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The Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Consultation on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand recently commenced a new consultation period regarding the development of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) on April 17. This consultation aims to gather insights on the high-level design options for digital cash that are being considered. The proposed CBDC would be denominated in New Zealand dollars (NZD) and would allow retail users to exchange it for physical cash, bank deposits, and other balances.
Distribution and Services
The distribution model for the CBDC entails that New Zealand’s Reserve Bank would be responsible for issuing the digital currency. However, the actual dissemination of the asset to end-users would be carried out by the private sector, including banks and payment firms. These entities would not only distribute digital cash but also provide associated services to users.
The CBDC is designed to be private, secure, and trustworthy, with an emphasis on ensuring that users’ spending activities are not monitored or controlled by the Reserve Bank. Furthermore, the CBDC aims to promote financial inclusion by being easily accessible to a broad range of users, including those who are unbanked and do not possess a traditional bank account.
Additionally, the CBDC will feature offline functionality, enabling transactions via Bluetooth in scenarios where internet connectivity is unavailable. This feature is crucial for ensuring the usability and reliability of the digital currency across various circumstances.
Regulation and Oversight
While the private sector will be managing the distribution and services related to the CBDC, there will be certain regulatory measures in place to ensure compliance and oversight. Identity verification checks will be conducted by private services when users create accounts or initiate transactions, although the Reserve Bank will not be directly involved in handling users’ identity data.
The CBDC is positioned as a viable alternative to other digital assets, such as stablecoins and cryptocurrencies, with the Reserve Bank asserting that it poses lower risks to New Zealand’s monetary sovereignty and economy. Moreover, the CBDC will support the use of smart contracts, enabling programmable payments and facilitating various functionalities commonly associated with blockchain technology.
Future Roadmap
Despite the ongoing consultation period, the launch of a CBDC in New Zealand is still a long-term prospect. The current consultation phase will run until July 26, with provisions for further consultations afterward. Following this, Stage 2 will involve the detailed design process and a cost-benefit analysis, spanning until 2026.
If the decision is made to progress with the development of a CBDC, the following stages of prototyping and eventual launch are projected to occur in the coming years. Stage 3 will focus on developing prototypes between 2028 and 2029, leading up to the anticipated launch of the CBDC in Stage 4 around 2030.
Overall, the introduction of a CBDC in New Zealand represents a significant step towards modernizing the country’s financial infrastructure while ensuring the accessibility, security, and reliability of digital transactions for all users.
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