{"id":163470,"date":"2022-05-19T10:13:16","date_gmt":"2022-05-19T15:13:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ict-pulse.com\/?post_type=tribe_events&p=163470"},"modified":"2022-05-19T10:13:35","modified_gmt":"2022-05-19T15:13:35","slug":"demystifying-cryptocurrency-digital-cash-caribbean","status":"publish","type":"tribe_events","link":"https:\/\/ict-pulse.com\/events\/demystifying-cryptocurrency-digital-cash-caribbean\/","title":{"rendered":"Demystifying Cryptocurrency and Digital Cash in the Caribbean"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bitcoin becomes legal tender in El Salvador. Bahamas launches the Sand Dollar as the world\u2019s first Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). The market cap of stable coins surpasses 150 billion US Dollars. A multitude of new payment methods is flooding the market and plunges users into confusion, since they are very different in terms of usage, technology, monetary policy and governance.<\/p>\n

What exactly are these differences? What distinguishes these new \u201ccurrencies\u201d from existing e-money? What are the opportunities and risks of their introduction? Which existing obstacles in the financial system do they tackle? Will they enhance financial inclusion of SMEs and citizens in the Caribbean?\u202f Can they help to foster the Caribbean Single Market and Economy? Will they enhance financial inclusion of SMEs and citizens in the Caribbean? Why care?<\/p>\n

It is estimated that by 2030 the global fintech market will be worth 700 billion US dollars.\u202f For the Caribbean with its multitude of innovative companies in this sector, this represents tremendous opportunities for wealth creation. Furthermore, the whole region can benefit economically if it succeeds in lowering existing non-tariff barriers in regional trade caused by the financial system as it is.<\/p>\n

The Caribbean Telecommunications Union with the support of CaribCoin and Abed Ventures will host a webinar to demystify digital money and cryptocurrencies and explore the opportunities and challenges for the region. The webinar will be open to the public but will specifically focus on key stakeholders such as central banks, economic policy makers, financial institutions, technologists, entrepreneurs and academia.<\/p>\n

The key areas of focus include, but are not limited to:<\/strong><\/p>\n