ABSTRACT
The origins of Blockchain are rooted in consumer payment mechanisms through the development of Bitcoin. The development of a Blockchain-based Know Your Customer solution goes beyond a mere verification of identity. This chapter assesses the prospects of Blockchain-based cryptocurrencies from a regulatory perspective with a view to outlining some of the elements that are essential for a payment mechanism to thrive in the marketplace. It considers the successes that cryptocurrencies have had as a substitute currency, particularly in economies that suffer from high inflation. The chapter describes the value proposition that cryptocurrencies offer vis-a-vis established payment mechanisms in developed economies in order to evaluate whether they offer consumers in these economies an efficiency advantage. Regulation Z mandates that credit card issuers must act as intermediaries on behalf of consumers to assist them in contesting charges where they feel that they have been wronged.
