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Australia’s Central Bank Prioritizes Wholesale Digital Currency, Assistant Governor Reveals
(Originally posted on : Crypto News – iGaming.org )
The development of digital money and wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) solutions is a priority for the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). Assistant Governor Brad Jones emphasized that the wholesale CBDC—designed specifically for banks and other financial institutions—will be the central bank’s main focus, as opposed to the retail version, which is intended for the general public.
Jones explained, “I can confirm that the RBA is making a strategic commitment to prioritize its work agenda on wholesale digital money and infrastructure – including wholesale CBDC – rather than retail CBDC.” He emphasized that wholesale CBDC offers more economic advantages and presents fewer challenges compared to retail CBDC. The wholesale approach is seen as a natural evolution of current monetary systems, enhancing stability in the settlement of important market transactions.
New Initiatives on Wholesale CBDC and Tokenized Deposits
The RBA’s immediate focus within its three-year research program on the future of digital money is to explore a new project centered on wholesale CBDC and tokenized commercial bank deposits. According to Jones, this initiative aims to harness the stabilizing role of central bank money in markets that are, or could become, systemically important.
Jones noted, “It also recognizes the stabilizing role of central bank money in the settlement of wholesale market transactions, particularly in markets that are (or could be) systemically important – a point emphasized in international standards.”
While the RBA acknowledges the potential of retail CBDC, it remains cautious. Jones pointed out that the benefits of a retail CBDC in Australia seem limited at this stage, and such a system could introduce challenges for financial stability and monetary policy. He added, “Given the potential benefits of a retail CBDC in Australia appear modest at the present time, and a retail CBDC would create non-trivial challenges for financial stability and monetary policy implementation, we are yet to see a strong public policy case emerge for issuing a retail CBDC.”
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The RBA’s strategy reflects a broader trend among central banks, prioritizing digital currency frameworks that enhance existing financial structures rather than disrupt them. As the RBA continues its research, wholesale CBDC could play a key role in shaping the future of Australia’s digital monetary landscape.