Differences in regulatory policies between countries are major obstacles to efficient cross-border payments, often leading to lengthy transaction times and increased compliance costs. Project Mandala seeks to address these issues by integrating real-time compliance automation, reducing the need for redundant checks and providing greater transparency across jurisdictions.
Mandala builds upon insights from Project Dunbar, a BIS-led initiative aimed at establishing a multiple central bank digital currency (mCBDC) platform. This project allows compliance-by-design through a decentralized architecture, which includes a peer-to-peer messaging system, a rules engine, and a proof engine.
“We are optimistic about the potential of these early results to enhance cross-border payments,” said Maha El Dimachki, head of the BIS Innovation Hub Singapore Centre.
Real-World Success and Future Potential
Project Mandala was tested successfully in areas like cross-border lending between Singapore and Malaysia and capital investments between South Korea and Australia, automating complex tasks like sanctions screening and CFM reporting requirements.
Additionally, Mandala’s system integrates smoothly with both emerging digital settlement assets, such as wholesale central bank digital currencies, and traditional systems like SWIFT. For digital assets, the project also features programmable compliance embedded into smart contracts, future-proofing cross-border transactions.
For more on BIS and Project Mandala, visit the BIS website.