Download or read book Central Bank Digital Currencies in the Middle East and Central Asia written by Serpil Bouza and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2024-04-26 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Against the backdrop of a rapidly digitalizing world, there is a growing interest in central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) among central banks, including in the Middle East and Central Asia (ME&CA) region. This paper aims to support ME&CA policymakers in examining key questions when considering the adoption of a CBDC while underscoring the importance of country-specific analyses. This paper does not provide recommendations on CBDC issuance. Instead, it frames the discussion around the following key questions: What is a CBDC? What objectives do policymakers aim to achieve with the issuance of a CBDC? Which inefficiencies in payment systems can CBDCs address? What are the implications of CBDC issuance for financial stability and central bank operational risk? How can CBDC design help achieve policy objectives and mitigate these risks? The paper provides preliminary answers to these questions at the regional level. A survey of IMF teams and public statements from ME&CA policymakers confirm that promoting financial inclusion and making payment systems more efficient (domestic and cross-border) are the top priorities in the region. Payment services through CBDCs, if offered at a lower cost than existing alternatives, could spur competition in the payment market and help increase access to bank accounts, improve financial inclusion, and update legacy technology platforms. CBDCs may also help improve the efficiency of cross-border payment services, especially if designed to address frictions arising from a lack of payment system interoperability, complex processing of compliance checks, long transaction chains, and weak competition. At the same time, CBDCs could negatively impact bank profitability while introducing a substantial operational burden for central banks. However, the exact economic and financial impacts of CBDCs need further study and would depend on estimates of CBDC demand, which are uncertain and country- dependent. CBDC issuance and adoption is a long journey that policymakers should approach with care. Policymakers need to analyze carefully whether a CBDC serves their country’s objectives and whether the expected benefits outweigh the potential costs, in addition to risks for the financial system and operational risks for the central bank.

Download or read book Cash Use Across Countries and the Demand for Central Bank Digital Currency written by Mr.Tanai Khiaonarong and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2019-03-01 with total page 43 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The level and trend in cash use in a country will influence the demand for central bank digital currency (CBDC). While access to digital currency will be more convenient than traveling to an ATM, it only makes CBDC like a bank debit card—not better. Demand for digital currency will thus be weak in countries where cash use is already very low, due to a preference for cash substitutes (cards, electronic money, mobile phone payments). Where cash use is very high, demand should be stronger, due to a lack of cash substitutes. As the demand for CBDC is tied to the current level of cash use, we estimate the level and trend in cash use for 11 countries using four different measures. A tentative forecast of cash use is also made. After showing that declining cash use is largely associated with demographic change, we tie the level of cash use to the likely demand for CBDC in different countries. In this process, we suggest that one measure of cash use is more useful than the others. If cash is important for monetary policy, payment instrument competition, or as an alternative payment instrument in the event of operational problems with privately supplied payment methods, the introduction of CBDC may best be introduced before cash substitutes become so ubiquitous that the viability of CBDC could be in doubt.

Download or read book Recent Central Bank Digital Currency Developments in Asia and Their Implications written by Asian Development Bank and published by Asian Development Bank. This book was released on 2023-08-01 with total page 158 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This publication analyzes the evolution of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) in Asia and the Pacific, assesses their potential risks and technical challenges, and explores their potential to improve cross-border payments and financial inclusion. Ahead of the launch of any large-scale Asian CBDC, it details various models and explores how Cambodia, the People’s Republic of China, Singapore, and Thailand are taking the lead. Outlining global developments and emerging trends, it shows why a robust digital infrastructure, strong public-private collaboration, and fintech literacy are central to ensuring CBDCs help drive the transition to a digital economy.

Download or read book Towards Central Bank Digital Currencies in Asia and the Pacific written by Mrs. Sarwat Jahan and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2022-09-28 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on survey responses from 34 Asian economies and country case studies, this note takes stock of recent developments related to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and crypto assets in Asia. The survey finds that there is significant heterogeneity in terms of stage of development, but the emergence of private crypto assets has created an impetus to consider CBDCs. While most countries are engaged in research and development, with some at advanced stages of testing and pilots, very few countries are likely to issue CBDCs in the near-to-medium term, reflecting the still considerable uncertainties. Still, country experiences so far provide some key insights for others in their journey in this area.

Download or read book Central Bank Digital Currencies and the Global Financial System written by Muhammad Ashfaq and published by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. This book was released on 2023-07-24 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Central Bank Digital Currencies and Global Financial System: Theory and Practice is the perfect book for anyone interested in the impact of digital currencies on the global financial system, providing valuable insights and analysis on the topic. The topic of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) is particularly relevant in 2023 because the use of digital currencies is rapidly growing around the world, and many central banks are exploring the idea of developing their own CBDCs. This book offers readers an opportunity to gain a better understanding of CBDCs, including their history, differences with cryptocurrencies, and the potential impact of CBDCs on the future of the financial system. The book’s didactic approach breaks down complex topics into easily digestible chapters, allowing readers to easily understand and follow the progression of digital currencies. For those interested in the future of digital currencies, the book offers a chapter on future research directions and concluding remarks. Central Bank Digital Currencies and Global Financial System: Theory and Practice is a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of finance and technology. By exploring the evolution of digital currencies and their impact on the global financial system, this book provides valuable insights for policymakers, financial professionals, and anyone looking to understand the future of money.

Download or read book Casting Light on Central Bank Digital Currencies written by Mr.Tommaso Mancini Griffoli and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2018-11-12 with total page 39 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Digitalization is reshaping economic activity, shrinking the role of cash, and spurring new digital forms of money. Central banks have been pondering wheter and how to adapt. One possibility is central bank digital currency (CBDC)-- a widely accessible digital form of fiat money that could be legal tender. This discussion note proposes a conceptual framework to assess the case for CBDC adoption from the perspective of users and central banks. It discusses possible CBDC designs, and explores potential benefits and costs, with a focus on the impact on monetary policy, financial stability, and integrity. This note also surveys research and pilot studies on CBDC by central banks around the world.

Download or read book The Role of Central Bank Digital Currencies in Financial Inclusion written by Asian Development Bank and published by Asian Development Bank. This book was released on 2023-03-01 with total page 91 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Asia and the Pacific continues to experience rapid development of innovative technology solutions driven by increased government support to help address the economic fallout of the coronavirus disease pandemic. This publication identifies the role that central bank digital currencies could play in overcoming some of the challenges of achieving financial inclusion. It proposes recommendations to aid policy makers and regulators. The publication shares insights from the Asia–Pacific Financial Inclusion Forum, a policy initiative of the Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation Finance Ministers’ Process.

Download or read book Central Bank Digital Currency and Fintech in Asia written by Marlene Amstad and published by Brookings Institution Press. This book was released on 2019-11-26 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a thorough introduction and historical overview of the principles and practices of digital currency and fintech in Asia. It covers the theory of central bank digital currency and examines regulatory aspects, economic digitalization, financial inclusion, and the role of SMEs. Selected case studies offer in-depth insights into recent fintech developments in major economies, including Australia; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; the People’s Republic of China; the Republic of Korea; and Thailand. The book also makes a valuable supplement for introductory courses on finance, governance, and economics, as it appeals to a broad range of readers, including university students, academics, finance practitioners, and policy makers.

Download or read book The near Future of Central Bank Digital Currencies written by Nicola Bilotta and published by Peter Lang Gmbh, Internationaler Verlag Der Wissenschaften. This book was released on 2021-02-26 with total page 202 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The value of global cashless payments has been radically increasing worldwide. Despite cash being the most used payment instrument in the world, technological innovation and new consumer preferences are decisively transforming the way consumers pay and manage money. The COVID-19 pandemic may also have been an accelerator of the cashless mega-trend. Private players currently dominate the digital payment ecosystem, urging central banks to seek solutions to ensure public access to legal tender if cash is phased out. In this context, the idea of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is gaining momentum. Nevertheless, there is a need to better understand the implications in terms of risks, benefits and potential costs of CBDCs. From privacy concerns to macroeconomic effects, these implications blur the boundaries of the payment and financial systems, challenging the core functions of our economy and society.

Download or read book A Survey of Research on Retail Central Bank Digital Currency written by Mr.John Kiff and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2020-06-26 with total page 66 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper examines key considerations around central bank digital currency (CBDC) for use by the general public, based on a comprehensive review of recent research, central bank experiments, and ongoing discussions among stakeholders. It looks at the reasons why central banks are exploring retail CBDC issuance, policy and design considerations; legal, governance and regulatory perspectives; plus cybersecurity and other risk considerations. This paper makes a contribution to the CBDC literature by suggesting a structured framework to organize discussions on whether or not to issue CBDC, with an operational focus and a project management perspective.

Download or read book The Future of Money written by Eswar S. Prasad and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2021-09-28 with total page 497 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A cutting-edge look at how accelerating financial change, from the end of cash to the rise of cryptocurrencies, will transform economies for better and worse. We think weÕve seen financial innovation. We bank from laptops and buy coffee with the wave of a phone. But these are minor miracles compared with the dizzying experiments now underway around the globe, as businesses and governments alike embrace the possibilities of new financial technologies. As Eswar Prasad explains, the world of finance is at the threshold of major disruption that will affect corporations, bankers, states, and indeed all of us. The transformation of money will fundamentally rewrite how ordinary people live. Above all, Prasad foresees the end of physical cash. The driving force wonÕt be phones or credit cards but rather central banks, spurred by the emergence of cryptocurrencies to develop their own, more stable digital currencies. Meanwhile, cryptocurrencies themselves will evolve unpredictably as global corporations like Facebook and Amazon join the game. The changes will be accompanied by snowballing innovations that are reshaping finance and have already begun to revolutionize how we invest, trade, insure, and manage risk. Prasad shows how these and other changes will redefine the very concept of money, unbundling its traditional functions as a unit of account, medium of exchange, and store of value. The promise lies in greater efficiency and flexibility, increased sensitivity to the needs of diverse consumers, and improved market access for the unbanked. The risk is instability, lack of accountability, and erosion of privacy. A lucid, visionary work, The Future of Money shows how to maximize the best and guard against the worst of what is to come.

Download or read book The Global Findex Database 2017 written by Asli Demirguc-Kunt and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2018-04-19 with total page 148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In 2011 the World Bank—with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation—launched the Global Findex database, the world's most comprehensive data set on how adults save, borrow, make payments, and manage risk. Drawing on survey data collected in collaboration with Gallup, Inc., the Global Findex database covers more than 140 economies around the world. The initial survey round was followed by a second one in 2014 and by a third in 2017. Compiled using nationally representative surveys of more than 150,000 adults age 15 and above in over 140 economies, The Global Findex Database 2017: Measuring Financial Inclusion and the Fintech Revolution includes updated indicators on access to and use of formal and informal financial services. It has additional data on the use of financial technology (or fintech), including the use of mobile phones and the Internet to conduct financial transactions. The data reveal opportunities to expand access to financial services among people who do not have an account—the unbanked—as well as to promote greater use of digital financial services among those who do have an account. The Global Findex database has become a mainstay of global efforts to promote financial inclusion. In addition to being widely cited by scholars and development practitioners, Global Findex data are used to track progress toward the World Bank goal of Universal Financial Access by 2020 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The database, the full text of the report, and the underlying country-level data for all figures—along with the questionnaire, the survey methodology, and other relevant materials—are available at www.worldbank.org/globalfindex.

Download or read book Distributed Ledger Technology and Digital Assets written by Asian Development Bank and published by Asian Development Bank. This book was released on 2019-06-01 with total page 90 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Download or read book Economic Governance Reforms to Support Inclusive Growth in the Middle East North Africa and Central Asia written by Mr.Christopher J. Jarvis and published by INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. This book was released on 2021-01-13 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This IMF Departmental Paper presents the key areas in which countries of the Middle East, North Africa, and the Caucasus and Central Asia (MECA) can enhance governance and fight corruption to achieve their economic policy goals. It draws on advances that have already taken hold in the region.

Download or read book Economic Prospects and Policy Challenges for the GCC Countries 2021 written by International Monetary Fund and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2021-12-15 with total page 39 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: GCC policymakers moved quickly to mitigate the health and economic impacts of twin COVID-19 and oil price shocks. Infection rates have declined across the GCC to well below previous peaks, though countries have experienced successive waves of the virus, and economic recoveries have begun to take hold. Nevertheless, GCC policymakers must navigate a challenging and uncertain landscape. The pandemic continues to cloud the global outlook as countries are in different phases of recovery, with varied growth prospects and policy space

Download or read book The Money Revolution written by Anne Boden and published by Kogan Page Publishers. This book was released on 2019-06-03 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Transform the way you think about money in this easy-to-use, jargon-free guide by Anne Boden (CEO of Starling Bank) which busts commonly held financial myths, helping you to get the most of your cash in today's digital world. There's never been a shortage of advice on managing your money, clearing debt, being canny with your cash and getting the best deals. But it can be hard work, and everyone seems to be saying something different. What if you could easily cut through all the rhetoric and noise and everything could be made straightforward? In The Money Revolution, banking entrepreneur, and founder of award winning Starling Bank, Anne Boden shines a spotlight on how we save, spend and invest our money. By adopting a few new behaviours, it's possible to transform your bank balance for the better. The Money Revolution breaks through the traditional thinking about money and what you've always been told you should expect from financial institutions. Sharing the benefits of smart banking, fintech solutions and the advantages of open banking, it covers a range of financial solutions, from savings and investments to pensions, bill payments and travel money. Find out everything you need to know to get the best out of your money every day.

Download or read book Designing Central Bank Digital Currencies written by Mr.Itai Agur and published by International Monetary Fund. This book was released on 2019-11-18 with total page 38 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.