Digital Pound Could Hit Financial Stability and Erode Privacy, UK Lawmakers Warn

Digital Pound Could Hit Financial Stability and Erode Privacy, UK Lawmakers Warn
Representations of the Ripple, bitcoin, etherum, and Litecoin virtual currencies are seen on a PC motherboard in this illustration picture, on Feb. 14, 2018. Dado Ruvic/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

LONDON—A digital pound used by consumers could harm financial stability, raise the cost of credit and erode privacy, though a version for wholesale use in the financial sector demands greater appraisal, British lawmakers said on Thursday.

Britain’s central bank and finance ministry said in November they would hold a consultation this year on whether to move forward on a central bank digital currency (CBDC) that would be introduced after 2025 at the earliest.