Central Bank of Iceland Deputy Governor Outlines New Payment Scheme for a Sovereign, Secure System

What was published

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has published a speech titled "A new payment scheme for Iceland - building a sovereign and secure payment system". It was delivered by Tómas Brynjólfsson, Deputy Governor for Financial Stability at the Central Bank of Iceland. He spoke at the Money Live Nordic Banking conference in Copenhagen on 30 October 2026. The BIS posted it on 3 November 2026.

Key themes

According to the title, the speech is about a new payment scheme for Iceland. Its stated aim is to build a payment system that is both sovereign and secure. The excerpt gives no further detail. This article therefore does not describe the scheme's design, timeline or legal basis, or how it would work in practice.

The speaker's role is also worth noting. The Deputy Governor for Financial Stability covers the part of central banking concerned with the resilience of the financial system. Payment infrastructure sits within that area.

Why it matters for market watchers

Payment systems are part of the plumbing of the financial system, and central banks pay close attention to their security and independence. This speech is a policy communication, not a data release or a rate decision. The source does not mention any effect on currencies or on financial markets. Readers who want the details should consult the full text of the speech on the BIS website.

Notes for EA trading

Speeches like this one are usually not scheduled market-moving events. Even so, central bank communications can sometimes coincide with thinner liquidity and wider spreads. It is sensible to check the economic calendar regularly and to consider pausing EAs around major releases or policy announcements. Reviewing your risk settings ahead of volatile hours is also a good habit.