doing so, with more expected to follow suit in the near future. As the European Central Bank...
Lagarde Sees Demand for Stablecoins, Plans to Put ECB ‘Ahead of the Curve’
13.12.2019
At her first press conference as head of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde outlined her plans to lead the ECB “ahead of the curve” in the field of digital currency. “There is clearly a demand out there that we have to respond to,” she said, referring...
ECB Nominee Blames Resistance to Negative Rates on Financial Illiteracy
5.12.2019
European Central Bank (ECB) executive board nominee and member of the German Council of Economic Experts, Isabel Schnabel, recently remarked at a European Parliament hearing that “This scapegoating [of the ECB] is extremely dangerous: it may damage the trust in the euro.” Schnabel...
Bitcoin ‘Is Not Real,’ Says Former European Central Bank Chief
11.11.2019
European Central Bank’s former president Jean-Claude Trichet said that Bitcoin lacks the characteristics of a currency and is purely speculative
ECB President: ’We Should Be Happier to Have a Job Than to Have Our Savings Protected’
1.11.2019
Newly installed European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde made controversial remarks in a recent statement prior to assuming her new role. The former IMF Managing Director implored: “isn’t it true that ultimately we have done the right thing to act in favour of jobs and...
Why Central Banks Are Not Designed for Democracies
29.10.2019
Through their policies, central banks exert tremendous influence over the socio-economic conditions in a country and its business environment. Their decisions are so powerful that it’s obvious they are part of the government. But most people would be surprised to find out that central banks...
Bank of Lithuania Issues Guidelines on Security Token Offerings
26.10.2019
Recognizing that businesses are seeking alternative ways to raise capital other than bank lending, the Bank of Lithuania has issued new guidelines on security token offerings. The goal is to clarify applicable rules without introducing more regulations. Also read: Mario Draghi Leaves European...
Tax Form to Report Revenues From Cryptocurrency Trading Issued in Poland
26.10.2019
Authorities in Poland have clarified the taxation of revenues received from cryptocurrency exchange transactions. The Ministry of Finance has recently published a 2019 tax form that has a dedicated section where taxpayers are expected to declare separately proceeds from crypto trading. Also read:...
Mario Draghi Leaves European Central Bank Without Ever Raising Interest Rates
24.10.2019
Preparing for a change at the top, the European Central Bank has decided to keep interest rates on hold and at their all-time lows. Mario Draghi, who had his last monetary policy meeting as president of the ECB, is leaving after an eight-year term during which key rates were never raised. At...
Major German Coop Bank Passes Negative Interest Rates to Customers
9.10.2019
One of Germany’s largest cooperative banks has begun charging its retail customers a negative interest rate. Other major banks could follow suit since the European Central Bank cut the deposit rate to a record low. Deutsche Bank recently said that it needs to be “much more robust about...
Here’s How Europeans Can Deal With Negative Interest Rates
17.9.2019
Low and negative interest rates have been a burden for account holders across Europe for some time. And it’s only getting worse, as the European Central Bank just announced a new rate cut to a record low of -0.5%. Private and corporate customers in many countries on the continent don’t...
European Countries Step Up Response to Facebook’s Libra
16.9.2019
The European Central Bank (ECB) and a number of countries in the region have stepped up their efforts in response to Facebook’s Libra, which has revived a competing ECB project for instant payments. As Facebook engages Switzerland’s financial regulator, the ECB clarifies how Libra...