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Is COVID-19 Driving Growth in Digital Currencies?
With purchases and transactions increasingly moving away from cash and towards digital channels during the pandemic, both central banks and private institutions around the world are continuing to explore the potential of digital currencies.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Here’s How Governments Can Help Mobile Phones Become a Humanitarian Lifeline
As the COVID-19 pandemic strikes poor and vulnerable people all over the world, mobile phones have become a lifeline for many.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Technology
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Analysis: Could Digital Currencies Make Being Poor Less Costly?
Blockchain-based payment systems can bring the more than 1.7 billion people who are unbanked or underbanked (including 25% of U.S. households), into the formal economy. And in doing so, they can render obsolete the expensive, usurious payment and informal financial services those people use to make ends meet.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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COVID Coin?
The COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating the long-term shift away from cash, and monetary authorities risk falling behind. A recent report from the G30 argues that if central banks want to shape the outcome, they need to start thinking fast.
- Categories
- Coronavirus, Finance, Technology
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What Is Celo and Could It Succeed Where Libra Won’t?
Celo promises to be a stablecoin to rival Libra. While unlikely to be regarded with the same distrust as Facebook’s much-maligned digital currency, Celo will still have its share of challenges relating to regulation and scale.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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As Facebook’s Libra Faces Headwinds, China Is Racing to Launch Its Own Global Cryptocurrency
Based on recent conversations and meetings in Beijing, RBC told clients this week that China “has expedited its development of a Central Bank Digital Currency” after Facebook’s announcement in June.
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A Devil’s Bargain to Bank the Unbanked: Why Financial Inclusion Advocates Shouldn’t Trust Facebook’s Libra
As you've likely heard, Facebook has entered the inclusive finance arena, pitching Libra, a global cryptocurrency – ostensibly to promote financial inclusion. But as Digital Equity co-founder Valerie Khan argues, there are plenty of reasons to doubt Facebook's intentions and Libra's “social good” marketing campaign. In fact, she says, "Facebook is not being transparent about its real interest in Libra" – and both financial inclusion advocates and emerging countries should beware.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
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Facebook’s Digital Money Plan Raises Stakes For China’s Cryptocurrency Ambitions
Facebook hopes to roll out Libra in the first half of 2020, presenting the most significant competition to China's cryptocurrency ambitions.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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