📣 ECB's first progress report on its digital currency (CBDC) is out! Privacy is the star of the show, with features like pseudonymization, hashing, and encryption to keep your transactions incognito. Plus, your financial data won't be used for commercial services without your say-so. Offline transactions? They've got you covered, with direct payments between parties, no third-party needed. The first draft of the technical and regulatory framework is expected by 2024. But, not everyone's thrilled. Critics worry about privacy issues and government overreach. Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers are pushing back, highlighting the potential threats to liberty. Stay tuned, folks!