Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has confirmed that the United States will not issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC) during his tenure, marking a shift from the bank’s previous exploration of the potential of a digital dollar.
The statement came during a Senate Banking Committee hearing, where Republican Senator Bernie Moreno asked him directly if he was committed to not issuing such a currency, to which Powell simply replied: “Yes, we are committed to not issuing one.”
The Fed’s research has focused on the potential to improve the efficiency and safety of the payment system through CBDCs, but the move has raised concerns about privacy and financial freedom.
Critics of central bank digital currencies, such as Nicholas Anthony of the Cato Institute, have praised Powell’s statement, warning that a government-issued digital currency could lead to increased surveillance due to its traceability, unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
The announcement comes as several countries are working on their own experiments with central bank digital currencies, with China launching a digital yuan in 2020, and Russia, Turkey, and Japan exploring similar initiatives.
But Powell’s stance reflects a divergence in U.S. politics, particularly under the Trump administration, where issuing a central bank digital currency has faced strong opposition from Republicans.
Last year, the House of Representatives passed a bill by Rep. Tom Emmer to prevent the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC, and Trump issued an executive order barring federal agencies from promoting the idea.
Powell’s veto may offer some reassurance to critics who see CBDCs as a threat to personal freedoms and financial privacy.
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