Virtual Currencies and Beyond

Virtual Currencies and Beyond
Author: Mr.Dong He
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 42
Release: 2016-01-20
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 149836327X

New technologies are driving transformational changes in the global financial system. Virtual currencies (VCs) and the underlying distributed ledger systems are among these. VCs offer many potential benefits, but also considerable risks. VCs could raise efficiency and in the long run strengthen financial inclusion. At the same time, VCs could be potential vehicles for money laundering, terrorist financing, tax evasion and fraud. While risks to the conduct of monetary policy seem less likely to arise at this stage given the very small scale of VCs, risks to financial stability may eventually emerge as the new technologies become more widely used. National authorities have begun to address these challenges and will need to calibrate regulation in a manner that appropriately addresses the risks without stifling innovation. As experience is gained, international standards and best practices could be considered to provide guidance on the most appropriate regulatory responses in different fields, thereby promoting harmonization and cooperation across jurisdictions.

Digital Currency Assets and Challenges to Financial System Stability

Digital Currency Assets and Challenges to Financial System Stability
Author: Balogun, Adekunle Alexander
Publisher: IGI Global
Total Pages: 240
Release: 2024-01-10
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

In today's rapidly changing financial landscape, a formidable challenge looms large—digital currencies. The surge in popularity of virtual currencies has sparked a global debate, captivating the attention of investors, regulators, and scholars alike. However, a pressing concern persists amidst this digital revolution: the potential for unregulated digital currencies to facilitate the laundering of illicit funds, ranging from organized crime profits to terrorism financing and government corruption. This growing threat not only jeopardizes the integrity of our financial systems but also disrupts the socioeconomic and political order as we know it. Digital Currency Assets and Their Impact on Financial System Stability is the key to unlocking a profound understanding of the challenges posed by digital currencies and, more importantly, discovering intelligent solutions to safeguard our financial ecosystem. With meticulous research and expert insights, this book embarks on a comprehensive exploration of digital currencies' structure, potential disruptions, and capacity to reshape the financial landscape. Is it the primary objective? To provide a platform for scholars, investors, regulators, and researchers to delve into the risks, dangers, and threats stemming from unregulated digital currencies and to propose innovative strategies for mitigating these challenges.

The Rise of Digital Money

The Rise of Digital Money
Author: Mr.Tobias Adrian
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 20
Release: 2019-07-15
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1498324908

This paper marks the launch of a new IMF series, Fintech Notes. Building on years of IMF staff work, it will explore pressing topics in the digital economy and be issued periodically. The series will carry work by IMF staff and will seek to provide insight into the intersection of technology and the global economy. The Rise of Digital Money analyses how technology companies are stepping up competition to large banks and credit card companies. Digital forms of money are increasingly in the wallets of consumers as well as in the minds of policymakers. Cash and bank deposits are battling with so-called e-money, electronically stored monetary value denominated in, and pegged to, a currency like the euro or the dollar. This paper identifies the benefits and risks and highlights regulatory issues that are likely to emerge with a broader adoption of stablecoins. The paper also highlights the risks associated with e-money: potential creation of new monopolies; threats to weaker currencies; concerns about consumer protection and financial stability; and the risk of fostering illegal activities, among others.

The Rise of Public and Private Digital Money

The Rise of Public and Private Digital Money
Author: International Monetary Fund
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 33
Release: 2021-07-29
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513592033

Following the companion paper on the new policy challenges related to the adoption of digital forms of money, this paper presents an operational strategy for the IMF to continue delivering on its mandate of ensuring domestic and international financial and economic stability. The paper begins by summarizing the forces driving the adoption of digital forms of money, and the new policy questions that emerge. It then focusses on how the IMF’s core activities and output will need to evolve, including surveillance, capacity development, and analytical foundations. It ends by discusses how the IMF intends to partner with other organization, and to grow and structure internal resources to fulfill this vision.

Legal Aspects of Central Bank Digital Currency: Central Bank and Monetary Law Considerations

Legal Aspects of Central Bank Digital Currency: Central Bank and Monetary Law Considerations
Author: Wouter Bossu
Publisher: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
Total Pages: 51
Release: 2020-11-20
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9781513561622

This paper analyzes the legal foundations of central bank digital currency (CBDC) under central bank and monetary law. Absent strong legal foundations, the issuance of CBDC poses legal, financial and reputational risks for central banks. While the appropriate design of the legal framework will up to a degree depend on the design features of the CBDC, some general conclusions can be made. First, most central bank laws do not currently authorize the issuance of CBDC to the general public. Second, from a monetary law perspective, it is not evident that “currency” status can be attributed to CBDC. While the central bank law issue can be solved through rather straithforward law reform, the monetary law issue poses fundmental legal policy challenges.

Powering the Digital Economy: Opportunities and Risks of Artificial Intelligence in Finance

Powering the Digital Economy: Opportunities and Risks of Artificial Intelligence in Finance
Author: El Bachir Boukherouaa
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 35
Release: 2021-10-22
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1589063953

This paper discusses the impact of the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in the financial sector. It highlights the benefits these technologies bring in terms of financial deepening and efficiency, while raising concerns about its potential in widening the digital divide between advanced and developing economies. The paper advances the discussion on the impact of this technology by distilling and categorizing the unique risks that it could pose to the integrity and stability of the financial system, policy challenges, and potential regulatory approaches. The evolving nature of this technology and its application in finance means that the full extent of its strengths and weaknesses is yet to be fully understood. Given the risk of unexpected pitfalls, countries will need to strengthen prudential oversight.

Designing Central Bank Digital Currencies

Designing Central Bank Digital Currencies
Author: Mr.Itai Agur
Publisher: International Monetary Fund
Total Pages: 38
Release: 2019-11-18
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1513519883

We study the optimal design of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in an environment where agents sort into cash, CBDC and bank deposits according to their preferences over anonymity and security; and where network effects make the convenience of payment instruments dependent on the number of their users. CBDC can be designed with attributes similar to cash or deposits, and can be interest-bearing: a CBDC that closely competes with deposits depresses bank credit and output, while a cash-like CBDC may lead to the disappearance of cash. Then, the optimal CBDC design trades off bank intermediation against the social value of maintaining diverse payment instruments. When network effects matter, an interest-bearing CBDC alleviates the central bank's tradeoff.

Distributed Ledger Technology and Digital Assets

Distributed Ledger Technology and Digital Assets
Author: Asian Development Bank
Publisher: Asian Development Bank
Total Pages: 90
Release: 2019-06-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9292616471

This report offers an analytical framework that allows for more systemic assessments of distributed ledger technology (DLT) and its applications. It examines the evolution and typology of the emergent technology, its existing and projected applications, and regulatory and policy issues that they entail. This report highlights the trends, concerns, and potential opportunities of DLTs, especially for Asian markets. It also identifies the benefits and risks to using DLT and offers a functional and proportional approach to these issues.

Handbook of Blockchain, Digital Finance, and Inclusion, Volume 1

Handbook of Blockchain, Digital Finance, and Inclusion, Volume 1
Author: David Lee Kuo Chuen
Publisher: Academic Press
Total Pages: 484
Release: 2017-08-03
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 0128104422

Handbook of Blockchain, Digital Finance, and Inclusion, Volume 1: Cryptocurrency, FinTech, InsurTech, and Regulation explores recent advances in digital banking and cryptocurrency, emphasizing mobile technology and evolving uses of cryptocurrencies as financial assets. Contributors go beyond summaries of standard models to describe new banking business models that will be sustainable and will likely dictate the future of finance. The volume not only emphasizes the financial opportunities made possible by digital banking, such as financial inclusion and impact investing, but it also looks at engineering theories and developments that encourage innovation. Its ability to illuminate present potential and future possibilities make it a unique contribution to the literature. - Explores recent advances in digital banking and cryptocurrency, emphasizing mobile technology and evolving uses of cryptocurrencies as financial assets - Explains the practical consequences of both technologies and economics to readers who want to learn about subjects related to their specialties - Encompasses alternative finance, financial inclusion, impact investing, decentralized consensus ledger and applied cryptography - Provides the only advanced methodical summary of these subjects available today

The Money Problem

The Money Problem
Author: Morgan Ricks
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 360
Release: 2016-03-09
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 022633046X

An “intriguing plan” addressing shadow banking, regulation, and the continuing quest for financial stability (Financial Times). Years have passed since the world experienced one of the worst financial crises in history, and while countless experts have analyzed it, many central questions remain unanswered. Should money creation be considered a “public” or “private” activity—or both? What do we mean by, and want from, financial stability? What role should regulation play? How would we design our monetary institutions if we could start from scratch? In The Money Problem, Morgan Ricks addresses these questions and more, offering a practical yet elegant blueprint for a modernized system of money and banking—one that, crucially, can be accomplished through incremental changes to the United States’ current system. He brings a critical, missing dimension to the ongoing debates over financial stability policy, arguing that the issue is primarily one of monetary system design. The Money Problem offers a way to mitigate the risk of catastrophic panic in the future, and it will expand the financial reform conversation in the United States and abroad. “Highly recommended.” —Choice