Jerome Ajdenbaum
VP, Digital Currencies
IDEMIA
Biography
Jerome Ajdenbaum is managing the Digital Currency business at IDEMIA. He is the author of a bestselling book “Who Will Win the Cryptocurrency War?” and is frequently interviewed in the press on subjects ranging from to cryptocurrencies and the politics of the political aspects of the metaverse.
About the company
As a leader in identity technologies, IDEMIA is on a mission to unlock the world and make it safer. IDEMIA offers its public and private customers payment, connectivity, access control, travel, identity and public security solutions. Every day, around the world, IDEMIA secures billions of interactions in the physical and digital worlds. With nearly 15,000 employees, IDEMIA is trusted by over 600 governmental organisations and more than 2,300 enterprises spread over 180 countries, with an impactful, ethical and socially responsible approach.
Presentation
Abbas Albasha
Senior Strategy Consultant CBDC
Giesecke+Devrient
Biography
Former Vice Governor, Vice Chairman of the board of the Central Bank of Yemen, Former Executive Director at the board of Arab Monetary Fund representing six countries (Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Comoros). Doctorate dissertation on CBDC design options.
About the company
Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) is a global security technology group headquartered in Munich. As a trusted partner to customers with the highest demands, G+D secures the essential values of the world with its solutions. The company develops technology with passion and precision in four major playing fields: payment, connectivity, identities and digital infrastructures.
Presentation
Transport, water, education – societies rely on public goods. The quality and availability of public infrastructure strategically position the country toward advancement, competitiveness, and higher standards of living for their citizens. With our lives becoming ever more digital, the provisioning of public infrastructure needs to evolve to the digital world with digital payments as one of its critical aspects: - Are CBDCs an indispensable part of the digital public infrastructure? - What does this mean for the design of a CBDC? - Is public-private collaboration the way to success?
Polly Bäumler
Regional Sales Director CBDC
Giesecke+Devrient
Biography
Polly Bäumler is a sales and business development professional at G+D, passionate about shaping a CBDC future. She establishes valuable partnerships with central banks worldwide, providing extensive support for their national digital currency initiatives. Prior to joining G+D, founded multiple businesses specialized in art and design, with a focus on retail and global strategic branding. Polly holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administation from Pepperdine University.
About the company
Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) is a global security technology group headquartered in Munich. As a trusted partner to customers with the highest demands, G+D secures the essential values of the world with its solutions. The company develops technology with passion and precision in four major playing fields: payment, connectivity, identities and digital infrastructures.
Presentation
Pilot projects provide valuable knowledge for central banks exploring CBDC implementation. This session explores the insights and lessons learned from these projects, the necessary steps to transition from pilot to production, the essential components required for a fully operational CBDC ecosystem, and strategies to foster widespread adoption. The focus also extends to addressing key design characteristics such as offline functionality, adapting to evolving technologies, and building a future-proof CBDC platform.
Florian Becker
Managing Director of Hong Kong and Singapore & Head of Business Development APAC
GFT
Biography
Dr Florian Becker, an expert in Business Development, Sales, and Consulting, drives tailored digital transformation for leading financial institutions in Asia-Pacific. As GFT's APAC Head of Business Development and Managing Director of Hong Kong and Singapore, Florian expands the company's global presence with strategic thinking, technology leadership, and business insights.
Florian has a recognised track record in roles with P&L responsibility, growing GFT APAC's client portfolio and delivering prestigious digital banking and DLT projects in Asia. He has a PhD in Economics and a Master in Finance.
About the company
The UDPN is the first global payments messaging network that enables seamless and transparent digital currency transactions for banks, businesses, and their clients. The network supports regulated stablecoins and CBDC payments, bolstering market efficiency and financial inclusion. The UDPN decentralised infrastructure supports third-party smart contracts deployment and execution of value-added financial or payment-related services. UDPN Alliance members will jointly lead the development of the roadmap, standards, governance, and commercialisation strategy for the UDPNthrough a vote-based decision-making process.
Presentation
The inexorable rise of digital currencies globally has brought with it a proliferation of digital payments initiatives, each seeking to deliver faster, cheaper and more efficient payments to end users. One of the major challenges to solve for in digital currency payments is that of interoperability to enable the transferring and swapping of different currencies underpinned by different protocols. The Universal Digital Payments Network, or UDPN, is one initiative in the digital currency payments space that solves the interoperability challenge, and then goes further to differentiate itself from both new and incumbent approaches to cross-border payments. The UDPN is a global messaging network supporting government-regulated digital currency systems, including regulated stablecoins and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
In this keynote, you will learn more about how the UDPN promotes financial inclusion, and connects global enterprises to the future centralised and decentralised digital currency systems.
Prof. Dr. Peter Bofinger
Senior Professor
University of Würzburg
Biography
Peter Bofinger is a Senior Professor at the University of Würzburg. From 2004 to 2019 he was a member of the German Council of Economic Experts. Previously he had been Vice-President of the University of Würzburg and an economist at the Deutsche Bundesbank.
About the company
Founded in 1402, Universität Würzburg is one of the oldest universities in the world. Today it is a university with an international reputation for excellent research.
Presentation
Panel discussion: Design & Policy aspects
This panel explores the intersection of design and policy in CBDCs. The panellists will analyze the implications, challenges, and best practices for CBDC design and policy frameworks.
Carmelle Cadet
Founder and CEO
Emtech
Biography
Carmelle M. Cadet is the Founder and CEO of EMTECH, a technology company working with central banks around the world to make their financial infrastructures inclusive and resilient by design.
About the company
EMTECH is the first and only technology company building modern central banking infrastructures for regulatory compliance
and currency matters under one roof. We think of central banking holistically and we leverage modern technology to drive inclusion, resilience and sustainability.
Presentation
H. Jermaine Campbell
Manager, Currency, with oversight of Digital Currency (Sand Dollar) and Financial Market Infrastructures
Central Bank of the Bahamas
Biography
Jermaine Campbell holds an MBA in Business Administration from West Texas A&M University and currently serves as Manager of The Currency Department of The Central Bank of The Bahamas where he has been employed for 27 years, during which time he worked in Currency, Domestic Markets, and Foreign Reserve Management.
About the company
The Central Bank of The Bahamas, located on the island of New Providence, was established on 1st June, 1974, and is a monument to one of the most rapidly growing, international financial centers in the Caribbean. This unprecedented legal authority manages the financial policies of an independent nation, The Bahamas.
Presentation
Shiv Chowla
Senior Manager, CBDC
Bank of England
Biography
Shiv is a Senior Manager at the Bank of England with responsibility for Strategy & Economics for retail CBDC in the UK, the so-called “digital pound”. Shiv’s team considers the public policy objectives of CBDC, its potential impact on the macroeconomy and financial system, and design choices.
About the company
The Bank of England is the central bank of England.
Presentation
In February 2023, the Bank of England and HM Treasury released a joint Consultation Paper setting out the public policy case for a retail CBDC in the UK, the digital pound. This presentation will set out the motivation and proposed design for the digital pound, as well as plans for the next phase of CBDC work in the UK
Ricardo Correia
Head of Digital Currencies
R3
Biography
About the company
R3 is leading the future of digital finance by powering multi-party solutions that deliver digital trust and unlock greater potential for regulated businesses everywhere.
Presentation
This panel will delve into the crucial topic of user-centric design for CBDCs. Hear from experts who are leading the charge in designing CBDCs with a strong focus on user needs, accessibility, and usability. Explore innovative approaches to ensure inclusivity, privacy, and ease of use for diverse user groups. Gain insights into the importance of user research, interface design, and user education in creating a seamless CBDC experience.
Constantin Drott
Payment Expert
Deutsche Bundesbank
Biography
Constantin Drott is payment expert in the Directorate General Payments and Settlement Systems of the Deutsche Bundesbank. His work covers the analysis of financial market infrastructures, digital money, crypto tokens and distributed ledger technology. He joined Deutsche Bundesbank in 2018. During a secondment to the Reserve Bank of Australia in Sydney, he was engaged with regulatory issues in retail payments. He studied economics at the University of Würzburg and the University of Gent.
About the company
Deutsche Bundesbank is the central bank of Germany
Presentation
Johannes Duong
Treasurer
Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB)
Biography
Johannes Duong graduated with Master in computer science at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU-Wien). He currently works in Treasury BACK-office department for Settlement and Collateral Management in the Austrian National Bank (OeNB). He is also responsible for the Blockchain research projects (DELPHI and CITADEL).
About the company
Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) is the central bank of Austria.
Presentation
The Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) joined forces with the OeKB CSD GmbH, the Österreichische Bundesfinanzierungsagentur (OeBFA), Raiffeisen Bank International AG and Erste Group Bank AG to launch a joint research project dubbed DELPHI (Delivery vs. Payment Hybrid Initiative). In this research project, the involved parties aim to simulate both the issuance and settlement of Austrian government bonds as security tokens with a wholesale cbdc on a blockchain platform.
Chibuzo Anthony Efobi
Director, Financial Policy and regulation Department
Central Bank of Nigeria
Biography
A professional with diverse work experience in local and international financial institutions, covering Change Management, Business & Quality Assurance, Project Management, IT Operations, Investment and Securities Services, Relationship Management, Credit, Treasury and Regulatory Policy formulation/implementation for Banks & Other Financial Institutions. He has served as Programme Manager for CBN initiatives: Repositioning the Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX), Global Standing Instruction (GSI), the Loan-to-Deposit Ratio (LDR) Policy, and the Redesigned Credit Risk Management System (CRMS). He played a key role in development and launch of Nigeria’s CBDC, the eNaira.
About the company
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is the country's apex financial institution responsible for formulating and implementing monetary policies. It plays a crucial role in regulating and supervising the financial system, promoting stability, and fostering economic growth. The CBN's commitment to financial inclusion and innovation drives Nigeria's financial landscape forward.
Presentation
Launching a CBDC (pilot) involves various risks, but also opens up opportunities.
In this workshop, representatives of the Bank of Ghana and the Central Bank of Nigeria will share their experience with their CBDC (pilot) projects. They will be supported by technology providers who will present their views and explain the project from their perspective.
This hands-on workshop is designed for central banks that are considering rolling out a CBDC (pilot).Daniel Eidan
Adviser and Solution Architect
Bank for International Settlements - Innovation Hub
Biography
Daniel is an Adviser and Solution Architect at the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in the Innovation Hub where he builds technology solutions for the central banking community with a special focus on blockchain and CBDC. Before the BIS he was at R3, was a lead software engineer and was an educator at a leading technical training school. He started his career as an Infantry Combat Commander in the Israeli army and received an honours degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Toronto.
About the company
The BIS's mission is to support central banks' pursuit of monetary and financial stability through international cooperation, and to act as a bank for central banks. The BIS Innovation Hub develops public goods in the technology space to support central banks and improve the functioning of the financial system. We have centres around the world and a global network of central bank experts on innovation.
Presentation
In this session, several BIS Innovation Hubs (BISIH) will present case studies from the field of CBDC and tokenization of items. The session is designed as a panel discussion so that attendees can actively participate in the discussion.
Lariza Galindo
Digital Innovation Strategist
International Monetary Fund
Biography
Lariza is a seasoned strategist within the Creative Lab, a team focused on integrating human-centric design and digital innovation in IMF’s work. With a track record at the IMF and World Bank Group, she has led impactful programs in digital transformation, open finance, and digital money, driving progress in the global financial sector.
About the company
The IMF works to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity for all of its 190 member countries. It does so by supporting economic policies that promote financial stability and monetary cooperation, which are essential to increase productivity, job creation, and economic well-being.
Presentation
This panel will delve into the crucial topic of user-centric design for CBDCs. Hear from experts who are leading the charge in designing CBDCs with a strong focus on user needs, accessibility, and usability. Explore innovative approaches to ensure inclusivity, privacy, and ease of use for diverse user groups. Gain insights into the importance of user research, interface design, and user education in creating a seamless CBDC experience.
Hanspeter Gier
Co-Founder
TrustNoteD AG
Biography
Founder & CEO of trustwise.io AG. Co-founder TrustNoteD AG. 30+ years of Banking IT experience. Head IT Strategy, Trading & Portolio Management Systems at Swiss Bank Corporation (a predecessor of UBS AG) .Founder of Banking Concepts AG, a consultancy firm advising 40+ major European financial institutions on banking systems in 20 years. Co-author of a government sponsored study on the impact or blockchain technology for Switzerland.
About the company
TrustNoteD (TND) is a Switzerland-based company specializing in the design, integration, testing and operation of cutting-edge solutions in the fields of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), Tokenization and DLT ID-Solutions for Governments.
Presentation
Design and technology of CBDC solutions vary depending on the political and monetary objectives.
In this session, we will demonstrate a concrete solution based on a defined set of objectives.
We walk you through the steps from issuing CBDC, distribution, monitoring and off-line capability with our DUAL® solution.
Every participant can experience CBDC on their own device*.
*For this presentation iOS only, for Android users we offer test devices.Yüksel Görmez
Executive Director, Financial Innovation Department
Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye
Biography
Yüksel Görmez is executive director of Financial Innovation Department. He holds PhD from City University with a thesis on e-money in 2000 and had research scholarship from Bank of Finland same year. He was representative in Tokyo and Beijing from 2010 to 2014. He has written four books on China and Japan.
About the company
Presentation
Scott Hendry
Senior Director Financial Technology
Bank of Canada
Biography
Scott Hendry was appointed Senior Director of Financial Technology for the Bank in 2016. He oversees the Bank’s efforts to monitor and research developments and implications of new technologies affecting the economy. This includes serving as the business lead on the Bank’s CBDC and blockchain research programs.
About the company
Bank of Canada is the central bank of Canada.
Presentation
This panel will delve into the crucial topic of user-centric design for CBDCs. Hear from experts who are leading the charge in designing CBDCs with a strong focus on user needs, accessibility, and usability. Explore innovative approaches to ensure inclusivity, privacy, and ease of use for diverse user groups. Gain insights into the importance of user research, interface design, and user education in creating a seamless CBDC experience.
Tanja Hessdörfer
Director Sales and Business Development CBDC
Giesecke + Devrient
Biography
Tanja Heßdörfer is a business development professional with a passion for public digital currency. At G+D, she is actively shaping the future of money as Director Sales and Business Development for Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). In this role, she is engaged with central banks worldwide on their journey towards CBDC. Prior to joining G+D in 2018, Tanja Heßdörfer was driving the international expansion of a fast-growing RegTech company with international assignments. Tanja holds a Master's degree in International Management and Business Administration from the Steinbeis School of International Business and Entrepreneurship.
About the company
Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) is a global security technology group headquartered in Munich. As a trusted partner to customers with the highest demands, G+D secures the essential values of the world with its solutions. The company develops technology with passion and precision in four major playing fields: payment, connectivity, identities and digital infrastructures.
Presentation
This panel explores the fundamental elements required for a CBDC to thrive within the macro-economic ecosystem. It will examine the economic implications, monetary policy considerations, and fiscal frameworks necessary to support the successful integration of CBDCs.
John Ho
Head, Legal, Financial Markets
Standard Chartered Bank
Biography
John Ho is the Global Head of Legal, Financial Markets for Standard Chartered Bank (“SCB”), overseeing and providing legal advisory, transactional and documentation support for Financial Markets (FM) business globally for Standard Chartered Bank (SCB), its branches and affiliates. Mr. Ho is also the co-chair of (1) the ISDA South East Asia Legal and Regulatory Committee and (2) the ISDA Asia Pacific ESG Working group.He is an active participant in the industry’s Fintech events and is a public speaker on topics such as Central Bank Digital Currencies, Blockchain, Digital Assets, Financial Markets, Sustainability and Regulatory Reforms. He serves as a mentor to startups and co-authored a publication from the World Economic Forum called The Digital Currency Governance Consortium Whitepaper, published in November 2021. He is a also mentor for the UK FCA Sustainability TechSprint, FCA Digital Sandbox, R3 and LongHash.Prior to joining SCB, Mr. Ho was the Managing Director Principal in the legal department of Bear Stearns (Japan), Ltd (“Bear Stearns”) where he supported the Asia franchise (including Tokyo, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Korea, India and South-east Asia) from January 2003 to August 2008 covering various structured products and derivatives including equity derivatives, credit derivatives, fixed income and commodities. Prior to joining Bear Stearns, Mr. Ho worked as Asia equity counsel for Lehman Brothers in Tokyo with experience dealing in convertibles, options, warrants, delta one products and other types of equity derivatives transactions, equity finance and equity capital markets. He is qualified as an advocate and solicitor in Singapore since 1995 and he received his law degree from the National University of Singapore.
About the company
With 85,000 employees and a presence in 59 markets, Standard Chartered Bank's network serves customers in close to 150 markets worldwide. Standard Chartere Bank is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges
Presentation
In this exclusive panel, central bank Deputy Governors share their views on CBDCs. Gain unique perspectives on CBDC design, policy considerations, and the role of CBDC in shaping the future financial system. Learn about the challenges, opportunities, and potential implications of CBDCs in the financial sector. Hear from these high-level decision-makers their strategic vision and practical insights that drive the CBDC agenda.
Claudine Hurmann
Director of Innovation and Financial Market Infrastructures
Banque de France
Biography
Claudine has over 25 years of experience working for the Banque de France. Before joining the Directorate General for Financial Stability and Operations, she worked in banking supervision. Her current field of competences covers financial market infrastructures, resilience, crypto-assets and wholesale CBDC, including experiments.
About the company
Banque de France is the central bank of France.
Presentation
Kombe Kaponda
Financial Markets Infrastructure Specialist, Lead researcher CBDC
Bank of Zambia
Biography
Dr. Kombe Kaponda is the current chairperson for the Central Bank of Zambia (BoZ) FinTech working group, leading research on the effects of financial technologies and the feasibility of CBDC in developing economies. He is a certified Digital Finance Practitioner (CDFP), and a very active contributor to the global fintech and digital innovations agenda, participating in the IMF-World Bank Technology Community of Practice (CoP), a CBDC technology CoP in the Digital Advisory Unit focusing on R&D and research about CBDC technology for mutual global learning. He is also a founding trustee of the Association for Digital Finance Practitioners (ADFP) in Zambia and the Global Alliance of Digital Finance Associations. He is currently participating in the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) Architecture Interoperability committee, Taxonomy & CBDC, Digital Currency Ecosystem Global Initiative working group. Kombe is a published author on financial technologies developments in SSA and has facilitated fintech and cyber security training workshops and seminars.
About the company
Bank of Zambia is the central bank of Zambia.
Presentation
This panel explores the fundamental elements required for a CBDC to thrive within the macro-economic ecosystem. It will examine the economic implications, monetary policy considerations, and fiscal frameworks necessary to support the successful integration of CBDCs.
Imran Khan
Chief Operating Officer
Bitt
Biography
Imran is the Chief Operating Officer at Bitt and serves as the account executive for Bitt’s active CBDC clients, namely the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. Prior to Bitt, Imran spent a decade in Deloitte’s technology consulting services, where he Chaired Deloitte’s Global CBDC Committee.
About the company
Bitt is a global, US-based company that provides secure CBDC software infrastructure to central banks, financial institutions, and ecosystem participants. Bitt’s proprietary technology has been deployed in 12 countries, including Nigeria, ECCU countries, and Ukraine.
Presentation
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for CBDC design and implementation. Central banks have different approaches to studying and launching CBDCs, due to many factors such as their political and economic environment, competing priorities, objectives, market readiness, etc. As the world’s leader in CBDC deployments, Bitt understands the diversity and complexity of the CBDC landscape. We will share our insights and experiences from working with central banks that have diverse CBDC strategies and timelines. We have learned that the best partners adapt with their central bank clients’ CBDC journey
Ruslan Konurbayev
Product Owner/Senior Business Analyst
National Payment Corportation of Kazakhstan
Biography
More than 7 years in R&D, Fintech and Consulting.
About the company
National Payment Corportation of Kazakhstan creates new landscape of Kazakhstani financial world by introducing new services and initiatives such as CBDC, Open API and others.
Presentation
This presentations describes studies conducted by the National Bank of Kazakhstan in the field of central banks digital currencies. It is focused on both previous experience and perspective.
Conrad Kraft
Executive Director
Digital Euro Association
Biography
Conrad Kraft is an Executive Director at the Digital Euro Association. He holds a Masters Degree in Digital Currencies and Blockchain from the University of Nicosia and has undertaken research in the areas of DLT, CBDCs and the use of exponential technologies in the public sector.
About the company
The Digital Euro Association (DEA) is a think tank specializing in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), stablecoins, crypto assets, and other forms of digital money. In particular, we focus on the private and the public digital euro.
Presentation
Discover the path to CBDC adoption through an examination of worldwide implementations, highlighting key learnings in citizen attitude formation, stakeholder collaboration, education, design aspects and more. Join us in navigating the challenges and opportunities of realizing the CBDC vision.
Suela Kristiansen
Senior Adviser
Norges Bank
Biography
Suela is part of the "Payments' analysis and innovation" team at Norges Bank. She has engaged with topics in strategy and innovation over the last 20 years. She holds a DPhil in strategy from the University of Oxford and an MPhil in strategy and innovation from the University of Cambridge.
About the company
Norges Bank is the central bank of Norway.
Presentation
The presentation will cover testing undertaken by Norges Bank in its fourth project phase. In this phase we focused on rCBDC and relied on Hyperledger Besu to build our sandbox and further testing. We amongst others tested CBDC issuance and destruction, mass-payments, swapping and bridging. We also tested with the deployment of smart contracts for verified credentials, compound interests, and AML-procedures. Icebreaker was a successful happy-path project for cross-country payments through rCBDCs together with cooperating central banks and the BIS Innovation Hub of Stockholm.
Disclaimer: Any choice in this phase is not indicative of our final CBDC-decision.Ashley Lannquist
Digital Finance Expert
International Monetary Fund
Biography
Ashley Lannquist contributes to the IMF's CBDC technology and policy research and capacity development efforts. She previously led the WEF's work on CBDC including the 2020 "Central Bank Digital Currency Policy-Maker Toolkit." Ashley is also Turkish-American!
About the company
The IMF works to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity for all of its 190 member countries. It does so by supporting economic policies that promote financial stability and monetary cooperation, which are essential to increase productivity, job creation, and economic well-being.
Presentation
This panel delves into the ways CBDCs can empower the unbanked, enhance access to financial services, and bridge the digital divide. It offers insights into inclusive design approaches, regulatory considerations, and strategic partnerships driving financial inclusion through CBDCs.
Michael Law
Fintech Director
Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Biography
Mr Law is Fintech Director at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), responsible for CBDC and other fintech initiatives. Prior to his current role, Mr Law was Advisor to the Executive Director for China at the IMF. Mr Law has hold progressively responsible roles in different areas at the HKMA over the years.
About the company
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is Hong Kong’s central banking institution.
Presentation
This presentation will cover the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's CBDC journey and the recent progress made on the e-HKD Pilot Programme, which delves into six categories of potential use cases, including full-fledged payments, programmable payments, offline payments, tokenised deposits, settlement of Web3 transactions and settlement of tokenised assets.
Christine Leong
Chief Information Officer
nChain
Biography
Christine has over 25 years of strategic experience working in technology, including 15 at Accenture, where she launched and led innovation initiatives as the Global Lead Accenture’s Decentralised Identity and Biometrics Practice. Christine is a patented inventor, as well as an expert in blockchain, emerging technologies focusing on tech investing, sustainability, and especially digital identity, for which she has received numerous awards and accolades. She was the programme advisor to the World Economic Forum on Digital Identity and speaks regularly on emerging technology and blockchain globally. Christine holds a Master’s degree from Oxford in Politics, Philosophy and Economics.
About the company
nChain is a leading provider of global blockchain technology, IP licensing and consulting services. Combining a world-leading Web3 IP portfolio together with the knowledge, expertise, tools, and products, we enable a seamless transition from Web2 to Web3. nChain builds and maintains the most inclusive, secure and scalable Web3 infrastructure that delivers efficient value exchange to foster an ecosystem that is truly pioneering and provides an accessible foundation for everyone to benefit from Web3 opportunities. nChain currently has almost 2,800 registered active and pending patents and is the developer behind the Bitcoin SV Node software, Terranode, Kensei and more.
Presentation
Over the last 3 years, two key themes that have emerged have significant impact on our lives as organisations and individuals – the digitalisation of money and identity. These areas have evolved in silos but as they develop, it is clear that there are dependencies that need to be considered. Central banks are increasingly asking questions about digital ID and what this means in terms of impact and future adoption of CBDCs and other digital assets. While objectives of CBDCs encompass data privacy, user consent, and individual control, while simultaneously ensuring rigorous transaction management and evolving compliance requirements. Digital ID mirrors these objectives and facilitates not just individual users, but also businesses to interact securely and efficiently within the CBDC ecosystem. The need to understand Digital ID and the impact this could have on CBDC and digital assets in general is paramount given the new Digital ID capabilities will change the way each individual as well as organisation handles identity as well as change in regulations that will emerge. This presentation will highlight key concepts in digital ID, their relevance to CBDC and what are the key areas to consider when designing and implementing CBDCs given the changes coming in Digital ID globally.
Inutu Lukonga
Senior Economist and Financial Sector Expert
International Monetary Fund
Biography
Ms. Inutu Lukonga is a senior economist in the Payments, Currencies, and Infrastructure (PI) division of the Monetary and Capital Markets (MCM) department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She has 42 years operational experience as a Central Banker, Macro-economist, and Financial Sector Expert. She joined the IMF in 1993 after her tenure as Deputy Director of Research at the Central Bank of Zambia where she began her career as a graduate economics in 1981. At the IMF, she has worked as a Macro-Economist and as a Financial Sector Expert, including leading FSAP and TA missions including in Payment Systems, Monetary and Foreign Exchange Operations, Bank Resolution, Deposit Insurance, Crisis Management and Banking Supervision. She worked at the UK/FSA as a regulator for Banks, Securities Firms, and Pension Funds. Her research studies cover a broad range of areas, including Debt Restructuring, International Trade Policy, Financial Stability, Banking Supervision, Islamic Finance, Fintech, and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). During her tenure at the Fund, Ms. Lukonga has undertaken mission assignments to more than 30 countries in Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa, Caribbean Countries and Middle East and Central Asia.
Ms. Lukonga holds a BA Degree in Economics from the University of Zambia, a Master of Arts degree in International Economics from University of Sussex in the UK and was a PHD candidate in Development Economics also at the University of Sussex.
About the company
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is a global financial institution, whose mandate is to promote global monetary cooperation, financial stability, international trade, high employment and sustainable economic growth, as well as reduce poverty around the world.
Presentation
Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) promise many benefits but, if not well designed, they could have undesired consequences, including for monetary policy. This session will discuss: (i) the monetary policy implications of issuing unremunerated two-tiered retail CBDCs and w-CBDCs, both in jurisdictions with conventional banking systems and those governed by Sharia’h rules; (ii) The channels through which CBDC affect monetary policy implementation and transmission and the nature and relative strength of the impact, (iii) the policy and structural factors that could amplify or mitigate the impact; and (iv) strategies to minimize unintended consequences of CBDCs on monetary policy.
Hugues Marie
Product Manager CBDC & Digital Currencies
IDEMIA
Biography
Hugues Marie is the product manager for CBDC and Digital Currencies at IDEMIA. Passionate about blockchain and DeFi, he started his career as a blockchain product manager in a start-up in Mexico City, where he participated in the development of several blockchain-based SAS platforms in the financial sector, leading a team of 10 engineers.
About the company
As a leader in identity technologies, IDEMIA is on a mission to unlock the world and make it safer. IDEMIA offers its public and private customers payment, connectivity, access control, travel, identity and public security solutions. Every day, around the world, IDEMIA secures billions of interactions in the physical and digital worlds. With nearly 15,000 employees, IDEMIA is trusted by over 600 governmental organisations and more than 2,300 enterprises spread over 180 countries, with an impactful, ethical and socially responsible approach.
Presentation
Offline payments are generally considered the most complex part of a CBDC system, as they raise issues related to usability, security and privacy. In this Academy session, we will present what stakeholders are saying about the need for offline payments, available architectures and technology solutions, how they compare, available value transfer protocols (how users pay), the best user devices for offline, interactions with online CBDC. We will conclude by exploring risk management and privacy issues. This session will use real-life examples and live demonstrations to give the audience a feel of what offline payments will eventually look like.
Panel discussion : Financial inclusion
This panel delves into the ways CBDCs can empower the unbanked, enhance access to financial services, and bridge the digital divide. It offers insights into inclusive design approaches, regulatory considerations, and strategic partnerships driving financial inclusion through CBDCs.
Jessica Matthäus
Banknote Designer
Orell Füssli Ltd. Security Printing
Biography
Jessica Matthäus is a banknote designer at Orell Füssli Ltd. Security Printing with 10 years of experience in brand and corporate design. In her current role (or at Orell Füssli Ltd. Security Printing), she's part of an interdisciplinary innovation team that focuses on conventional banknote security and design along with an in-depth probing into new digital markets and technologies.
About the company
Orell Füssli Ltd. Security Printing is an internationally recognised security product and solution specialist. OFS provides its customers with unique and customised services in designing, manufacturing and supplying banknotes and other high security documents. Additionally, OFS specialises in connected banknote solutions customised for CBDC, bridging currency’s physical and digital worlds.
Presentation
In a "CBDC only" payment system, aspects like consumer privacy or the ability to work offline are still unsolved. A DUAL®, a hybrid banknote, is a physical banknote that interacts with a CBDC solution and acts as a transitional device between cash-based and CBDC-based payment systems.
This innovative banknote can be used like a classic banknote; however, the owner can transfer the banknote's value to a digital wallet by scanning the hidden QR code with a mobile device. Our DUAL(R) solution complements the CBDC-based payment system, provides privacy and enables the consumer a choice between different payment systems.Alistair Milne
Professor of Financial Economics
Loughborough University
Biography
Prior to joining Loughborough in 2011, Alistair worked at Bayes Business School, the Bank of England; University of Surrey, London Business School, HM Treasury and for the Government of Malawi. He has a PhD in economics from the London School of Economics. His research spans financial technology, money and central banking, bank capital and risk management, disaster risk finance, macroeconomics, financial regulation and applications of dynamic stochastic optimisation.
About the company
Presentation
There are substantial project risks in the launch of retail CBDCs. These include: technical risks; difficulty of providing CBDC interfaces on a sustainable economic basis; and failure to achieve widespread adoption. Prototype retail CBDC designs, e.g. the Digital Pound and Digital Euro, impose restrictions to reduce financial stability risks that serve to magnify these project risks. The solution is to be less ambitious. Target first launch on specific use cases in niche payment contexts where there is clear demand and initial financial subsidy can be justified to both cover initial technical risks and support the business models of service providers.
Viktor Möllborg
Business Architect
Sveriges Riksbank
Biography
Viktor Möllborg, Business Architect at Sveriges Riksbank, focusing on its CBDC development and the future of the e-krona. He has previous experience from the private sector, consulting and managing projects related to the digital transformation of the financial industry.
About the company
Sveriges Riksbank is the central bank of Sweden.
Presentation
This presentation will share insights from Riksbank’s current work with the e-krona including takeaways its third e-krona pilot report, which examines how an e-krona could work if a decision is taken in the future to issue digital central bank money. The focus during Phase 3 of the pilot has been to examine how the Riksbank could interact with other actors in the payment market to give the general public access to, and the possibility to pay with, an e-krona, how conditional payments can be made and whether a digital central bank currency can simplify cross-border payments.
Brett Mollin
Technical Partner Director, Central Bank
Ripple
Biography
Brett has been implementing enterprise software solutions in highly secure and critical environments for over 20 years, starting with the nuclear power industry and currently focused on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Brett is one of the longest tenured Ripple employees, joining in February of 2015 to help implement Ripple blockchain technology solutions at commercial banks around the world. Currently Brett is the technical lead for Ripple's central bank pilots.
About the company
Ripple’s mission is to build breakthrough digital assets & crypto solutions for a world without economic borders
Presentation
It is logical for central banks developing CBDCs to initially focus on domestic payment challenges, however it is vital that cross-border payments are considered at the design stage to ultimately facilitate interoperability between the CBDCs of individual countries.
In this session, experts from Ripple will discuss the need for cross-border payment functionality in the design of CBDC, as well as the practical considerations required to incorporate this.
Breakout Session: Ripple's full stack CBDC platform
Come and hear about Ripple's new CBDC Platform for minting, managing, transacting, redeeming and destroying Central Bank Digital Currencies or Stablecoins. Ripple experts will present the benefits of the Ripple CBDC Platform and a demo.Daniel Nagy
Business Analyst CBDC
Giesecke+Devrient
Biography
Daniel Nagy provides business consultancy to central banks on use cases, design aspects, strategy, stakeholders and other relevant topics within the CBDC domain. Prior to working at G+D, he was part of a CBDC Think Tank and was a director at an investment management company. He has received education on Banking and Finance. Within G+D Daniel Nagy is part of the CBDC thought leadership team and has (co)authored various papers and concepts and is working on retail CBDC projects in Africa. His main research area is the effects of digital currencies on the global macroeconomy and geopolitics.
About the company
Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) is a global security technology group headquartered in Munich. As a trusted partner to customers with the highest demands, G+D secures the essential values of the world with its solutions. The company develops technology with passion and precision in four major playing fields: payment, connectivity, identities and digital infrastructures.
Presentation
Research and experimentations around cross-border CBDCs have accelerated in recent years. However, retail cross-border CBDC experimentations have remained relatively underdeveloped in comparison with cross-border wholesale CBDC payments. At the moment, cross-border payments face significant and urgent challenges around costs, speed, transparency, and regulation. This session will deal with questions like - What opportunities do CBDCs offer and what are the hurdles to overcome? - What potential use cases are there? - What could a solution look like?
Simit Naik
Director of Strategy
nChain
Biography
Simit Naik has over 14 years of commercial experience across financial services and the public sector, holding senior positions in consultancy, strategy, and product at organisations such as Visa, Experian, and Logica. Naik joined nChain in 2016, where he has helped to develop the Business Services, Product, and Commercial & Strategy teams. In his current role, Simit is responsible for group strategy, identifying and shaping key strategic initiatives across nChain, our wider ecosystem and with our key partners. Simit holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Computer Science from Coventry University.
About the company
nChain is a leading provider of global blockchain technology, IP licensing and consulting services. Combining a world-leading Web3 IP portfolio together with the knowledge, expertise, tools, and products, we enable a seamless transition from Web2 to Web3. nChain builds and maintains the most inclusive, secure and scalable Web3 infrastructure that delivers efficient value exchange to foster an ecosystem that is truly pioneering and provides an accessible foundation for everyone to benefit from Web3 opportunities. nChain currently has almost 2,800 registered active and pending patents and is the developer behind the Bitcoin SV Node software, Terranode, Kensei and more.
Presentation
Everyone knows what CBDCs are. But what do CBDCs enable you to achieve? What are the use cases? And how can CBDCs be used to deliver transformational opportunities for countries across the world? Join us at this CBDC Academy session to find out answers to these questions and more.
Panel discussion: Design & Policy aspects
This panel explores the intersection of design and policy in CBDCs. The panellists will analyze the implications, challenges, and best practices for CBDC design and policy frameworks.
Alberto Naudon
Member of the Board
Banco Central de Chile
Biography
Board Member of the Central Bank of Chile since March 2018. Before his appointment to the Board and since September 2014, he was Director of the Research Division of this Institution.He is a Commercial Engineer from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, where he received the Raúl Iver award as the best graduate among his 2000 classmates, and holds a Master's Degree and PhD in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles, USA.
About the company
The Central Bank of Chile is an autonomous technical body whose task is to ensure the stability of the currency, and the level of inflation. It also promotes the stability and efficiency of the financial system, guaranteeing the normal functioning of internal and external payments.
Presentation
This panel explores the intersection of design and policy in CBDCs. The panellists will analyze the implications, challenges, and best practices for CBDC design and policy frameworks.
Cam Nili
CBDC Research Fellow
World Economic Forum
Biography
Cam is a Digital Currency Engagement Leader at Accenture. He recently delivered a pilot with the Digital Dollar Project that was focused on strengthening financial inclusion using a retail CBDC--he co-authored and published a white paper capturing the results in July 2023. He is currently serving as a Research Fellow at the World Economic Forum, where he is focused on uncovering the benefits of wCBDC for global financial markets by conducting research with a global network of thought leaders. Prior to WEF and the DDP, Cam has delviered numerous projects for the leading financial institutions on the topics of AI and Web3.
About the company
The World Economic Forum – committed to improving the state of the world – is the international organization for public-private cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
Presentation
This panel delves into the ways CBDCs can empower the unbanked, enhance access to financial services, and bridge the digital divide. It offers insights into inclusive design approaches, regulatory considerations, and strategic partnerships driving financial inclusion through CBDCs.
Bénédicte Nolens
Centre Head
Bank for International Settlements - Innovation Hub Hong Kong
Biography
Bénédicte is the Head of the BIS Innovation Hub, Hong Kong Centre. Prior to this appointment, she was a managing director at SC Ventures, the innovation arm of Standard Chartered Bank that leads a series of new ventures across digital banking, banking as a service, SME finance and blockchain. From 2018-2019, she was the Vice President of International Government Relations at Circle, involved in the evolution of blockchain and digital assets. From 2012-2018, she was the Head of Risk & Strategy of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), and in that capacity also acting as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Emerging Risks and the Fintech research lead for the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). From 2007-2012, she was a managing director at Credit Suisse and before that from 1997-2007 she was an associate and executive director at Goldman Sachs. Originally from Belgium, she holds LL.M. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Chicago and the University of Leuven. She is admitted to the New York Bar since 1999. In 2016, she was a recipient of the China Daily Asian Women Leadership Awards for her efforts related to entrepreneurship, innovation and charity. She remains closely engaged in these topics, most recently through her involvement in the Fintech Association of Hong Kong (FTAHK) and Women in Finance Asia (WiFA.)
About the company
The BIS's mission is to support central banks' pursuit of monetary and financial stability through international cooperation, and to act as a bank for central banks. The BIS Innovation Hub develops public goods in the technology space to support central banks and improve the functioning of the financial system. We have centres around the world and a global network of central bank experts on innovation.
Presentation
In this session, several BIS Innovation Hubs (BISIH) will present case studies from the field of CBDC and tokenization of items. The session is designed as a panel discussion so that attendees can actively participate in the discussion.
Dr. Kingsley Obiora
Deputy Governor (Economic Policy)
Central Bank of Nigeria
Biography
Dr. Obiora is Deputy Governor (Economic Policy) in the Central Bank of Nigeria, having served as an Alternate Executive Director in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC, USA. In this capacity, he was a member of the Executive Board, collectively responsible for conducting the daily operations of the IMF. He also assisted to represent the interests of 23 African Countries, including Nigeria, at the Board.
Dr. Obiora has a first degree from the University of Benin as well as Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
About the company
Presentation
In this exclusive panel, central bank Deputy Governors share their views on CBDCs. Gain unique perspectives on CBDC design, policy considerations, and the role of CBDC in shaping the future financial system. Learn about the challenges, opportunities, and potential implications of CBDCs in the financial sector. Hear from these high-level decision-makers their strategic vision and practical insights that drive the CBDC agenda.
Tunji Odumuboni
Executive Director, Africa
Emtech
Biography
Tunji has extensive professional experience in delivering technology-enabled business transformation solutions for large financial service providers, financial system regulators, and fintech startups across Africa.
Before joining EMTECH, he was a leader in KPMG's Emerging Technology & Digital Transformation Consulting business, working across Africa as part of KPMG project teams. He also led KPMG Nigeria FinTech practice towards the end of an 11-year career in the firm. He is currently an Executive Director at EMTECH, overseeing the continuous pursuit of growth opportunities for the company across Africa.
Tunji has extensive knowledge capital and hands-on experiences in emerging technologies like AI, Blockchain, Robotics, and IoT. He has led several client projects across several African countries involving the use and deployment of such technologies across various industries, including financial services, telecommunications, and consumer markets; such projects include strategy development, digital transformation, systems selection, delivery of open and cloud-based digital platforms, and complex enterprise systems.
Tunji's thought leadership includes speaking engagements on Digital Transformation, AI, Blockchain, Data & Analytics, Open Banking, Regulatory Sandboxing, CBDCs, Emerging Technology Risks, Regulatory and Supervisory Technology Innovation, and FinTech Innovation. He has also contributed to several articles on these domains.
About the company
Emtech is the first and only technology company building modern central banking infrastructures for regulatory compliance and currency matters under one roof. We think of central banking holistically and we leverage modern technology to drive inclusion, resilience and sustainability.
Presentation
Dr. Maxwell Opoku-Afari
First Deputy Governor
Bank of Ghana
Biography
Dr. Maxwell Opoku-Afari was appointed as the First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana on August 7, 2017. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Opoku-Afari worked at the IMF in various capacities including as Mission Chief and Deputy Division Chief in the African Department of the IMF. His work at the IMF focused on IMF negotiation missions, policy design in the area of monetary policy modernization and macro financial linkages, and was a reviewer of policy documents on a number of developing countries. He holds a first degree in Economics and Statistics, and an MPhil in Economics, both from the University of Ghana, Legon and also a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.
About the company
The Bank of Ghana is the central bank of Ghana.
Presentation
In this exclusive panel, central bank Deputy Governors share their views on CBDCs. Gain unique perspectives on CBDC design, policy considerations, and the role of CBDC in shaping the future financial system. Learn about the challenges, opportunities, and potential implications of CBDCs in the financial sector. Hear from these high-level decision-makers their strategic vision and practical insights that drive the CBDC agenda.
Kwame Oppong
Head, FinTech and Innovation
Bank of Ghana
Biography
Kwame Oppong is the Director of Fintech and Innovation at Bank of Ghana and leads the eCedi Project.His background spans Technology, Digital Financial Services (DFS) operations, policy development, and regulation. He has consulted for several governments, public sector institutions, international development organizations and private corporations globally.He is a passionate advocate for financial inclusion, innovation, and the development of digital economies.
About the company
Bank of Ghana is the central bank of Ghana.
Presentation
This panel explores the intersection of design and policy in CBDCs. The panellists will analyze the implications, challenges, and best practices for CBDC design and policy frameworks.
Pinar Ozcan
Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Saïd Business School, Oxford University
Biography
Pinar Ozcan is Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Saïd Business School, Oxford University. She is also the academic director of the Oxford Future of Finance and Technology (Fintech) Initiative at Oxford. Pinar specializes in strategy, entrepreneurship, and technology markets. Her current research includes fintech and CBDC ecosystems, open banking, digital disruption, and the rise of big tech platforms.
About the company
Presentation
Novelette Panton
Division Chief, Payment System and Money Services Oversight Division
Bank of Jamaica
Biography
Dr. Novelette Panton has portfolio responsibility for the Payment System and Money Services Oversight Division which extends to oversight of the systematically important payment systems, granting of authorization to Payment Service Providers to issue electronic retail payment services, as well as, researching, advising and implementing FinTech innovations. In addition, the licensing and supervision of Money Services Businesses (MSBs), that is Cambios and Remittance entities fall under her purview. She is also the Chairman of the CBDC Steering Committee, Deputy Chair of the Risk Management Committee, a member of the National Payments System Council and international Committees including CARICOM Fintech Working Group; CEMLA Fintech Expert and Western Hemisphere Payments and Security Settlement Forums. Novelette holds a PhD in Economic Development Policy from the University of the West Indies.
About the company
Bank of Jamaica is the central bank of Jamaica
Presentation
Shaqueno Porter
Deputy Manager, Financial Market Infrastructure Unit, Currency Department
Central Bank of The Bahamas
Biography
Shaqueno oversees operations of the Financial Market Infrastructure Unit to support the stability safety, functionality, and efficiency of systemically important financial market systems in The Bahamas. This includes the oversight and management of the Real Time Gross Settlement System, the Central Securities Depository, SWIFT, and the Central Bank Digital Currency Platform, Sand Dollar.
About the company
Presentation
The presentation will cover technical enhancements to the Sand Dollar wallet, such as user self-activation and new integration with legacy payment systems. Additionally, I will provide updates on national adotpion and the challenges we face along the way.
Derek Rolle
Deputy Governor, Corporate Services
Central Bank of The Bahamas
Biography
As Deputy Governor, Mr. Rolle oversees the payments function as part of his broader duties. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Economics, College of William and Mary (USA), and a Master’s of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and Quantitative Methods, University of Georgia (USA).
About the company
The Central Bank of The Bahamas, located on the island of New Providence, was established on 1st June, 1974, and is a monument to one of the most rapidly growing, international financial centers in the Caribbean. This unprecedented legal authority manages the financial policies of an independent nation, The Bahamas.
Presentation
In this exclusive panel, central bank Deputy Governors share their views on CBDCs. Gain unique perspectives on CBDC design, policy considerations, and the role of CBDC in shaping the future financial system. Learn about the challenges, opportunities, and potential implications of CBDCs in the financial sector. Hear from these high-level decision-makers their strategic vision and practical insights that drive the CBDC agenda.
Michael Salmony
Executive Adviser, CEO Payments Innovation
Payments Innovation Consulting
Biography
Michael is a board-level advisor to major international banks, industry associations, regulators and finance bodies across the world to regularly help shape future directions in all key decision making bodies (e.g. European Commission/ECB/European Parliament in Europe, and central banks from Japan to Uruguay and Kazakhstan). Keynote speaker at major international events, quoted in all business publications and translated in over 10 languages.
About the company
We work together with all stakeholders in the payments domain, including solution providers, payment processors, banks, corporates, public sector organisations and special interest organisations, offering services of Business Consultancy and Market Research in the areas of innovation in payments and digital money.
Presentation
This panel explores the fundamental elements required for a CBDC to thrive within the macro-economic ecosystem. It will examine the economic implications, monetary policy considerations, and fiscal frameworks necessary to support the successful integration of CBDCs.
Adolfo Sarmiento
Manager Economic Policy and Markets
Central Bank of Uruguay
Biography
Adolfo Sarmiento is responsible for the monetary policy implementation and the payment system regulation and supervision at the Central Bank of Uruguay. He has been working as external advisor for the IMF on CBDC projects.
About the company
The Central Bank of Uruguay is responsible for monetary policy, financial stability and financial services supervision in Uruguay.
Presentation
Tamara Ferreira Schmidt
Executive Director
Digital Euro Association
Biography
Tamara, executive director at the Digital Euro Association, specializes in Financial Engineering, Capital Markets and Derivatives with +15 years of experience. Consultant and creator of personalized content about investments, startups, innovation, digital currencies and blockchain, Tamara has already lectured at TEDx KanzlerPark, Crypto Assets Conference, Digital Euro Conference, among others.
About the company
The Digital Euro Association is a think tank specializing in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), stablecoins, crypto assets, and other forms of digital money. In particular, we focus on the private and the public digital euro.
Presentation
This panel will delve into the crucial topic of user-centric design for CBDCs. Hear from experts who are leading the charge in designing CBDCs with a strong focus on user needs, accessibility, and usability. Explore innovative approaches to ensure inclusivity, privacy, and ease of use for diverse user groups. Gain insights into the importance of user research, interface design, and user education in creating a seamless CBDC experience.
Severino Sequeira
Technical Lead / CTO CBDC
Giesecke+Devrient
Biography
Severino Sequeira is a software engineering aficionado with hands-on experience in software architecture, development, security, and testing; and management of multi-functional teams across different industries – most prominently banking and fintech. At G+D he drives the technological innovation, spearheads transformative initiatives, and leverages his technical expertise to lead teams facilitating the delivery of exceptional CBDC engineering solutions.
About the company
Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) is a global security technology group headquartered in Munich. As a trusted partner to customers with the highest demands, G+D secures the essential values of the world with its solutions. The company develops technology with passion and precision in four major playing fields: payment, connectivity, identities and digital infrastructures.
Presentation
Pilot projects provide valuable knowledge for central banks exploring CBDC implementation. This session explores the insights and lessons learned from these projects, the necessary steps to transition from pilot to production, the essential components required for a fully operational CBDC ecosystem, and strategies to foster widespread adoption. The focus also extends to addressing key design characteristics such as offline functionality, adapting to evolving technologies, and building a future-proof CBDC platform.
Yoav Soffer
CBDC Project Manager
Bank of Israel
Biography
Yoav Soffer has been with the Bank of Israel for 19 years, serving in various Positions . In 2020 he was appointed an Advisor to the Deputy Governor and the CBDC Project Manager, and coordinates the Bank of Israel's work on the digital shekel. Yoav has a B.A in Economics and Geography and an M.A in Economics from Ben Gurion University in Israel. He has taught in several academic institutions in Israel.
About the company
Bank of Israel is the central bank of Israel.
Presentation
The Bank of Israel has been studying the topic of CBDCs since 2017, and launched "the digital shekel project" at the end of 2020, in order to prepare an action plan for a potential issuance of a CBDC in Israel. The bank is conducting technological experiments, some of them in cooperation with other central banks and the BIS, as well as policy and business analysis. Recently, the Bank began to work on a detailed design for the potential digital shekel. This is done by exploring different topic areas and accumulating decisions and requirements, which would eventually provide a complete design document.
Panel discussion : Cross Border Payments with CBDC
This panel discusses the intricate landscape of cross-border transactions CBDCs. It explores the potential of CBDCs to streamline international payments, enhance remittance processes, and facilitate borderless transactions. It offers insights into the regulatory challenges, interoperability frameworks, and collaboration between central banks required to harness the full potential of CBDCs in a global context.
Jurgen Spaanderman
Senior Policy Adviser
De Nederlandsche Bank
Biography
Jurgen is a senior strategy and policy adviser in payments systems. His focus is currently on central bank digital currencies (digital euro) and on cash strategy and policy. Before that, he advised on financial market infrastructures.
About the company
De Nederlandsche Bank is a central bank, supervisor and resolution authority of The Netherlands. One of its major tasks is to promote the smooth functioning of the payment system.
Presentation
The use of cash as a means of payment diminishes. The shift towards more use of digital means of payment also leads to a shift from public money to private money. Central bank digital currencies could supplement cash to continue offering the public access to central bank money and convertibility at par with private money. In this presentation we focus on the role of central bank money, on cbdc policy goals and design choices, and on trade-offs to be made in the process.
Hermann Sterzinger
Founder / CEO
TrustNoteD AG
Biography
CEO and Co-founder of TrustNoteD AG . Co-founder and shareholder of Augentic GmbH. COO Veridos (2015-2019). 25+ years of experience working with Governments, Central Banks, and Commercial Banks (Leicher/Gunnebo 1995-2002; G+D 2002-2015). Board Member at Munich Network (2007 - March 2023) ICAO. Board Member for Public Key Directory (2015 -2019). Lecturer at Technical University Munich (TUM) for Networks for Monetary Transactions.
About the company
TrustNoteD (TND) is a Switzerland-based company specializing in the design, integration, testing and operation of cutting-edge solutions in the fields of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), Tokenization and DLT ID-Solutions for Governments.
Presentation
Design and technology of CBDC solutions vary depending on the political and monetary objectives.
In this session, we will demonstrate a concrete solution based on a defined set of objectives.
We walk you through the steps from issuing CBDC, distribution, monitoring and off-line capability with our DUAL® solution.
Every participant can experience CBDC on their own device*.
*For this presentation iOS only, for Android users we offer test devices.Aniko Szombati
Chief Digital Officer, Executive director for digitalization and Fintech
Magyar Nemzeti Bank (Central bank of Hungary)
Biography
Economist, graduated at Corvinus University, Budapest. Joined the central bank in 2001. Anikó is responsible for promoting digital transformation in the financial sector as well as within the central bank, including the implementation of cutting edge technologies and research on CBDC. She is member of the Financial Stability Council.
About the company
Magyar Nemzeti Bank is the central bank of Hungary
Presentation
This panel delves into the ways CBDCs can empower the unbanked, enhance access to financial services, and bridge the digital divide. It offers insights into inclusive design approaches, regulatory considerations, and strategic partnerships driving financial inclusion through CBDCs.
Harrison Tan
Senior Strategy Manager
R3
Biography
Harrison Tan is a Senior Strategy Manager with the Digital Currencies team at R3, with a focus on advising global central banks and commercial banks on digital currency strategy and execution for Central Bank Digital Currencies and Permissioned Stablecoins. Prior to this, Harrison held various roles within the Strategy and Operations function at R3, where he led corporate strategy and pre-sales initiatives across cross-functional teams in APAC. Prior to joining R3, Harrison was a member of the Corporate Development and Strategy function at Sea (NYSE:SE), where he held various roles around investor relations, strategic investments, fundraising, and other corporate strategy projects.
Harrison holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons) from the National University of Singapore.
About the company
R3 is leading the future of digital finance by powering multi-party solutions that deliver digital trust and unlock greater potential for regulated businesses everywhere.
Presentation
In this session, Harrison will delve into the progress of domestic, bilateral, and multilateral CBDC networks, exploring their implications on liquidity management for central banks and financial institutions. Additionally, Harrison will examine the current CBDC distribution models across these networks. Attendees will get an exclusive preview of R3's digital currency product, which provides innovative solutions to tackle the challenges of CBDC implementation and distribution.
Tobias Tenner
Head of Digitalisation
Association of German Banks
Biography
Tobias heads the digital think tank at the Association of German Banks. Before that, he worked as a strategy consultants for a Big Four as well as internal consultant for a German private bank. He started his career as a trader at the Berlin Stock Exchange. Tobias Tenner holds a degree in economics and business administration
About the company
Association of German Banks represents more than 200 private commercial banks, fintechs and eleven member associations
Presentation
Today, we are in the 4th industrial revolution, which is leading to production that is closely linked to communication and information technology (Industry 4.0). One manifestation of Industry 4.0 will be a machine-to-machine economy in which machines and sensors autonomously transmit data and control production processes without human interaction; smart contracts will gain crucial importance. The expected shift of business processes to DLT infrastructures in the future also creates new challenges for banks. CBDC does not address all these challenges. CBMT is the evolution of today's account-based fiat money.
Peerapong Thonnagith
Deputy Director, Digital Currency Team
Bank of Thailand
Biography
Technical lead supervising technical development under ongoing projects of both (cross-border) wholesale CBDC and (domestic) retail CBDC.
About the company
Bank of Thailand is the central bank of Thailand.
Presentation
This panel explores the intersection of design and policy in CBDCs. The panellists will analyze the implications, challenges, and best practices for CBDC design and policy frameworks.
John Velissarios
Founder & Director
Otranto Limited
Biography
John advises leading institutions on digital financial markets, digital currency, and CBDC topics ranging from strategy to design, implementation, and secure operation, allowing these institutions to take the next step in developing the digital financial ecosystem.
About the company
Otranto operates globally, advising leading institutions on digital financial markets, digital currency and CBDC topics. Otranto focuses on strategy, management, technical, and information security advisory services. We have global delivery capabilities for developing and implementing Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and Digital Financial Markets (DFMs) solutions.
Presentation
Constantly changing world events are affecting many aspects of our daily lives and none more so than the wave of change that CBDC will bring about. This presentation will cover how we got here, whats happening around the world and where we are headed and how we can ensure that this new format of money as we know it, needs to continue to interoperate with existing and new developing systems.
Sandra Waliczek
Lead, Blockchain and Digital Asset
World Economic Forum
Biography
Sandra is on the Blockchain and Digital Assets team at the World Economic Forum. In this role, she covers the governance of blockchain technology and digital currencies, in particular central bank digital currency and the future of capital markets. Previously, she worked at the World Bank in the Treasury focusing on capital markets and how innovation and blockchain technology can be used to promote development.
About the company
Presentation
This panel discusses the intricate landscape of cross-border transactions CBDCs. It explores the potential of CBDCs to streamline international payments, enhance remittance processes, and facilitate borderless transactions. It offers insights into the regulatory challenges, interoperability frameworks, and collaboration between central banks required to harness the full potential of CBDCs in a global context.
James Wallis
VP of Central Bank Engagements
Ripple
Biography
James is a recognized global thought leader and business developer. He has advised many fintech start-ups that are leveraging blockchain and distributed ledger technology, helping their executive teams develop a strategic vision and operational plans to leverage the technology for economic and social good, from start-up to scale-up.
Previously, James was COO and Co-Founder of IBM’s blockchain business, with global responsibility for market development, client engagements, sales, and business operations across all industry sectors. Before blockchain, he held many other executive leadership positions at IBM, including General Manager for the Global Payments Industry.
About the company
Presentation
Antony Welfare
European CBDC lead and Global Partnerships
Ripple
Biography
About the company
Presentation
Ripple has built a dedicated team of 40 people in the CBDC team and spoken to most central banks globally. At this session, Antony will share some of the work completed by the team and the learnings from these CBDC pilots.
John Winchcombe
Currency & Payment Consultant
Reconnaissance International
Biography
Lead consultant for Reconnaissance on CBDCs writing extensively and regularly about them both considering both technical and policy options. Editor of Cash & Payment News looking at payment developments and their impact on cash. Consultant advising on projects such as the impact of changing cash usage.
About the company
Reconnaissance publishes newsletters and reports, organises conferences and webinars and offers consulting services. Its publications relevant to central banks cover the technical through to policy of all elements of cash, physical and digital, and payments with strong forward looking content. Currency News is a media partner of the CBDC conference.
Presentation
A CBDC should ultimately satisfy user requirements. But who are the customers, and what excatly are their requirements ? And what are the drivers that shape these requirements ? How do these requirements vary across geographical and cultural boundaries ?
Join this panel session to learn mor about this topic !
Leanne (Si Ying) Zhang
Adviser
Bank for International Settlements - Innovation Hub Hong Kong
Biography
Leanne is an Advisor at the BIS Innovation Hub Hong Kong Centre, where she works on wholesale and retail CBDC projects. Prior to joining the Hub, she was an Economist at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and has published academic papers on the equity pricing of climate risks and supply chain mapping and shock propagation. She holds an MPhil in Economics degree from the University of Oxford, where she was a Louis Dreyfus-Weidenfeld Scholar, and an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Economics from McGill University.
About the company
The BIS's mission is to support central banks' pursuit of monetary and financial stability through international cooperation, and to act as a bank for central banks. The BIS Innovation Hub develops public goods in the technology space to support central banks and improve the functioning of the financial system. We have centres around the world and a global network of central bank experts on innovation.
Presentation
In this session, several BIS Innovation Hubs (BISIH) will present case studies from the field of CBDC and tokenization of items. The session is designed as a panel discussion so that attendees can actively participate in the discussion.