Milan Ignjatovic, ICT & Economics Expert

04Feb 2026 by Milan Ignjatovic

BIS Unified Ledger vs. Shadow Digital Economy: The 2026 Shift to Financial Sovereignty

The Bank of International Settlements (BIS) is now the de facto champion of the "Unified Ledger" and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) concepts. Their reasoning is that, as cash disappears and stablecoins proliferate, central banks could be made obsolete as a monetary authority. In other words, if a modern economy is to function properly, then $1 held in a commercial bank should always be exchangeable for $1 of public money, or cash. As cash disappears, that "bridge" weakens. Without a CBDC, the BIS claims the system could fragment into private "walled gardens" disparate stablecoin ecosystems that are not perfectly interchangeable. Their solution is a digital version of public money that ensures all other forms of currency remain anchored to the central bank. The Rise of Private Stablecoins A major theme…

03Feb 2026 by Milan Ignjatovic

The Two-Speed UK: Digital ID, CBDC, and the 2026 Economic Jail

Financial System Fundamentals

The push for Digital ID and CBDC in the UK has triggered a vast public backlash. As of January 2026, the UK government has pushed forward with the GOV.UK One Login and the GOV.UK Wallet. While a mandatory "National ID" was avoided due to public backlash, it has effectively become mandatory for the banking sector. While the government pitches Digital ID as a "silver bullet" for efficiency and fraud prevention, it has created a feeling of mandatory surveillance. Officially, the GOV.UK One Login isn't mandatory for everyone yet, but it’s becoming the only way to access essential services like childcare, tax records, and even "Right to Work" checks. High-profile campaigns by groups like Big Brother Watch have highlighted the risk of "function creep," where an ID started for tax purposes…

29Jan 2026 by Milan Ignjatovic

From Petropolitics to Electropolitics: The Great Mineral War of 2026

Economy

We are seeing a global growth in mining in all countries around the world, even in those that are not yet developed. A perfect storm is about to hit the market and could shift the focus from AI to minerals and electricity. It's not that we don't like the AI boom; after all, people have to live with AI or without it. We’ve shifted from the era of "Petropolitics" (oil and gas) to an era of "Electropolitics" and "Mineral Diplomacy." The transition to a decarbonized, electrified economy is essentially a shift from a fuel-intensive system to a material-intensive system. To generate, store, and move electricity, we need vastly more minerals than we did for fossil fuel combustion. In this new era, the "OPEC of the future" isn't composed of oil-rich…

11Jan 2026 by Milan Ignjatovic

Silver’s Perfect Storm: Supply, Demand, and Price Outlook 2026

Economy

Silver has had a wild ride over the past year. Prices have surged, driven by what many are calling a “perfect storm” of industrial demand, geopolitical tensions, and supply constraints. Even seasoned investors have been caught off guard. While gains have been impressive, volatility remains extreme. Analysts continue to warn of sharp swings. Some, like GoldSilver, even suggest silver could reach $100 per ounce in 2026 if the supply-demand gap persists. That’s a bold forecast but the underlying numbers make it plausible. In 2025, silver jumped nearly 147%, starting the year near $28.92 and ending above $72. Recent weeks have been particularly dramatic: prices climbed roughly 30% in just 30 days, breaking past the $80 mark, a key psychological level for traders. Source: https://goldprice.org Why Supply Can’t Keep Up A…

05Jan 2026 by Milan Ignjatovic

Venezuela’s Wealth and U.S. Interests: Oil, Gold, and Geopolitical Tensions

Economy

For several decades, the United States government has used the toolkit of economic sanctions as one of the major tools of foreign policy, and the Venezuelan case is one of the extreme instances of this sort of experience with the United States. These sanctions have really had a major effect on the Venezuelan economy, particularly the oil industry, which generates the major source of export earnings and revenues in Venezuela. Critics claim that the use of such tactics has a kind of indirect warfare aim, which is directed at the economic infrastructure of the country in order to destabilize or weaken the government without necessarily using direct warfare tactics. Within the broader context of pressure and confrontations, statements emanating from U.S. officials have at various points included an openly interventionist…

03Jan 2026 by Milan Ignjatovic

Rome vs Brussels: The UniCredit Merger and Italy’s Rethink of Economic Sovereignty

Bank news, Economy

Italy is revising its “Golden Power” rules, which give the government authority to block or impose conditions on corporate takeovers. The move is primarily aimed at defusing a major legal battle with the European Commission, one that threatened heavy fines and a setback to Italy’s standing in the EU single market. The immediate cause of the tension was Italy’s intervention in a proposed merger between two of its largest banks, UniCredit and Banco BPM. What began as a domestic banking deal quickly turned into a proxy war between national sovereignty and European integration. In late 2024, UniCredit, Italy’s second-largest bank, launched a surprise €15 billion bid for Banco BPM, the country’s third-largest lender (UniCredit announcement, November 2024). UniCredit’s CEO, Andrea Orcel, aimed to create a domestic “super-bank” capable of rivaling…

02Jan 2026 by Milan Ignjatovic

Bulgaria’s Eurozone Integration: A Shield Against Global Uncertainty or a Threat to Sovereignty?

Economy

Bulgaria officially became the 21st member of the eurozone at the stroke of midnight during the New Year celebrations. The euro officially entered circulation, ATMs began dispensing euros, and the Bulgarian National Bank joined the Eurosystem. (Source: ECB Press Release, 1 January 2026) The process was completed after a formal decision was made in July 2025 by the finance ministers of the EU. Bulgaria has acceded to the eurozone as a means of finishing the integration process within the European Union and switching from a “rule-taker” to a “rule-maker” within the European rules on the economy. Notably, within the current context characterized by globalization uncertainty, membership within the euro is understood to offer a sense of secure anchorage for Bulgaria within the Western institutions, away from the influences from Russia.…

26Dec 2025 by Milan Ignjatovic

Germany’s Economic Collapse and Europe’s Uncertain Future

Economy

Germany, long considered the engine of Europe, is now facing its third consecutive year of recession. A symbol of this downturn is Volkswagen, which has begun closing plants on German soil for the first time in its 87-year history. This marks the start of a difficult period for the country, with even darker days anticipated. The current economic and political trajectory of Europe is under critical scrutiny, especially when considering the intersection of agricultural protests and the industrial decline in Germany. Economist Richard Werner, in his analysis, says that these protests are not just about disputes over subsidies, but represent a fundamental struggle for survival against "green" mandates and the very future of the European Union. While big names like Volkswagen and BASF dominate the headlines, thousands of small, specialized…

12Dec 2025 by Milan Ignjatovic

Why Banks Fail – and How to Protect Your Money When It Happens

Economy

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in 2023 was among the most momentous to hit the shores of the United States since the financial crisis broke out in 2008. The bank became an instant subject of interest when it suddenly collapsed, particularly for being one of the main financing institutions for technology startups, venture capital firms, and high-growth companies in Silicon Valley. Banks can fail for a variety of different reasons, but most often it is due to a mix of bad choices and things beyond their control. Here are the 9 main reasons: Bad Decisions on Loans and Investments (Risk Management) Too Much of the Same Thing (Concentration Risk) Not Enough Money to Cover Losses (Weak Capital) Fraud or Bad Management Not Being Able to Pay Depositors (Liquidity Problems)…

10Dec 2025 by Milan Ignjatovic

Serbia’s Currency Crisis, Why Banks Are Limiting Paper Euros and Turning to Digital Alternatives

Economy

Local Serbian media, such as Blic and Novosti, have reported that citizens find it increasingly hard to obtain physical euros either from banks or exchange offices, which chimes in with growing concerns about a foreign currency liquidity squeeze. The result is a very strange situation whereby local banks and exchange offices have stopped selling paper euros, while digital transactions in euros are still fluid and available. Such a paradox is deeply rooted in the interaction of these factors, liquidity management, foreign currency reserves, and regulatory control, linked to wider economic challenges that Serbia is going through. The problem related to Serbia's foreign currency liquidity lies at the very heart of this issue. Foreign currency reserves play a very important role in maintaining the stability of exchange rates, paying off foreign…