The Treasury Department of the United Kingdom has revealed it is drafting proposals to regulate private stablecoins, while also researching central bank digital currencies (CBDC) as an alternative to cash.
In an announcement published on Nov. 9, U.K. Treasury Chancellor Rishi Sunak noted the forthcoming regulatory proposals alongside other goals for the country’s financial services industry — including a review of the U.K.’s listings regime and support for green finance.
“New technologies such as stablecoins – privately-issued digital currencies – could transform the way people store and exchange their money, making payments cheaper and faster.”
The news comes amid a week of decisive negotiations between the U.K. and the European Union over a post-Brexit trade deal. Chancellor Sunak said he hopes the U.K.’s financial services sector will lead “the global conversation on new technologies like stablecoins and central bank digital currencies” moving forward:
“We are starting a new chapter in the history of financial services and renewing the UK’s position as the world’s pre-eminent financial center […] Our plans will ensure the UK moves forward as an open, attractive and well-regulated market.”
While details are scant, the announcement asserts the draft guidelines will require stablecoin initiatives to abide by the same minimum standards as entities operating with other methods of payment.
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