The Bank of England and HM Treasury (HMT) have announced that they will continue to explore a CBDC or national stablecoin.
Consultation Will Begin In 2022
HMT and the Bank of England will launch a consultation in 2022 to assess the case for a U.K. central bank digital currency (CBDC).
Though the two entities have not yet made a final decision, this consultation will decide on whether a development process can begin in the future. This development phase would involve the creation of a technical specification and design testing.
That phase would also last several years. If it were successful, it would lead to the launch of a CBDC between 2025 and 2030.
The Bank of England writes that a CBDC would serve as “a new form of digital money,” and that it would be used by individuals and businesses “for their everyday payments needs.” It would not replace cash and bank deposits but would work alongside them.
The CBDC would be issued by the Bank of England itself. Presumably, it would be tied to the value of the British pound sterling, though this is not explicitly stated in the announcement itself.
Earlier this year, the Bank and HMT created a joint task force to explore the possibility of a CBDC, which led to today’s news.
