India’s central bank digital currency (CBDC), the digital rupee, has experienced a significant decline in usage, decreasing to a tenth of its peak in December 2023, according to sources involved in the pilot project. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) initially reached 1 million daily retail transactions with the digital rupee by incentivizing banks and […]
Modi Reappoints Nirmala Sitharaman as India’s Finance Minister — Investors Remain Concerned Over High Crypto Taxes
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reappointed Nirmala Sitharaman as Finance Minister. She remains instrumental in shaping India’s economic policies, including cryptocurrency regulation and taxation. Nirmala Sitharaman Reappointed as Finance Minister Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reappointed Nirmala Sitharaman as Finance Minister, extending her tenure that began in 2019. Sitharaman, who delivered her sixth […]
India’s Digital Rupee Expands: Non-Banks to Offer Central Bank Digital Currency Wallets
India’s central bank has announced that it will enable non-bank payment system operators to offer central bank digital currency (CBDC) wallets. Noting that “necessary changes will be made to the system to facilitate this,” the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said the initiative is expected “to enhance access and expand choices available to users.” Non-Bank […]
India’s De-Dollarization Push Flounders as Oil Suppliers Cite Rupee Repatriation Concerns
The Indian Oil Ministry recently acknowledged that the country’s push to pay for oil with rupees has failed because suppliers are not sure if they will be able to repatriate their funds. The decision is intended to help diminish India’s reliance on the U.S. dollar when settling its cross-border obligations. High Transactional Costs of …
India’s Central Bank RBI Launches CBDC Pilot in Call Money Market
India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has initiated a pilot for a second use case of its wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC), focusing on the call money market. The Indian central bank reportedly plans to expand its e-rupee testing to cover the entire wholesale segment, including asset tokenization and repo transactions. […]