Financial Stability Board: Blockchain Could Raise Cross-Border Data Issues

The Financial Stability Board has published a new report on fintech raising questions about data privacy and smart contracts.

AccessTimeIconJun 27, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. UTC
Updated Aug 18, 2021 at 6:24 p.m. UTC

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

An international group of regulators and government officials created in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis has released a wide-ranging report on financial technologies including blockchain.

The report grew out of a months-long process within the Financial Stability Board (FSB), which first revealed it was researching blockchain and its impact on the global financial system in February 2016. The board is composed of central bank governors and financial regulators from nations in the G20 group, as well as its predecessor Financial Stability Forum, and the European Commission.

  • Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
    13:18
    Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
  • Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
    05:10
    Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
  • The first video of the year 2024
    04:07
    The first video of the year 2024
  • The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
    40:07
    The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
  • Though the study states that "there are currently no compelling financial stability risks from emerging fintech innovations," it outlines 10 potential issues that regulators should focus on. In the context of blockchain, the FSB report identifies the implications of the technology's cross-border nature and legal uncertainty around smart contracts.

    The authors go on to note:

    "These and other legal issues could be even more prevalent when considering cross-border activities. For example, blockchain has raised questions, such as data privacy concerns across jurisdictions, and identifying the location of an asset when no one bank or entity is the custodian of the record."

    That said, the report also dives into the potential contributors to financial stability stemming from blockchain, including improved access to technology-driven financial services.

    "Innovations such as digital identity and DLT-based applications could support improved quality and accessibility of, or financial services for, end-users," the report's authors wrote.

    Ultimately, the report itself doesn't call for any concrete policy recommendations on the regulatory front. Rather, it echoes other international bodies in its advocacy for greater cooperation between countries.

    That kind of approach, the FSB posits, "will be particularly important to mitigate the risk of fragmentation or divergence in regulatory frameworks".

    Fiber optical cables image via Shutterstock

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information have been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.