Journal Article

The Blockchain Revolution: Decoding Digital Currencies


Abstract: Cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance have grown considerably since the publication of the white paper on bitcoin in 2009. This article presents an overview of cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology, and their applications, explaining the spirit of the enterprise and how it compares with traditional operations. We discuss money, digital money, and payments; cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and the double-spending problem of digital money; decentralized finance; and central bank digital currency.

Keywords: blockchain; digital currencies; cryptocurrencies; decentralized finance; central bank digital currency;

JEL Classification: E42; E44; E58; G21; G23; G28; G34;

https://doi.org/10.20955/r.104.149-65

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Bibliographic Information

Provider: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Part of Series: Review

Publication Date: 2022-07-14

Volume: 104

Issue: 3

Pages: 149-165

Note: This article is derived from an essay published in the 2021 annual report of the Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis: https://www.stlouisfed.org/annual-report/2021/essay.

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