Will Other Countries Adopt Bitcoin as Legal Tender?

Legal Tender

Bitcoin has been breaking ground in the financial market for its ease of worldwide adoption, security, and stability. Bitcoin’s success comes from two key strengths: it is a currency with no physical form and can be used anywhere with meager transaction fees.

So, before you invest in Bitcoin, you must know about the Impacts Of Bitcoin On Central Banks

By creating international supply chain relationships based on Bitcoin’s tolerance of fluctuations in value across countries – such as fluctuating exchange rates among countries – businesses will benefit by creating cross-border trade on demand where they previously did not exist or were too expensive to produce.

Bitcoin is protecting the wealth of businesses and its supply chain by providing an alternative to complex money exchanges that are costly and time-consuming. 

If the idea of bitcoin as a currency in a country is an “invention of the future” and not an “applied science,” it may seem improbable that any country would adopt bitcoin as legal tender. Yet, there are signs that countries are prepared to treat bitcoin as their national currency in addition to their local currencies, as El Salvador did in 2021. If a nation finds it advantageous, it is set for massive growth in Bitcoin’s global impact.

Let’s consider the following scenarios

1.) Saudi Arabia – A central bank described by some international financial experts as “the most conservative monetary authority on earth” pressured authorities to change their current monetary system by allowing individuals and businesses to issue their digital currencies. It could be a safe way for businesses to smooth out exchange rates and save on transaction costs.

2.) The United Kingdom – Britain is already one of the world leaders in financial technology with a centralized private bank and a local currency called pounds sterling, which is legal tender in addition to the British pound. If Bitcoin can play an influential role in the UK economy, it will increase the value of Bitcoins within the UK’s overall financial infrastructure. British pound involvement will also make it easier for businesses to accept bitcoins as payment for goods and services.

3.) Australia – Australia released new laws that recognize bitcoin as a legitimate form of payment by using bitcoin wallets to pay their taxes and charge utility bills. This move shows that Australian officials are looking for ways to create a more virtual and efficient future.

Additionally, international companies have begun to use Bitcoin as a medium of commerce in various parts of the world. It will continue as given the opportunity by cryptocurrency enthusiasts and investors. Bitcoin’s position as legal tender, which is a far-fetched notion at best, can only increase if the cryptocurrency adopts its medium of exchange status in various countries worldwide.

The central African Republic becomes the second country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender

 Every law marker recently took the vote in the parliament, and most people favored adopting bitcoin as a legal tender. In comparison to El Salvador, Central African Republic’s economy is smaller, with an output volume of USD 2.4 billion in 2017 and a GDP of USD 4.5 billion in 2018, according to IMF estimates and World Bank data; El Salvador has deemed Bitcoin as a legally accepted currency and payment system that individuals and businesses may use in transactions within the country’s borders.

It is one of the most significant accolades a cryptocurrency can get, and it only highlights the soaring popularity of this new digital currency. As Unexpected as it may seem to some, countries like El Salvador, Central Africa Republic, and other emerging economies are looking at Bitcoin as their means towards enhanced financial stability, especially with the proposed implementations in these countries.

How are countries benefiting from cryptocurrency adoption?

With the adoption of cryptocurrency as a legal tender in countries like El Salvador and the Central African Republic, these countries are now better equipped to benefit from devaluations done to their local currencies and can leverage the stability of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. 

However, the major challenge that continues to hinder their widespread adoption is the lack of education surrounding blockchain technology. The other hindering matter is poor internet infrastructure in those countries. 

While these countries continue to address these problems, there’s a consensus that cryptocurrencies can only help by creating more efficient systems that would lead to more business and economic growth in these emerging economies. In addition, cryptocurrency can be an alternative to potentially volatile fiat currencies in developing countries.

Two countries will adopt bitcoin as a legal tender, said Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador

El Salvador is a small country with a population of approximately 6 million people, landlocked, and one of the most populated countries in Central America.

The adoption of bitcoin as a legal tender signifies that this small country is preparing for massive financial volatility and will have an advantage over larger economies in obtaining Bitcoin quickly due to faster transaction times and less volatility. Nayib Bukele, the president of El Salvador, depicted that in 2022, two more nations will announce the legitimacy of bitcoin as a tender. 

The central African Republic is ready to adopt bitcoin

99.9% of all financial transactions are done through paper currency because no infrastructure enables the country’s citizens to do their financial transactions digitally.

To transition from a cash-based economy, the Central African Republic must pass a bill in parliament, declare Bitcoin a legal tender, and create an appropriate regulatory framework for its adoption. The Central African Republic has recently passed a bill declaring bitcoin as legal digital tender within the country’s borders.

Summary

Bitcoin is legal tender as declared by the government of the Central African Republic, and locals use it with no legal ramifications. The only limitations that are facing cryptocurrency adoption in developing economies are poor internet infrastructure and lack of primary financial education, certain countries do not have the required infrastructure to make cryptocurrency transactions, but they can benefit from bitcoin by maintaining their native currencies as an exchange medium to buy/sell.

Legal tender article and permission to publish here provided by Jean Nichols. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on November 20, 2022.