Cryptocurrencies: technology, initiatives of banks and central banks, and regulatory challenges

This paper analyses the impacts of the innovation known as distributed ledger technology (DLT) on the monetary system and on financial activities. Private cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are permissionless means of payment, based on blockchain, a form of DLT. Evaluations suggested that these priv...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Carvalho, Carlos Eduardo, Pires, Desirée Almeida [UNESP], Artioli, Marcel [UNESP], Oliveira, Giuliano Contento De
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UNESP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unesp.br:11449/218095
Acceso en línea:http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-3533.2021v30n2art08
http://hdl.handle.net/11449/218095
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Cryptocurrencies
Distributed ledger technology - DLT
Blockchain
Bitcoin
Regulation
Criptomoedas
Tecnologia de contabilidade distribuída - DLT
Blockchain, Bitcoin, Regulação
Descripción
Sumario:This paper analyses the impacts of the innovation known as distributed ledger technology (DLT) on the monetary system and on financial activities. Private cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, are permissionless means of payment, based on blockchain, a form of DLT. Evaluations suggested that these private cryptocurrencies could compete with the banks payment systems and even supplant state currency. The development of these technologies has the potential to modify profoundly monetary and financial practices, but there are no indications that they may threaten the centrality of state money and the banking system in the contemporary monetary order. Major international banks have developed cryptocurrencies for settlement systems and for interbank transactions, including the so-called stablecoins, issued by highly technological companies with on par conversion into state money. Some central banks are studying the launch of state cryptocurrencies that could coexist with their fiduciary state currency and even replace their paper currency. The use of this technology results in new challenges for regulation, including the fact that cryptocurrencies can be used for money laundering and by organized crime.