CBDCs, Stablecoins, and the Battle Over Financial Privacy
Money has always been more than a medium of exchange it’s also a tool of control. As the world shifts toward digital currencies, the debate over financial privacy is intensifying. On one side are central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), offering governments unprecedented visibility into transactions. On the other are stablecoins, particularly those backed by real-world assets (RWAs), which promise efficiency and innovation but raise their own questions about transparency and control. This tug-of-war over privacy could shape not only the future of finance, but also the balance between individual freedom and state oversight. CBDCs and the Question of Surveillance CBDCs are government-issued, centralized digital currencies. While they promise efficiency, inclusion, and stability, their architecture makes them inherently different from cash. With physical cash, transactions are private and offline. With CBDCs, every payment could be traceable by design. Potential surveillance concerns […]
