Bank of Israel launches “Digital Shekel Challenge” to innovate CBDC payment systems

  • Bank of Israel has launched “Digital Shekel Challenge” to develop CBDC payment solutions.
  • Participants of the challenge will access a prototype system to create innovative digital shekel uses.
  • Bank of Israel is scheduled to hold a webinar on June 9 for details.

In a significant move towards digital currency adoption, the Bank of Israel (BoI) has announced the launch of the “Digital Shekel Challenge.”

The initiative aims to develop innovative payment solutions using the digital shekel, Israel’s proposed central bank digital currency (CBDC), first reported in 2021.

Inspired by the “Rosalind Project” from the BIS Innovation Center, the challenge marks a major step in the BoI’s action plan for potentially issuing the digital shekel.

What is the Digital Shekel Challenge?

The Digital Shekel Challenge is designed to invite participation from a wide array of entities, including private companies, public institutions, and academic researchers.

Participants will have access to a technological prototype that simulates the core functions of the digital shekel system, complete with an API layer. This environment will allow them to create and test real-time payment applications tailored for public use.

The challenge is structured into three phases. Initially, interested parties must respond to the call for participation by registering through a specified form.

Selected participants will then gain access to the experimental environment where they can begin developing their projects.

The final phase will involve presenting these projects to a panel of experts, who will evaluate them based on originality, innovation, and relevance to the Israeli economy.

Bank of Israel actively exploring a CBDC possibility

The BoI has been exploring the potential of a CBDC since 2017, accelerating its efforts in 2021.

Public consultations conducted by the bank have shown substantial support for the digital currency, though privacy concerns were also noted.

The digital shekel is envisioned to offer privacy protections at least on par with existing digital payment methods, potentially setting higher standards.

Internationally, the BoI has engaged in collaborative projects such as Project Sela with Hong Kong’s central bank and the BIS, successfully testing retail CBDC systems. These efforts aim to balance user accessibility, competition, cybersecurity, and the benefits of traditional cash.

To provide more information and answer queries, the BoI will hold a webinar on June 9, 2024. Participants and interested parties can register for this event to gain further insights into the challenge.

The Digital Shekel Challenge represents a bold move towards modernizing Israel’s payment infrastructure, aiming to harness cutting-edge technology to enhance efficiency and foster innovation in the financial sector.

Andrew Abir, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Israel, emphasized the importance of collaboration in the success of the digital shekel.

Abir stated: “The digital shekel challenge is another step towards the means of payment of the future, aiming to create an innovative and competitive ecosystem.”

The deputy governor highlighted that the Digital Shekel initiative would foster cooperation between the central bank, the financial industry, and other stakeholders, both domestic and international.

The post Bank of Israel launches “Digital Shekel Challenge” to innovate CBDC payment systems appeared first on CoinJournal.

Mastercard launches crypto credentials P2P pilot program to simplify transactions

  • The Mastercard crypto pilot program uses aliases to simplify and secure transactions.
  • The initiative involves partners like Bit2Me, Lirium, Mercado, and FoxBit.
  • Concerns, however, persist about centralization and data security with Mastercard’s system.

Mastercard, the global credit card company, has embarked on a groundbreaking journey into the world of cryptocurrencies with the launch of its crypto credentials P2P pilot program.

This initiative aims to revolutionize the way individuals engage in crypto transactions, particularly in Latin America, where interest in blockchain technology and digital assets is on the rise.

Mastercard collaborating with Bit2Me, Lirium, Mercado, and FoxBit

The pilot program, which is currently underway, involves collaboration with several key partners in the crypto space, including Bit2Me, Lirium, Mercado, and FoxBit.

Through this initiative, Mastercard seeks to streamline crypto transactions and eliminate user errors by introducing an alias credentialing system.

Walter Pimenta, Mastercard’s executive vice president for product and engineering for Latin America, emphasized the importance of delivering trusted interactions in the burgeoning crypto landscape.

He stated:

“As interest in blockchain and digital assets continues to surge in Latin America and around the world, it is essential to keep delivering trusted and verifiable interactions across public blockchain networks.”

What does the Mastercard crypto credentials program entail?

One of the key features of Mastercard’s crypto credentials program is the assignment of human-readable aliases to individuals.

These aliases, verified by Mastercard, alleviate the need for users to grapple with long strings of alphanumeric characters associated with traditional wallet addresses.

This user-friendly approach aims to enhance the accessibility and convenience of crypto transactions for individuals accustomed to more conventional payment methods.

Moreover, the crypto credentials program endeavors to mitigate the risk of financial loss by pre-screening transactions.

By preventing users from sending incompatible crypto assets to recipients’ addresses, Mastercard aims to enhance security and safeguard users’ funds.

Centralization concerns amid Mastercard’s crypto forays

However, despite the innovative strides taken by Mastercard, concerns regarding centralization persist within the crypto community.

Critics argue that the reliance on Mastercard as an intermediary for identity verification and transaction screening introduces centralization risks.

Furthermore, additional Know Your Customer (KYC) verification and the storage of sensitive data with Mastercard raise apprehensions among security-conscious individuals.

Mastercard’s history of data breaches adds another layer of complexity to these concerns. With well over 40 million accounts exposed to hackers since 2005, the security of users’ data remains a pressing issue.

Nevertheless, Mastercard’s foray into the crypto space represents a significant step towards mainstream adoption of digital assets.

By addressing user interface challenges and enhancing transaction security, Mastercard is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of finance in the digital age.

The post Mastercard launches crypto credentials P2P pilot program to simplify transactions appeared first on CoinJournal.

Hashdex has withdrawn its Ethereum ETF application

  • Hashdex withdraws ether ETF application after SEC approval of similar products.
  • Hashdex’s Ethereum ETF application combined spot Ether with futures contracts.
  • The withdrawal decision raises questions amid evolving regulatory landscape and market dynamics.

According to documents filed with the U.S. SEC, Hashdex officially pulled its application for the Hashdex Nasdaq Ethereum ETF on May 24.

The withdrawal of the proposal was reveled in a filing submitted to the SEC on May 28, leaving investors and industry observers curious about the motives behind this abrupt move. Notably, the withdrawal came swiftly on the heels of the SEC’s green light for eight similar financial products.

Hashdex’s proposed ether ETF

Hashdex’s proposed ETF, known as the Hashdex Nasdaq Ethereum ETF, was poised to blend spot Ether holdings with Ether futures contracts, aiming to institute safeguards against potential market manipulation.

Unlike its counterparts, Hashdex’s innovative approach sought to mirror daily fluctuations in the Nasdaq Ether Reference Price, addressing regulatory concerns about price manipulation in the spot market.

However, following the withdrawal of the application, Hashdex’s intentions to forge ahead with a single-asset Ether ETF have been abruptly halted.

While the precise reasons behind this strategic withdrawal remain undisclosed, speculation abounds regarding the evolving regulatory landscape and internal strategic considerations within Hashdex.

Intense competition for ether ETFs among investment firms

The timing of Hashdex’s withdrawal, occurring just a day after the SEC’s landmark approval of ether ETFs from prominent players like VanEck, BlackRock, Fidelity, and others, underscores the intense competition and regulatory scrutiny surrounding crypto investment vehicles.

These approved ETFs, exclusively spot-based Ether ETFs, are poised to debut on various exchanges in June, opening new avenues for institutional and retail investors to gain exposure to the burgeoning Ethereum ecosystem.

Botably, Hashdex’s decision not to proceed with its Ether ETF marks a significant deviation from its previous success with spot Bitcoin ETFs, which were greenlit by the SEC in January.

The company’s Bitcoin ETF utilizes a distinct strategy, eschewing reliance on the Coinbase surveillance sharing agreement in favor of sourcing spot BTC from physical exchanges within the CME market.

While Hashdex’s withdrawal introduces a new twist to the unfolding narrative of crypto ETFs, the broader implications for the industry remain uncertain.

With regulatory scrutiny intensifying and market dynamics evolving rapidly, the path forward for crypto investment vehicles, particularly ETFs, is fraught with complexities and challenges.

As the crypto investment landscape continues to evolve, market participants eagerly await further developments from Hashdex and other industry players, as they navigate the intricate intersection of regulation, innovation, and market demand in the quest to unlock the full potential of digital assets.

The post Hashdex has withdrawn its Ethereum ETF application appeared first on CoinJournal.

Zilliqa price outlook as network hits key milestone

  • Zilliqa (ZIL) recently hit 66 million network transactions.
  • However, ZIL price was down 2.5% at the time of writing, trading near $0.024.

Zilliqa (ZIL) price has traded in the $0.021-$0.026 range. Indeed, the downside pressure on the coin has hindered bulls since the sharp decline witnessed on April 12 and 13 when ZIL price fell more than 30% in two days.

But what’s the outlook for Zilliqa price as the network hits a key transaction milestone? Is Zilliqa 2.0 a potential catalyst for ZIL?

Here’s a look at this coin’s price performance. 

Zilliqa recently hit 66 million transactions

Zilliqa is one of the crypto projects with largest communities around it.

The project has reached nearly 5 million addresses and on May 28, Zilliqa shared a post on X indicating network transactions had surpassed 66 million.

Data also showed close to 110,000 delegators and over 5 million in total staked ZIL, which represents 29% of the total circulating supply. Zilliqa is recording these positive metrics ahead of Zilliqa 2.0, an upgrade aimed at enhancing network scalability, security and interoperability.

A new version of Zilliqa will not only streamline transactions via state sharding, but also bring about greater EVM compatibility, native account abstraction, smart accounts and improved developer tools.

ZIL price outlook

Zilliqa price is down 2.5% in the past 24 hours and flat in the past 30 days as bulls struggle for momentum.

ZIL currently trades at $0.024 across major crypto exchanges, with these levels indicating an unimpressive 2.9% upside in the past year.

A look at ZIL price on the weekly chart shows weakness despite a green candle close this past week. Buyers are also likely to target a positive return this week, but with the RSI and MACD suggesting a bearish course, its possible Zilliqa could retreat to lows of $0.022.

However, if price breaks higher alongside gains for Bitcoin and the big cap altcoins, ZIL could target $0.034 and $0.039 as the next major hurdles.

Notably, Bitcoin and Ethereum are also struggling amid broader crypto downside.

The post Zilliqa price outlook as network hits key milestone appeared first on CoinJournal.

SEI price drops amid distribution of over 27M tokens after fruitful v2 upgrade

  • Sei v2 upgrade introduces sub-second transaction finality, enhancing scalability.
  • Sei Foundation implements fairer eligibility criteria for token distribution event.
  • SEI token price drops by 3.91% to $0.5185 amid distribution of 27M tokens post v2 upgrade.

The SEI token has experienced a notable decline in price, dropping by 3.91% in the past 24 hours to $0.5185, at press time, coupled with a decline in trading volume by 19.51% over the past 24 hours.

This downturn comes amidst the distribution of over 27 million SEI tokens following a successful v2 upgrade by the Sei Foundation.

Rewarding active participation in SEI ecosystem

Sei Foundation initiated the distribution of over 27 million tokens through an airdrop event to reward active participation in the ecosystem since the Pacific-1 Mainnet launch.

The second of its kind, this event acknowledges the contributions of Mainnet users, reflecting the foundation’s commitment to fostering community engagement.

The distribution process, however, faced criticisms regarding fairness in light of previous airdrop events. To address this, the foundation implemented eligibility criteria, ensuring a more equitable distribution.

Addresses holding more than 42 SEI or liquid staked tokens, along with those possessing two or more NFTs from the top eight collections by volume, were eligible to receive tokens.

Notably, addresses with exceptionally high SEI holdings or NFT collections were excluded from the distribution, aiming to promote fairness among participants.

Sei’s successful v2 upgrade

The successful upgrade to v2 marks a significant milestone for Sei network, introducing sub-second transaction finality and enhanced scalability.

With transactions now confirmed and completed in under one second, the network aims to enhance user experience and compete effectively with other parallelized EVM networks such as Monad and Neon.

DevilK, a Sei Foundation executive, expressed optimism about the upgrade, highlighting its potential to unlock new opportunities for users and developers alike.

As the distribution of tokens continues and the network evolves with the v2 upgrade, stakeholders remain vigilant, assessing both the technological advancements and market dynamics shaping the cryptocurrency’s ecosystem.

The post SEI price drops amid distribution of over 27M tokens after fruitful v2 upgrade appeared first on CoinJournal.