For orthodox Bitcoiners central banks are often seen as the incarnation of evil. But , alas, in the case of two Carribean central banking economists the feeling of reprehension wasn’t reciprocated. Winston Moore and Jeremy Stephen were formerly associated with the Central Bank of Barados and fascinated by the potential of cryptocurrencies, they explored the consequences of their central bank holding Bitcoin as part of their international reserves. They joined us for a discussion of central banking, the pecularities of monetary policy in a small island nation and what Bitcoin could bring to the equation.
Topics covered in this episode:

The function of central banks
The role international reserves hold for central banks
The peculiar challenges of central banks of small island nation states
How speculative attacks on central banks work
Why central banks may want to hold cryptocurrencies as part of their portfolio
How Bitt plans to issue Barbados Dollar using the Bitcoin blockchain and the open asset protocol

Episode links:

Paper on inclusion of cryptocurrencies in international reserve portfolio of Central Bank of Barbados [PDF]
Barbados Cryptocurrency Startup Bitt
Bitt launches Barbados Dollar on blockchain
Winston Moore's Website
Jeremy Stephen's Website
EB Episode 83 with David Andolfatto on Fedcoin and central bank issued cryptocurrencies

This episode is hosted by Brian Fabian Crain and Meher Roy. Show notes and listening options: epicenter.tv/121