Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Why Trump’s new pick for Fed chair hit gold and silver markets – for good reasons 
Thailand Inflation Remains Negative for 10th Straight Month in January 
Dow Hits 50,000 as U.S. Stocks Stage Strong Rebound Amid AI Volatility 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
South Korea’s Weak Won Struggles as Retail Investors Pour Money Into U.S. Stocks 
South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
Japan Economy Poised for Q4 2025 Growth as Investment and Consumption Hold Firm 
RBA Raises Interest Rates by 25 Basis Points as Inflation Pressures Persist 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
BOJ Holds Interest Rates Steady, Upgrades Growth and Inflation Outlook for Japan 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Australia’s central bank is pushing ahead with its wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) initiative, launching real-asset trials through its latest program, Project Acacia. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced on Thursday that it will conduct 19 pilot cases involving actual money and financial assets, along with five proof-of-concept simulations.
The project marks a significant milestone, moving beyond previous theoretical frameworks to test CBDCs, stablecoins, and bank deposit tokens in real financial environments. These tests will cover a variety of asset classes, including fixed income, private markets, carbon credits, and trade receivables.
Project Acacia features collaboration with major blockchain and distributed ledger platforms, including Hedera, Redbelly, R3 Corda, and Canvas Connect. The six-month trial phase will lead to a comprehensive report expected in the first half of 2026.
RBA Assistant Governor Brad Jones stated the initiative will offer critical insights into how central bank and private digital currencies, when integrated with modern payment infrastructure, could enhance the efficiency of Australia’s wholesale financial markets.
The RBA emphasized its focus on wholesale applications, ruling out the need for a retail CBDC. Instead, the central bank sees potential benefits such as reduced counterparty risk, improved auditability, freed-up collateral, and lower costs for financial institutions and customers.
The RBA’s pilot aims to explore how digital innovations can improve settlement processes and financial market transparency, reinforcing Australia's position in the evolving global digital finance landscape. As central banks worldwide explore similar paths, Australia’s wholesale CBDC trials could offer a blueprint for broader adoption.
