| Abstract | Kriptovalute i digitalne valute središnjih banaka na prvi pogled mogu izgledati kao ista stvar, no zapravo se znatno razlikuju, što je i glavni motiv njihove usporedbe. Tehnologija blockchain, koja je omogućila nastanak kriptovaluta i potencijalno nekih digitalnih valuta središnjih banaka, promijenila je način na koji funkcioniraju digitalna plaćanja. Europska središnja banka prepoznala je potencijal digitalnih valuta te je pokrenula projekt digitalnog eura, koji je središnja tema ovog rada. Kroz rad će se analizirati svrha i perspektiva uvođenja digitalnog eura. Također, s obzirom na digitalnu prirodu plaćanja, rad će se dotaknuti pitanja tranzicije na bezgotovinsko društvo. Vlastitim istraživanjem, kao i analizom istraživanja SPACE-a, pokušat će se dati odgovor na mogućnost te tranzicije, uz naglašavanje izazova koje takvo društvo donosi. Ciljevi rada su objasniti blockchain tehnologiju, kriptovalute, digitalne valute središnjih banaka te njihove međusobne razlike, kao i analizirati digitalni euro, njegovu funkciju i viziju uvođenja. Dodatno, istražit će se oblici plaćanja u Europskoj uniji te provesti vlastito istraživanje o poznavanju, stavovima i prihvaćenosti kriptovaluta i prihvaćanju digitalnog eura u Hrvatskoj kao potencijalnog budućeg oblika novca. Za potrebe rada primijenjene su metode deskripcije, usporedbe, sinteze i analize sekundarne stručne literature, kao i primarnih izvora podataka prikupljenih anketom. Zaključci rada potvrđuju da kriptovalute i digitalne valute središnjih banaka, poput digitalnog eura, nisu isti pojmovi. Međutim, obje kategorije donose brojne prednosti koje doprinose razvoju učinkovitijih digitalnih plaćanja. Analiza vlastitog istraživanja i istraživanja SPACE-a pokazala je da gotovinski način plaćanja postupno nestaje, a zamjenjuju ga kartice i mobilna plaćanja. Iako su kriptovalute i digitalni euro još uvijek poprilično nepoznati i nerazumljivi pojmovi za većinu građana u Hrvatskoj i Europskoj uniji, edukacija i jača regulacija mogu omogućiti njihovu buduću implementaciju, čime bi dodatno unaprijedili digitalne načine plaćanja i olakšali prijelaz prema bezgotovinskom društvu u Hrvatskoj i Europskoj uniji. |
| Abstract (english) | Cryptocurrencies and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) may seem like the same thing at first glance, but they are quite different. The difference between them is the motive for their comparison. The fundamental technology for cryptocurrencies and potentially some CBDCs is the blockchain technology. It has changed the way digital payments are made. The potential of CBDCs was recognized by the European Central Bank, which is why it launched the digital euro project. The digital euro will be the main focus of this paper, where its purpose and the perspective of its introduction will be analyzed. Cryptocurrencies and CBDCs are a sort of digital payments and because of that the paper will touch upon the possibility of transitioning to a cashless society. With a private autor's research and analysis of the SPACE study a closer answer will be given regarding the possible transition, with an emphasis on the challenges of a cashless society. The objectives are to explain the blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, CBDCs, and their differences, then it will discuss the function and possible implementation of the digital euro and analyze the payment methods in the European Union. Additionally, the forms of payment in the European Union will be explored, and an independent study will be conducted on the awareness, attitudes, and acceptance of cryptocurrencies, as well as the adoption of the digital euro in Croatia as a potential future form of currency. For achieving these goals author used methods of comparison, description, synthesis and analysis of secondary and primary data sources. The paper made a few conclusions. First conclusion is that cryptocurrencies and CBDCs more specifically the digital euro are not the same concepts and that their advantages contribute to the efficiency of digital payments. The second part of conclusions come from the analysis of both the author's own research and the SPACE study. The outdated cash-based payment system is disappearing and its being replaced by cards and mobile payments. Although cryptocurrencies and the digital euro are still relatively unknown and misunderstood concepts for the majority of citizens in Croatia and the European Union, education and stronger regulation could enable their future implementation. This would further advance digital payment methods and facilitate the transition toward a cashless society in Croatia and the European Union. |
