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UN calls for action to curb spread of cryptos

Tuesday, August 16th, 2022 01:30 | By
Cryptocurrency. PD/file

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) called for actions to curb cryptocurrencies in developing countries in three policy briefs.

While private digital currencies have rewarded some, and facilitated remittances, they are an unstable financial asset that can also bring social risks and costs, the UN trade and development body warned. 

The three newly-released UNCTAD policy briefs examined the risks and costs of cryptocurrencies, including the threats cryptocurrencies, bring to financial stability, domestic resource mobilisation and the security of monetary systems.

Global use of cryptocurrencies has increased exponentially during the Covid-19 pandemic, including in developing countries.

Reasons for the rapid uptake of cryptocurrencies in developing countries include the facilitation of remittances, as well as their use as a hedge against currency and inflation risks, UNCTAD said.

Financial stability

Recent digital currency shocks in the market suggest that there are privacy risks to holding cryptocurrencies, but if the central bank steps in to protect financial stability, then the problem becomes a public one, the agency said. 

If cryptocurrencies become a widespread means of payment and even replace domestic currencies unofficially, this could jeopardise the monetary sovereignty of countries.

In developing countries with unmet demand for reserve currencies, the so-called “stablecoins”, a type of digital currency that is pegged to the US dollar, pose particular risks. 

“For some of these reasons, the International Monetary Fund has expressed the view that cryptocurrencies pose risks as legal tender,” the agency said.

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