IMF: Central Banks Could Issue Digital Currency

Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has said central banks throughout the world should consider issuing digital currency to make transactions more secure. At a recent conference in Singapore, Lagarde argued that state-backed cryptocurrencies could satisfy public policy goals related to financial inclusion, consumer protection, privacy and fraud prevention.

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Safe, Cheap and Semi-Anonymous Payments
“I believe we should consider the possibility to issue digital currency,” Lagarde said in a speech this week in the city-state, which is at the forefront of driving fintech innovation. “There may be a role for the state to supply money to the digital economy. The advantage is clear. Your payment would be immediate, safe, cheap and potentially semi-anonymous. And central banks would retain a sure footing in payments.”