Prepared by Malcolm Welsford – April 2025
In April 2025, Malcolm Welsford submitted a formal policy strategy to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and Members of Parliament outlining a future-facing roadmap for digital finance in Aotearoa.
This submission addresses programmable money, stablecoin regulation, tokenised assets, and open infrastructure — with a focus on inclusion, sovereignty, and public benefit. It builds on Welsford’s previous public work on governance reform and institutional resilience.
The submission argues that New Zealand must actively shape its digital infrastructure, or risk inheriting systems designed offshore — without public oversight or national control.
View or download the complete strategy paper, covering global context, strategic threats, and recommendations.
Download the 2-page overview for ministers, media, and policy advisors — highlighting priorities and recommendations.
Building on the April 2025 submission, this addendum outlines a strategic framework for establishing a sovereign NZ stablecoin aligned with global infrastructure standards. It addresses regulatory resilience, tokenised financial rails, and the future of programmable money in Aotearoa.
🧪 Establish a sovereign innovation sandbox (Enable secure, local experimentation for tokenised finance, identity, and payments.)
💵 Create a regulatory framework for a NZD stablecoin (Support transparent, interoperable digital cash backed by local governance.)
🛠️ Legislate open digital infrastructure principles (Mandate interoperability, auditability, and public ownership where appropriate.)
🌏 Prioritise inclusion and Pacific financial resilience (Design systems that work for rural NZ, the unbanked, and cross-border remittances.)
⚖️ Protect lawful access to money as a civic right (Ensure digital finance tools cannot be used to discriminate or exclude.)
— Malcolm Welsford, Digital Finance Sovereignty Submission