Electronic Cash for Central Bank′s Monetary Policy

Electronic cash affects central bank in many areas, in particular regarding the issuance of money, supervision of cashless payments, supervision of the banking system and monetary policy. The effects of electronic cash on central bank policies, the security and integrity of the payment system, and naturally also on single sector such as company engaged in the transport of money and valuables, depend mainly on the extent to which the new payment methods can replace cash. The possible development of electronic cash merits special attention from central banks for at least three reasons. First, central banks are concerned that the introduction of the new payment instrument should have no adverse effect on public confidence in the payment system and payment media. Second, although the substitution of electronic cash for other forms of money should not theoretically hamper central bank's ability to control the money supply, it might, however, have practial implications, at least in the long run, which need to be carefully examined. Third, because electronic cash may be used for payments of very small value, they have the potential, more than any other cashless instrument, to take over the role of notes and coins in the economy and, therefore, have implications for central bank's activities and revenues.