What is Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)?

A central bank digital currency (CBDC) is a digital version of a country's fiat currency. Regulated by a country's monetary authority, CBDCs are designed to replace traditional fiat and increase ease of use for those that deploy them. CBDCs can lower transaction costs and increase the speed of cross-border settlement, potentially increasing financial inclusion for many. Yet, unlike blockchains, CBDCs aren't decentralized and don't have a supply cap. Critics contend that CBDCs won't limit inflationary money printing — and that government control of a nation's money supply through a CBDC could have serious repercussions concerning financial privacy and censorship.