Part 6/12:
CBDC Developments: The European Central Bank has accelerated its digital euro rollout, aiming for launch around 2029, while China's ECNY already boasts over 2.25 billion wallets. Surveys show a significant portion of Europeans are unwilling to use central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), signaling ongoing skepticism.
Regulatory Enforcement & Taxation: U.S. exchanges now report holdings via IRS Form 1099-DA, making holdings increasingly transparent to authorities. The perception shifts from digital cash to a controllable database, intensifying demand for privacy-preserving assets.
This cumulative effect is a cultural and regulatory shift—where digital assets are increasingly seen as surveillance vectors, and privacy becomes a sought-after feature rather than a fringe concern.