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Bitcoin – The Promise and Limits of Private Innovation in Monetary and Payment Systems

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  • Beat Weber

    (Oesterreichische Nationalbank)

Abstract

A private initiative that has created a virtual currency and a payment system based on cryptography and decentralized management, Bitcoin is considered not only an interesting, but also a disruptive technical innovation by many observers. A number of regulatory and supervisory bodies have issued assessments of the phenomenon, contributing to an emerging international discussion. Does Bitcoin’s claim to provide useful monetary and payment services hold up when checked against principles of monetary theory and the economics of payment systems? We find that while Bitcoin does not rival the established money and payment systems in their traditional domains, a complementary function is conceivable in niches. Using the Bitcoin network poses several risks to customers, however. Since this network and financial services related to bitcoins are not regulated, costumers must take appropriate technical measures to protect their bitcoin holdings. In case of error and fraud, payments are difficult to reverse. Furthermore, the significant exchange rate fluctuations could pose a grave risk to bitcoin owners’ wealth and discourage widespread use for monetary purposes. In a nutshell, at present, bitcoins can be regarded as speculative assets, and the Bitcoin network might inspire further innovation in payment systems and other applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Beat Weber, 2014. "Bitcoin – The Promise and Limits of Private Innovation in Monetary and Payment Systems," Monetary Policy & the Economy, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 4, pages 53-66.
    • Handle: RePEc:onb:oenbmp:y:2014:i:4:b:3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. OlaOluwa S. Yaya & Ahamuefula E. Ogbonna & Robert Mudida & Nuruddeen Abu, 2021. "Market efficiency and volatility persistence of cryptocurrency during pre‐ and post‐crash periods of Bitcoin: Evidence based on fractional integration," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(1), pages 1318-1335, January.
    2. Helmut Elsinger & Pirmin Fessler & Judith Feyrer & Konrad Richter & Maria Antoinette Silgoner & Andreas Timel, 2018. "Digitalization in financial services and household finance: fintech, financial literacy and financial stability," Financial Stability Report, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue 35, pages 50-58.
    3. Yutaka Kurihara & Akio Fukushima, 2017. "The Market Efficiency of Bitcoin: A Weekly Anomaly Perspective," Journal of Applied Finance & Banking, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 7(3), pages 1-4.
    4. Ahmed, Ovais, 2017. "Block chain Technology:Concept of Digital Economics," MPRA Paper 80967, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Wilko Bolt & Maarten R.C. Van Oordt, 2020. "On the Value of Virtual Currencies," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 52(4), pages 835-862, June.
    6. Beate Sauer, 2016. "Virtual Currencies, the Money Market, and Monetary Policy," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 22(2), pages 117-130, May.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies

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