Schweizer Monat, April 2022, with Markus Brunnermeier. PDF. We describe challenges the digital money revolution poses for central banks and predict that more and more monetary authorities will introduce CBDCs.
Read More »“Digital Finance bedroht Geld- und Währungshoheit (Digital Finance Threatens Monetary Sovereignty),” NZZ, 2022
Neue Zürcher Zeitung, February 17, 2022. PDF. The federal council’s digital finance strategy focuses on regulation. There are limits to this strategy when financial markets operate globally and virtually. Preserving monetary sovereignty requires an attractive national currency. Carrots, not only sticks. An attractive currency is not only stable but also usable in digital form.
Read More »“Bargeld hat keine ökonomische Notwendigkeit (Cash, not Essential),” Jan 2022
Wirtschaft Regional, January 7, 2022. PDF. Interview on private and public money, digital payments, Bitcoin, cash.
Read More »“Bargeld hat keine ökonomische Notwendigkeit (Cash, not Essential),” WR, 2022
Wirtschaft Regional, January 7, 2022. PDF. Interview on private and public money, digital payments, Bitcoin, cash.
Read More »FX Daily, July 16: BOJ Tweaks Forecasts
Swiss Franc The Euro has risen by 0.10% to 1.085 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, July 16(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: The markets head into the weekend with little fanfare. Most large equity markets in the Asia Pacific region slipped earlier today. Hong Kong, which will be exempt from the need to secure mainland’s cybersecurity approval for foreign IPOs, and Australia were notable exceptions. European...
Read More »FX Daily, April 27: Markets Mark Time Ahead of Fed
Swiss Franc The Euro is stable at 0.00% to 1.1041 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, April 27(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: Short-covering ahead of the FOMC’s outcome tomorrow appears to be lending the US dollar support today. It has extended yesterday’s gains against the euro, sterling, and yen. Among emerging market currencies, the Turkish lira, along with the South Korean won and Taiwanese dollar, lead...
Read More »Marriage of Gold and Cryptocurrencies: A New Future?
The debate between relatively new digital cryptocurrencies versus ‘tried and true’ gold has dominated most precious metals related websites. But what if gold and cryptocurrencies were combined? According to a Bloomberg article a NYC Real Estate Mogul, after learning about cryptocurrencies from his son, is putting this concept to work by securing a minimum of $6 billion in gold reserves to back his new cryptocurrency. The concept of pegging a digital currency to an...
Read More »FX Daily, October 05: Monday’s Dollar Blues
Swiss Franc The Euro has fallen by 0.05% to 1.0782 EUR/CHF and USD/CHF, October 05(see more posts on EUR/CHF, USD/CHF, ) Source: markets.ft.com - Click to enlarge FX Rates Overview: New actions to contain the virus are being taken in the US and Europe, but investors are looking past it and taking equities and risk assets, in general, higher to start the new week. MSCI Asia Pacific recouped most of last week’s 0.7% loss with gains of move than 1% in Japan, Hong...
Read More »Libra
In the FT, Hannah Murphy reports about Facebook’s launch of Libra. Lots of skepticism in the comments section. And Hannah Murphy reports that [p]ositive Money, a consumer campaign group, attacked the proposal. “Our money is increasingly in the hands of a small number of banks and payment companies, and we should avoid ceding further control to unaccountable corporate interests. Facebook’s plans pose alarming implications for privacy and power in the economy,” said David Clarke, the head...
Read More »If Bitcoin Is A Bubble…
Our earlier articles on bitcoin discuss the crypto asset as a currency and a commodity. Both papers focused on the consequences of bitcoin’s defining feature: the asymptotic supply limit of 21 million coins. This gives it an unusual juxtaposition of demand uncertainty and supply certainty (as well as inelasticity). As a currency, it gives rise to a tension between its use as a store of value and as medium of exchange....
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