Cryptocurrency and Legal Tender, Cryptocurrency vs. Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)

Cryptocurrency

Context (TH): IMF’s changed view on the crypto market in Latin America.
Cryptocurrency, sometimes called crypto-currency or crypto, is any form of currency that exists digitally or virtually and uses cryptography to secure transactions.
Cryptocurrencies don’t have a central issuing or regulating authority.
They run on blockchain technology.
Units of cryptocurrency are created through a process called mining, which involves using computer power to solve complicated mathematical problems that generate coins.
Bitcoin is the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation.

Few countries have entirely banned crypto assets.
El Salvador is the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as its legal tender.
In India, Cryptocurrencies are a kind of assets like gold, silver, etc. So, Cryptocurrencies are not a currency. People can transact in cryptocurrencies (Just like GOLD).
China has banned crypto mining and unregulated virtual assets in the country.

IMF was against El Salvador’s move to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, citing fiscal risks.
Recently, IMF noted that a crypto ban “may not be effective in the long run” in the region.
It called for regulation of cryptocurrency and recording crypto transactions for transparency.

In 2013, RBI issued a circular warning to the public against using virtual currencies.
In 2018, RBI issues a circular preventing commercial and cooperative banks, payments banks, small finance banks, NBFCs, and payment system providers from dealing in virtual currencies or providing services to all entities which deal with crypto exchanges.
In 2020, SC declared the 2013 RBI circular unconstitutional.

In Budget 2022-23, Government proposed to levy a tax of 30% on the transfer of virtual assets, including NFTS and cryptocurrencies.
Trades are subjected to a 1% TDS. ie Citizens selling their tokens — Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Solana and others — receive 1 per cent less the value of the assets at the selling price.

The Bahamas was one of the first countries to introduce its Sand Dollar CBDC officially.
e-Rupee is a legal tender issued by RBI in digital form. It is the same as a fiat currency and is no different from cash, and is exchangeable one-to-one with the fiat currency (bank notes/cash) at par.
RBI Act 1934 has been amended to include the e-rupee in ‘bank note’. Now it’s legal tender.

Cryptocurrencies and CBDCs are both blockchain-based digital currencies.

Private companies or individuals generally run cryptocurrencies.	CBDC is controlled and tracked by a country’s central bank and corresponds to that country’s fiat currency.
Bitcoin’s price may vary by hundreds or even thousands of dollars in a short period of time due to speculations.	A CBDC issued by the Central Bank would (ideally) be worth as much as its physical counterpart.
Investors often buy large quantities of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies and hold them in the hope of making a profit.	CBDCs are not meant to be investment vehicles.