Policy Brief

Digital Assets: Common Governance Against Fragmentation

This policy brief addresses the growing risks of fragmentation in the global governance of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) and crypto-assets. As G20 countries pursue divergent regulatory paths— from strict bans to comprehensive legal frameworks and pilot CBDC programmes—the lack of international coordination may result in incompatible infrastructures, increased cross-border transaction costs, and limited interoperability. Despite the intertwined nature of digital currencies and crypto-assets, current policy efforts, such as the G20 Crypto-Asset Policy Roadmap and IMF-FSB reports, continue to treat them as distinct issues, thereby missing critical synergies and systemic risks. The brief proposes a strategic framework centred on five pillars: (1) the development of harmonised governance frameworks, (2) multilateral collaboration through new global accords, (3) inclusive capacity-building programmes, (4) adoption of technology-neutral standards, and (5) alignment with ethical and privacy norms. It advocates for the G20 to bridge this regulatory divide by fostering modular, interoperable systems and coordination. These steps aim to build a stable, equitable, and future-proof digital financial architecture.

5 Nov 2025

Task Force

Keywords

crypto-assetsdigital assetsgeopolitical fragmentation

Author/s

Nicola Bilotta
European University Institute and Instituto Affari Internazionali
(Italy)
Dr Cecilia Celeste Danesi
Pontifical University of Salamanca
(Spain)
Dr Alejandro Garofali Acosta
European Institute of International Studies
(Sweden)
Dr Andrea Ribeiro Hoffman
Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio)
(Brazil)
Dr Mario Torres Jarrín
Pontifical University of Salamanca
(Spain)
Dr Nikolas Passos
European University Institute
(Italy)