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Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs): A new generation of digital cash

Guneet Kaur

University of Stirling

gk@......

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?? CLAIM what is the topic / what is the contribution / what are we trying to do

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Context and Background

  • According to the BIS’s Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (2018), a CBDC is characterised as digital currency issued by a central bank, denominated in the national unit of account, and it signifies a liability on the part of the central bank. This type of CBDC is meant for general-purpose use (i.e., for retail customers) rather than wholesale entities.

We all constantly read”

"Governments refrain from utilizing CBDCs to settle their citizens”

But there’s a catch….!!!

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Summary of the approach – not necessarily for presentation – more for ourselves

- define CDBC and motivations

- ?? One slide discussing the structure of CDBCs ??

- present positive and negative opinions : the debate is open and hot

- [our contribution/work] compartative report

- add more on opportunities and risks

- privacy

- ????

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In general, central banks closely regulate and monitor the use of their liabilities, such as physical currency and reserves, to maintain control over monetary policy and ensure financial stability. As a result, central banks might utilize CBDCs data for:

  • Monitoring Financial Transactions: Central banks' control over CBDCs could lead to extensive monitoring of citizens' financial transactions, infringing upon their financial privacy and potentially enabling surveillance.�
  • Curbing Privacy in Transactions: Tight oversight of CBDC usage might restrict citizens' ability to conduct private transactions, compromising their financial anonymity and freedom.�
  • Increased Surveillance Risks: The detailed tracking of CBDC usage by governments could heighten surveillance risks, creating concerns about citizens' privacy rights being violated.�
  • Undermining Confidentiality: Citizens might face challenges in preserving transaction confidentiality and personal financial choices due to increased governmental control over CBDC transactions.�

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Digital Pound vs. Digital Euro vs. Digital Yuan

Digital Pound (dGBP)

Digital Euro (dEUR)

Digital Yuan (dRMB)

Jurisdiction

UK

Cross-border

China

Status

Design research phase

Preparation phase

Pilot phase

Use case

Retail

Retail & wholesale

Retail & wholesale

Anonymity

Not anonymous

Partially anonymous

Anonymity for small amounts

Limits

Between £10,000 and £20,000 per individual as the appropriate balance between managing risks and supporting wide usability of the digital pound

Between €3,000 and €4,000 digital euros per capita. Limits apply to individuals, who may have only one account. Merchants would not have digital euro holdings but would accept and receive payments in digital euros.

The lowest level wallet is available for sign-up without a Chinese identity card, which has an RMB 5,000 daily and RMB 50,000 yearly spending limit.

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The imposition of transaction limits within central bank digital currencies echoes historical instances post-financial crises, [MAY BECOM|E A TITLE ?] where financial regulations tightened in response to systemic risks. However, these limits also raised concerns regarding privacy and financial autonomy.

For instance, following the 2008 global financial crisis, regulatory bodies increased oversight and imposed transaction limits on traditional financial instruments.

Source: The Guardian

In June 2015, amid the Greek financial crisis, the government imposed capital controls. These controls included limits on cash withdrawals from ATMs, restrictions on international transfers, and caps on the amount of money that could be taken out of the country.

For instance, Greek banks limited ATM withdrawals to €60 per day to prevent a bank run and capital flight, aiming to stabilize the banking system. These controls were gradually eased but remained in effect for an extended period, impacting citizens' access to their funds and international financial transactions.

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Anonymity Levels Of Digital Pound, Digital Euro, and Digital Yuan Vs. Privacy acts

UK: Digital Pound

Privacy Act: Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and GDPR.

Violation Scenario: The non-anonymous nature of the digital pound might conflict with the DPA and GDPR. For instance, consider a scenario where a user's entire transaction history, devoid of anonymity, is tracked and stored without their explicit consent. This detailed and traceable financial record could potentially violate GDPR's principles on data minimization and the right to be forgotten, as users might not have adequate control over their financial data's storage and usage.

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Anonymity Levels Of Digital Pound, Digital Euro, and Digital Yuan Vs. Privacy acts

Europe: Digital Euro

Privacy Act: General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Violation Scenario: The partial anonymity of the digital euro might pose privacy concerns under GDPR. For example, if larger transactions lack anonymity, allowing extensive monitoring and profiling without explicit consent, it could potentially breach GDPR's provisions on data protection and individuals' right to object to automated processing, impacting users' control over their transactional data's use without their consent.

Source: The Sociable

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Anonymity Levels Of Digital Pound, Digital Euro, and Digital Yuan Vs. Privacy acts

China: Digital Yuan

Privacy Act: Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL).

Violation Scenario: The limited anonymity for small transactions in the digital yuan might align with PIPL's provisions. However, if larger transactions face stringent monitoring without explicit consent, it could potentially breach individuals' privacy rights. Detailed tracking of significant transactions might conflict with PIPL's principles on data protection, compromising users' rights to financial privacy and control over their information.

Source: REITI

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Criteria

CBDC

Cash (Paper Currency)

Bank Deposit

Third-Party Payment (Eg: Alipay)

Bitcoin

Form

Digital

Physical

Digital

Digital

Digital

Debtor

Central Bank

Holder

Commercial Bank

Third-Party Platform

Decentralized Network

Credit Risk

Low

None

Low to None

Low

None

Issuer

Central Bank

Government

Commercial Bank

Third-Party Platform

Decentralized Network

Source of Value

Central Authority

Government

Bank

Third-Party Platform

Decentralized System

Owner Anonymity

Controllable

Full

Low to None

Controllable

Variable

CBDC vs. Cash vs. Bank Deposit Vs. Third-Party Payment Platform vs. Bitcoin

Think twice, act wise….!

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SURCE OF DATA??? [here or where]

Which source of info/data have you used?

- an idea of the survey work that grounds the paper

- pointers for the interested reader

Particular interesting the source for yuan ?

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EMAil ?