In many regions, internet-free access may be a make-or-break feature for central bank digital currencies
Mahi Sall, Advisor, Fintech-Bank Partnerships, Payments and Financial Inclusivity
January 25th, 2023
Mahi Sall is the CEO & Founder of FinXpair, a Berlin-based strategic advisory boutique firm focu[...]
Offline and Internet-free CBDCs
IMF | John Kiff | Aug 6, 2022
In many regions, internet-free access may be a make-or-break feature for central bank digital currencies
As the world’s central banks rush to develop digital currencies, almost all the research and trials focus on internet-based technology. What will happen when the web goes down in a war or a natural disaster? And what about the 75 percent of the world’s adult low-income population that doesn’t even have internet access (World Bank Findex Database)?
Offline Digital CBDCs
Offline digital payment systems could verify availability of funds and validate transactions without the need to check in with an online ledger. They could use old-tech, non-internet-driven mobile phones or something like a souped-up stored-value card.
See: US Fed’s CBDC Report Comments: The Good, Bad, and Ugly
Recently, several enterprises have launched updated versions of the Avant and Mondex concepts (initiatives from the 90's) that are capable of handling offline payments. Users send and receive funds by exchanging multi-digit authorization codes, either manually or using near-field communication (NFC) connections. Some require intermediary devices such as mobile phones or online connections to fully settle transactions, but that is to keep the device costs down and eliminate the need for internal battery power.
- For example, the 170-year-old German banknote company Giesecke+Devrient is testing an offline CBDC platform with the Bank of Ghana based on a stored-value card. The eCedi can be used by anyone with either a digital wallet app or a contactless smart card that can be used offline.
- The People’s Bank of China has reportedly been experimenting with similar hardware wallets as part of its trials of the digital yuan.
- Fintech company WhisperCash offers a sophisticated battery-powered credit-card-sized device for conducting digital currency transactions that costs about $70. The company has also rolled out an offline platform that piggybacks on text-based, non-internet-enabled mobile phones. Known as “feature phones,” they can be had for as little as $5. The WhisperCash system involves a $2 device that’s attached to the phone’s SIM card.
See: BIS Report: Can CBDCs be designed to help financial inclusion?
- Even in low-income countries, 66 percent of adults own at least such a phone. In 2017–18 the Central Bank of Uruguay conducted a successful six-month test of a CBDC that users could access using feature phones (Sarmiento 2022).
- The Bank of Canada is exploring such universal access devices intended to incorporate attributes of cash and prevent the interruption of digital transactions in case of an infrastructure failure.
- In its exploratory work on a digital euro, the European Central Bank is considering offline functionality.
Continue to the full article --> here
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
 |  |  |
Support NCFA by Following us on Twitter!Follow @NCFACanada  |
Related Posts
- The backing of the crowd – What has crowdfunding done for great British businesses?
- Solana’s Summer Shandy Beer just Dropped
- Toronto Event (Oct 23, 2014): Small Business Forum a Must-Attend Event for Entrepreneurs
- The Retail Payments Advisory Committee is gathering expertise on a preliminary approach to fees
- Amazon to support utility-bill payments with Alexa
- The sharing economy
Leave a Reply