Cryptocurrencies

What’s a ‘Britcoin’? (Podcast)

The UK is moving toward launching a central bank-backed digital currency.

The Bank of England in London.

Photographer: Jose Sarmento Matos/Bloomberg
Lock
This article is for subscribers only.

Listen to Bloomberg Crypto on the iHeartRadio App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The Bank of England and the UK Treasury are moving forward with a plan to launch a digital currency, which has been dubbed “Britcoin”.

The action is part of a global effort to stay ahead of various new currency options and prepare for a future in which consumers adopt card payments backed by companies instead of governments. Yet, some critics are calling it a “solution in search of a problem”, particularly in light of the country’s already-strong fintech industry.

Senior editor Philip Lagerkranser and reporter Emily Nicolle discuss the implications in this episode.