Financial technology | ICT Pulse – The leading technology blog in the Caribbean

ICTP 423: Does the Caribbean still need a regional stablecoin in 2026? With Dr Jan Schröder and Rodney Taylor

Posted by Michele Marius | 28 Oct 2026 | Podcast Episodes

Four years ago, we hosted a vital conversation on whether the Caribbean was ready for a regional stablecoin. Fast forward to today, CBDC adoption remains slow, central bank-led integration tools such as CAPSS face protracted timelines, and local businesses continue to struggle with high friction and fees when moving money across Caribbean borders.

In this throwback re-release of our conversation with Dr Jan Schröder (architect of CaribCoin) and Rodney Taylor (Secretary General of the Caribbean Telecommunications Union). We explore why a privately backed, asset-referenced regional stablecoin could be the missing financial infrastructure CARICOM needs, along with: what Carib$ stablecoin is, and what it hopes to achieve; how they would assess the state of fintech in the Caribbean region; key challenges that have been identified that could be affecting fintech innovation and development in the region; and what they think are the opportunities for crypto and/or digital cash in the Caribbean region.

Beyond the convenience: Tackling privacy and trust in Jamaica’s digital payments push

Posted by Michele Marius | 23 Oct 2026 | ICT/Tech

Jamaica’s shift toward a cashless economy, driven by initiatives like JAM-DEX, digital banking and the elimination of cheques, promises unprecedented convenience. However, there is resistance and scepticism that suggest a crisis of public trust. In this article, we highlight the key areas of contention and recommend how banks can bridge the gap and build genuine consumer confidence.