Assessing the future prospects for cryptocurrencies

Abstract

Cryptocurrencies are attracting considerable attention around the world because of the various advantages that they offer. On the other hand, they also carry some inherent risks. Although monetary authorities broadly agree that cryptocurrencies do not engender an immediate threat to national and global financial systems, the future is full of unknowns. In this regard, drawing a framework based on the current drivers of demand for cryptocurrencies would help visualize the prospects for these assets and create a roadmap to avoid or manage any disruptive risks. This discussion paper aims to contribute to the literature by examining the key factors that will determine the future performance of cryptocurrencies. The main conclusion derived from the discussion is that national regulations will potentially affect the direction of cryptocurrencies, as well as the need for any special efforts in the domain of monetary policy