The Bank of England is set to assemble a team of 30 individuals to work on the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The Sunday Times reported this information. The partnership between the UK’s central bank and the Department of Finance resulted in this recruitment endeavor. Indeed, at the start of the year, these two organizations stated their desire to cooperate on developing a digital version of the pound sterling. British people who choose to participate in the initiative may give their opinion on this as well.
The Bank of England Remains Cautious
The Bank of England remained cautious and declined to name this possible currency “Britcoin,” a word used by the media. Furthermore, the bank has yet to determine whether to develop a digital ledger using distributed ledger technology.
The organization is searching for an e-book security architect as well as an e-book solutions architect. Each of these posts is paid £80,000 (US$ 99,000). The British Treasury similarly advertised in January for the appointment of a head of digital currency inside the central bank.
According to the Sunday Times, the formation of a team of up to 30 specialists demonstrates the Bank of England’s sincerity in pursuing the building of a digital book. Ian Taylor, a member of the CryptoUK trade association’s board of directors, stated: “The formation of a team of 30 specialists offers a substantial enough resource to concentrate on the digital book. This underlines the significance of the initiative and the Bank’s readiness to invest significant resources in it.”
Are CBDCs the Future of Banking?
CBDCs, as previously stated, are digital equivalents of traditional fiat currencies that are issued and backed by central banks. They are supposed to provide various advantages over cash and regular bank deposits, such as speedier transactions, reduced prices, and more security.
CBDCs can also help to simplify the execution of monetary policy because central banks can directly manage both the production and distribution of these digital currencies. The establishment of a CBDC is being considered in a number of nations. China is a pioneer in this regard with its digital yuan, which is being tested in numerous locations. The European Central Bank is also doing CBDC research and tests.
The United States is likewise investigating the creation of a CBDC. Yet, this idea is endangered by many elected authorities and public opinion who oppose such a project. Many individuals believe that a CBDC would give the government even more power and greater control over the citizenry. Many people are concerned about an attack on fundamental liberties, particularly an intrusion into residents’ private life.