iCurrency?

Abstract

We discuss the idea of a purely algorithmic universal world iCurrency set forth in: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2542541 and expanded in: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3059330 in light of recent developments, including Libra. Is Libra a contender to become iCurrency? Among other things, we analyze the Libra proposal, including the stability and volatility aspects, and discuss various issues that must be addressed. For instance, one cannot expect a cryptocurrency such as Libra to trade in a narrow band without a robust monetary policy. The presentation in the main text of the paper is intentionally nontechnical. It is followed by an extensive appendix with a mathematical description of the dynamics of (crypto)currency exchange rates in target zones, mechanisms for keeping the exchange rate from breaching the band, the role of volatility, etc.

Keywords: cryptocurrency, numeraire, currency, supply, demand, Libra, volatility, stability, FX, target zone, Brownian motion, drift, reflecting barriers, government, HKD, USD, EUR, JPY, monetary authority, currency board, reserve, Bitcoin, stablecoin, blockchain, trading, finance, carry trade, interest rate

JEL Classification: G00, G10, G13, G15, G18, G21, G23, G28, C22, E40, E42, E43, E50, E52, E58, F31, F33, F65