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Monetary policy in the open economy with digital currencies

Author

Listed:
  • Pietro Cova

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Alessandro Notarpietro

    (Bank of Italy)

  • Patrizio Pagano

  • Massimiliano Pisani

    (Bank of Italy)

Abstract

We assess the transmission of a monetary policy shock in a two-country New Keynesian model featuring a global private stablecoin and a central bank digital currency (CBDC). In the model, cash and digital currencies are imperfect substitutes that differ as to the liquidity services they provide. We find that in a digital-currency economy, where the stablecoin is a significant means of payment, the domestic and international macroeconomic effects of a monetary policy shock can be smaller or larger than in a (benchmark) mainly-cash economy, depending on how the assets backing the stablecoin supply respond to the shock. The benchmark transmission of the monetary policy shock can nonetheless substantially be restored in the digital-currency economy 1) if the stablecoin is fully backed by cash or 2) if the CBDC is a relevant means of payment.

Suggested Citation

  • Pietro Cova & Alessandro Notarpietro & Patrizio Pagano & Massimiliano Pisani, 2022. "Monetary policy in the open economy with digital currencies," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 1366, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
  • Handle: RePEc:bdi:wptemi:td_1366_22
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Harald Uhlig & Taojun Xie, 2026. "Parallel Digital Currencies and Sticky Prices," American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 18(1), pages 336-383, January.
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    3. Bullmann, Dirk & Klemm, Jonas & Pinna, Andrea, 2019. "In search for stability in crypto-assets: are stablecoins the solution?," Occasional Paper Series 230, European Central Bank.
    4. Brunnermeier, Markus K. & Niepelt, Dirk, 2019. "On the equivalence of private and public money," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 27-41.
    5. Benigno, Pierpaolo & Schilling, Linda M. & Uhlig, Harald, 2022. "Cryptocurrencies, currency competition, and the impossible trinity," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    6. Force, ECB Crypto Assets Task, 2020. "Stablecoins: Implications for monetary policy, financial stability, market infrastructure and payments, and banking supervision in the euro area," Occasional Paper Series 247, European Central Bank.
    7. Pierpaolo Benigno, 2009. "Price Stability with Imperfect Financial Integration," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(s1), pages 121-149, February.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Monetary policy in the open economy with digital currencies
      by Christian Zimmermann in NEP-DGE blog on 2022-08-26 23:05:04

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Dirk Niepelt, 2025. "Central Bank Digital Currency and Monetary Architecture," Diskussionsschriften dp2509, Universitaet Bern, Departement Volkswirtschaft.
    2. Andrej Sokol & Michael Kumhof & Marco Pinchetti & Phurichai Rungcharoenkitkul, 2023. "CBDC policies in open economies," BIS Working Papers 1086, Bank for International Settlements.
    3. Le, Anh H. & Copestake, Alexander & Tan, Brandon & Papageorgiou, Evan & Peiris, S. Jay & Rawat, Umang, 2025. "Macro-financial impacts of foreign digital money," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    4. Auer Simone & Branzoli Nicola & Ferrero Giuseppe & Ilari Antonio & Palazzo Francesco & Rainone Edoardo, 2025. "CBDC and the Banking System," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 245(4-5), pages 435-478.
    5. Chen, William & Phelan, Gregory, 2025. "Digital currency and banking-sector stability," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    6. Ferrari Minesso, Massimo & Siena, Daniele, 2026. "Private money and public debt. U.S. Stablecoins and the global safe asset channel," Working Paper Series 3174, European Central Bank.
    7. Moro, Alessandro & Nispi Landi, Valerio, 2024. "The external financial spillovers of CBDCs," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    8. Karau, Sören, 2023. "Central bank digital currency competition and the impossible trinity," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    9. Abad, Jorge & Nuño, Galo & Thomas, Carlos, 2025. "CBDC and the operational framework of monetary policy," Journal of Monetary Economics, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • E51 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Money Supply; Credit; Money Multipliers
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • F30 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - General

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