A Framework for Digital Currencies for Financial Inclusion in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

This research aims to provide a framework to assess the contribution of digital currencies to promote financial inclusion, based on a diagnosis of the landscape of financial inclusion and domestic and cross-border payments in Latin America and the Caribbean. It also provides insights from central banks in the region on key aspects regarding a possible implementation of central bank digital currencies. Findings show that although digital currencies development is at an early stage, a well-designed system could reduce the cost of domestic and cross-border payments, improve the settlement of transactions to achieve real-time payments, expand the accessibility of central bank money, incorporate programmable payments and achieve system performance demands.