US Congressman Warren Davidson strongly opposes central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), stating that implementing a ban on these tools is "crucial" for the future of the US fintech industry. Davidson explains that many people mistakenly equate cryptocurrencies with CBDCs because they are two different concepts, and the technology behind these tools is not the issue. He blames the groups behind the CBDC projects for the problem. Davidson states that tokenized assets are not the problem, but rather who is manipulating them behind the scenes. Entities (including the Federal Reserve, Ripple, and ConsenSys) and influencers behind CBDC projects are actively working on them. <br>

August 10th, Kirit Bhatia, the head of international business development at Ripple, stated that Ripple is collaborating with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) to pilot a central bank digital currency (CBDC) program. The program aims to tokenize real-world assets (RWA) using the Ripple CBDC platform supported by XRP Ledger (XRPL) technology.

On August 10th,the Bank of England and the UK Treasury are creating a CBDC Academic Advisory Group (AAG) to provide expertise during the design phase of the digital pound. The group is currently recruiting members and aims to bring together experts in finance, economics, business, and other fields.

the Bank of England(BoE) announced on Wednesday that it has established a digital pound advisory group as the country enters the design phase of its CBDC and is currently recruiting members for the group. The academic advisory group aims to bring together experts in finance, economics, business, and other fields.

Thirteen banks in Russia, excluding Sberbank and Tinkoff, will participate in a pilot testing program for the digital ruble, a central bank digital currency approved by President Vladimir Putin in July. The testing will involve real-world transactions at 30 points of sale in 11 Russian cities. The pilot program aims to ensure that the infrastructure surrounding the CBDC is functioning and user-friendly before rolling it out for retail and business use.

Grayscale predicts that the next US president will support the development of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), transcending party lines. Both frontrunners, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, have shown willingness to explore CBDCs, though their views on cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin differ.

A survey conducted by the CFA Institute on its members' perceptions of central bank digital currency (CBDC) found a wide range of opinions, with varying levels of support depending on the location and age of respondents. While 42% of respondents believed that central banks should launch digital versions of fiat currencies, support was lower among investment professionals in the United States at 31%. Privacy was the most common objection to CBDCs, with 50% of respondents expressing concern. The survey received the most responses from the United States and had a response rate of 5%.

The city of Shaoxing in China is planning to give away digital yuan tokens worth $5.6 million as part of an Asian Games-themed event. The tokens will be distributed by the Shaoxing Municipal Bureau of Finance through a lucky draw-type event. To be eligible, entrants must have digital yuan wallets and be registered residents of Shaoxing. The event is being held to boost adoption of China's central bank digital currency (CBDC) prior to the Asian Games, which will be held in Hangzhou starting on September 22.

According to a report by local news outlet The Sun, the central bank recently enhanced the CBDC mobile app by incorporating Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. This upgrade enables mobile devices and payment terminals to interact when in close proximity, facilitating convenient and contactless eNaira payments.

The Russian Duma has approved a law that will introduce a digital ruble, making Russia the largest nation to officially adopt a central bank digital currency (CBDC) should President Vladimir Putin sign off on the law. Discussions of a digital currency issued by the Russian state have been ongoing for years, with a pilot program set to debut in 2022.