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U.S. Treasury Rules Out CBDC, Prioritizes Stablecoin Framework
The Trump administration is taking a firm stance against a Federal Reserve-issued central bank digital currency (CBDC). The Senate has passed legislation that would prohibit a U.S. CBDC through 2030, reflecting concerns that a state-issued digital currency could enable government surveillance.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated the position at a recent press conference, saying the administration has been "very clear" that "there will be no Central Bank Digital Currency," arguing it could be "the first step toward tracking." He said the focus has shifted to stablecoin legislation and the CLARITY Act as the "important thing" to attract crypto investment back to the United States.
CBDCs are often compared to stablecoins, but with a key difference: they are issued by governments rather than private companies such as Circle or Tether. Proponents say CBDCs can strengthen monetary sovereignty and give policymakers additional tools to manage money supply, similar to how fiat currency is used in inflation responses. Critics point to design proposals such as backdoor account freezing and expiration features intended to discourage hoarding, warning they could expand state monitoring.
Globally, the debate is increasingly centered on whether central banks should pursue wholesale CBDCs, designed for high-value transactions among governments and major financial institutions, or retail CBDCs that would operate more like consumer-facing alternatives to stablecoins. With stablecoins already widely adopted, many policymakers see stronger near-term rationale in wholesale models aimed at cross-border payments between large banks and governments.
Most central banks are exploring wholesale payment infrastructure through Project Agora, backed by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). It remains uncertain whether CBDCs will be included when live testing begins.
As of late 2025, 91% of central banks were exploring CBDCs. In 2026, Kenya, the Philippines, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and the U.S. cancelled their CBDC plans, though the U.S. could revisit the idea after 2030.
According to CBDC Tracker data, only four countries have launched a CBDC: Nigeria, Kazakhstan, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. Most other efforts remain in research or pilot stages, including China's e-CNY and India's e-rupee.
In summary, Bessent said the U.S. will not pursue a CBDC under the Trump administration and will instead prioritize stablecoin regulation. Globally, roughly 100 countries are studying, developing, or piloting CBDCs.