The (Near) Future of Central Bank Digital Currencies

The Istituto Affari Internazionali, in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo and with the support of the Bank of Italy, carried out a research effort on the risks and the opportunities related to Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

The value of global cashless payments has been radically increasing worldwide. Despite cash being the most used payment instrument in the world, technological innovation and new consumer preferences are decisively transforming the way consumers pay and manage money. In this context of vibrant transformations, the idea of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is gaining momentum. The development of CBDCs would not however simply mean to replace bills and coins with virtual cash. This innovation could produce major changes in our economy and society.

The webinar "The (near) future of Central Bank Digital Currencies" will take place on April 20, 2021 from 15.30 to 17.00 (CET). The event will feature a keynote speech by the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Italy Piero Cipollone and will present the volume “The (Near) Future of Central Bank Digital Currencies. Risks and Opportunities for the Global Economy and Society”. The book provides multidisciplinary analyses on the economic, political and geo-strategic implications of CBDCs. It focuses on relevant national and regional case studies, such as China, Africa and the European Union, and on cross-cutting issues like the effects on the financial system, banking regulations and privacy.

The book is freely downloadable here.