- Montenegro, Ripple join forces
- First national stablecoin planned
- Aims for financial inclusion
In a groundbreaking move, Montenegro’s Central Bank (CBCG) has teamed up with blockchain giant Ripple to unveil the country’s debut digital currency. This pioneering venture will see the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) or national stablecoin, a novel concept that has captured global attention.
The decision to collaborate with Ripple reflects CBCG’s commitment to modernizing financial services and promoting widespread access to financial resources for Montenegrin citizens. With digital currency at the forefront, the nation is poised to embrace a future of economic innovation and inclusivity.
James Wallis, Ripple’s Vice President of Central Bank Engagements & CBDCs, shared his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that Montenegro is taking a significant step in advancing its digital financial infrastructure. He lauded Ripple’s success in bridging payment networks and advocating for blockchain technology to facilitate the issuance of CBDCs and improve global payment systems.
By adopting a digital version of traditional currency, the CBDC is expected to address a range of financial concerns, from expanding financial inclusion to enhancing payment security and expediting cross-border transactions. As a result, more than a hundred nations worldwide are now researching and developing their own CBDCs.
Meanwhile, the European Central Bank is also delving into the world of digital currencies, spearheading the Digital euro project to establish a reliable and user-friendly electronic payment system across the eurozone.
In other news, rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), particularly AI chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, have sparked impassioned debates over the ethical implications and potential consequences of these technologies. Image generators powered by artificial intelligence, such as Midjourney and DALL-E 2, have also garnered attention and scrutiny.
