Over the last few years, the development of blockchain technology brought us new types of digital assets such as stablecoins and cryptocurrencies. These innovations offer the foundations for building new payment rails that can move value across the globe not only in real-time but also at a much lower cost. Unlike cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, stablecoins are significantly less volatile as they are typically pegged to a fiat currency such as the U.S. dollar. Stablecoins also pushed governments to accelerate their exploration of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). While cryptocurrencies rely on decentralized networks for their operations, CBDCs would run on public sector infrastructure and represent a direct liability of the central bank — essentially “digital cash.”
How Digital Currencies Can Help Small Businesses
Small businesses have largely been ignored during the debate over digital currencies, even though they’re a hugely significant part of the U.S. economy and have much to gain from cheaper, more efficient payment systems. These businesses work with small margins, have less bargaining power than large companies, and suffer from cash flow problems as they wait to be paid for goods and services. Stablecoins and central bank digital currencies can help. These technologies can reduce payment processing costs, allowing small businesses to keep more of what they earn, and significantly accelerate how quickly they get paid. This could drastically improve small businesses’ liquidity and cash buffers, and help them survive negative economic shocks and thrive.