THE IMPACT AND INFLUENCE OF DIGITAL CURRENCIES ON THE TRADITIONAL FINANCIAL SYSTEM: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES AND TRANSFORMATION

Digital currency, as an emerging financial instrument, is having a profound impact on the traditional financial system. This paper explores the transformative role of digital currencies on the global financial system by analysing the types of digital currencies, their technological foundations and their impact on the areas of money supply, banking, payment systems and capital markets. First, digital currencies have improved payment efficiency and financial inclusion, especially central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and decentralized finance (DeFi) have driven innovation in payment systems and cross-border payments. Second, the popularity of digital currencies also poses regulatory and compliance challenges, particularly in terms of monetary policy, financial stability, and cross-border regulation. Finally, the paper highlights the potential of digital currencies to drive financial services inclusion and market innovation, particularly in the area of decentralised finance. Nonetheless, issues of technical security, market risk and legal compliance still need to bead dressed. In the future, the development of digital currencies will depend on technological advances and regulatory harmonization on a global scale.