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Embedded supervision: how to build regulation into blockchain finance

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  • Auer, Raphael

Abstract

The spread of distributed ledger technology (DLT) in finance could help to improve the efficiency and quality of supervision. This paper makes the case for embedded supervision, ie a regulatory framework that provides for compliance in tokenised markets to be automatically monitored by reading the market’s ledger, thus reducing the need for firms to actively collect, verify and deliver data. After sketching out a design for such schemes, the paper explores the conditions under which distributed ledger data might be used to monitor compliance. To this end, a decentralised market is modelled that replaces today’s intermediary-based verification of legal data with blockchain-enabled data credibility based on economic consensus. The key results set out the conditions under which the market’s economic consensus would be strong enough to guarantee that transactions are economically final, so that supervisors can trust the distributed ledger’s data. The paper concludes with a discussion of the legislative and operational requirements that would promote low-cost supervision and a level playing field for small and large firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Auer, Raphael, 2019. "Embedded supervision: how to build regulation into blockchain finance," CEPR Discussion Papers 14095, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:14095
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    Cited by:

    1. Raphael Auer & Stijn Claessens, 2020. "Cryptocurrency Market Reactions to Regulatory News," Globalization Institute Working Papers 381, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
    2. Stefan Vachkov & Nedyalko Valkanov, 2021. "Regulation, Competition and Partnership in the Financial Sector," Business & Management Compass, University of Economics Varna, issue 3, pages 259-276.
    3. Stefan Vachkov & Nedyalko Valkanov, 2021. "Some Aspects Of Regulatory Optimizations In The Financial Sector," Economics and Management, Faculty of Economics, SOUTH-WEST UNIVERSITY "NEOFIT RILSKI", BLAGOEVGRAD, vol. 18(1), pages 1-18.
    4. Auer, Raphael & Tercero-Lucas, David, 2022. "Distrust or speculation? The socioeconomic drivers of U.S. cryptocurrency investments," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    5. Nedyalko Valkanov, 2022. "Alternative Finance in the New Digital World - Some Regulatory Challenges," Izvestia Journal of the Union of Scientists - Varna. Economic Sciences Series, Union of Scientists - Varna, Economic Sciences Section, vol. 11(2), pages 29-38, August.
    6. Johnson Fejoh & Michael Ayodeji Boyede & Abiola Olawale Sanusi, 2021. "Industrial Actors` Perceptions of Industrial Disputes in Public Universities," Business & Management Compass, University of Economics Varna, issue 3, pages 344-359.
    7. Gambacorta, Leonardo & Cornelli, Giulio & Doerr, Sebastian & Merrouche, Ouarda, 2020. "Inside the Regulatory Sandbox: Effects on Fintech Funding," CEPR Discussion Papers 15502, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Stolbov, Mikhail & Shchepeleva, Maria, 2020. "What predicts the legal status of cryptocurrencies?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 273-291.
    9. Papathanassiou, Chryssa, 2024. "Digital innovation and banking regulation," Occasional Paper Series 351, European Central Bank.
    10. Luz Parrondo, 2023. "Cryptoassets: Definitions and accounting treatment under the current International Financial Reporting Standards framework," Intelligent Systems in Accounting, Finance and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(4), pages 208-227, October.
    11. Ojo/Roedl, Marianne, 2021. "Decentralized finance and regulation : enhancing the role of innovative techniques through regulation," MPRA Paper 107717, University Library of Munich, Germany.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Tokenisation; Stablecoins; Cryptocurrencies; Regtech; Basel iii; Blockchain; Central bank digital currencies; Economic finality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D40 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - General
    • D20 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - General
    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • E51 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Money Supply; Credit; Money Multipliers
    • F31 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Exchange
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • K22 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Business and Securities Law
    • L10 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - General
    • L50 - Industrial Organization - - Regulation and Industrial Policy - - - General

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