Why hasn't the US fully embraced the digital dollar?  - Tearsheet (2024)

FAQs

How close is the US to digital currency? ›

While still inching forward on a banks only "wholesale" digital dollar, one for the wider U.S. population now looked "stalled" the report said, with Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell saying this month, "nothing like that is remotely close to happening".

This author says that's a false narrative. If it's been a long time since you pulled out actual dollars and coins to pay for something — here's a conversation for you. It might seem like cash is slowly becoming obsolete. But, Brett Scott says it's a false narrative that we're all pining for a cashless society.

The Federal Reserve would issue the digital currency to commercial banks, who would then distribute it to people like you and me. You could receive direct deposits of digital dollars into your e-wallet, convert physical cash into e-dollars, or buy them with regular dollars and have them deposited into your e-wallet.

USD Coin (USDC) is a digital stablecoin pegged to the United States dollar. USD Coin is managed by Circle. USDC is issued by a private entity and should not be confused with a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Will a U.S. CBDC replace cash or paper currency? The Federal Reserve is committed to ensuring the continued safety and availability of cash and is considering a CBDC as a means to expand safe payment options, not to reduce or replace them.

The concern is that financial privacy will be lost with a digital dollar. The government would be able to watch how people spend their money, close their bank accounts, or even just take the money. In other words, the worry is that a digital dollar would be one more way for the government to control us and our money.

From paper to polymer banknotes

While the future demand for cash is uncertain, it is unlikely that cash will die out any time soon.

Cashless society: disadvantages

Elderly people may be less comfortable with tech and less able to make the switch from physical currency. Rural communities could also be left vulnerable, because of poor broadband and mobile connectivity. People with low income or debt tend to find cash easier to manage too.

Sweden, the first European country to introduce banknotes in 1661, became the world's first cashless society on 24 March 2023. Finland and the UK are top–ranked to become cashless societies as well. Poland, on the other hand, has scrapped plans to limit cash payments to ensure freedom of choice.

Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are coming, but a digital dollar is unlikely in the near term, Bank of America (BAC) said in a report on Monday.

How can I protect myself from the digital dollar? ›

Use strong passwords, keep your antivirus software up-to-date, and avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unknown software. Also, protect yourself by using two-factor authentication when you login to data-sensitive sites. CBDC is a digital currency, so you'll need to make sure your digital assets are secure.

In 2019, China began piloting its central bank digital currency, known as the e-CNY. After a slow start, uptake has accelerated rapidly, with 26 cities serving as test beds and 5.6 million merchants registered to use the currency nationwide as of last year. Its implementation has gone into overdrive in 2023.

The list of participants in the pilot program includes BNY Mellon, Citi, HSBC, Mastercard, PNC Bank, TD Bank, Truist, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo. Global payments provider Swift is also participating in the effort, along with the New York Innovation Center (NYIC), part of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Citigroup, HSBC, and PNC will also be involved in the effort to create a digital version of U.S. currency. Several big name financial services companies have joined up with the New York Federal Reserve to announce a 12-week digital dollar program.

The Dollar is Backed by US Government's Ability to Generate Revenues. There are two ways for the government to generate revenue: Taxes: Market participants (workers, entrepreneurs, investors) create wealth when they produce and exchange goods and services. The government extracts a portion of this wealth via taxes.

The US dollar will never be replace as the official currency of the US. If you are referring the the dollar's status as the primary reserve currency of the world, that is unlikely to happen any time in the foreseeable future.

While the future demand for cash is uncertain, it is unlikely that cash will die out any time soon.

134 countries & currency unions, representing 98% of global GDP, are exploring a CBDC. In May 2020 that number was only 35. Currently, 68 countries are in the advanced phase of exploration—development, pilot, or launch. 19 of the Group of 20 (G20) countries are now in the advanced stages of CBDC development.

The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Nigeria have already introduced CBDCs. And more than 100 countries are in the exploration stage. Central bankers in Brazil, China, the euro area, India, and the United Kingdom are at the forefront.