Bitcoin ATMs, standalone machines that convert cash to cryptocurrency, are a relatively new and less examined part of the cryptocurrency world. This controversial industry has garnered criticism in the press as well as the U.S. government for its association with illegal or financially predatory practices. However, despite the recent downturn in cryptocurrency prices, some U.S. consumers are still using Bitcoin ATMs, suggesting the industry meets a demand from consumers who want an alternative to crypto exchanges.
|
Franklin Noll
Expandable Row
|
August 30, 2023
Expandable Row
|
Expandable Row
|
Fintechs, credit bureaus, and financial institutions are collecting alternative data to develop new scoring models that supplement traditional credit reports. Studies, providers, and pilot programs suggest that these alternative data can improve credit reporting and thereby expand access to fair credit. However, use of alternative data is still low due to both uncertainty about the benefits relative to the cost and consumer concerns about use and privacy.
|
Terri Bradford
Expandable Row
|
June 28, 2023
Expandable Row
|
Expandable Row
|
Although researchers continue to discuss the possibility of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) for retail payments in the United States, the success of a CBDC will depend on consumer adoption. To understand how a CBDC could provide a good user experience, recent surveys in the United States and in other countries have asked consumers about their wants and needs for a potential CBDC. In the United States, a majority of respondents to these surveys seek dependability, convenience, and security.
|
Franklin Noll
Expandable Row
|
March 29, 2023
Expandable Row
|
Expandable Row
|
Walmart and Apple have announced plans to offer traditional financial accounts. Walmart’s consumer checking account may advance financial inclusion by increasing account access to unbanked and underbanked consumers. Apple’s consumer savings account may change how credit card issuers offer rewards to their customers. Both offerings are likely to increase competition in the financial services industry, though whether they ultimately benefit consumers remains to be seen.
|
Terri Bradford
Expandable Row
|
November 30, 2022
Expandable Row
|
Expandable Row
|
In recent decades, entities in both the public and private sectors have worked to promote payment inclusion in the United States, whether by expanding the supply of transaction accounts or boosting consumer demand for them. However, more research and data collection are needed to better define and measure payment inclusion as well as evaluate how effective efforts have been to improve it.
|
Ying Lei Toh
Expandable Row
|
October 7, 2022
Expandable Row
|
Expandable Row
|
Open banking, which allows third-party financial apps to access consumer financial data electronically and securely, relies on data aggregators to establish connections with consumers’ financial institutions and extract consumer data. Data aggregators are critical to enhancing consumer financial services and increasing competition—both among financial service providers and across payment methods. However, their role raises some concerns related to data security, data privacy, and competition.
|
Julian Alcazar
Fumiko Hayashi
Expandable Row
|
August 24, 2022
Expandable Row
|
Expandable Row
|
Owning cryptocurrency has become especially popular among Black consumers for reasons related to historical context as well as the forward-looking views of young consumers. While cryptocurrencies have the potential to meet Black consumers’ expectations, they also pose risks to privacy and financial security.
|
Terri Bradford
Expandable Row
|
June 1, 2022
Expandable Row
|
Expandable Row
|
Many central banks around the world have been researching, experimenting, or developing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Although central banks in several emerging markets and developing economies have implemented or plan to implement a general-purpose, or retail, CBDC to promote financial inclusion and improve their payment systems, central banks in many advanced economies have not yet found a compelling case for a retail CBDC.
|
Fumiko Hayashi
Ying Lei Toh
Expandable Row
|
May 26, 2022
Expandable Row
|
Expandable Row
|
Buy now, pay later (BNPL) products offered by fintechs have gained traction among consumers and merchants in recent years and could compete with credit cards as a payment option. We explore the reactions of banks and payment networks to BNPL products as well as the current regulatory environment.
|
Julian Alcazar
Terri Bradford
Expandable Row
|
December 1, 2021
Expandable Row
|
Expandable Row
|
Low-income consumers are more likely to pay bills using costlier payment methods, even when they have access to cheaper bank account-based methods. Digital exclusion, cash flow constraints, and lack of trust in or familiarity with electronic payment methods may explain low-income consumers’ reliance on costlier bill payment methods.
|
Ying Lei Toh
Expandable Row
|
November 23, 2021
Expandable Row
|
Expandable Row
|
