"Bank of Korea moves CBDC pilot into phase 2" Jun 22, 2026

The Bank of Korea is moving its CBDC pilot into a second phase focused on real-world integration with existing banking infrastructure. Phase one had consumers testing deposit token payments through participating banks' wallets. Phase two requires commercial banks to embed deposit tokens directly into core account systems for transactions and settlements, and will also test bank-run e-wallets, vouchers, and blockchain-based systems. A notable application is CBDC-based digital vouchers as a channel for distributing government subsidies and policy funds. The contrast with the United States is direct: the Trump administration has stated it will not issue a CBDC.

The Bank of England has revised its regulatory approach to sterling stablecoins by dropping individual holding caps and replacing them with a temporary 40 billion sterling issuance guardrail per issuer. A full regulatory framework for major payment-focused stablecoins is targeted for 2027. Systemic sterling stablecoins are defined as tokens widely used in payments whose failure could threaten UK financial stability. Issuers in that category must hold 70 percent of reserves in short-term UK government debt and 30 percent as unremunerated central bank deposits, and must maintain capital equal to at least six months of operating expenses or one wind-down cost. The Bank of England will not allow issuers to pay interest on stablecoin balances, though non-interest rewards remain permissible. Non-systemic trading stablecoins such as USDT and USDC will stay under FCA oversight rather than the Bank of England's framework.

Strategy purchased 520 BTC for approximately 35 million dollars between June 15 and June 21, bringing its total holdings to 847,363 BTC valued at roughly 55 billion dollars at current prices. The company carries implied paper losses of around 9 billion dollars. Its STRC preferred stock has traded well below its 100 dollar par value since mid-May while carrying an 11.5 percent annualized dividend. MSTR fell 6 percent last week and is down 27 percent year to date. Strategy also raised its USD cash reserve to 1.4 billion dollars from 1.1 billion dollars, a move that may reflect a buffer against ongoing equity and preferred stock pressure.

Japan's National Business Corporate Pension Fund plans to begin allocating roughly 1 percent of assets to crypto in fiscal year 2026 through a passive fund managed by a hedge fund, framing the move as part of a broader effort to diversify currency risk. The allocation is modest in percentage terms but significant as a signal from an institutional pension fund in a major economy entering the asset class through a structured, passive vehicle rather than direct holdings.

MoneyGram has joined the Solana ecosystem as a validator and member of the Solana developer platform. Solana becomes the third blockchain where MoneyGram operates an official validator, alongside Tempo and Midnight Network. The role gives MoneyGram the ability to stake SOL, process transaction blocks, and help secure the network, deepening its operational presence in blockchain infrastructure beyond its existing payments and remittance services.