The Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group of South Africa issued a comprehensive document on April 16, expressing its attitude towards crypto assets.

Fin. authority of South Africa released ‘Position paper on crypto assets’, says Crypto is not a Risk

The Intergovernmental Fintech Working Group of South Africa issued a comprehensive document on April 16, expressing its attitude towards crypto assets.

The document contains more than 50 pages where you can find everything from basic concepts of description of use cases, risks, principles for regulation, overall policy and more.

What risks the IFWG sees and what is the current view

IFWG sees the greatest risk with the greatest consequences in jeopardizing the existing financial system. IFWG writes “The risk posed by crypto assets to the monetary policy transmission mechanism is that a significant increase in the demand for crypto assets would lead to the creation of a parallel and ltimately fragmented monetary system.”

The IFWG thinks that the system could become less efficient as demand for crypto assets would exceed interest in the fiat currency. There would be here a situation, where the monetary system would be conducted by private companies with individual objectives.

A look at the current situation is an favorable.

“Given the current use of crypto assets observed, crypto assets are not seen as posing a systemic risk as yet, and this risk is not probable of materialising in the near future.“

In other points, the financial authority also focuses on:

Consumer protection

The risk of an undefined legal and regulatory framework

Money laundering and terrorism financing

The exchange control risk

The market conduct risk

Operational risk, including cybersecurity risk, and more in the document.

The IFWG and CAR WG have agreed on the following objectives for a crypto framework:

ensure the safety and efficiency of the financial system and financial institutions; ensure consumer and investor protection, which includes financial

consumer education; minimise opportunities for regulatory arbitrage; combat the circumvention of exchange control policy and regulations; combat illegitimate cross-border financial flows, ML/TF; combat tax evasion and impermissible tax avoidance arrangements; and support financial inclusion efforts and the advancement of technological innovation in a responsible and balanced manner.

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Publication author offline 2 hours Matey Salt 3 Comments: 0 Publics: 207 Registration: 04-02-2020