Digital Euro Podcast (Digital Euro Association e.V.)

In a four-part podcast series, Alexander Bechtel and Manuel Klein explain how the euro can be "digitized", which different forms the digital euro can take, and what hurdles must be overcome to make the digital euro a reality. The second episode focuses on central bank digital currencies (CBDC).

In this monthly news digest, Sarah recaps the news in the digital money space in November 2023.

Join Conrad and Tamara from the Digital Euro Association for an insightful discussion on the October 2024 developments in the world of digital currencies. In this episode, we dive into the latest developments shaping the future of finance. We explore Brazil's ambitious CBDC project as it enters Phase 2 of its DREX pilot, signaling a major step forward in national digital currencies. We also discuss Stripe's significant acquisition in the stablecoin space, highlighting the growing convergence of traditional and crypto finance. The episode covers Boerse Stuttgart's groundbreaking tests in tokenized security settlement as part of the ECB's wholesale DLT trials, showcasing the potential for blockchain in traditional financial markets. Finally, we examine Ripple's announcement of global distribution partners for its Ripple USD, indicating the expansion of blockchain-based payment solutions. Join us for an insightful look at these cutting-edge advancements in digital finance and their potential impact on the global financial landscape. Follow the DEA activities to stay up to date: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-euro-association/) [Website](https://home.digital-euro-association.de/en) [Newsletter](https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/767193/110065400438326579/share)

The Digital Euro Association (DEA) webinar series “private sector and the digital euro” will continue with a webinar on stablecoins. As of the end of May 2021, stablecoin supply exceeds $100 billion in market value according to data from The Block. This substantial development in the stablecoin market is primarily driven by the significant global demand for digital assets in the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) space. While stablecoins are in the spotlight, debates around their stability, resiliency, risk, and compliance with existing regulations in financial markets are currently being shaped. However, the stablecoin market is dominated by US stablecoin providers – euro stablecoins lag behind. Further, as central banks consider issuing their own digital currencies – central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) – dynamics and interlinkages between stablecoins and CBDCs are now remarkably explored

In this monthly news digest, Sarah and Conrad recap the news in the digital money space in January 2023.

In this episode, various aspects of stablecoin usage including their economic and societal effects on the global labor market are discussed with first-hand experiences from the panelists.

What are the conclusions of the newest ECB working paper? How is USDT developing after the Tornado Cash debacle? These and other questions will be addressed in the "This Week in Digital Money" August episode.

In this episode, the Chief Architect of the Sand Dollar (NZIA) shares his view of Bahama's CBDC, its inception through the tender process, and the generally positive attitude toward blockchain technology as a base layer.

In this episode of the DEA Podcast, Sarah Palurovic interviews Glenn Kim, the managing director of strategic business development at Fluency with vast experience in government and central bank financial advisor, investment banking, and entrepreneurship in tech and financial services. They discuss which tasks, tools and processes could be outsourced to the public sector companies by a Central Bank when CBDCs are introduced. Glenn explains how such products and services will be introduced concurrent with the introduction of a CBDC and how factors such as user-experience, data protection (i.e., GDPR requirements) and anonymity are addressed in such an outsourcing business model. Be sure to tune in to learn about how Central Banks draw the line between welcoming public sector solutions (i.e., tech or wallet providers) and simultaneously use regulation as a tool to omit disintermediation.

In this special episode of The Digital Euro Podcast, we delve into the transformative potential of open-source software (OSS) in shaping Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). Join the Chairmen of his Working Group, Huber Knapp and Dr. Ritesh Jain as they unpack insights from the Working Group's latest paper, "Open Source CBDC: Opportunities and Challenges for Central Banks," with expert guests who contributed to this groundbreaking research. Discover: - How open-source principles can foster transparency, trust, and innovation in CBDC development. - Real-world examples like Project Ubin, OpenCBDC, and BIS’s Project Nexus. - The balance between governance and collaboration in building resilient financial systems. - and more! Whether you're a policymaker, technologist, or digital money enthusiast, this episode provides a front-row seat to the future of digital currencies. Tune in and join the conversation on reimagining financial infrastructure with open-source solutions. 🎧 Listen now and gain exclusive insights into the evolving world of CBDCs!

This podcast episode of the Future of Money Podcast by the Digital Euro Association focusses on Stablecoins. DEA founding member Manuel Klein talks with Markus Franke, Partner and economist at cLabs who work on Celo stablecoins, about what stablecoins are, which different types of stablecoins exist and which advantages and disadvantages the different types of stablecoins bring. After having described the different stablecoin-types, Manuel and Markus focus on the decentralized stablecoins of celo: Celo is a layer 1 blockchain with stablecoins like the Celo Dollar and Celo Euro that are optimised for decentralised finance applications on cell phones. Manuel and Markus discuss how the decentralized celo Stablecoins differ from centralized stablecoins and how they are issued, backed and redeemed. Last but not least, Markus explains how celo is aiming to become environmentally sustainable money and which use cases the members of the celo alliance for prosperity work on. Make sure to listen to this very insightful episode on a promising form of the private digital euro: the decentralized stablecoins of celo.

In this episode, Tony McLaughlin outlines a network on which different forms of money that we already know today can be transferred as tokens issued on distributed ledgers. These different monies are all “regulated liabilities” and include commercial bank money, electronic money, and central bank money. A network that tokenizes regulated liabilities on the same chain may deliver a next generation digital money format with the benefits of DLT but without the downsides of currently discussed digital money forms such as stablecoins or CBDCs. As DLT has the potential to represent multiple forms of digital value, we might go further and envision the creation of networks that tokenize regulated liabilities and regulated assets on the same chain. Such a network would be significantly different from today’s siloed financial architecture: It would embody all types of tokenized assets and money in an ‘always on’, programmable and global network — a regulated internet of value.

Join Conrad and Tamara from the Digital Euro Association for an insightful review of the November 2024 developments in the world of digital currencies. Join us for an insightful look at these cutting-edge advancements in digital finance and their potential impact on the global financial landscape. Follow the DEA activities to stay up to date: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-euro-association/) [Website](https://home.digital-euro-association.de/en) [Newsletter](https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/767193/110065400438326579/share)

In this episode, Richard Turrin, David Tercero-Lucas, Ricky Lamberty and Jakob Bouchetob are discussing machine-to-machine payment schemes and their regulation.

In this episode, the DEA working group chairs discuss the content of their newly published paper on tokenized commercial bank deposits, touching on topics such as regulatory considerations, benefits, risks and use cases.

In this episode, the DEA working group members discuss the content of their newly published paper on CBDC and privacy, touching on topics such as reasons for and degrees of privacy in CBDC, privacy stakeholders, and privacy-preserving technologies.

Jamiel Sheikh from the CBDC Think Tank and Tamara Schmidt from the DEA give context to the CBDC manifesto, released on September 12, 2022.

Which functions does the Central African Republic's official digital currency allow? Which stablecoin did Tether launch this month? What are inflation-adjusted stablecoins? These and other questions will be addressed during the first "This Week in Digital Money" episode.

Digital payment solutions constitute an important strategic building block in Europe’s quest for digital competitiveness and strategic autonomy. Various European institutions have increased their efforts to modernize the payment infrastructures in Europe, including the Digital Finance Package by the European Commission and the inquiry into a digital euro by the European Central Bank (ECB). However, in particular, the private sector is at the forefront of analyzing the impact of a digital Euro, e.g., in this context, a digital euro based on distributed ledger technology (DLT).

In this monthly news digest, Sarah, Neslihan and Conrad recap the news in the digital money space in February 2023.

In this monthly news digest, Sarah recaps the news in the digital money space in July 2023.

In this podcast episode, Valentin Seehausen, COO of the DEA, interviews Dr. Kimmo Soramäki from FNA. FNA builds models that are based on agent-based modelling (ABM) and consults central banks from all over the world. Valentin and Kimmo discuss how the ABM approach differs from models that central banks have been using in the last decades. They focus on the CBDC simulator, an ABM model that can simulate the effects that different parameters of a CBDC could have on the economy.

In this episode of the Digital Euro Podcast, Sarah Palurovic (Executive Director of the DEA) takes a look at the perspectives of crypto and CBDC proponents. The debate which is shaped by polarizing voices on social media, especially Twitter, seems to have fundamentally irreconcilable perspectives. Which points of critique and philosophies are brought forth by these two camps who holds up to a reality check? Is there any common ground for crypto and CBDC proponents?

Join Anne-Sophie, Conrad, and Tamara from the Digital Euro Association for an in-depth analysis of the key developments in digital currencies from February 2025. Gain valuable insights into the latest advancements shaping the future of digital finance and explore their potential impact on the global financial landscape. Don't miss the hottest news on digital money! Follow the DEA activities to stay up to date: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-euro-association/) [Website](https://home.digital-euro-association.de/en) [Newsletter](https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/767193/110065400438326579/share)

Digitization of financial assets promises tremendous benefits to the capital markets, such as executing fast, efficient, and secure transactions via distributed ledger technologies (DLTs). First financial institutions across the globe look for opportunities to integrate blockchain technology into their security offerings, such as blockchain-based bonds. The World Bank pioneered by issuing a new blockchain-based debt instrument and launched its bond-i already back in August 2018. Today, digital assets are already allowed by the regulator, e.g., in Germany, and will thrive over the next years. The advantages of digital assets become particularly clear when not only the digital asset itself, but also the payment/settlement of the digital asset is observed. When digital assets are based on DLTs, not only buying and selling the bond via a DLT is possible, but also the payment of the bond - both on the same platform. This allows for instantaneous settlement of assets. One promising way for digital assets is to settle in central bank money, via a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC). While the first central bank pioneered wholesale CBDCs, the Austrian Central Bank has recently conducted a research project for settling a digital asset with central bank money. In their DELPHI (Delivery vs. Payment Hybrid Initiative) project, appropriateness of blockchain technology for issuing and settling digital bonds in real time using a wholesale CBDC was explored. The Austrian Central Bank issued a wholesale CBDC that was used to pay for the digital bond. Potential deliveries of this blockchain-based project are to assess the compatibility of the current legal framework and its various amendment needs and to evaluate the applicability of this project learnings to the market needs.

In this episode of the Digital Euro Podcast, DEA Executive Director Conrad Kraft sits down with Dr. Cyrus de la Rubia to discuss the role of commercial banks amidst CBDC implementation. They run through the current roles of commercial banks and how these may be impacted by the introduction of various types of CBDCs. Enjoy!

In this monthly news digest, Conrad and Sarah recap the news in the stablecoin and CBDC space in September 2022.

Kam Dylan (Deputy CEO) and Allan Pedersen (CEO) from Eurodollar join the podcast to talk about their Dollar-pegged stablecoin (USDE) and associated yield-bearing money market bond (USDI). We explore how Eurodollar is using blockchain to solve real-world financial challenges—focusing on safety, compliance, and TradFi integration. Tune in for insights on MiCAR regulation, the role of stablecoins in TradFi, and why Europe may be leading the global charge in digital asset infrastructure. 🔗 Links: - DEA Official Website: https://home.digital-euro-association.de/en - Eurodollar Official Website: https://www.eurodollar.fi - Follow Eurodollar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eurodollarfi - Follow Eurodollar on X: https://x.com/eurodollarfi

In this episode, Andrei Lipkin gives an introduction to crypto banknotes and CBDC Cash and how they compare to banknotes as we know them today.

In this episode, industry experts discuss the calibration of an optimally designed retail CBDC. They discuss the challenges of this day and age, such as data protection, and explore country and currency union-specific considerations.

In this podcast episode of the Digital Euro Podcast, James Wallis, VP for Central Bank Engagements and Antony Welfare, European CBDC lead at Ripple, talk to Manuel Klein, founding member of the DEA about Ripple's engagement in CBDCs. James and Antony give an overview of what Ripple does and what the underlying blockchain technology, the XRP Ledger (XRPL), is used for. They describe how Ripple partnered with the Central Bank of Bhutan to build a pilot for their CBDC and what role the XRPL could play in a future of multiple CBDCs running on different technologies. James and Antony also discuss the use cases of a CBDC and give an outlook into the future and how digital payments will play a fundamental role in it. We at DEA want to thank Ripple for their support of the DEA. If you want to learn more about Ripple, make sure to visit their website (https://ripple.com/) and read their “Future of CBDCs report” https://ripple.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cbdc-wp-2020.pdf

In this episode of the DEA Podcast, Manuel Klein interviews Miguel Fernandez Ordoñez, the former president of the Spanish central bank. They discuss why Miguel believes that we need new forms of money, and what these new forms of money bring with them economically. Miguel also explains, which role he foresees for the state, central banks, commercial banks, and other non-banking institutions, e.g. Stablecoin-providers in this new world, in which CBDC plays a larger role. Be sure to tune in to learn arguments for a system, in which CBDC or 100% backed Stablecoins become the dominant form of money in the money supply and what effects this shift might have on the economy and banks.

In this monthly news digest, Sarah, Conrad, Atakan and Neslihan recap the news in the stablecoin and CBDC space in October 2022.

Join Conrad, Tamara, and Kaan from the Digital Euro Association as they discuss the latest news in digital money including Wyoming's plans for a state-backed stablecoin and New Zealand's progress on a CBDC.

Bitcoin rose from the ashes of the global financial crisis of 2007-08 as the first cryptocurrency to attract global attention. With the rise of peer-to-peer electronic cash systems that do not rely on intermediaries, there are more than 7,500 cryptocurrencies in circulation now, according to Statista. Some first businesses accept major cryptocurrencies as payment today. All these developments lead to the questions such as, whether cryptocurrencies are actually money, and whether they are good investment or store of value tools with their high volatility issue. The cost of low stability in cryptocurrency values increased the importance of (fiat-backed) stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies backed by real-world assets such as commodities, fiat currency (issued by the government), gold, or other cryptocurrencies. Investors can safeguard themselves against the volatility in cryptocurrencies by investing in stablecoins, which may also serve as a store of value. Increased competition from these novel forms of primarily private sector-issued money such as cryptocurrencies and stablecoins with the declining use of cash as a means of payment lead most of the central banks around the world to consider issuing their own central bank digital currency (CBDC). The European Central Bank (ECB) is also looking into the possibility of introducing a CBDC for the Euro Area, the digital euro. Therefore, a digital euro might become reality in a few years.

Most of the central banks around the world consider issuing a CBDC mainly as a consequence of the declining use of cash as a means of payment and to position themselves against increased competition from novel forms of private sector-issued money such as cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. In most jurisdictions, CBDC design requirements and design principles are currently being analyzed and discussed. A consultation by the European Central Bank (ECB) revealed that privacy seems to be the most important requirement for a CBDC for European citizens. Privacy of transaction data is important for ensuring the security of the data and fair pricing, and avoiding data exploitation, amongst others. Therefore, a high degree of data privacy while complying with regulations such as anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism seems to be desirable for a CBDC.

In a four-part podcast series, Alexander Bechtel and Manuel Klein explain how the euro can be "digitized", which different forms the digital euro can take, and what hurdles must be overcome to make the digital euro a reality. The first episode focuses on the existing money system.

Central banks around the world have stepped in and intensified their efforts to conceptualize and design their own digital currencies, i.e., central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), in particular, as a reaction to the increased competitive dynamics by the cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. Asia has a particular importance and critical leading efforts in this space with various Asian central banks assessing and experimenting with CBDCs. For instance, China has launched pilot programs and trials of its digital currency project e-CNY. Goals of the e-CNY include to provide a convenient, yet more efficient, resilient and secure retail payment system to increase financial inclusion and preserve monetary sovereignty. Further, fair competition and interoperability should be promoted. As another example, the Bank of Japan is in the proof of concept stage regarding their own digital currency. Additionally, the Japan Digital Currency Forum as a consortium of around 70 Japanese firms, including the country's three largest banks, is also working on a yen-based digital currency, tentatively called "DCJPY" for Japan's private sector to complement the central bank's efforts.

In this episode, we are joined by Caroline Marburger, a specialist in science communication for the project “Democracy Issues of the Digitalized Financial Sector” at the Centre for Responsible Digitality (ZEVEDI). Today, we discuss democracy issues within the broader financial sector and the public communication strategies from public institutions.

In this episode, Caroline Hill and Teana Baker-Taylor from Circle provide us with the current regulation and policy developments such as the Federal Government's progress, the competitiveness of different regulatory approaches and developments worldwide.

In this episode of the DEA Podcast, DEA Board Member Valentin Seehausen discussed with Cizar Brahim, Chief Strategy Officer at Sovereign Wallet, the technical requirements of a CBDC infrastructure blockchain. Moreover, they talk about the advancements of SWN in CBDC pilot research. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode, the guests discuss the key takeaways and intricacies of the legislative proposal for the digital euro (i.e., CBDC).

In this episode of the Digital Euro Podcast, we explore the potential of stablecoins in the European machine-to-machine (M2M) economy.

In this episode, the members of the Private Digital Euro Working Groups review the various design choices and features of stablecoins, how stablecoins would interact with CBDCs, and the legal and regulatory framework required to support the introduction of stablecoins in the eurozone and the global financial system. The outcomes are particularly aimed at those policy-makers involved in EU crypto and stablecoin regulation.

oday, cross-border payment systems are far from being frictionless and efficient. According to data by the World Bank, for cross-border payments, on average, more than 7% transaction fees are charged. Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) have the potential to improve these international payment processes in various ways. At this point, standardization, harmonization and interoperability between domestic payment systems with possible different payment arrangements become strikingly important. A committed cooperation to build a bridge between multi-currency cross-border payments through an enhanced financial infrastructure with the design principles supporting privacy, security, fairness, efficiency, inclusivity, and legal compliance would bring about a promising solution. Additionally, international implications of CBDCs need to be further studied as CBDCs could impact exchange rates, international capital flows, and, in general, also the supremacy of specific currencies.

Join Anne-Sophie, Conrad, and Tamara from the Digital Euro Association for an in-depth analysis of the key developments in digital currencies from March 2025. Gain valuable insights into the latest advancements shaping the future of digital finance and explore their potential impact on the global financial landscape. Don't miss the hottest news on digital money! Follow the DEA activities to stay up to date: https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-euro-association/ https://home.digital-euro-association.de/en https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/767193/110065400438326579/share

In this episode, the members of the Public Digital Euro Working Groups present their recommendations for a digital euro compartmentalized by design dimensions, payment relevant aspects and legal considerations after four months and in-depth analysis of relevant literature. The group’s findings have culminated in the paper “Ahead of the digital euro: Public Digital Euro Working Group Recommendations” and is particularly positioned at central banks involved in developing a central bank digital currency.

In this episode, the DEA private digital euro working group chairs dive into their newly published paper on MiCAR's influence on stablecoins. They explore regulatory considerations, benefits, risks, and use cases for stablecoins and the impact of MiCAR on these. The discussion also includes a series of recommendations aimed at policymakers, providing strategic insights into navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.

In this Episode, we focus on the digital euro project and address the following questions: Do we need a digital Euro? If yes, why? What are the use cases of a digital Euro? Which role should the private sector play? What could be a timeline for the ECB to issue a CBDC? How advanced is the ECB in the development of a digital Euro? When should we expect to see a Euro-CBDC? What are the consequences of delayed action by the ECB?

The recent Ukraine-Russia war has raised multiple significant questions about the use of digital money. First, with the bank-run on Russian banks following the sanctions, would public and private forms of digital money offer potential ways to deal with bank-runs? After Western nations imposed new sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian ruble was down nearly 30% against the US dollar at one point. Soon after, Russians queued to withdraw money in some cities, worried about cash shortages, despite the Russian Central Bank calling for calm. With the bank-run on Russian banks following the sanctions, public and private forms of digital money received the spotlight to be discussed regarding their roles in dealing with bank-runs as well as possibly creating other forms of risks.

In this monthly news digest, Sarah and Conrad recap the news in the digital money space in May 2023.

In this final episode of the DEA Podcast for 2021, DEA Board Chairman Jonas Gross together with Conrad Kraft (Executive Director of the DEA) and Manuel Klein (Founding Member of the DEA) recap some of the most important developments made at the DEA as well as review some of the interesting developments in the world of digital money and the digital euro. They also share their predictions and outlook for 2022 in the world of digital money. Be sure to tune in to get a great overview of the year that was and insights into what 2022 may hold.

Join Conrad, Tamara and Anne-Sophie from the Digital Euro Association for an insightful review of the January 2025 developments in the world of digital currencies. Join us for an insightful look at these cutting-edge advancements in digital finance and their potential impact on the global financial landscape. Follow the DEA activities to stay up to date: [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-euro-association/) [Website](https://home.digital-euro-association.de/en) [Newsletter](https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/767193/110065400438326579/share)

In this monthly news digest, Sarah and Conrad recap the news in the digital money space in April 2023.

In this episode, Valentin Seehausen talks with Franklin Noll about Stablecoins, Synthetic CBDC, and the general history of cryptocurrencies. Noll Historical Consulting assists clients in succeeding in the cryptocurrency, monetary, and payments fields by providing inside knowledge of those worlds and by providing the expertise needed to develop and promote successful projects. Focusing on the technology of money, past, present, and future, Noll Historical Consulting helps those working with banknotes, stablecoins, Central Bank Digital Currencies, and more. Just some of the services available are shown below.

In a four-part podcast series, Alexander Bechtel and Manuel Klein explain how the euro can be "digitized", which different forms the digital euro can take, and what hurdles must be overcome to make the digital euro a reality. The last episode focuses on the reasons for a digital Euro.

In this monthly news digest, Sarah recaps the news in the digital money space in June 2023.

In this episode, Marcus Treacher answers the biggest questions around interbank settlements, the role of liquidity visibility in the digital age and the benefits for near real time payment settlements.

In this episode of the Digital Euro Podcast, Circle answers the biggest questions around its newly launched euro-denominated stablecoin EUROC and explains the concept of stablecoins as a money API.

Join Conrad and Tamara from the Digital Euro Association as they discuss the latest developments in digital money, including SocGen Forge's e-money license for EURCV stablecoin and Hong Kong's new stablecoin licensing regime.

Join Conrad, Tamara, and Kaan from the Digital Euro Association for an insightful discussion on the latest developments in the world of digital currencies. In this episode, they dive into Japan's top three banks adopting stablecoins and analyze Canada's recent decision to halt its plans for a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

In a four-part podcast series, Alexander Bechtel and Manuel Klein explain how the euro can be "digitized", which different forms the digital euro can take, and what hurdles must be overcome to make the digital euro a reality. The third episode focuses on private forms of the digital Euro.

In this episode of the Digital Euro Podcast in collaboration with the Digital Pound Foundation, our panelists explore the meaning of fungibility and interoperability in the current and future digital money ecosystem. How do these two concepts differ and interrelate? How can a jurisdiction’s legal and regulatory framework support fungibility between CBDC and stablecoins? Why does it matter when we consider the relationship between public and private forms of money?

In this episode of the DEA Podcast, DEA Chairman Jonas Gross discussed with Sven Marsing, Head of Project & Service Management at the Bundesdruckerei, the role of digital identities for the digital euro. They talk about the work of the Bundesdruckerei in this context, and why a digital identity is crucial for a digital euro. Enjoy the episode!

We introduce our Podcast on the programmable, digital Euro established by the Digital Euro Association.

In this monthly news digest, Sarah and Neslihan recap the news in the digital money space in November 2022.

In this episode, Valentin Seehausen talks with Jannah Patchay about the fungibility and interoperability of CBDC. Jannah works for the Digital Pound Foundation and is specialized in financial markets innovation, and in helping firms to define, develop and execute their commercial strategies in a highly regulated environment. Her passion lies in building the capital markets of the future, harnessing emerging technology to create new and innovative financial services and products that can promote wider social benefit and greater access to financial services.

In this episode, the guests discuss how CBDCs can guard fundamental human rights in domestic and international settings.

In this episode, the executive directors at the DEA recap the developments in the year 2022 in regards to general trends, regulation, stablecoins, CBCDs and developments and successes at the DEA. What are the predictions for 2023?

In this monthly news digest, Sarah and Conrad recap the news in the digital money space in October 2023.