Global Fintech & Digital Assets Blog

Tag Archives: digital payments

Federal Reserve Takes Measured Approach to Central Bank Digital Currency

In a long-awaited paper, the FRB continues its exploratory approach and emphasizes the need for congressional support. By Alan W. Avery, Pia Naib, and Deric Behar On January 20, 2022, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (FRB) published its long-awaited discussion paper (the Paper) on the potential benefits and risks of issuing … Continue Reading

CNIL Publishes White Paper on Digital Payments and Data Privacy

The French Data Protection Authority’s white paper discusses how companies can comply with data privacy and security obligations. By Christian F. McDermott, Myria Saarinen, Calum Docherty, Charlotte Guerin, Jiou (Alex) Park, and Amy Smyth The use of card, contactless, and innovative digital payment solutions has significantly increased in recent years, fueled by the immediate impacts … Continue Reading

Privacy and Payments: New Draft EU Advice for Financial Institutions

As contactless transactions boom, EU regulators publish draft guidelines on the interplay between the GDPR and PSD2. By Fiona M. Maclean, Christian F. McDermott, Calum Docherty, and Amy Smyth Last year, more than half of all payments in the UK were made by card and contactless methods, while cash made up less than a quarter … Continue Reading

Prelude to a Digital Euro: European Central Bank Joins the CBDC Race

A new report explores the advantages, impacts, and approaches the Eurosystem is considering as it contemplates a digital currency. By Max von Cube In October 2020, the European Central Bank (ECB) published a Report on a Digital Euro (the Report). The Report sets out the main findings of a task force initiated in early 2020 … Continue Reading

Cyber and Payments Are Priority Areas for Policy Changes

Elisabeth Stheeman of the Financial Policy Committee outlined the new frameworks for building operational resilience against cyber risks and protection of payment chains. By Brett Carr and Stuart Davis On 9 September 2020, Elisabeth Stheeman, an External Member of the Financial Policy Committee (FPC) for the Bank of England (BoE) delivered a speech entitled, “The … Continue Reading

BoE Governor Speaks: Payments Firms Should Expect Regulatory Change

Andrew Bailey outlined what payments market participants can expect from regulators seeking to address financial stability risk in the world of payments, including as part of the rise and adoption of global stablecoins. By Brett Carr and Stuart Davis On 3 September 2020, the Governor of the Bank of England (BoE) Andrew Bailey delivered a … Continue Reading

FCA Issues New Safeguarding Guidance for Payment and E-Money Firms Amid COVID-19

The additional temporary guidance aims to strengthen the arrangements for safeguarding customers’ funds and firms’ prudential risk management in light of the impact of COVID-19. By Stuart Davis, Brett Carr, and Anna Lewis-Martinez On 9 July 2020, the FCA published its finalised guidance on safeguarding customers’ funds during the COVID-19 crisis. The finalised guidance applies … Continue Reading

Webcast: Stablecoins, CBDCs, and the Future of Payments

Latham fintech lawyers and key industry leaders explore the progress and potential of CBDCs, use cases for stablecoins, and the global regulatory landscape. Many central banks around the world are currently considering central bank digital currency (CBDC). According to the Bank of International Settlements’ recent survey of 66 central banks, 80% of surveyed central banks … Continue Reading

Singapore’s PSA Boosts Rapidly Evolving Payment Services Landscape

Upgraded legislation creates an enhanced regulatory framework for the new age of payments, including e-money and digital payment tokens.  By Farhana Sharmeen and Simon Hawkins After much anticipation, and following consultations with the industry at large, the game-changing Payment Services Act 2019 (PSA) has finally become operational. The PSA, which came into effect on 28 … Continue Reading

Readiness for PSD2: APIs Fall Short, but More Time for SCA

While the payments industry scrambles to meet new standards for APIs, the FCA grants an extension for SCA compliance. By Christian F. McDermott, Jagveen Tyndall, and Amy Smyth In an effort to evaluate the readiness of banks to comply with the revised EU Payment Services Directive (PSD2), Tink, a banking platform and data provider, has … Continue Reading

SCA: Storm Clouds Approaching?

Stripe-commissioned report projects that Europe’s online economy risks losing €57 billion when SCA goes into effect on 14 September. By Christian F. McDermott A recent report released by 451 Research and commissioned by Stripe, the online payment processing business, has found poor levels of readiness for the requirements of Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). The report … Continue Reading
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