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Dinero Electrónico: The rise and fall of Ecuador's central bank digital currency

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  • Arauz, Andrés
  • Garratt, Rodney
  • Ramos F., Diego F.

Abstract

Dinero Electrónico was a mobile payment system developed by the Banco Central del Ecuador that allowed citizens to transfer USD balances in real-time from person to person using basic cell phones. The program operated between 2014 and 2018. Key drivers of the program were increasing financial inclusion and reducing the need for the central bank to hold and distribute large quantities of USD notes. We discuss reasons why the program was ultimately discontinued, including opposition to the program from private banks, and outline lessons learned.

Suggested Citation

  • Arauz, Andrés & Garratt, Rodney & Ramos F., Diego F., 2021. "Dinero Electrónico: The rise and fall of Ecuador's central bank digital currency," Latin American Journal of Central Banking (previously Monetaria), Elsevier, vol. 2(2).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:lajcba:v:2:y:2021:i:2:s2666143821000107
    DOI: 10.1016/j.latcb.2021.100030
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Nic Spearman, 2022. "Policy lessons from global retail CBDC projects," Occasional Bulletin of Economic Notes 11040, South African Reserve Bank.
    3. Pangyue Cheng, 2023. "Decoding the rise of Central Bank Digital Currency in China: designs, problems, and prospects," Journal of Banking Regulation, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(2), pages 156-170, June.
    4. Cyril Monnet & Hyun Song Shin & Jon Frost & Leonardo Gambacorta & Raphael Auer & Tara Rice, 2022. "Central Bank Digital Currencies: Motives, Economic Implications, and the Research Frontier," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 14(1), pages 697-721, August.
    5. Cachanosky, Nicolás & Salter, Alexander W. & Savanti, Ignacio, 2022. "Can dollarization constrain a populist leader? The case of Rafael Correa in Ecuador," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 430-442.
    6. Sarmiento, Adolfo, 2022. "Seven lessons from the e-Peso pilot plan: The possibility of a Central Bank Digital Currency," Latin American Journal of Central Banking (previously Monetaria), Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    7. Dominique Torre & Qing Xu, 2023. "Central Bank Digital Currencies in the Post-pandemic Era [Les monnaies digitales de banque centrale après la pandémie]," Post-Print halshs-04194031, HAL.
    8. Marcelo A. T. Aragão, 2021. "A Few Things You Wanted to Know about the Economics of CBDCs, but were Afraid to Model: a survey of what we can learn from who has done," Working Papers Series 554, Central Bank of Brazil, Research Department.
    9. Michiel Bijlsma & Carin Cruijsen & Nicole Jonker & Jelmer Reijerink, 2024. "What Triggers Consumer Adoption of Central Bank Digital Currency?," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 65(1), pages 1-40, February.

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