Payments & Settlements

CBDCs

China and Ethiopia to Deepen Financial Cooperation on Payments and CBDCs

By Mark Johnston | 07/04/2026

Central banks discussed establishing bilateral swap lines and integrating payment systems, including potential access to China's CIPS network for Ethiopian banks.

Data Privacy

US Designates India's UPI and Data Rules as Trade Barriers

By Nithya Subramanian | 07/04/2026

The USTR’s annual trade report flags India’s digital payment ecosystem, data localisation rules, and content takedown orders as significant hurdles.

Payments & Settlements

New Rules for Payment Account Names Take Effect in Vietnam

By Editors | 07/04/2026

From 1 April 2026, all payment account names must exactly match official identification information, and bank account nicknames are banned.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime

Korean Banks Face Signficant Annual Costs for Fraud Compensation

By Mark Johnston | 06/04/2026

Proposed legal amendments that would force financial firms to compensate fraud victims could cost financial firms up to KRW 281.1 billion annually.

CBDCs

Korea to Pilot Deposit Token Payments at Major Convenience Store Chains

By Mark Johnston | 06/04/2026

BOK is partnering with commercial banks and retailers to test deposit token payments in real-world consumer settings.

Tokenisation

Swift Advances Blockchain-Based Ledger to Build Phase

By Manesh Samtani | 06/04/2026

The new shared ledger will use tokenised deposits to enable 24/7 cross-border payments, with a live MVP planned for 2026.

Liquidity Risk

Bangladesh to Launch Islamic Interbank Money Market by June - Reports

By Mark Johnston | 03/04/2026

The new Shariah-compliant platform, approved by the central bank, aims to provide a structured mechanism for Islamic banks to manage short-term liquidity.

Liquidity Risk

APRA Consults on Liquidity Treatment of Settlement Deposits

By Sanday Chongo Kabange | 03/04/2026

APRA aims to clarify that deposits encumbered with settlement service providers cannot be counted towards minimum liquidity holdings for certain banks.

Payments & Settlements

Bangladesh Bank Mandates Universal 'Bangla QR' Adoption by June 2026

By Editors | 03/04/2026

The central bank has ordered all payment providers to replace proprietary QR codes with the national interoperable standard to foster a cashless ecosystem.