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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to jump into the 2024 GOP presidential primary race that is currently being led by former President Donald Trump — himself a resident of the Sunshine State — has signed legislation that bans the use of federally adopted central bank cryptocurrency in his state.
DeSantis, accompanied by Commissioner Wilton Simpson and President Kathleen Passidomo, signed the bill at the Southwest Florida Public Service Academy at Fort Myers Technical College, according to Fox 4.
“DeSantis announced comprehensive legislation to protect Floridians from the Biden administration’s weaponization of the financial sector through a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC),” the outlet reported further, adding what the law does:
- Expressly prohibiting the use of a federally adopted Central Bank Digital Currency as money within Florida’s Uniform Commercial Code (UCC).
- Instituting protections against a central global currency by prohibiting any CBDC issued by a foreign reserve or foreign sanctioned central bank.
- Calling on likeminded states to join Florida in adopting similar prohibitions within their respective Commercial Codes to fight back against this concept nationwide.
Central bank cryptocurrencies (CBCCs) have been a hot topic of discussion among economists and policymakers in recent years. While the idea of a digital currency issued by a central bank has its advantages, there are also concerns that need to be addressed before such a currency can be implemented.
One of the main concerns about CBCCs is privacy. A CBCC would likely require users to have a digital wallet that is linked to their identity, which could potentially compromise their privacy. This is particularly concerning given that central banks have access to a wealth of financial data that could be used to monitor and track individuals’ spending habits. To address this concern, central banks would need to ensure that CBCCs are designed with strong privacy protections that prevent unauthorized access to user data.
Another concern is the potential for CBCCs to disrupt the traditional banking system. One of the main benefits of CBCCs is that they would enable peer-to-peer transactions without the need for intermediaries such as banks. While this could be beneficial for consumers, it could also lead to a loss of control for central banks over the money supply, which could have significant implications for monetary policy. To mitigate this risk, central banks would need to carefully consider the design of CBCCs and how they would fit within the existing monetary system.
A related concern is the potential for CBCCs to destabilize the financial system. If a CBCC were to gain widespread adoption, it could potentially undermine the stability of the banking system by reducing the demand for traditional bank deposits. This could in turn lead to a decrease in lending and investment, which could have negative effects on the economy as a whole. To address this concern, central banks would need to carefully consider the impact of CBCCs on the financial system and take steps to ensure that they do not pose a systemic risk.
There are also concerns around the technical feasibility of CBCCs. While blockchain technology has made significant strides in recent years, it is still in its early stages and there are significant technical challenges that need to be overcome before CBCCs can be implemented. These challenges include scalability, security, and interoperability with existing financial systems. Central banks would need to work closely with technology firms and other stakeholders to address these challenges and ensure that CBCCs are technically feasible.
Finally, there are concerns around the potential for CBCCs to be used for illicit activities such as money laundering and terrorism financing. While these concerns are not unique to CBCCs, the fact that they would be issued by a central bank could make them more attractive to criminals. To address this concern, central banks would need to work closely with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that CBCCs are not used for illicit activities — but would they?
Obviously, DeSantis does not want Floridians exposed to these dangers, and hopefully, more governors will follow his lead.
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