British legislators are urging caution in the implementation of a retail digital pound. They emphasize the need to strike a balance between technological advancements and potential drawbacks. The Treasury Select Committee has expressed reservations about launching a retail digital pound and calls for a thorough examination before proceeding. While recognizing the potential benefits of innovation, the committee urges the Bank of England and Treasury to carefully assess the necessity of such a step, considering the associated costs and risks. To mitigate the risk of bank runs during market instability, the committee recommends imposing lower initial limits on the value of retail digital pounds. This precautionary measure aims to discourage significant transfers of deposits into digital wallets, which could lead to bank failures and increased loan costs. The committee also addresses privacy concerns, recommending strict limitations on the use of data by the government or the Bank of England in any legislation introducing a digital pound. Protecting user privacy and preventing unwarranted surveillance are deemed crucial. If legislation for a digital pound is introduced, the report proposes expressly limiting the government and Bank of England from using data acquired through the digital pound for purposes beyond those already sanctioned for law enforcement. Committee chair Harriett Baldwin emphasizes the need for compelling evidence before considering the introduction of a retail digital pound. She asserts that clear proof of its benefits to the UK economy, without escalating risks or incurring unmanageable costs, is necessary. The decision to integrate a digital pound into the financial system should be based on a comprehensive evaluation of these factors. While supporting the Bank of England’s current design efforts, UK lawmakers call for transparency regarding project costs. Baldwin stresses the importance of a concise cost-benefit analysis to ensure that introducing a retail digital pound aligns with broader economic stability and financial inclusion goals. In the United Kingdom, investment managers are receiving regulatory support to utilize blockchain technology and tokenize funds, moving away from traditional record-keeping systems.

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Information	Details
Geography	Europe
Countries	🇬🇧
Sentiment	neutral
Relevance Score	1
People	Harriett Baldwin
Companies	UK economy, Treasury Select Committee, Investment managers, Bank of England
Currencies	None
Securities	None