The UK Treasury and England Bank have introduced a central bank digital currency (CBDC), or ‘digital pound’ also known as Britcoin. The CBDC purpose is to encourage efficiency and innovation in payments and keep the UK in line with a growing number of forward-thinking nations.

The digital currency will be equal to cash, so £5 will be the same as a note currency of £5. The CBDC is anticipated to be less volatile than existing cryptocurrencies and would maintain public access to retail central bank money. There would be a restriction on digital money each individual can hold to monitor the effect of the currency, but this will be altered later.

The news is positive for the fintech sector, as the UK government has continued its investments. CBDCs, together with the UK’s plans for regularized stablecoins and approval of smart contracts under the common law in the UK, can trigger a new wave in payments. This can increase productivity, offer people new services, and broaden access to digital finance.

Policymakers are, however, being urged to proceed with caution. Some concerns have been raised over how consumer data may be used, how the government may control the digital pound, and the potential for decreased cash flow. The England Bank may also wait to see how CBDCs perform in other parts of the world, such as China’s digital currency, prior to making the final decision.

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