以色列银行推出数字谢克尔以增强竞争并刺激金融创新

以色列银行（BOI）计划推出数字谢克尔，与商业银行在存款和数字支付方面展开竞争。央行认为，仍在开发中的数字谢克尔将迫使银行改善服务并降低费用。

Bank of Israel Plans Digital Shekel to Enhance Financial System, Spur Competition

以色列银行计划推出数字谢克尔以增强金融体系、刺激竞争

Jerusalem, Israel - The Bank of Israel (BOI) has announced plans to introduce a digital shekel (e-shekel), a central bank digital currency (CBDC), that will challenge traditional commercial banks for deposits and digital payments. This move aims to foster a more competitive financial landscape in Israel and enhance the efficiency and accessibility of financial services.

以色列耶路撒冷 - 以色列银行 (BOI) 宣布计划推出数字谢克尔 (e-shekel)，这是一种中央银行数字货币 (CBDC)，将在存款和数字支付方面挑战传统商业银行。此举旨在培育以色列更具竞争力的金融格局，提高金融服务的效率和可及性。

In his address at a recent event organized by the Israeli newspaper Globes, BOI Deputy Governor Andrew Abir outlined the potential impact of the digital shekel on the nation's financial system. He emphasized that the introduction of a CBDC would disrupt the role of commercial banks as the primary custodians of deposits and facilitators of digital payments.

BOI 副行长 Andrew Abir 在以色列报纸 Globes 最近组织的一次活动中发表讲话，概述了数字谢克尔对国家金融体系的潜在影响。他强调，CBDC 的引入将扰乱商业银行作为存款主要托管人和数字支付促进者的角色。

Abir noted that Israel's financial system currently lacks the necessary competitiveness, leading to a lack of innovation and laxity among lenders. The digital shekel, he argued, would create a competitive environment by providing consumers with a safe and secure alternative to traditional banking services.

阿比尔指出，以色列的金融体系目前缺乏必要的竞争力，导致贷款机构缺乏创新和松懈。他认为，数字谢克尔将为消费者提供传统银行服务的安全替代方案，从而创造一个竞争环境。

"The public's ability to hold part of their money in the digital shekel may cause banks to want to incentivize the public to keep their money with them – whether by paying interest on the current account and higher interest on deposits, or through other added values such as better service, better technology," Abir said.

“公众将部分资金以数字谢克尔形式持有的能力可能会导致银行想要激励公众将资金留在他们身边——无论是通过支付经常账户利息和更高的存款利息，还是通过其他附加值，例如更好的服务、更好的技术，”阿比尔说。

The BOI also intends to compete with banks for digital payments through the e-shekel. Abir pointed out that banks have encroached on the central bank's role in retail payments as cash usage declines. The digital shekel, he explained, would allow consumers to make payments directly with BOI-backed currency, intensifying competition among different payment methods.

BOI 还打算通过电子谢克尔与银行竞争数字支付。阿比尔指出，随着现金使用量的下降，银行已经蚕食了央行在零售支付中的作用。他解释说，数字谢克尔将允许消费者直接使用 BOI 支持的货币进行支付，从而加剧不同支付方式之间的竞争。

However, Abir stressed that the e-shekel differs significantly from decentralized cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, which are not backed by a central authority. He reiterated that the digital shekel would be under the purview of the BOI, providing the same level of trust and stability as physical cash.

然而，阿比尔强调，电子谢克尔与比特币等去中心化加密货币有很大不同，后者不受中央机构的支持。他重申，数字谢克尔将属于 BOI 的管辖范围，提供与实物现金相同水平的信任和稳定性。

Sandbox for Digital Shekel Innovation

数字谢克尔创新沙盒

Recognizing the transformative potential of the digital shekel, the BOI intends to establish an API-based sandbox for banks and financial institutions. This sandbox, inspired by Project Rosalind, a collaborative effort by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and the Bank of England, will provide an environment for testing and developing innovative use cases for the e-shekel.

认识到数字谢克尔的变革潜力，BOI 打算为银行和金融机构建立一个基于 API 的沙箱。这个沙盒的灵感来自于国际清算银行 (BIS) 和英格兰银行的合作项目 Rosalind，将为测试和开发 e-shekel 的创新用例提供一个环境。

The sandbox is scheduled to launch within the next few weeks, enabling stakeholders to explore novel applications for the digital currency and identify opportunities for enhancing financial services.

该沙盒计划在未来几周内启动，使利益相关者能够探索数字货币的新颖应用，并发现增强金融服务的机会。

Considerations and Cautions

注意事项和注意事项

Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the digital shekel, Abir emphasized that the BOI is proceeding with caution. The central bank has not yet made a final decision on issuing an e-shekel and is currently exploring its feasibility.

尽管人们对数字谢克尔充满热情，但阿比尔强调，投资委员会正在谨慎行事。央行尚未就发行电子谢克尔做出最终决定，目前正在探索其可行性。

"The digital shekel is still in its early stages of development, and we are approaching it very carefully," Abir said. "We are aware of the potential risks and challenges associated with CBDCs, and we are committed to addressing them before any implementation."

“数字谢克尔仍处于发展的早期阶段，我们正在非常谨慎地对待它，”阿比尔说。 “我们意识到与 CBDC 相关的潜在风险和挑战，我们致力于在实施之前解决这些问题。”

The BOI is evaluating various considerations, including consumer protection, financial stability, and the impact on the banking sector. The central bank will also need to define the legal and regulatory framework for the digital shekel, ensuring its safe and responsible use.

BOI 正在评估各种考虑因素，包括消费者保护、金融稳定性以及对银行业的影响。央行还需要制定数字谢克尔的法律和监管框架，确保其安全和负责任的使用。

Competition Beyond Banks

银行之外的竞争

The digital shekel is not limited to competing with commercial banks. Stablecoins, cryptocurrencies that are pegged to the value of a fiat currency, pose a potential rival in the shekel-based digital payments market.

数字谢克尔不仅限于与商业银行竞争。稳定币是与法定货币价值挂钩的加密货币，在以谢克尔为基础的数字支付市场上构成了潜在的竞争对手。

In March, Bits of Gold, a local cryptocurrency exchange, received regulatory approval to test BILS, a shekel-backed stablecoin. BILS aims to challenge traditional banks by offering faster, cheaper, and more efficient transactions.

今年 3 月，当地加密货币交易所 Bits of Gold 获得监管部门批准，可以测试由谢克尔支持的稳定币 BILS。 BILS 旨在通过提供更快、更便宜、更高效的交易来挑战传统银行。

As the digital shekel progresses through its development, it remains to be seen how it will interact with stablecoins and other digital payment providers. The introduction of the e-shekel is expected to trigger a wave of innovation and competition in Israel's financial landscape, potentially leading to greater efficiency, accessibility, and choice for consumers.

随着数字谢克尔的发展不断进步，它将如何与稳定币和其他数字支付提供商互动还有待观察。电子谢克尔的推出预计将在以色列金融领域引发一波创新和竞争浪潮，有可能为消费者带来更高的效率、可及性和更多选择。