The Riksbank of Sweden has issued a warning to the public that, “On certain websites and in social media, false information is circulating claiming that the Riksbank is selling e-kronas.”
The Riksbank also says it has been contacted by individuals saying they have been solicited to buy e-kronas in telephone calls from people claiming to represent the bank.
The bank asks anyone targeted by these phone calls or by any other offer to buy the e-krona to contact registratorn@riksbank.se.
The Riksbank of Sweden has indeed been investigating the creation of an e-krona for use by the general public since Spring of 2017, but says, “The project has not been concluded and no decision has been taken on issuing e-kronas.”
“An e-krona would give the general public access to a digital complement to cash, where the state would guarantee the value of the money.”
“If the majority of people adopt digital forms of money, the infrastructure for cash would degrade, leaving those in the periphery behind.”
- “Begin to design a technical solution for an e-krona in order to test which solutions are practicable and possible to realise”
- “Draw up proposals for legislative amendments needed to clarify the Riksbank’s mandate and an e-krona’s legal standing”
- “Continue investigating the financial aspects of an e-krona”
The creation of a public state cryptocurrency, says the Riksbank, has serious implications and, “will affect the whole of society.”
Creation of various national e-currencies could also presumably disrupt comprehensive global anti-money-laundering/anti-terrorist financing systems.
Consultations with relevant parties, says the Riksbank, are, therefore, still ongoing.
