The Bank of England (BoE) is embarking on several innovative experiments focusing on wholesale Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and distributed ledger technology (DLT). According to the bank’s decision paper, this initiative will explore the potential and implications of these cutting-edge financial technologies in the banking sector.
BoE to Ensure Singleness of Money
Wholesale CBDCs represent digital forms of central bank money intended for use by financial institutions, rather than the general public. By investigating wholesale CBDCs, the Bank of England seeks to understand how these digital currencies can improve the efficiency and security of transactions between banks. Also, the discussion paper revealed that the experiments are needed to maintain the “singleness of money.”
This means that all forms of money in an economy should be easily exchanged and maintain a consistent value. With the increase in stablecoins and tokenized deposits, which are digital assets tied to traditional currencies or other assets, the Bank of England wants to ensure that these new forms of money do not cause problems for the financial system.
Another area of focus by the bank is tokenized deposits, which involves converting bank deposits into digital tokens that can be transferred on a blockchain. This can make funds more easily accessible and increase liquidity but requires thorough testing to ensure security and reliability.
Notably, the bank announced that it will collaborate with the Treasury, Payment Systems Regulator, and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ensure that the value of money remains consistent even when stablecoins are involved. This means ensuring that all forms of money, such as cash and bank deposits, can be easily exchanged with each other.
Global CBDC Exploration Picks Up
Recall that a recent Bank of International Settlement (BIS) survey revealed a growing interest in CBDCs among Central Banks. The survey, which included participation from 86 banks, found that 94% are actively exploring the creation of digital versions of their national currencies. However, this figure represents a jump from 90% reported in a similar 2021 BIS survey.
As revealed in an earlier TheCoinRise report, Joachim Nagel, a European Central Bank (ECB) member, highlighted the importance of CBDCs to Central Banks. Nagel said CBDCs are important tools to augment the traditional business model of Central Banks.
Meanwhile, different countries worldwide have been exploring whether or not to develop a digital currency. China, Nigeria, and the Bahamas were among the first nations to introduce their CBDCs. In the UAE, authorities have partnered with technology giants R3 and G42 Cloud for wholesale and retail CBDC applications.
Preference for Wholesale CBDC
While the overall pace of development varies, there is a growing focus on experimentation, particularly with wholesale CBDCs. These digital currencies are primarily intended for use between financial institutions. The BIS survey suggests that the issuance of a wholesale CBDC within the next six years is now more likely than that of a retail CBDC, which would be directly accessible to consumers.
While many specific features remain undecided, concepts like interoperability and programmability are frequently considered for wholesale CBDCs. For retail CBDCs, features like holding limits, interoperability, offline functionality, and zero remunerations are key areas of exploration.
The post Bank of England to Experiment on Wholesale CBDCs appeared first on TheCoinrise.com.