It seems that central banks in Australia, Canada, and Colombia have concluded that plans to introduce central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are not necessary at the moment. Unlike previous resistance from the public, this time the opposition comes directly from the #centralbank themselves, who are expressing concerns about their implementation. Other central banks might do well to follow their lead.

Reasons for Halting #cbdc Plans

The Australian central bank stated that there is no clear public interest in launching a retail CBDC. Similarly, Banco de la República de Colombia stated that there are no sufficient reasons to introduce CBDCs, either retail or wholesale. The Bank of Canada announced that it is limiting its work on digital currencies and shifting its focus to broader research on payment systems.

Retail CBDC status in advanced economies. Source: Reserve Bank of Australia

Why Are Central Banks Taking a Pause?

One of the main reasons is that most people are well served by the current options available, such as mobile banking, payment apps, or #Cryptocurrencies . While there are issues, private sector solutions continue to expand, giving people a growing range of choices.

Central banks are also concerned that the introduction of CBDCs could undermine the traditional financial system. There is a risk of increased withdrawal of bank deposits, which could destabilize the financial sector. Another concern is that introducing CBDCs could lead to the elimination of cash, which would have negative economic consequences.

Longstanding Criticism of CBDCs

Concerns about CBDCs have been a topic of debate among economists and financial experts for some time. For example, Norbert Michel from the Cato Institute warned that CBDCs would give governments full control over people’s finances. Experts also pointed out that technologies like #bitcoin☀️ and #stablecoin already meet the need for digital currencies without requiring CBDCs.

Conclusion: Not as Inevitable as It Seemed

Despite these longstanding criticisms, it is relatively new that central banks are starting to officially speak out against CBDCs. Statements from these three banks show that CBDCs are not as inevitable as once thought. While crises could lead to rapid changes, this news suggests that many countries realize the risks of CBDCs outweigh the benefits.

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