Introduction
Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are digital versions of national currencies issued directly by central banks.
Unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, CBDCs are centralized, controlled, and programmable.
While governments promote them as a “modernization” of money, the truth is much darker.
CBDCs could become the ultimate tool of surveillance and control over citizens.
What Are CBDCs?
CBDCs are digital tokens backed by the government, designed to replace cash.
Every transaction would be recorded, tracked, and managed in a centralized database owned by the authorities.
Unlike cash, which provides privacy and autonomy, CBDCs remove financial freedom from individuals.
As Edward Snowden warned:
“A CBDC is something closer to a perversion of cryptocurrency — a cryptofascist currency, expressly designed to deny its users the basic ownership of their money.”
Why You Should Care
Here’s what CBDCs could mean for your future:
- Total Surveillance: Every purchase, donation, or financial decision monitored in real-time.
- Programmable Money: Authorities could restrict what you can buy or where you can spend.
- Account Freezes: Governments could freeze or seize funds instantly without court approval.
- Expiry Dates: Your money could be programmed to expire if you don’t spend it fast enough.
The Risk to Freedom
CBDCs are not about innovation — they are about control.
They represent the death of financial anonymity, personal sovereignty, and true economic freedom.
A society without cash is a society where citizens are permanently tracked and managed like inventory.
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) itself acknowledged:
“With CBDCs, central banks will have absolute control on the rules and regulations that will determine the use of the CBDC, and we will have the technology to enforce it.”
(Source: Agustín Carstens, General Manager of the BIS)
What Can You Do?
- Stay informed. Knowledge is power.
- Support alternatives. Use decentralized payment methods and advocate for the preservation of cash.
- Spread awareness. Share the truth about CBDCs before it’s too late.
Freedom is not given. It must be defended.
📚 References
Snowden, Edward. “Your Money AND Your Life” – Edward Snowden’s Substack article warning about CBDCs.
Carstens, Agustín. “Cross-border payments—a vision for the future” – Speech by BIS General Manager acknowledging the absolute control enabled by CBDCs.
Bank for International Settlements. “Central bank digital currencies: foundational principles and core features” – Official BIS report on CBDC risks and structure.