The Fed this summer will take another step in developing a digital currency
The Federal Reserve is moving forward in its efforts to develop its own digital currency, announcing Thursday it will release a research paper this summer that explores the move further.
Though the central bank did not set any specific plans on the currency, Chairman Jerome Powell cited the progress of payments technology and said the Fed has been "carefully monitoring and adapting" to those innovations.
"The effective functioning of our economy requires that people have faith and confidence not only in the dollar, but also in the payment networks, banks, and other payment service providers that allow money to flow on a daily basis," Powell said in a video message accompanying the announcement.
"Our focus is on ensuring a safe and efficient payment system that provides broad benefits to American households and businesses while also embracing innovation," he said.
Fed officials have emphasized the importance of getting the issuance of a central bank digital currency right rather than participating in a race with its global peers.
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