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MONEY

What you need to know about Sweden’s plans for a digital currency

Sweden has taken one step closer towards its own digital currency – the “e-krona”.

Published: 12 April 2021 07:41 CEST
A woman rejecting cash.
A digital currency is not meant to replace cash in Sweden. Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

Plans to launch Sweden’s own digital currency, which have been in the pipeline since 2016, recently passed the first pilot stage, the country’s Central Bank (The Riksbank) announced in a press release.

So why is Sweden doing this?

Cash is dying a slow death in Sweden, with alternative methods of payment commonplace. The number of notes and coins in circulation has reduced by 40 percent since 2009, while popular smartphone apps like Swish allow electronic payments to be made almost as quickly as handing over physical money. Swedes are also among the world’s biggest card users.

“Sweden is noticeably further ahead than the UK, mainland Europe and the US, which is a long way behind in this trend. Because of how technologically developed it is, you see a lot of new interesting things in economics quite a while before you see it elsewhere,” HSBC global economist James Pomeroy told The Local back in 2018.

But what does a cashless society truly mean?

Sweden has previously been predicted to transform into a cashless society by 2030 with 80 percent of retail payments already made by card.

Concerns have been raised, including by the Riksbank, about how the cashless society affect certain groups, for example international residents who can’t sign up for certain digital payment methods without a Swedish bank account or personnummer, and the elderly.

So although physical payments are declining, the Riksbank wants the e-krona to be seen as a complement to cash.

The piloted digital currency also has similarities to cash. E-kronor are uniquely identifiable and can only be created by the Riksbank, similar to actual physical money.

How exactly would an e-krona work?

The e-krona used in the Riksbank’s pilot project uses blockchain technology and is in the shape of a singular “token”. Transactions are completed through nodes which are run by the Riksbank and other participants such as payment service providers.

A service provider can request e-kronor that are issued from the Riksbank in exchange for the user debiting their account in the Riksbank’s settlement system RIX.

The customer can then exchange money in their bank accounts for e-kronor, that they can use for transactions instead.

When a person uses e-kronor for a transaction, the service providers’ nodes verify that the e-krona can be traced back to the Riksbank. The e-krona is then registered as consumed and the transaction is accepted.


An image provided by the Riksbank shows how the e-krona could work.

What happens now?

Following on from the pilot, the Riksbank said they will continue to work on a digital currency that will be usable in everyday life.

Phase 2 will include working with potential distributors, developing offline functions and assessing scalability for retail payments. This phase is expected to last at least a year.

How likely is a digital currency actually to happen?

There is still a long way to go before a digital currency is a reality. Several huge questions remain. For example, there is currently no legislation within this area, and new legislation would be needed. User identity protection is also an important question, as every e-krona contains information about previous transactions and recipients.

As of today, there have been no decisions on whether an e-krona should be issued and what that would look like. The Riksbank are clear that this is technology that needs further investigations and the pilot is not the final solution that has been chosen as the digital currency.

Member comments

  1. Utterly pointless. Blockchain is a solution looking for a problem. Prepaid debit cards would allow people without bank accounts to use existing cashless payment systems, without creating another one.

    The difficulty of getting a PN is a separate issue and is a structural inequality in Sweden that should be fixed. But it’s too convenient for anti-immigration folks to use it as a way to make life difficult for non-Swedes.

    Strongly suspect this is all so the Riksbank can stay hip with the dudebros by using blockchain, yah

    1. I think the biggest point of using the blockchain here is to check whether ekrona that is being received was actually a valid token that was issued by the Riksbank and that it was acquired by the person before they send it off to somewhere else.

      At the moment banks do give us a notion of being cashless, but these banks are probably also working under the cover with the flow of actual cash (which again, is checked physically, whether they were printed by the Riksbank).

      I guess, as we do already have banks set up to handle our krona in digital form, we could expect the ekrona to replace what banks are currently doing under the hood with real krona bills?
      I think I’m trying to say, don’t expose this ekrona thing to the general public, just have the banks manage everything! And to the general public, keep life the way it is now?

    2. Thanks for your reply, Mark. As I finished reading, I wondered “how is this better than what already exists?” I don’t see the benefit for Sweden financially or to the Swedish economy. Agreed, re: structural inequality of obtaining a PN *and* agreed that as SD/anti-immigrant folks attempt to weaponize anything at their disposal (citizenship tests, for example) they seek to weaponize this, too.
      So, I don’t see this as easier/safer to manage than what already exists, I don’t see it improving the wealth of Swedes in general or the nation as a whole and I *do* see its potential to be weaponized by darker political/social forces in the country. *And* I have to wonder 1) who specifically is pushing for this and 2) how will they particularly benefit from it?

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For members

TRANSPORT

How to save money at Sweden’s airports

Sweden is not a cheap country by any means, and the extra charges at airports can make travelling feel even more costly. Luckily, there are ways to make trips to Swedish airports more affordable.

Published: 11 July 2024 08:30 CEST
Updated: 13 July 2024 06:26 CEST
How to save money at Sweden's airports

Sweden has become increasingly expensive over the past few years, in line with the cost of living crisis, inflation and rising food prices affecting much of Europe.

These significant price increases make the high costs at Swedish airports even more noticeable, leaving many travellers, already burdened by inflation, feeling the pinch.

Luckily, there are ways to make your stay at Swedish airports more affordable.

Bring your own food – or buy it before getting to the airport

When travelling through a Swedish airport, according to the official information on the Sweden’s Transport Agency’s website, you are allowed to bring solid food through security and onto the plane.

However, if the food is considered a liquid, restrictions will apply. Liquids include foods such as jellies, creams, drinks, soups, and dishes with both solid and liquid components (like meat and potatoes with sauce or pickled cucumbers). This rule applies even if the food is frozen.

Use this information to prepare your own meals (sandwiches are a good option for longer flights, while snacks may do the trick for shorter ones) or buy food before you get to the airport.

Both will lead to saving a lot of money compared to airport food prices.

Cutting (transport) costs on your way to the airport

Sweden’s major airports have express services that make getting there quick and efficient, but these can be a tad expensive.

Fortunately, there are cheaper alternatives.

For example, in Stockholm, you can take the non-express commuter train instead of the Arlanda Express or combine a train plus bus option.

Both options cost less, though they do take longer (the express train trip lasts around 20 minutes, while the cheaper alternatives will take around 40 minutes).

For a detailed guide to your transport options if you want to skip the Arlanda Express (or if it isn’t running), check out The Local’s guide on the topic here.

Do your research before getting there

All of Sweden’s busiest airports are operated by the state-owned company Swedavia, which makes it easier to check out your dining options in advance.

Knowing where to find the cheaper and more expensive eateries can help you plan better.

You can find an overview of available restaurant, bar, and cafe options on a per airport and per terminal basis, as well as their opening hours, on the company’s website.

For Arlanda Airport, check here. For Landvetter, here.

Keep in mind that the most affordable options might be before security.

Are lounges worth it?

While suggesting you spend money on a lounge might seem counterintuitive, it can sometimes be a cost-effective option. You’ll just need to do some simple maths to determine whether it’s worth it.

A meal and a drink at a Swedish airport could easily cost a few hundred kronor.

Lounges, which typically include buffet food and drink options, might offer better value for money, if you’re planning to buy food in a restaurant at the airport rather than bringing your own with you. They also often have shower facilities, office spaces including printers, and children’s areas, which may make the cost worth it depending on your journey and whether you’re travelling with family or not.

For the SAS international lounge at Arlanda, the cost is usually around 350 kronor when purchased in advance online and slightly higher if bought at the lounge reception on the day of your visit​.

Note that if you are a frequent flyer or have certain credit cards, you might have access to lounges for free or at a discounted rate, using points to pay for some or all of the fee.

Don’t buy the first thing that seems cheap at the airport – a better deal might be waiting outside

Many items found in airport stores and duty-free shops are available outside the airport, and often at better prices.

While duty-free items are tax-free, you might still find better deals by shopping around elsewhere (in fact, this is often the case for both food and drinks).

Resist the temptation to buy stuff that seems cheap at the airport unless you’re absolutely sure you’re getting a fair price. You can always do a quick Google search before you buy to see if you can get it cheaper somewhere else.

You will likely save more by purchasing it outside the airport.

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