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Do digital currencies need policing?

Cryptocurrencies are proliferating. Should regulators intervene or steer clear?

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that the stability of some countries鈥 financial systems could soon be at risk because of unregulated crypto assets. Cryptocurrencies and other digital financial products created using blockchain technology are proliferating. They鈥檙e largely free from the controls of governments and central banks, but also free from any significant regulation. The IMF believes 鈥渃omprehensive, consistent and coordinated鈥 global regulation of the sector is now needed to prevent contagion if major crypto assets begin to collapse. Myanmar鈥檚 opposition-led shadow government this week announced that it will accept Tether, a so-called stablecoin, claiming to be pegged to the US dollar, as an official currency - a way of bypassing the control of the country鈥檚 military rulers. Meanwhile, across the border in China, authorities are cracking down on crypto and pushing ahead with plans for the country鈥檚 own Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) which critics fear could mark the beginning of the end of anonymous transactions. So, is global finance undergoing a transformation? And are more stringent rules of the road necessary to protect consumers and avoid economic calamity? Ritula Shah is joined by a panel of experts.

Producers: Zak Brophy and Paul Schuster.

Available now

49 minutes

Last on

Sat 18 Dec 2021 00:06GMT

Contributors

Emily Nicolle - Fintech Correspondent at the Dow Jones publication Financial News

Xavier Rolet - Chairman and CEO of World Quantum Growth Acquisition Corporation and a former Chief Executive of the London Stock Exchange

Dominic Frisby - Author of Bitcoin, The Future of Money

Also featuring 鈥

Tobias Adrian - Financial Counsellor and Director of the IMF鈥檚 Monetary and Capital Markets Department

Kate Marie - Retail trader

Aija Lejniece - International arbitration lawyer

Photo

Representations of virtual cryptocurrencies placed on top of US Dollar banknotes - Credit: REUTERS / Dado Ruvic / Illustration

Broadcasts

  • Fri 17 Dec 2021 10:06GMT
  • Sat 18 Dec 2021 00:06GMT

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