Introduction
This brief from the Digital Finance Project Team (DFPT) examines the unique features of the underlying technologies that support the digital finance ecosystem. From blockchains and their consensus protocols to smart contracts and their wide variety of uses, the spectrum of new and repurposed technologies is growing exponentially and has the potential to disrupt many traditional financial service activities. This brief explores how these technologies could reduce costs, mitigate systemic risks, and facilitate innovative business models. It also examines the limitations and shortcomings that need to be addressed for these technologies to achieve their full potential.
