Canadian Central Bank Not Worried by Bitcoin

The Bank of Canada is not very concerned by the advent of bitcoin and digital currencies in general.

AccessTimeIconMay 1, 2014 at 12:12 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 11, 2021 at 10:43 a.m. UTC
10 Years of Decentralizing the Future
May 29-31, 2024 - Austin, TexasThe biggest and most established global hub for everything crypto, blockchain and Web3.Register Now

Representatives from the Bank of Canada claim the institution remains unconcerned by the advent of bitcoin and digital currencies in general.

Speaking at a session of the Senate banking committee, central bankers said it is simply too early to predict whether digital currencies will gain traction from mainstream users.

Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz added that digital currencies are still in their infancy and have not progressed to the point where he would call them money, reports Global News.

“We’ve got a ways to go before we need to be thinking about policy implications,” he said. However, Poloz said the bank is tracking developments in the field.

Cash is remarkably durable

Tiff Macklem, the bank’s outgoing Senior Deputy Governor, told the committee that he’s been with the bank since 1984 and had heard many predictions involving the imminent demise of cash, but none of them panned out.

Macklem pointed out that the amount of cash in circulation is still going up:

“Cash has been remarkably durable, even with the introduction of credit cards and debit cards and tap-and-go cards. If you look at the growth of cash in the economy, it’s grown roughly in line with the growth of nominal income.”

He said that bitcoin is simply not in a position to threaten the official money supply and that it may never be. Therefore, any potential implications are purely speculative at this point.

Not impossible, but very improbable

Macklem pointed out that if digital currencies catch on in a big way, they could have an effect on the bank’s ability to regulate the money supply, but at this moment it seems “pretty far off”.

However, although he does not expect digital currencies to have a significant impact on Canada’s monetary policy, Macklem admits that they have a few beneficial qualities for payments and remittances.

Low transaction fees make them appealing, too, but security issues remain a concern.

Canada’s position on digital currencies has been neutral so far. Earlier this year the country’s finance minister Jim Flaherty announced plans to regulate digital currencies in order to prevent their use for illicit activities such as money laundering.

The country’s attitude towards digital currencies is somewhat more liberal than in the US and regulators have treaded carefully, refusing to stifle innovation in the field.

In addition, Canada's Revenue Agency recently issued new guidance on the tax implications of using digital currencies. The document outlined the official position on digital currencies and clarified a few issues raised by bitcoin businesses.

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive options in the Bullish group as part of their compensation.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.