SWIFT plans new service, Digital EURO on the horizon

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News Date: October 2, 2020

SWIFT announced plans for a new service to help banks improve the experience for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and consumers who send low-value payments across borders. The service will enable these bank customers to make faster, easier, predictable and competitively priced payments all around the world.
The European Central Bank (ECB) announced that it will start conducting experiments to decide whether to launch a digital euro. In a report setting out the pros and cons of launching a digital euro, the ECB said that it could support the Eurosystems objectives by providing citizens with a safe form of money in the fast-changing digital world.
Sources:www.swift.com, www.euronews.com

BRICS Considers a global Stablecoin

BRICS nations are considering a stablecoin for international trade settlements.
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, hails this move as groundbreaking.
He also states that BRICS is also exploring a platform for digital payments.
Ryabkov: "BRICS is moving forward, creating an important precedent."
Russia has also hinted at issuing a gold-backed stablecoin.
With member nations amassing gold reserves, the idea gains traction.

Trump Allies Target Fed's Independence: WSJ

Some members of Trump's team are devising plans to restructure the Federal Reserve, which could grant the president direct influence over interest rate decisions and potentially remove the current Fed Chair, Jerome Powell, from office before his term ends in 2026.
This move is part of a broader strategy by Trump's allies to diminish the Federal Reserve's independence if he secures a second term, amidst internal disagreements among his advisers on how forcefully to challenge the central bank's authority.
> WSJ report<
This effort follows the federal government's actions in 2020, during Trump's tenure, where large portions of the financial markets were nationalized, with the Federal Reserve providing the necessary funds.
Notably, BlackRock was entrusted with executing the trades, effectively merging the Federal Reserve and Treasury into a singular entity.

Zimbabwe interested in SWIFT alternatives

The Zimbabwean government would like to become a member of the BRICS economic bloc, the speaker of the ruling party ZANU-PF said on Wednesday.
"We made it clear that we would like to become a member of the BRICS," Christopher Mutsvangwa told Russia's RIA Novosti news agency.
The official added that his country is interested in developing alternatives to the Western-dominated SWIFT payment network.
In his view, BRICS could contribute to that.

Zimbabwe is engaged to clear IFI debt

Zimbabwe is engaging with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on how to clear its debts with international financial institutions, finance minister Mthuli Ncube said at an IMF press conference on Saturday.
Sources: reuters

Australia closer to a cashless society

Australia's big four banks remove thousands of ATMs and shut down hundreds of branches as the coronavirus crisis pushes nation closer to a cashless society.
Sources:www.dailymail.co.uk, www.atmmarketplace.com