Challenge Ensemble will “search to discover progressive monetary market infrastructure (FMI) that may facilitate seamless interbank settlement of tokenized cash by wCBDC,” with an preliminary concentrate on tokenized deposits, the Hong Kong Financial Authority (HKMA) stated Thursday.
Hong Kong has been exploring wholesale CBDCs since 2017 and “officially” started researching one for retail funds in 2021. The HKMA has already carried out two rounds of market consultations on issuing a digital Hong Kong greenback (e-HKD) however has not selected whether or not or when to introduce an e-HKD regardless of stating in October 2023 {that a} retail CBDC might add distinctive worth.
Challenge Ensemble is the most recent addition to its portfolio of initiatives within the house, together with Challenge mBridge, Challenge Dynamo and Challenge Genesis.
“On the core of Challenge Ensemble is a wCBDC Sandbox that the HKMA will launch this 12 months to additional analysis and take a look at tokenization use circumstances that embrace, amongst others, settlement of tokenized real-world belongings (e.g. inexperienced bonds, carbon credit, plane, electrical car charging stations, digital payments of lading and treasury administration),” the announcement stated.
The venture will see the creation of a “wCBDC Structure Neighborhood” consisting of stakeholders from private and non-private entities to fulfill business requirements. It might additionally end in a brand new monetary market infrastructure to bridge the hole “between tokenized real-world belongings and cash in transactions.”
If the wCBDC sandbox garners enough curiosity from the business, a “stay” issuance of the wCBDC on the acceptable time might be carried out, the HKMA stated.
“Challenge Ensemble will present recent impetus to our vibrant monetary business and reinforce our forefront place in tokenized cash and belongings,” stated Eddie Yue, Chief Govt of the HKMA.
UPDATE (March 7, 2024, 12:34 UTC): Updates headline and provides element all through.
