The Federal Reserve Board Continues Research on Central Bank Digital Currency
The Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve Board, Michael Barr, stated on October 27 that the central bank is actively researching a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and related technologies. Speaking at the Economics of Payments XII Conference, Barr mentioned that the Fed’s research is focused on areas like end-to-end system architecture, ledgers, tokenization, and custody models for an intermediated CBDC. However, he emphasized that the implementation of a digital dollar would require a congressional mandate.
Barr also highlighted the importance of learning from both domestic and international experimentation to support responsible innovation in this space. These remarks come amid calls from Representative Tom Emmer to halt the Fed’s CBDC research, which he deemed “sketchy” during a House of Representatives session in September.
Hot Take: The Future of CBDCs
As central banks worldwide explore the potential of CBDCs, it is clear that research and experimentation are crucial in understanding their implications fully. The Federal Reserve’s ongoing efforts highlight its commitment to staying at the forefront of digital currency developments. While concerns and debates surround CBDCs, learning from both successes and failures in other countries’ experiments can help shape responsible innovation and inform policymakers’ decisions. With the continued exploration of CBDCs, it remains to be seen how they will reshape the financial landscape in the future.
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