New Zealand’s central bank is preparing for a future that includes the mainstream use of cryptocurrency.
At the end of last year, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) published an issues paper, Private Innovation: Te Auahatanga, on digital currencies. The paper sparked a wide-ranging discussion on the development of the cryptoasset market and how to respond to the challenges it presents.
The RBNZ received 50 submissions on its paper, with consultation ending in April. A summary of the submissions was recently published.
We took a look at the key concerns held by those who participated in the consultation and what these concerns could mean for the uptake of cryptocurrencies in New Zealand.
The future of money in NZ
The RBNZ has mapped out a near future where businesses could accept digital currencies for payments, reducing currency conversion issues for international customers. Cryptocurrencies could also be used to streamline payments to suppliers or employees, particularly those based overseas.
And by leveraging the transparency of blockchain, businesses could improve trust by efficiently tracking transactions and supply chains.
But businesses will need to improve their security measures to protect against online threats as well as manage the potential market volatility associated with cryptocurrencies.
While outlining a path for cryptocurrencies, the RBNZ noted the challenges of regulating organisations that are entirely digital and decentralised. The bank also raised the question of how New Zealand’s existing rules on money laundering and the financing of terrorism would apply to cryptocurrencies.
The key hurdles for cryptocurrency
Five key themes emerged out of the submissions received by the RBNZ. These core themes highlighted the concerns held by regulators, businesses and everyday New Zealanders.
The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (NZFMA) could establish a regulatory “sandbox” for cryptoassets, allowing businesses to test their crypto-related technologies in a controlled environment under close supervision. This would encourage innovation as well as help shape effective regulations, balancing the growth of the sector with risk management and consumer protection.
The NZFMA could also demand that New Zealand residents transact their cryptoassets through exchanges that are based in New Zealand and thus under the country’s regulations in order to develop trust. These can be relaxed once the market matures.
The lesson from the collapse of the digital trading platform FTX is that New Zealand investors have to be protected, or at least made aware of, the risks of transactions through exchanges in more lenient jurisdictions.
At the same time, they saw a significant opportunity to enhance competition and further innovation in New Zealand.
This implies a flexible regulatory stance that evolves based on the risk profile of the asset, thereby creating a fair and balanced regulatory environment for all financial instruments, traditional or digital.
The RBNZ has proposed working closely with international regulators and private sector information providers – companies or organisations that provide data, analysis and insights about the crypto market. This could include blockchain analytics firms, crypto exchange platforms, research institutions and financial technology companies.
Our own earlier research supports the belief that external regulations are not enough. It is essential that financial intermediaries dealing in cryptoassets develop a corporate culture of “performance with integrity”, one in which each member of the organisation is centred on the best interest of the client.
We need to monitor cryptoasset businesses and ensure they have robust corporate governance. Another lesson from the FTX failure is that exchanges themselves can not be custodians of customers’ assets – this must be done by regulated third party institutions.
However, it must be noted that stablecoins differ in risk exposure according to the collateral they use; the crash of the Terra stablecoin in May 2022 versus the resilience of Tether is testament to this. Regulations must be very clear on the reserve assets demanded, and market supervisors must monitor these reserves very closely.
The future is digital
Although promising, the future of cryptocurrency in New Zealand is not without its challenges. The RBNZ will need to keep a close eye on things. The central bank will need to walk a fine line between encouraging new ideas and managing the risks.
For the moment, the RBNZ is taking a cautious approach. While there won’t be any immediate policy changes, the RBNZ will be enhancing its monitoring of the financial ecosystem, tracking global regulatory trends and collaborating with financial organisations to address data gaps.
The goal should be to make sure people understand cryptocurrencies, manage the risks and promote innovation. As one respondent put it: - The future is digital. Let’s embrace it, understand it, and make it work for us.
Abhishek Mukherjee - Lecturer in Accounting and Finance., University of Waikato
Paresha Sinha - Associate Professor, University of Waikato
Paul David Richard Griffiths - Professor of Finance; (Banking, Fintech, Corporate Governance, Intangible Assets), EM Normandi
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The RBNZ has mapped out a near future where businesses could accept digital currencies for payments, reducing currency conversion issues for international customers. Cryptocurrencies could also be used to streamline payments to suppliers or employees, particularly those based overseas.
And by leveraging the transparency of blockchain, businesses could improve trust by efficiently tracking transactions and supply chains.
But businesses will need to improve their security measures to protect against online threats as well as manage the potential market volatility associated with cryptocurrencies.
While outlining a path for cryptocurrencies, the RBNZ noted the challenges of regulating organisations that are entirely digital and decentralised. The bank also raised the question of how New Zealand’s existing rules on money laundering and the financing of terrorism would apply to cryptocurrencies.
The key hurdles for cryptocurrency
Five key themes emerged out of the submissions received by the RBNZ. These core themes highlighted the concerns held by regulators, businesses and everyday New Zealanders.
- A clear but flexible regulatory framework
The New Zealand Financial Markets Authority (NZFMA) could establish a regulatory “sandbox” for cryptoassets, allowing businesses to test their crypto-related technologies in a controlled environment under close supervision. This would encourage innovation as well as help shape effective regulations, balancing the growth of the sector with risk management and consumer protection.
The NZFMA could also demand that New Zealand residents transact their cryptoassets through exchanges that are based in New Zealand and thus under the country’s regulations in order to develop trust. These can be relaxed once the market matures.
- Information and accessibility
The lesson from the collapse of the digital trading platform FTX is that New Zealand investors have to be protected, or at least made aware of, the risks of transactions through exchanges in more lenient jurisdictions.
- Risks and opportunities
At the same time, they saw a significant opportunity to enhance competition and further innovation in New Zealand.
- A monitoring approach
This implies a flexible regulatory stance that evolves based on the risk profile of the asset, thereby creating a fair and balanced regulatory environment for all financial instruments, traditional or digital.
The RBNZ has proposed working closely with international regulators and private sector information providers – companies or organisations that provide data, analysis and insights about the crypto market. This could include blockchain analytics firms, crypto exchange platforms, research institutions and financial technology companies.
Our own earlier research supports the belief that external regulations are not enough. It is essential that financial intermediaries dealing in cryptoassets develop a corporate culture of “performance with integrity”, one in which each member of the organisation is centred on the best interest of the client.
We need to monitor cryptoasset businesses and ensure they have robust corporate governance. Another lesson from the FTX failure is that exchanges themselves can not be custodians of customers’ assets – this must be done by regulated third party institutions.
- Stablecoins
However, it must be noted that stablecoins differ in risk exposure according to the collateral they use; the crash of the Terra stablecoin in May 2022 versus the resilience of Tether is testament to this. Regulations must be very clear on the reserve assets demanded, and market supervisors must monitor these reserves very closely.
The future is digital
Although promising, the future of cryptocurrency in New Zealand is not without its challenges. The RBNZ will need to keep a close eye on things. The central bank will need to walk a fine line between encouraging new ideas and managing the risks.
For the moment, the RBNZ is taking a cautious approach. While there won’t be any immediate policy changes, the RBNZ will be enhancing its monitoring of the financial ecosystem, tracking global regulatory trends and collaborating with financial organisations to address data gaps.
The goal should be to make sure people understand cryptocurrencies, manage the risks and promote innovation. As one respondent put it: - The future is digital. Let’s embrace it, understand it, and make it work for us.
Abhishek Mukherjee - Lecturer in Accounting and Finance., University of Waikato
Paresha Sinha - Associate Professor, University of Waikato
Paul David Richard Griffiths - Professor of Finance; (Banking, Fintech, Corporate Governance, Intangible Assets), EM Normandi
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
2 comments:
The future is digital?
Only if we are talking about decentralized privacy crypto and not centralized programmable CBDC's, which don't earn interest, has an expiry date imposed on them in which to spend, tracks and traces everything you purchase, can be switched off at source denying you access, debits fines, tax and any penalties in real time directly from your account and is linked to a social credit score. In other words total control over your life.
CBDCs hold NO appeal for the discerning citizen. Its ALL about control of the masses. Hopefully BRIX gain traction and it'll be back to the future with gold backed currency
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