Wipro Limited a leading global information technology, consulting, and business process services company, has partnered with R3, the enterprise blockchain software firm, and developed a blockchain-based solution prototype to enable digital currency for interbank settlements for a consortium consisting of the Bank of Thailand and eight commercial banks in Thailand. Developed as part of the first phase of Project Inthanon, the solution will enable de-centralized interbank real-time gross settlement (RTGS) using wholesale Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to prove that the technology can perform key functionalities of payment and enhance efficiency.
Project Inthanon is an initiative led by the Bank of Thailand, in partnership with eight participating banks in a collaborative project that will use blockchain technology to build a proof-of-concept prototype which will enable domestic fund transfers within the country’s interbanking system by issuing CBDC tokens. The project seeks to enhance the technological preparedness of Thailand’s financial sector for embracing new technologies and digitalisation. Launched in August 2018, the first phase of the project focused on building the fundamental payment infrastructure, while the application of blockchain technology for other functionalities will be explored in the subsequent phases.
Krishnakumar N Menon, Vice President and Blockchain Theme Leader, Wipro Limited said, “We are delighted to have worked on Project Inthanon with R3 and be a part of a national-level fintech initiative. The DLT-powered solution prototype has demonstrated the merits of blockchain technology adoption for making interbank payments more efficient. Building a blockchain prototype for issuing digital currency aligns with our vision of driving industry transformation through real-world applications of blockchain.”
As part of the Phase I of Project Inthanon, Wipro and R3 have co-developed a blockchain solution prototype on Corda, R3’s open source blockchain platform, for the consortium. The solution automates the banks’ liquidity provision for resolving payment deadlocks through Liquidity Saving Mechanisms (LSM). The prototype has successfully demonstrated that DLT can significantly enhance payment efficiency by enabling 24/7 interbank settlements.
David E. Rutter, CEO of R3 said, “Blockchain development is in a truly exciting phase given how more and more financial institutions are recognizing its potential to enable national digital currencies or CBDCs. R3’s Corda was conceptualised to support CBDCs, which made it a perfect fit for Project Inthanon. Both Wipro’s expertise in blockchain technology and understanding of the financial sector as well as excellent advisory and implementation services have played an integral role in co-developing the solution prototype.”
