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Regulation of digital currency is still at its infancy as authorities around the world grapple with its mechanics, and study its impact and the best method to regulate it. Significant increase in the use of digital cryptocurrency based on Blockchain technology post-Bitcoin phenomenon had challenged the conventional idea of central bank monopoly in currency issuance. This had also raised concern that digital currency being used as an instrumentality of crime given its anonymity feature that allows for the flow of funds without tracing and the fact that it is built on trustless system that provides security of transaction. This concern, plus other consideration including the prospect of issuing central bank digital currency, had driven some authorities around the world to adopt countermeasures either via an outright ban or a regulatory regime that suits the nature of digital currency, which is purely virtual and anonymous. However, in coming out with an appropriate legal regime, authorities faced multiple difficulties especially when the pace of legal development does not sync congruently with the rapid progress of technology. In addition, given the growing prominence of Islamic finance around the world, questions also arise pertaining to the legality of digital cryptocurrency from the Islamic perspective. Through a qualitative study of relevant literatures as well as legislations in different countries, this chapter discusses the various categories of digital currency, its position from the Islamic perspective, regulatory regimes of digital cryptocurrency in selected jurisdictions and challenges faced by authorities around the world in regulating this new medium of exchange.

The chapter evaluates how the demise of cryptocurrencies as a medium of exchange may result from the issue of digital money by central banks. To evaluate the likelihood that central bank digital money would cause the demise of cryptocurrencies, the research employs discourse analysis and literature review. In this chapter, I demonstrate how the issuing of a digital currency by a central bank might result in the demise of private digital currencies like bitcoin. I contend that central banks will make use of their monetary authority and the confidence that people have in currency guaranteed by the government. This might provide considerable motivation for central banks to launch their own digital money. The creation of a digital currency by a central bank has the potential to reduce confidence in cryptocurrencies, which might eventually cause them to collapse. The chapter is the first to argue that fiat digital money should prevail over private digital currency.

Purpose: This chapter aims to lay out the issues regarding the world of digital currencies, private and central bank digital currency (CBDC). In that connection, the authors want to, as much as possible, systematically present the terminology, examples of various digital currencies and the technology behind that phenomenon. The chapter also highlights the occurrence of CBDC and the possible implications of its introduction to day-to-day commercial banking practice, possibly taking the payment systems and transactions alternation, balance sheet and profits’ issues into consideration.

Need for the study: Digital currencies already have and are also soon going to have an enormous impact on society as such, where payments for everyday goods and services are taken on a whole new platform and level, in the sense of how the payments are made and payment systems are constructed, as also in the sense of quantity, as the number and sum-wise payments carried out via such platforms are growing.

Methodology: A triangulation method, a mixed qualitative methodological approach was implemented, so the research offers a synthesis of previously published contributions in this field, followed by deductive and inductive reasoning interconnected with descriptive and comparative analyses.

Findings: As digital currency already have a vast impact on payment systems and modes of payment, the CBDC, an imperative of today and not the matter of the future, will have implications for commercial banks, probably in the field of lowering banks’ commissions, no big customer data-selling ability, accumulating the deposits and deposit policies and credit policies due to higher funding costs for banks. There is an interwovenness among the central bank activities, bank customer’s behaviour and commercial bank activities. Therefore, the change of payment and spending behaviour of customers because of central banks’ introducing novelties will also have consequences for the banking industry.

Practical implications: The choice to handle cash or digital currency will be obsolete, and an individual’s or a firm’s financial knowledge must be upgraded in the field of new money using angles. The issue of digital currencies and CBDCs are no longer a matter of choice but are becoming a new reality. Therefore, it is necessary for the common public, economy and banking system, especially now carrying out most of payments and transfers of money, to study this field and foresee the possible consequences and risks emerging.

The paper explores the precarious balance between modernizing monetary systems by means of digital currencies (either issued by the central bank itself or independently) and safeguarding financial stability as also ensured by tangible payment (and saving) instruments like paper money.

Which aspects of modern payment systems could contribute to improve the way of functioning of today's globalized economy? And, which might even threaten the above-mentioned instable equilibrium? This survey paper aims, precisely, at giving some preliminary answers to a complex – therefore, ongoing – debate at scientific as well as banking and political levels.

The coexistence of State's money (i.e. “legal tender”) and cryptocurrencies can have a disciplining effect on central banks. Nevertheless, there are still high risks connected to the introduction of central bank digital currency, which should be by far not considered to be a perfect substitute of current cash. At the same time, cryptocurrencies issued by central banks might be exposed to the drawbacks of cryptocurrencies without benefiting from correspondingly strong advantages. A well-governed two-tier system to be achieved through innovation in payment infrastructures might be, in turn, more preferable. Regulated competition by new players combined with “traditional” deposits and central bank elements remains essential, although central banks should embrace the technologies underlying cryptocurrencies, because risk payment service providers could move to other currency areas considered to be more appealing for buyers and sellers.

We do not see specific limitations besides the fact that the following is for sure a broad field of scientific research to be covered, which is at the same time at the origin of ongoing developments and findings. Originality and implications of the paper are, instead, not only represented by its conclusions (which highlight the role of traditional payment instruments and stress why the concept of “money” still has to have specific features) but also by its approach of recent literature's review combined with equally strong logical-analytical insights.

In the light of these considerations, even the role of traditional payment systems like paper money is by far not outdated or cannot be – at this point, at least – replaced by central bank digital currencies (whose features based on dematerialization despite being issued and guaranteed by a public authority are very different).

No matter which form it might assume is what differentiates economic from barter transactions. This conclusion is by far not tautological or self-evident since the notion of money has historically been a great object of scientific discussion. In the light of increasingly modern payment instruments, there is no question that money and the effectiveness of related monetary policies have to be also explored from a social perspective according to different monetary scenarios, ranging from central bank digital currencies to private currencies and cash restrictions/abolition.

The originality/value of the following article is represented by the fact that it (1) refers to some of the most relevant and recent contributions to this research field, (2) moves from payment systems in general to their newest trends like cryptocurrencies, cash restrictions (or, even, abolition proposals) and monetary policy while (3) combining all elements to reach a common picture. The paper aims at being a comprehensive contribution dealing with "money" in its broadest but also newest sense.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the effect of the issuance, adoption and use of digital currencies on economic sanctions with the focus being on the increasing risk of sanction evasion. The research sought to answer three key questions: What is the effect of digital currencies on economic sanctions? To what extent does the adoption and use of digital currencies increase the risk of sanction evasion? What remedial measures can be taken to enforce compliance with sanctions in the wake of increased adoption and use of digital currencies?

The research relied on secondary sources of data, using secondary research to collect archival data in the form of documents. Content and thematic analyses were used to synthesise the collected data.

It was found that digital currencies have significantly increased the risk of sanction evasion. This is because they facilitate the anonymous or pseudonymous conduct of international commercial transactions, which are hard or impossible to detect and track.

This research is the first to explore the different ways in which digital currencies as whole – and not just cryptocurrencies – affect compliance with economic sanctions.

This chapter reviews developments concerning central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). It introduces, analyzes, and discusses the potential implications of CBDCs on the existing cryptoassets landscape. The chapter also provides an overview of the different approaches to adopting and implementing this new form of money. Additionally, it compares traditional cryptocurrencies, privately issued stablecoins, fiat currencies, and CBDCs. Although vastly divergent opinions exist on digital money’s purpose, benefits, and use cases, CBDCs can provide opportunities for innovation and experimentation at a central bank and systemic level. CBDCs may pave the way for democratizing access to unbundled financial services while rethinking the overall purpose of money, monetary systems, and global business.

Purpose: Nigeria is the first African country to issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC) or fiat digital currency. The eNaira CBDC was issued as a money equivalent to be used along with paper Naira. This chapter identifies the features, opportunities and risks of the CBDC in Nigeria, also known as the eNaira.

Method: This chapter uses the discourse analysis method to assess the opportunities and risks of CBDC.

Findings: The opportunities which CBDC present to Nigeria include improved monetary policy transmission, convenience, efficient payments and increased financial inclusion. Some identified risks include digital illiteracy, increased propensity for cyber-attacks, data theft and the changing role of banks in a full-fledged CBDC economy.

Originality: This chapter contributes to the literature by evaluating the pros and cons of fiat digital currency such as a CBDC.

The objective of this study is to examine the nature of cryptocurrencies, risks involved in using it due to its volatile nature, advantages, disadvantages and its functions as money.

This is an inductive approach to a descriptive analysis (Qualitative research). In order to come to an adequate conclusion, we reviewed several studies and articles previously published in this field related to our research questions, and then explored the nature of Cryptocurrencies, their advantages and disadvantages, risks associated with cryptocurrency usage and their user-friendliness in Saudi Arabia.

The findings of this study reveal that anonymity and concealment are important aspects of cryptocurrencies. This system does not follow a transparent process that can make it parallel to conventional fiat currency.

Although this study focuses on the issue of trust, it fails to recognize more technological factors hampering its transaction mechanism instead of enhancing it, owing to a lack of facts and knowledge.

Like conventional transaction system users must sign their crypto transactions that others must duly verify easily. Once a promise is made, one will not be able to back out of it until it is protected from revocation by the signer.

In comparison with reviewed literature, this study focuses more on the issue of volatility, which accounts for the fact that cryptocurrency has not been accepted as a permanent tool of monetary policy. Additionally, the study finds that the Saudi public is largely pessimistic toward such currencies.

Cryptocurrencies are notoriously difficult to value from a fundamental perspective. This valuation challenge is rooted in various debated issues in academia and the investments industry. For example, do cryptocurrencies and other cryptoassets have intrinsic value in the conventional sense? Can one appropriately regard cryptocurrencies as digital fiat currencies? What distinguishes cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ether from precious metals like gold from a financial perspective? How do cryptocurrencies compare to other cryptoassets in terms of pricing and valuation? This chapter aims to provide responses to these questions, discuss approaches to cryptoasset valuation, and identify areas for future research.