Algorand's 2022 Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Report Recommends a Hybrid Approach to Increase Efficiency and Competitiveness in the Digital Economy
BOSTON, July 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Algorand research team today publishes "Issuing Central Bank Digital Currency Using Algorand," a new report capturing insights from more than a year of continued research into how CBDCs are unfolding at central banks around the world. The authors propose a hybrid CBDC model, built on a private instance of a public blockchain such as Algorand, in a two-tier retail system. In this model, central banks have full control over the CBDC, while simultaneously enabling licensed service providers (LSPs) such as commercial banks, remittance providers, and other fintech companies, to facilitate distribution and transactions. Compared to traditional systems, blockchain-based retail CBDCs also promote broader financial inclusion, especially for those in the informal economy who might face difficulty opening a conventional bank account. Overall, in comparison to a traditional centralized digital currency, the proposed design will be simpler and more economical to implement and manage for central banks at scale.