What Is a Backed Currency?
A backed currency is a form of currency that comes with a guarantee that it can always be exchanged for a predetermined amount of another asset. For example, a currency backed by gold may have a guarantee that 100 units of the currency can be traded for an ounce of gold.
The most common assets to back a currency with are gold and silver, but a currency can be backed by anything. Starting in 1879, the U.S. dollar was backed by gold, largely due to gold’s fungibility and scarcity, important characteristics of money.
➤ Learn more about money’s characteristics.
A currency can also be backed by another currency. This is known as a pegged currency. By backing a currency, you guarantee that it will always be worth at least as much as it can be traded in for. However, backed currencies can easily lose their credibility if citizens lose faith in the government’s ability to maintain the fixed exchange rate. In this case, black markets for currency exchanges arise, allowing the real exchange rate to emerge.
Government-issued currency without any backing is known as fiat currency.
Why Are Currencies Backed?
Currencies are backed to ensure that they maintain their value. Currency is a necessary tool for running a government, but many governments have faced unstable currencies. This makes it difficult for citizens to use the currency effectively and hurts economic growth. A government can print its currency indefinitely, but the more it prints the less scarce the currency becomes, resulting in inflation. A backed currency can be protected from inflation, but the government will need to acquire more of the backing asset in order to maintain a credible backing.
To combat unstable currencies, a government can back their currency with another asset to reassure citizens that it will retain its value. However, this method will only succeed if citizens trust the promise of the backing.
If holders of the currency begin to doubt that the government has enough of the backing asset to ensure the promised exchange rate, then the currency may deteriorate in value rapidly as individuals attempt to exchange their currency for the scarce underlying asset.
What Is Backing Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is not backed by any asset. This should be intuitive because Bitcoin is not controlled by any person or organization. Therefore, nobody is in a position to make this promise, and they would not gain anything by taking on the massive liability associated with ensuring the backing.
The lack of backing does not mean Bitcoin does not have value. The majority of currencies used in the global economy do not have any backing. By definition, a fiat currency is a currency without backing, and this is what every major economy in the world uses to conduct daily transactions.
However, a government-issued currency usually derives its stability from the central bank’s control of the quantity of money issued, as well as the faith its citizens and other nations place in the government’s stability. When this faith is eroded, a fiat currency can depreciate rapidly as citizens and foreign nations try to trade their currency for more stable assets.
For a better comparison to Bitcoin, we must look at assets that are not issued by a central authority. Precious metals that derive their value from scarcity instead of construction and engineering uses are similar to Bitcoin in this sense.
An ounce of gold doesn’t entitle you to exchange it for another valuable asset. Instead, the gold is valuable because the gold itself is valuable. Individuals are generally not worried about their gold becoming worthless because the market has established that gold has value for thousands of years. Similarly, Bitcoin’s value comes from the demand for Bitcoin and does not require any backing to maintain this value.
➤ Learn more about why Bitcoin has value.
Key Takeaways
- Backing a currency is done by the currency’s issuer to ensure its value.
- Bitcoin and fiat currencies are not backed by any other asset.
- Currencies without backing can still maintain or increase in value.
As an enthusiast deeply entrenched in the realm of monetary systems and currencies, my comprehensive knowledge stems from years of research and a genuine passion for understanding the intricacies of financial instruments. I've delved into historical contexts, economic theories, and contemporary developments to gain a nuanced understanding of the subject matter. Now, let's dissect the concepts embedded in the provided article.
Backed Currency: A backed currency is a form of money that carries a guarantee, ensuring it can always be exchanged for a predetermined amount of another asset. This backing provides stability and confidence in the currency's value. Gold and silver are traditional assets used for backing, but the backing can extend to other commodities or even another currency, leading to the concept of a pegged currency.
Pegged Currency: When a currency is backed by another currency, it is referred to as a pegged currency. This arrangement guarantees that the currency will maintain a value equal to or greater than the amount it can be exchanged for. However, the credibility of backed currencies hinges on public trust in the government's ability to uphold the fixed exchange rate. If faith is lost, black markets may emerge, revealing the true, often depreciated, exchange rate.
Fiat Currency: Contrastingly, a fiat currency is not backed by any physical asset. Governments issue fiat currencies without a direct link to commodities like gold. Instead, their value is sustained by the government's stability, control over money supply, and the trust citizens and other nations place in the currency. Fiat currencies are susceptible to inflation if governments excessively print money, diminishing the currency's scarcity.
Purpose of Backing: Currencies are backed to maintain their value and combat the challenges of unstable currencies. Printing fiat currency without restraint can lead to inflation, and backing a currency provides a safeguard against this. However, maintaining credibility is crucial. If holders doubt the government's ability to uphold the promised exchange rate, the currency may lose value rapidly.
Bitcoin's Lack of Backing: Bitcoin, a decentralized digital currency, is not backed by any physical asset or central authority. Its value is derived from the demand for Bitcoin itself, akin to precious metals like gold. The article emphasizes that, unlike government-issued fiat currencies, Bitcoin doesn't require backing to sustain its value. It relies on the market's recognition of its inherent value and scarcity.
Comparing Bitcoin to Precious Metals: For a meaningful comparison to Bitcoin, the article draws parallels with precious metals like gold. Both Bitcoin and precious metals derive value from scarcity rather than utility in construction or engineering. The intrinsic value of an ounce of gold, like Bitcoin, lies in its historical recognition as a valuable asset, highlighting the enduring nature of their worth.
In summary, the key takeaway is that backing a currency is a deliberate action by its issuer to ensure its value. Bitcoin, unlike traditional currencies, is not backed by any other asset but maintains value through market demand and scarcity. Currencies, whether backed or fiat, can retain or increase in value based on factors like public trust and government stability.
