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Money in the digital age - what role for central banks?

Type
Speech
Subtype
BIS management speech
Date delivered
6 February 2018
Topics
Fintech
Lecture by Mr Agustín Carstens, General Manager of the BIS, at the House of Finance, Goethe University, Frankfurt, 6 February 2018. Reviewing the economic functions and historical foundations of money, this lecture asks whether new technology fundamentally alters the advantages of central banks being the ultimate issuer. The inquiry sheds light on current policy questions ...
Video 6 Feb 2018
Money in the digital age: what role for central banks?
Authorities must be prepared to act against the invasive spread of cryptocurrencies to preserve the integrity of the concept of money and protect consumers and investors (Carstens at 15:00).

Reviewing the economic functions and historical foundations of money, this lecture asks whether new technology fundamentally alters the advantages of central banks being the ultimate issuer. The inquiry sheds light on current policy questions surrounding cryptocurrencies. It concludes that authorities should focus on the ties linking cryptocurrencies to the conventional financial system and apply the level playing field principle of "same risk, same regulation".

Money in the digital age: what role for central banks? (1:19:45)

Agustín Carstens (General Manager of the BIS)

6 February 2018, House of Finance, Goethe University, Frankfurt

This lecture asks whether new technology fundamentally alters the advantages of central banks being the ultimate issuer