O Chile ainda está considerando se deve avançar com uma moeda digital do banco central (CBDC), apesar dos planos divulgados anteriormente de ter uma proposta pronta no início deste ano.
In a preliminary report issued on May 11, Chile’s central bank said it needs more time to make a decision about whether to issue a CBDC. Reuters reported last September that it had planned to reach such a determination around the beginning of this year.
“The bank considers that there is still not enough information to make a final decision with respect to the issuance of a CBDC,” the central bank wrote in the report’s Spanish-language executive summary. “However, considering its high potential, and that international experience shows that it is a process that may require years of study and testing, it is considered appropriate to continue with activities oriented toward the future implementation of this new form of money.”
The first stage of the process consists of collecting information from the parties interested in the CBDC process, the central bank said, and “exploring alternatives” for developing pilot projects or tests that can help it understand the challenges of creating a CBDC.
It is unclear when the central bank may decide about a CBDC, but it appears that it will study the issue throughout the rest of the year.
According to the central bank, “there are still no clear international standards” regarding CBDCs. Because a CBDC’s success as a payment method will depend on how much the public uses it, the bank will first engage with public and private entities that may wish to be involved.
“Neste contexto, o banco decidiu realizar durante este ano uma rodada de diálogo e consultas com diferentes agentes interessados, cujos detalhes serão anunciados em breve”, disse.
Em seu relatório, o banco observou que, embora o uso de criptomoedas seja atualmente “muito limitado”, seu possível crescimento como método de pagamento as tornou uma parte importante do debate da CBDC.
“A emissão de uma CBDC também é uma boa alternativa para enfrentar os desafios associados ao potencial de crescimento das chamadas moedas virtuais, que, embora tenham um papel muito limitado no sistema de pagamentos, podem alterar o funcionamento das finanças do mercado e a transmissão da política monetária se seu uso se generalizasse”.
