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Imagine a world where the dollar doesn’t dominate every international transaction. Seems far-fetched? Enter China’s mBridge and digital yuan. With fast-track development, they’re posing an interesting game-changer for the world of global finance.

The Rise of mBridge

mBridge isn’t just a fancy tech term. It’s the manifestation of a dream shared by China, Thailand, Hong Kong, and the UAE. Their collective vision? Revolutionize cross-border payments using Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC), sidestepping the traditional dollar-dependent channels. And they’re not alone in this venture; the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) – the central banking superhub from Switzerland – is on board.

Challenging Dollar-Denominated Payments

Let’s drop some numbers:

Daily dollar-involved foreign exchanges? A staggering $6.6 trillion.

Annual global trade in dollars? Roughly $32 trillion.

If mBridge gets a slice of this pie, the implications are immense.

However, some officials in the United States and Europe are expressing concerns about the implications of mBridge. They worry that the project could provide China with an advantage in using digital currencies to reshape cross-border payments, potentially enabling the evasion of sanctions, taxes, and anti-money laundering regulations. Critics also fear that the emergence of alternative payment systems could fragment the global financial landscape and exacerbate geopolitical tensions.

The Complex Landscape

The rise of mBridge highlights the ongoing push by various central banks, including China, to develop digital currencies and enhance cross-border payment systems. While mBridge has been under development since 2017, its association with the BIS has raised eyebrows and prompted discussions about China’s intentions to reduce reliance on dollar-dominated settlements. However, experts emphasize that the collaboration with BIS is driven by the organization’s role as a hub for advanced research in the field.

Ross Leckow, deputy head of the BIS Innovation Hub, acknowledges that there is no set timeline for an operational system after the current development phase. He explains that the focus is on transforming the prototype into a minimum-viable product.

Global Impact and Uncertain Future

The potential of mBridge to revolutionize cross-border payments is evident from its goals, with the project aiming to address pain points in the current system. Thailand sees the sunny side – envisioning a world where cross-border payments shift from snail-paced days to lightning-fast seconds. Yet, while many concur mBridge might ding the dollar’s armor a bit, the consensus is clear – it’s not toppling the dollar from its status as – World’s Leading Reserve Currency.

As mBridge continues to evolve, questions remain about its long-term implications and impact on the global financial order. The collaboration between central banks, the BIS, and emerging technologies underscores the ongoing transformation of the financial landscape. While the future of mBridge remains uncertain, its development and potential applications offer a glimpse into the evolving dynamics of international payments.

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Filed under: Bitcoin - @ August 9, 2023 7:22 am