Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said the BOJ will run experiments using blockchain to settle deposits that financial institutions hold with the central bank. The trials are intended to explore improvements in settlement efficiency and operational resilience.
Rwanda's central bank has launched a 12‑month pilot for a central bank digital currency after completing a successful proof of concept in late 2025. The pilot will assess technical, operational and regulatory readiness ahead of any wider rollout.
The Bank of Russia will revisit its cautious approach to fiat-pegged stablecoins and may explore issuing a ruble-backed token in 2026 after reports of a Kyrgyzstan-launched ruble stablecoin being used to skirt sanctions.
Ripple formally filed comments in the Federal Reserve’s public consultation on the Reserve Bank Payment Account pilot (Docket OP-1877), advocating for potential direct access for non-bank firms. The move could reshape settlement pathways for fintechs and crypto firms such as XRP.
The Central Bank of the UAE has approved First Abu Dhabi Bank’s AED‑pegged stablecoin DDSC, which is now live on the ADI Chain blockchain.
Hedge fund manager Ray Dalio warned that central bank digital currencies with no privacy protections could give states sweeping power to tax, freeze, confiscate funds, and silence opponents. His comments add a high-profile voice to ongoing debates about CBDC design and civil liberties.
The Bank of Russia has revised its digital ruble framework, imposing stricter requirements for opening wallets that make the onboarding process more complex for ordinary users and small firms. The changes could slow retail adoption and increase compliance costs.
Kazakhstan’s central bank says $350 million from gold and foreign currency reserves will be used for cryptocurrency investments, managed by a central-bank entity and routed via indirect channels. The move signals cautious state-backed engagement with digital assets while limiting direct exposure.
The Bank of Korea has flagged capital flight and weak issuer oversight as major risks in the ongoing deadlock over stablecoin regulation, singling out dollar-pegged tokens as a particular concern. The warning raises stakes for policymakers and crypto firms as debate stalls.
Russia's central bank says the upcoming digital ruble will let citizens transact without traditional bank fees or some banking limits, and officials are pushing the message to drive adoption ahead of rollout.