The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta recently published a report in its Policy Hub series discussing the implications of Web3 for financial services. Authored by Christine Parlour, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business, this easy-to-understand text discusses blockchains, decentralized finance (DeFi), and financial infrastructure.
Parlour brings attention to the regulatory challenges of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), stating that they lack “an obvious legal entity” to engage with. She also highlights the darker side of using tokens as collateral. This creates interconnectedness among various protocols, making it difficult for regulators to estimate or understand systemic risk.
In terms of financial infrastructure, Parlour suggests that Web3 offers advantages over traditional finance through cost reduction and transaction speed. Trade finance, for example, can be significantly improved through cost reductions along the supply chain.
The paper also discusses central bank digital currency (CBDC) with a focus on foreign exchange, mentioning the recently launched Project Mariana. This project attempts to apply DeFi protocols for foreign exchange and involves Stellar and Ripple. Parlour describes Ripple’s XRP token as “envisioned as an international payment medium or wholesale settlement coin.” Ripple has gained attention for its deals with countries such as Montenegro for CBDC development. However, Parlour gives no indication that the US Federal Reserve has plans to introduce a CBDC or utilize XRP for any purpose. Notably, Ripple is currently in a legal dispute with the Securities and Exchange Commission over the status of XRP as a security.
Additionally, Parlour discusses tokenized bank deposits, a concept promoted by the USDF Consortium. Its CEO, Robert Morgan, spoke at a U.S. House of Representatives hearing about the technology, describing it as a “third way” between traditional finance and DeFi.
While the report offers valuable insights into the potential of Web3, it also raises questions about the conflicts between the decentralized nature of digital currencies and the need for regulation. As the technology advances, striking a balance between innovation and regulation will be crucial to ensure financial market stability and protect investors.
Source: Cointelegraph
