What Is a CBDC? Definition, Types, Benefits & Challenges

What Is a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)?

A Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is a digital form of a country’s national currency issued and regulated by its central bank.

What Is the Origin of Central Bank Digital Currencies?

The concept of CBDCs stems from the rise of cryptocurrencies, like bitcoin (BTC), which launched in 2009. As BTC and other digital assets gained traction, central banks saw the potential and began exploring their own digital currency projects. Notably, in 2012, an IMF research paper proposed a digital form of central bank money to achieve monetary stability. Sweden’s Riksbank and China’s PBOC further advanced CBDC discussions in 2014 and 2016, respectively.

Interest in CBDCs continued to grow, with many central banks conducting research and pilot projects. The Bank of International Settlements (BIS) established an Innovation Hub in 2018 to support CBDC initiatives. The pandemic also fueled discussions on using digital currencies for contactless payments and crisis aid distribution.

China was the first to launch an expansive pilot CBDC in April 2020 with the digital Yuan. It is still a relatively new development, but the government is already pushing it as the country enters its biggest tourist season.

Today, various central banks are actively researching and piloting CBDCs, tailoring them to their specific economic and societal needs. It’s vital to distinguish CBDCs from decentralized cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, as CBDCs remain centralized, regulated by the issuing central bank, and backed by reserves.

Key Features of A Central Bank Digital Currency

The concept of CBDCs has been gradually evolving over the past decade, partly due to the rising popularity of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, ether (ETH), and stablecoins such as tether (USDT) and USD coin (USDC). However, it was the recognition by central banks of the potential benefits and their subsequent pilot programs that truly pushed the idea of digitizing national currencies into the spotlight.

So, what are the key features of CBDCs?

Digital representation of fiat currency: A CBDC is a digital counterpart of a country’s physical banknotes and coins built on top of a distributed ledger (similar to a blockchain but with centralized governance in the case of CBDCs).
Central bank control and regulation: A CBDC is issued and maintained by the central bank, distinguishing it from decentralized cryptocurrencies that operate independently of any central authority. This ensures greater control over the money supply and monetary policy.
Legal tender status: A CBDC is a form of legal tender, accepted as a form of payment for goods and services within the country, just like physical fiat currency.
Direct liability of the central bank: A CBDC is a direct liability of the central bank, sometimes backed by its reserves, making it a secure and stable form of digital currency (depending on the government).

Potential Benefits of CBDCs

Central bank digital currencies have a variety of benefits.

Faster payments: CBDCs are digital, so you can transfer them instantly. That means businesses and consumers save on costs, and payments get settled much quicker.
Extremely secure: CBDCs are issued by central banks and have the full backing of the government. Fraud and theft would be much less of an issue as long as they can be proven and enforced. Ideally, they would be much safer than cash or credit cards.
Financial inclusion: (Retail) CBDCs are for everyone, no matter where you are or your financial status. They could provide financial help to the billions of people who don’t have access to a bank or similar financial institutions.
Improved financial instruments: Central banks can use CBDCs to improve crucial financial instruments like interest rates. They could be used to encourage spending and investment, giving the economy a boost.
Reduced reliance on foreign currency: With CBDCs, countries can rely more on their own currency and worry less about financial instability because they have greater control over their monetary system. However, if there are more secure CBDCs from the U.S. or China, for example, that are available to the global public, this may actually increase the world’s reliance on these top currencies as they are more stable than their own.

CBDCs could revolutionize the way we handle money and bring some awesome perks along the way.

Types of CBDCs

When it comes to Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), there are two main types to consider:

Retail CBDCs
Wholesale CBDCs

Retail CBDCs

This type is designed for direct use by the general public, just like physical cash or digital payment methods. It allows individuals and businesses to hold the CBDC in digital wallets and make transactions hassle-free, such as buying goods and services or paying bills.

Advantages

Retail CBDCs could make it easier for people to access financial services, especially those who do not have access to traditional banking accounts.
They could reduce the cost of payments and make them more efficient.
They could help to boost economic growth by making all kinds of transactions easier.
Financial crimes would be much easier to spot and prosecute

Disadvantages

Retail CBDCs could raise privacy concerns, as they would be a digital form of currency that could be easily tracked by governments.
They could be vulnerable to cyberattacks.
They could be costly to implement and maintain.

Wholesale CBDCs

Unlike retail CBDCs, wholesale CBDCs are designed to be used by central banks and select financial institutions, such as banks and payment processors. They aim to enhance the efficiency and security of financial systems by streamlining settlement processes between governments and financial institutions. They would not be available to the general public, but they could be used to settle payments between financial institutions.

Advantages

Wholesale CBDCs could help to improve the efficiency of the financial system.
They could help to reduce the risk of systemic financial crises.
They could be used to provide emergency liquidity to financial institutions during times of crisis.
These CBDCs could greatly simplify compliance processes to speed up large-scale transactions

Disadvantages

Wholesale CBDCs would not be available to the general public
They could be costly to implement and maintain.

Challenges and Concerns of CBDCs

Before CBDCs become widely adopted, there are some hurdles that need to be tackled and downsides that need to be considered.

Cost: Setting up CBDCs requires experienced experts and new infrastructure and systems, which can be pricey and hard to come by.
Security: CBDCs need be to heavily audited to ensure that they can’t be exploited or harmed by cyberattacks.
Privacy worries: Recording CBDC transactions on public blockchains could raise privacy concerns. If CBDCs replace regular currencies, every single transaction you make would be made known to the government.
Stability: CBDCs could impact financial stability if not managed carefully, leading to inflation risks.
Adoption: It’s uncertain if the public will embrace CBDCs, especially if they aren’t given the proper incentives.
Regulation: The lack of clear regulatory frameworks makes issuing and managing CBDCs challenging.
Disruption: CBDCs might replace services offered by banks and any number of financial institutions, leading to job losses and financial instability.
Inflation risk: Issuing excessive CBDCs could lead to inflationary pressures in the economy.
Financial inclusion barriers: CBDCs could create technical barriers to inclusion that would need to be solved with education programs. Not everyone is digitally literate enough to use CBDCs yet.
Cross-border coordination: If multiple CBDCs are being developed without cooperation, they may not be interoperable, potentially slowing down global trade in the future.

Central banks have a lot to ponder before making a final decision on CBDCs. Keep in mind these challenges are just the tip of the iceberg. As CBDCs take shape worldwide, more issues could pop up during development, implementation, and adoption.

Countries Spearheading the Development of CBDCs

A handful of countries are already working on their own CBDCs. From China’s trailblazing initiatives to the Bahamas’ groundbreaking Sand Dollar and more, these nations are shaping the future of digital currencies:

China: The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has been a frontrunner in CBDC development. In 2020, China initiated pilot programs for its Digital Currency Electronic Payment (DCEP) system in several cities, with ongoing trials and expansion in 2021.
Bahamas: The Central Bank of the Bahamas launched the Sand dollar, making it one of the first countries to introduce a retail CBDC. The Sand dollar aims to enhance financial inclusion, especially in remote regions with limited banking infrastructure.
Eastern Caribbean: The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) introduced the DCash digital currency, fostering interoperability between member states and promoting efficient cross-border payments.
Sweden: The Riksbank has been exploring the feasibility of an e-krona as a potential CBDC option, conducting research and consultations to assess its viability.

CBDCs in the USA

There have been ongoing discussions and efforts exploring the possibility of a U.S. CBDC. The Federal Reserve has been actively researching the potential benefits and risks it might bring to the financial system.

However, as of now, there isn’t a concrete plan for an immediate launch. Several factors contribute to this cautious approach. Firstly, implementing a CBDC requires extensive research, regulatory clarity, and robust cybersecurity measures. Secondly, the U.S. financial landscape is vast and complex, requiring careful consideration of how a CBDC would interact with existing monetary policies and the broader economy.

Moreover, concerns over privacy, financial stability, and possible disruptions in the financial sector need to be thoroughly addressed before moving forward. The Federal Reserve is also closely observing how other countries’ CBDC pilot programs unfold to make informed decisions.

While the U.S. is proactive in studying CBDC possibilities, the timeline for a full-scale launch remains uncertain. The Federal Reserve aims to make a well-informed decision that best serves the interests of the American people and the stability of the U.S. financial system.

As technology evolves and global CBDC trends progress, the likelihood of a U.S. CBDC may increase in the future, but for now, it’s a work in progress.

The Bottom Line

CBDCs represent a transformative leap in the evolution of monetary systems, aiming to enhance financial inclusion, payment efficiency, and monetary policy implementation. CBDCs offer promising potential in addressing various economic challenges and promoting secure, efficient, and inclusive digital economies.

However, the successful implementation of CBDC requires careful consideration of technological, regulatory, and social aspects to ensure privacy, security, and widespread acceptance. As central banks worldwide explore CBDC initiatives, international cooperation and research-based strategies will be pivotal in shaping the future of digital currencies and global financial systems.