In this article, we give a short introduction to cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. The focus of the introduction is on Bitcoin, but many elements are shared by other blockchain implementations and alternative cryptoassets. The article covers the original idea and motivation, the mode...

This report examines the potential of public permissionless blockchains to enhance traditional financial services. It highlights the key advantages of utilizing an open base layer, including transparency, inclusivity, and increased competition, while addressing critical challenges such as...

The term decentralized finance (DeFi) refers to an alternative financial infrastructure built on top of the Ethereum blockchain. DeFi uses smart contracts to create protocols that replicate existing financial services in a more open, interoperable, and transparent way. This paper highlights...

Over millennia, mankind has used hard cash in various forms ranging from shells to gold coins and paper. More recently, cash has become unpopular in political circles, as it effectively restricts states’ power to tax (explicitly or via negative interest rates) or to survey and potentially...

Die Blockchain wird als Innovation des Jahrzehnts gehandelt und hat das Potential die Welt auf ähnliche Weise zu verändern, wie dies das Aufkommen des Internets tat. Dieses Buch beinhaltet sämtliche Informationen, die zum Verständnis dieser faszinierenden Technologie benötigt werden. Der...

We characterize various currencies according to their control structure, focusing on cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and government-issued fiat money. We then argue that there is a large unmet demand for a liquid asset that allows households and firms to save outside of the private financial sector