CBDCs, Stablecoins and Tokenized Deposits: Why Each Digital Money Model Serves a Different Role

On 14 January 2026, an overview of central bank digital currencies, stablecoins, and tokenized bank deposits outlined how each format targets distinct users and use cases across the financial system. CBDCs aim at domestic monetary stability, stablecoins support global on-chain liquidity, and tokenized deposits help banks move existing balances onto blockchain infrastructure. Rather than one model replacing the others, they are expected to coexist as complementary rails in an increasingly digital monetary environment.