TLDR: “In particular, we propose a token-based, software-only CBDC without DLT. DLT is an interesting design if no central party is available or if the interacting entities are not willing to agree on a trusted central party. However, this is hardly the case for a retail CBDC issued by a central bank. Distributing the central bank’s ledger with a blockchain merely increases transaction costs; it does not provide tangible benefits in a central bank deployment. Utilizing DLT to issue digital cash may be useful if there is no central bank to start with (e.g., the Marshall Islands’ Sovereign project) or if the explicit intention is to do without a central bank (e.g., Bitcoin).”
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Abstract:
With the emergence of Bitcoin and recently proposed stablecoins from BigTechs, such as Diem (formerly Libra), central banks face growing competition from private actors offering their own digital alternative to physical cash. We do not address the normative question whether a central bank should issue a central bank digital currency (CBDC) or not. Instead, we contribute to the current research debate by showing how a central bank could do so, if desired. We propose a token-based system without distributed ledger technology and show how earlier-deployed, software-only electronic cash can be improved upon to preserve transaction privacy, meet regulatory requirements in a compelling way, and offer a level of quantum-resistant protection against systemic privacy risk. Neither monetary policy nor financial stability would be materially affected because a CBDC with this design would replicate physical cash rather than bank deposits.
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Smart. Show that a CBDC can easily be privacy preserving so that governments have to actively justify why they chose surveillance.
The danger is if governments talk up this design and get people more supportive of a CBDC, but then rug pull just before implementing by switching to Surveillance Coin.
Anyway, whatever. Stack Sats.
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Note 6: "While the term 'Bitcoin' suggests the use of a token, Bitcoin is an account-based system. The only difference between a traditional account-based system and a blockchain is that the accounts are not kept in a central database but in a decentralized append-only database".
Ethereum is an account based system, not bitcoin with its UTXOs model.
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Finally, Chaum speaks up and clears the air
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