RBI is not comfortable with bitcoins, says Sudarshan Sen

Calls them ‘private’ cryptocurrencíes

September 13, 2017 09:51 pm | Updated 09:59 pm IST - Mumbai

Bitcoins sit on coaxial cables inside a communications room at an office in this arranged photograph in London, U.K.: Photo Credit: Bloomberg

Bitcoins sit on coaxial cables inside a communications room at an office in this arranged photograph in London, U.K.: Photo Credit: Bloomberg

The Reserve Bank is uncomfortable with “non-fiat” cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, its executive director Sudarshan Sen said on Wednesday. “As regards non-fiat cryptocurrencies, I think we are not comfortable,” Mr. Sen said, addressing the India Fintech Day conference here.

Elaborating on what a non-fiat cryptocurrency is, Sen said, “Bitcoins for example. That’s a private cryptocurrency.”

The fiat cryptocurrency was a digital currency which would be issued by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in place of the physical one at present, he said, adding that the central bank was studying this aspect at present.

“Right now, we have a group of people who are looking at fiat cryptocurrencies. Something that is an alternative to the Indian rupee, so to speak. We are looking at that closely,” Mr. Sen said.

The RBI has been repeatedly cautioning everyone about the usage of cryptocurrencies, flagging a slew of concerns. It had stated that Bitoins posed potential risks.

Recent spurt

According to some media reports, there has been a growing number of investors in such currencies over the last few years, especially with the huge spurt in the value of a few of them since the Trump administration came in the U.S.

 

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