中國人民銀行周三宣布,將爭取早日推出數字貨幣。據悉,其研究團隊正在積極吸收國內外的經驗。
該研究團隊成立于2014年,并在技術、法律問題和對金融系統的影響方面取得了進展。
中國人民銀行方面在數字貨幣研討會上表示,數字貨幣較傳統紙幣來說,流通成本更低,能夠提升經濟活動的便利性,增加透明度,減少洗錢和逃漏稅。
此外,數字貨幣還能提升央行對貨幣的控制力,有助于建設全新的金融基礎設施,完善支付體系。
采取這一措施將把中國帶入未知的領域。去年厄瓜多爾成為了第一個發行國家支持的數字貨幣的國家。在這個小小的南美國家,所有的銀行都被告知要緊隨這項措施的步伐。
北京一家名為"好有錢"的眾籌創業借貸平臺的運營總監胡志斌表示,數字貨幣必然是未來的大勢所趨。
"中國必須抓好時機,早點行動。如果中國在數字貨幣方面落后于其他國家,那央行將是整個國家的罪人。"(中國進出口網)
China's central bank on Wednesday announced that it will try to issue digital currency "as soon as possible." A team in the central bank is examining domestic and global experiences.
The team was set up in 2014 and has made progress on technology, legal issues, and the impact on financial systems.
Digital currency costs less in circulation than traditional paper, facilitates trade, boosts transparency, and cuts money laundering and tax evasion, according to the People's Bank of China at a conference on digital currency.
They will improve the central bank's control of currency, and bolster new financial infrastructure and complete payment systems, it added.
Taking the step would thrust China into largely uncharted waters. Ecuador last year became the first nation to issue state-backed digital money. All of the banks in the tiny South American country have been told to get behind the push.
Hu Zhibing, the chief operating officer at Haoyouqian.com, a crowd-funding startup in Beijing, said digital money is "definitely the future".
"China must seize the first-mover advantage to get on board – the central bank would be a sinner of the whole nation if other countries moved ahead while China lagged behind."