Cryptocurrency - Long Reads, News, Articles & Research: Finextra

Central bank digital currencies: Why it's time for commercial banks to lead

Gilbert Verdian Founder and CEO at Quant

Central bank digital currencies: Why it's time for commercial banks to lead

Anyone who has ever been involved with a technology project will know that they are notorious for being overtime and over budget. We’ve recently completed one that bucks this trend. It has the potential to significantly reshape our underlying monetary system and the nature of currency – creating a slew of opportunities for banks and payments firms...

21 June 2023 /crypto

Níamh Curran Senior Reporter at Finextra

Metaverse progress unlikely in 2023

The metaverse is a hot topic which everyone seems keen to pontificate about, but less so to actually dip their toes in. The reasons for this, especially in the financial services sector, are obvious. This technology is new and not fully developed, and its benefits it offers compared to a more traditional investment option remain to be seen. Despi...

16 February 2023 /crypto

Why is intellectual property protection essential in the virtual world?

Dale Carter Partner at Reddie & Grose LLP

Why is intellectual property protection essential in the virtual world?

This article was co-authored by Jasmine Walters, technical assistant at Reddie & Grose LLP. In 2022, banking and finance brands made a number of notable forays into the metaverse in the context of protecting key Intellectual Property (IP) rights. American Express filed seven new trade mark applications by March relating to its company name, log...

02 February 2023 /crypto

The golden circle: Are gold-linked digital assets the future?

Níamh Curran Senior Reporter at Finextra

The golden circle: Are gold-linked digital assets the future?

Richard Nixon un-pegged the US from the gold standard over 50 years ago, and with it the rest of the world began accepting the free-floating currencies we use today. At the time it was an extremely bold move, but one which was deemed necessary for continued economic growth and to fight against inflation rates. At times of global downturn people of...

25 January 2023 /crypto

CBDC infrastructure in 2023 – scapegoats, politics, and interoperability

Níamh Curran Senior Reporter at Finextra

CBDC infrastructure in 2023 – scapegoats, politics, and interoperability

The potential progress of CBDC remained in the headlines throughout 2022. Towards the end of the year, it was announced that the central banks of Sweden, Norway, and Israel collaborated with the Bank of International Settlement (BIS) to investigate how CBDCs can be used for international retail and remittance payments. The Bank of Canada also par...

11 January 2023 /crypto

Madhvi Sonia Head of Content at Finextra

What is a Web 3.0 job?

Web 3.0, the next stage in the evolution of the Internet, allows data to be interconnected in a decentralised way. This is a stark change from the digital world that we know, now also referred to as Web 2.0, where data has historically been centralised and siloed. Is Web 3.0 the future? If yes, should those in the financial services industry and f...

12 December 2022 /crypto

Cryptocurrency sustainability: how do we solve a problem like Bitcoin?

Níamh Curran Senior Reporter at Finextra

Cryptocurrency sustainability: how do we solve a problem like Bitcoin?

Bitcoin uses significant amounts of energy, more than any other cryptocurrency. If cryptocurrencies are to be taken seriously in the wider financial world, it is important that the energy consumption of Bitcoin is not conflated with all cryptocurrencies. While estimates on this vary, the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) has found th...

08 December 2022 /crypto

Questions unanswered: Dissecting the CBDC business case

Paige McNamee

Questions unanswered: Dissecting the CBDC business case

“This round table achieved great debate, provided a forum for insightful and differing opinions and concluded with a consensus that there was a need for more clarity from central banks and governments on what they are aiming to achieve with central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). While banks are ready to invest in the relevant and necessary techn...

16 November 2022 /crypto

CBDC: Powering the future of money in the digital era

Rajashekara Maiya VP at Infosys

CBDC: Powering the future of money in the digital era

This is an excerpt from Finextra’s report, 'The Future of Digital Banking North America 2023'. The last couple of years have witnessed a revolution in digital currencies globally. Rapid advancements in technology and decline in cash transactions, particularly through the pandemic, have further fuelled their rise. A report by UNCTAD in 2021 indicat...

25 October 2022 /crypto

Why insolvency practitioners are battling with crypto recovery as cost of living bites

Lucas Arnold Director of Litigation Funding at Harbour

Why insolvency practitioners are battling with crypto recovery as cost of living bites

The current economic news presents a bleak picture. Whilst Covid lockdowns have eased, businesses and consumers now face inflation levels not seen in a generation as well as rising interest rates. All businesses will be impacted by reduced consumer spending power and higher energy costs. Given this, it is not surprising that recent statistics repo...

18 October 2022 /crypto

Cash or crypto – can I pay my employees in crypto?

Ashleigh Green Solicitor at Napthens

Cash or crypto – can I pay my employees in crypto?

Bitcoin reached an all-time high of over $68,000 in November 2021, despite starting the year at under $30,000. There is no doubt that cryptocurrency is a volatile market as the rates can drop and rise at any moment, so why is cryptocurrency at the forefront of most investment discussions, and should employers consider paying employees in such a wa...

21 September 2022 /crypto

Is Ethereum’s long-awaited 'The Merge' upgrade a game changer?

Charles-Henry Monchau CIO at Syz Group

Is Ethereum’s long-awaited 'The Merge' upgrade a game changer?

The price of Ether (ETH) rebounded strongly in July. Renewed risk appetite certainly played a role, but some investors are looking positively at a major change in the way the blockchain Ethereum will operate, starting 19 September. From Ethereum to Ethereum 2.0 Launched on 30 July 2015, Ethereum is a decentralised exchange protocol that allows use...

18 August 2022 /crypto

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