Hayekian Hurdles: Challenges to Cryptocurrency as a Viable Basis for a New Monetary Order
The rise of cryptocurrencies over the past decade has promised to challenge the dominance of fiat money systems and reshape monetary policy. However, recent developments, including market volatility and the collapse of key exchanges like FTX, have eroded public trust, raising skepticism of a feasibl...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Economies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/13/1/12 |
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| author | Luís Pedro Freitas Jorge Cerdeira Diogo Lourenço |
| author_facet | Luís Pedro Freitas Jorge Cerdeira Diogo Lourenço |
| author_sort | Luís Pedro Freitas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The rise of cryptocurrencies over the past decade has promised to challenge the dominance of fiat money systems and reshape monetary policy. However, recent developments, including market volatility and the collapse of key exchanges like FTX, have eroded public trust, raising skepticism of a feasible transition to a crypto-based monetary system. This paper explores why cryptocurrencies have not met the expectations of their proponents, particularly those who saw them as a step towards Friedrich Hayek’s vision for competitive currency issuance. While cryptocurrencies reflect some aspects of Hayek’s model, their instability—especially in Bitcoin-like assets—undermines their role as a reliable alternative to fiat money. The paper also considers how central bank independence and regulatory gaps further hinder the development of a robust cryptocurrency framework. Despite the continued relevance of Hayek’s ideas in today’s monetary landscape, the entrenched structures of modern central banks and the rise of Central Bank Digital Currencies suggest that a decentralised currency order remains unlikely in the near future. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6819827561dc4110859bf8c69dbd04b3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-7099 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Economies |
| spelling | doaj-art-6819827561dc4110859bf8c69dbd04b32025-01-24T13:30:00ZengMDPI AGEconomies2227-70992025-01-011311210.3390/economies13010012Hayekian Hurdles: Challenges to Cryptocurrency as a Viable Basis for a New Monetary OrderLuís Pedro Freitas0Jorge Cerdeira1Diogo Lourenço2Faculty of Economics, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-464 Porto, PortugalIS-UP, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Porto, Via Panorâmica s/n, 4150-564 Porto, PortugalCEF.UP, Faculty of Economics, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-464 Porto, PortugalThe rise of cryptocurrencies over the past decade has promised to challenge the dominance of fiat money systems and reshape monetary policy. However, recent developments, including market volatility and the collapse of key exchanges like FTX, have eroded public trust, raising skepticism of a feasible transition to a crypto-based monetary system. This paper explores why cryptocurrencies have not met the expectations of their proponents, particularly those who saw them as a step towards Friedrich Hayek’s vision for competitive currency issuance. While cryptocurrencies reflect some aspects of Hayek’s model, their instability—especially in Bitcoin-like assets—undermines their role as a reliable alternative to fiat money. The paper also considers how central bank independence and regulatory gaps further hinder the development of a robust cryptocurrency framework. Despite the continued relevance of Hayek’s ideas in today’s monetary landscape, the entrenched structures of modern central banks and the rise of Central Bank Digital Currencies suggest that a decentralised currency order remains unlikely in the near future.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/13/1/12cryptocurrenciesHayekcurrency competitioncurrency adoptionmonetary evolution |
| spellingShingle | Luís Pedro Freitas Jorge Cerdeira Diogo Lourenço Hayekian Hurdles: Challenges to Cryptocurrency as a Viable Basis for a New Monetary Order Economies cryptocurrencies Hayek currency competition currency adoption monetary evolution |
| title | Hayekian Hurdles: Challenges to Cryptocurrency as a Viable Basis for a New Monetary Order |
| title_full | Hayekian Hurdles: Challenges to Cryptocurrency as a Viable Basis for a New Monetary Order |
| title_fullStr | Hayekian Hurdles: Challenges to Cryptocurrency as a Viable Basis for a New Monetary Order |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hayekian Hurdles: Challenges to Cryptocurrency as a Viable Basis for a New Monetary Order |
| title_short | Hayekian Hurdles: Challenges to Cryptocurrency as a Viable Basis for a New Monetary Order |
| title_sort | hayekian hurdles challenges to cryptocurrency as a viable basis for a new monetary order |
| topic | cryptocurrencies Hayek currency competition currency adoption monetary evolution |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7099/13/1/12 |
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