After the ban on cryptocurrency, the government announced to bring its own “digital currency”. India’s central bank Reserve Bank of India hinted at starting a blockchain system soon.
The report, quoting sources, stated that the digital currency system would be pretty much like cash to give firm control to the apex bank. The central bank’s private blockchain system will be based on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) model. A place where public and private sector firms can create their apps. However, the talks are in the initial phase, and a final decision has yet to make it.
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Announcement of Crypto Ban
February 2021, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) chief Shaktikanta Das stated that the central bank had reservations over cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, etc., and was working on its digital currency platform.
However, he added that RBI’s digital currency will be different from other cryptocurrencies. He also added that India’s apex bank would join the technological revolution. This is where the blockchain platform’s perks will be capitalized on.
Surprisingly, in January 2021, India’s central bank had pitched the idea of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). At present, digital money transactions need a settlement agency, where the CBDC will play peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions. Where the financial entities share messages among themselves, and the final clearing happens at RBI’s level.
Experts said that this new P2P system would cut banks and intermediaries’ roles in transactions. This allows the banking regulator to observe potential financial crimes closely.
There’s no secret that if RBI creates its system and banks will have to make their applications on top. Last year in January, NPCI, the umbrella organization for operating retail payments and settlement systems, launched Vajra. Own blockchain-based platform to automate clearing and settlement.
At present, the banking regulator is observing global examples of CBDC and proceeding cautiously. Apart from that, those nations with CBDC will create them on private blockchains. For example, India’s neighbor China is running a pilot for a digital yuan.
A Delhi University graduate, paving her way in the world of writing. An optimist, creative, and go-getter. Loves to read, research, and write about different topics in technology or cryptocurrency, and serve them to the readers in the most meaningful way possible.
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