Potential benefits and key risks of fiat-referenced cryptoassets Staff analytical note 2022-20 Hugh Ding, Natasha Khan, Bena Lands, Cameron MacDonald, Laura Zhao Cryptoassets that reference a national currency (commonly known as stablecoins) aim to peg their value to the reference currency and typically use a reserve of traditional financial assets to maintain the peg. The market value of these fiat-referenced cryptoassets has grown more than thirtyfold between early 2020 and mid-2022. We explore some of their potential benefits and key risks. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical notes JEL Code(s): E, E4, G, G2, G28, L, O, O3 Research Theme(s): Financial system, Financial stability and systemic risk, Money and payments, Digital assets and fintech, Payment and financial market infrastructures
The Relative Benefits and Risks of Stablecoins as a Means of Payment: A Case Study Perspective Staff discussion paper 2022-21 Annetta Ho, Sriram Darbha, Yuliya Gorelkina, Alejandro García Our paper contributes to the discussion about the utility of stablecoins for retail payments through an objective, evidence-based approach that compares stablecoins with traditional retail payment methods. The paper also provides insights that could be useful in the design of central bank digital currencies. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff discussion papers JEL Code(s): D, D7, D78, O, O3, O38 Research Theme(s): Money and payments, Digital assets and fintech, Payment and financial market infrastructures, Retail payments
Archetypes for a retail CBDC Staff analytical note 2022-14 Sriram Darbha A variety of technology designs could support retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) systems. We develop five archetypes of CBDC systems, outline their characteristics and discuss their trade-offs. This work serves as a framework to analyze and compare different designs, independent of vendor, platform and implementation. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical notes JEL Code(s): E, E4, E42, E5, E51, O, O3 Research Theme(s): Money and payments, Digital assets and fintech, Payment and financial market infrastructures
Cash in the Pocket, Cash in the Cloud: Cash Holdings of Bitcoin Owners Staff working paper 2022-26 Daniela Balutel, Christopher Henry, Kim Huynh, Marcel Voia We estimate the effect that owning Bitcoin has on the amount of cash held by Canadian consumers. Our results question the view that adopting certain new technologies, such as Bitcoin, leads to a decline in cash holdings. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers JEL Code(s): C, C1, C12, E, E4, O, O3, O33, O5, O51 Research Theme(s): Models and tools, Econometric, statistical and computational methods, Money and payments, Cash and bank notes, Digital assets and fintech
Resilience of bank liquidity ratios in the presence of a central bank digital currency Staff analytical note 2022-5 Alissa Gorelova, Bena Lands, Maria teNyenhuis Could Canadian banks continue to meet their regulatory liquidity requirements after the introduction of a cash-like retail central bank digital currency (CBDC)? We conduct a hypothetical exercise to estimate how a CBDC could affect bank liquidity by increasing the run-off rates of transactional retail deposits under four increasingly severe scenarios. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical notes JEL Code(s): C, E, E4, G, G2, G21, O, O3, O33 Research Theme(s): Financial system, Financial institutions and intermediation, Financial stability and systemic risk, Money and payments, Digital assets and fintech
Bitcoin Adoption and Beliefs in Canada Staff working paper 2021-60 Daniela Balutel, Christopher Henry, Jorge Vásquez, Marcel Voia Using an economic model as well as survey data from the Bank of Canada, we study what factors influence the adoption of Bitcoin in Canada. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff working papers JEL Code(s): D, D8, D83, O, O3, O33 Research Theme(s): Models and tools, Econometric, statistical and computational methods, Economic models, Money and payments, Digital assets and fintech
Canadian job postings in digital sectors during COVID-19 Staff analytical note 2021-18 Alejandra Bellatin, Gabriela Galassi Digital technologies have helped maintain economic activity while allowing people to remain physically distant throughout the COVID-19 crisis. This note shows that the number of online postings for jobs related to the production of digital technologies in Canada decreased less than the number for other jobs and recovered more quickly after lockdowns were lifted. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical notes JEL Code(s): E, E2, E24, J, J2, J23, J6, J63, J64, O, O3, O33 Research Theme(s): Structural challenges, Demographics and labour supply, Digitalization and productivity
Overlooking the online world: Does mismeasurement of the digital economy explain the productivity slowdown? Staff analytical note 2021-10 Alejandra Bellatin, Stéphanie Houle Since the mid-2000s, labour productivity has slowed down in Canada despite enormous technological advances that were expected to improve it. This note investigates whether mismeasurement of the digital economy can explain this paradox. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff analytical notes JEL Code(s): E, E0, E01, L, L8, L86, O, O3, O33, O4, O5, O51 Research Theme(s): Models and tools, Economic models, Structural challenges, Digitalization and productivity
Adoption of Digital Technologies: Insights from a Global Survey Initiative Staff discussion paper 2021-7 James Fudurich, Lena Suchanek, Lise Pichette Firms are at the forefront of adopting new technology. Using survey data from a global network of central banks, we assess the effects of digitalization on firms’ pricing and employment decisions. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff discussion papers JEL Code(s): D, D2, D22, E, E3, E31, J, J2, J21, O, O3, O33 Research Theme(s): Monetary policy, Inflation dynamics and pressures, Structural challenges, Demographics and labour supply, Digitalization and productivity
Stablecoin Assessment Framework Staff discussion paper 2021-6 Alejandro García, Bena Lands, Dennis Yanchus We offer relevant authorities a three-step assessment framework they can use to understand, identify and quantify the risks associated with stablecoin and other cryptocurrency arrangements. Content Type(s): Staff research, Staff discussion papers JEL Code(s): D, D7, D78, D8, D81, G, G0, G01, G1, G18, O, O3, O38 Research Theme(s): Financial system, Financial stability and systemic risk, Money and payments, Digital assets and fintech, Payment and financial market infrastructures