IMF Admonishes Banks to Invest In Cryptocurrencies
One of the key findings of the IMF report is that “boundaries are blurring.” This means that the borders between intermediaries, service providers, and markets, previously well-defined, have become blurry with the advent of new technology related to digital currencies and cross-border payments. Along with the blurring of these boundaries, the authors of the report suggest that “barriers to entry are changing.” This does not, however, mean that barriers to entry are universally being lowered. Rather, they are being lowered in some situations but raised for others, particularly “if the emergence of large closed networks reduces opportunities for competition.”
Absolutely key in the view of the authors of this report is that “trust remains essential.” With less reliance on traditional intermediaries, consumers are turning more toward new networks and providers. The facilitation of this transfer on a large scale requires significant levels of trust in security, privacy, and efficiency. Along with this, and perhaps contributing to a new sense of trust, is the authors’ conclusion that “technologies may improve cross-border payments” by serving better and more cost-efficient services, by lowering compliance costs, and by working to fight against terrorism financing.