RE: LeoThread 2024-10-22 21:22

[taskmaster4450le]

A digital pound will jeopardise people’s privacy, London City mayor tells CBDC event

London's City ambassador tells digital money event CBDCs are a privacy risk.

• CBCDs offer traceability — but that comes with a cost to consumers, City mayor says.
• Stablecoins present a risk to governments.

#crypto #cbdc #stablecoin #governments #money

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Central bank digital currencies threaten users’ privacy, London’s Lord Mayor Michael Mainelli told an event hosted by digital pound enthusiasts on Wednesday.

CBDCs can fight financial crime, as payments are traceable, and transaction monitoring can be automated — but there’s a dark side, Mainelli said.

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That transparency “equally implies a loss of privacy,” he said. “I’m sorry — you can’t have both.”

His comments come as CBDCs remain a loaded topic across the world. While governments tout them as a welcome solution in an increasingly cashless world, critics slam CBDCs as a threat to people’s privacy.

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Mainelli should not be confused with London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Instead, Mainelli’s role, as the head of the City of London Corporation, is to be an ambassador for the UK’s big business and finance community.

Mainelli spoke at an event hosted by the Digital Pound Foundation, which promotes CBDCs, stablecoins, and tokenisation.

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Article

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What is a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)?

Let's dive deeper into the concept of central ⇪ digital currencies× (CBDCs) and explore their features, benefits, and potential implications.

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What is a central bank digital currency (CBDC)?

A CBDC is a digital form of a country's fiat currency, issued and regulated by a central bank. It's a digital representation of a country's currency that can be used for both domestic and international transactions. CBDCs are designed to be a more efficient, secure, and transparent alternative to physical cash and traditional digital payment systems.

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How do CBDCs work?

CBDCs work similarly to digital currencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, but they are backed by the full faith and credit of the central bank. Here's a simplified overview of how CBDCs work:

1. Issuance: The central bank issues CBDCs digitally, using advanced cryptographic techniques to secure and verify transactions.
2. Account-based system: CBDCs are stored in a digital wallet, which is linked to a user's bank account or identity. This ensures that transactions are authorized and tracked.

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1. Transactions: CBDCs can be used for transactions, similar to digital currencies. However, CBDCs are not decentralized, meaning that they are not managed by a decentralized network of nodes.
2. Settlement: CBDCs are settled through the central bank's payment system, which ensures that transactions are processed efficiently and securely.
3. Storage: CBDCs can be stored in a digital wallet, similar to digital currencies. However, CBDCs are typically stored on the user's device, rather than on a decentralized network.

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Features of CBDCs

CBDCs have several features that distinguish them from traditional digital currencies:

1. Backed by a central bank: CBDCs are backed by the full faith and credit of the central bank, making them equivalent to physical currency.
2. Digital representation: CBDCs exist only in digital form, eliminating the need for physical coins and banknotes.

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1. Secure: CBDCs are designed to be secure, with advanced cryptographic techniques and encryption to prevent counterfeiting and unauthorized transactions.
2. Transparent: CBDCs can provide real-time information on transactions, making it easier to track and monitor financial activity.
3. Regulated: CBDCs are regulated by the central bank, ensuring that they are managed and controlled by the government.

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Benefits of CBDCs

CBDCs offer several benefits, including:

1. Increased efficiency: CBDCs can automate many transactions, reducing the need for physical currency and banks.
2. Improved security: CBDCs can reduce the risk of counterfeiting and unauthorized transactions.
3. Increased financial inclusion: CBDCs can provide access to financial services for underserved populations.

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1. Reduced transaction costs: CBDCs can reduce the costs associated with traditional payment systems.
2. Improved monetary policy: CBDCs can provide the central bank with more flexibility to implement monetary policy, as they can be used to implement negative ⇪ rates× or other unconventional monetary policy tools.

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Concerns about CBDCs

While CBDCs offer several benefits, they also raise several concerns, including:

1. Monetary policy: CBDCs could potentially undermine the central bank's ability to implement monetary policy.
2. Financial stability: CBDCs could potentially destabilize the financial system if they are not managed carefully.
3. Privacy: CBDCs could potentially erode individual privacy, as transactions are tracked and recorded.
4. Inequality: CBDCs could potentially exacerbate existing inequalities, as access to CBDCs may be limited to those with the means to obtain them.
5. Dependence on technology: CBDCs rely on advanced technology, which can be vulnerable to cyber attacks and other disruptions.

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Implementation of CBDCs

The implementation of CBDCs is still in its early stages, and it's unclear how they will be received by the public and the financial sector. However, several countries are exploring the development of CBDCs, including:

1. Sweden: Sweden is currently testing a CBDC called e-Krona, which is being developed by the Riksbank.
2. China: China is reportedly developing a CBDC, which is being tested in several cities.
3. Bahamas: The Bahamas is testing a CBDC called the Sand Dollar, which is being developed by the Central Bank of The Bahamas.
4. European Central Bank: The European Central Bank is exploring the development of a CBDC, which could be used by several European countries.

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Challenges and limitations

The implementation of CBDCs poses several challenges and limitations, including:

1. Regulatory frameworks: CBDCs require new regulatory frameworks to ensure that they are managed and controlled by the government.
2. Technical challenges: CBDCs rely on advanced technology, which can be vulnerable to cyber attacks and other disruptions.
3. Public acceptance: CBDCs require public acceptance and trust, which can be difficult to achieve.
4. Inflation: CBDCs could potentially lead to inflation, if the central bank is not careful.
5. Financial stability: CBDCs could potentially destabilize the financial system, if they are not managed carefully.

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Overall, CBDCs have the potential to revolutionize the way we think about money and financial transactions. However, their implementation poses several challenges and limitations, and it's unclear how they will be received by the public and the financial sector.