Race for the future of money is on

The future of money is up for grabs. Digital currencies are transforming the global payments landscape, reshaping monetary policy, and accelerating changes in global economic power. These shifts have enormous implications for how we all live our lives and the role of the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. Our events and research are animated by what the future of money looks like, and how global financial structures will evolve to address technological advances in the world of money and payments.

Featured Tracker Projects

Central Bank Digital Currency Tracker

Our flagship Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) Tracker takes you inside the rapid evolution of money all over the world. The interactive database now features 130 countries— triple the number of countries we first identified as being active in CBDC development in 2020.

Cryptocurrency Regulation Tracker

Cryptocurrencies may significantly alter financial structures as they exist today and transform the next generation of money and payments. Our interactive database analyzes cryptocurrency regulations in 60 of the world’s largest economies.

Flagship Convenings

Exploring central bank digital currency: Evaluating challenges & developing international standards

Digital currency experts and top policymakers from the public and private sector convened for a high level dialogue on the need for international standards and collaboration on the future of money.

Recent Commentary and Analysis

Carole House testifies to the House Financial Service Committee on approaches to combat crypto crime and illicit activity

Econographics Aug 8, 2024

What exactly is a strategic bitcoin reserve?

By Ananya Kumar

Bringing bitcoin into mainstream use is not reason enough to create a strategic bitcoin reserve. 
Digital Currencies Economy & Business
Carole House testifies to the House Financial Service Committee on approaches to combat crypto crime and illicit activity

Fintech Frontlines Aug 12, 2024

Tech regulation requires balancing security, privacy, and usability 

By Karen Sowon, Giulia Fanti, JP Schnapper-Casteras

Good policy intentions can lead to unintended consequences when usability, privacy, and security are not balanced—policymakers must think like product designers to avoid these challenges.
Digital Policy East Africa
Carole House testifies to the House Financial Service Committee on approaches to combat crypto crime and illicit activity

Fintech Frontlines Jun 14, 2024

Designing a blueprint for open, free and trustworthy digital economies

By Carole House

US digital policy must be aimed at improving national security, defending human freedom, dignity, and economic growth while ensuring necessary accountability for the integrity of the technological bedrock.
Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity
Carole House testifies to the House Financial Service Committee on approaches to combat crypto crime and illicit activity

Econographics Apr 25, 2024

The basics of CBDC

By Alisha Chhangani and Leila Hamilton

The race for the future of money is on, so here are the key items to catch you up on what a central bank digital currency is—and what it isn’t.
Digital Currencies Economy & Business
Carole House testifies to the House Financial Service Committee on approaches to combat crypto crime and illicit activity

New Atlanticist Jan 25, 2024

The Fed is falling behind as other central banks leap ahead on digital currencies

By Josh Lipsky, Ananya Kumar

And the innovation gap is not just on CBDCs. FedNow, the long-awaited interbank settlement system, has taken years longer than comparable systems in Europe.
Digital Currencies Economy & Business
Carole House testifies to the House Financial Service Committee on approaches to combat crypto crime and illicit activity

New Atlanticist May 16, 2023

Not so fast: The case for a new SWIFT

By Josh Lipsky, Ananya Kumar

Imagine a network that combines both messaging and settlement to become a one-stop shop for international payments. It’s time for the US and its allies and partners to make that idea a reality.
Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Featured Reports

Carole House testifies to the House Financial Service Committee on approaches to combat crypto crime and illicit activity

Report Jun 15, 2022

Missing Key: The challenge of cybersecurity and central bank digital currency

By Giulia Fanti, Kari Kostiainen, William Howlett, Josh Lipsky, Ole Moehr, John Paul Schnapper-Casteras, and Josephine Wolff

New research on the cybersecurity challenges posed by digital currencies and design models that can provide a more secure financial system.
Cybersecurity Digital Currencies
Carole House testifies to the House Financial Service Committee on approaches to combat crypto crime and illicit activity

Issue Brief Sep 28, 2022

Privacy in cross-border digital currency: A transatlantic approach

By Giulia Fanti and Nadia Pocher

As a growing number of countries explore Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) for the domestic context, multi-country cross-border CBDCs pilots are also proliferating. Cross-border CBDCs could make cross-border payments faster, cheaper, and simpler.
Digital Currencies Digital Policy

Related Experts

Staff

Josh Lipsky

Senior Director

GeoEconomics Center

China Digital Currencies

Staff

Ananya Kumar

Deputy Director, Future of Money

GeoEconomics Center

Arabic Digital Currencies

Staff

Alisha Chhangani

Assistant Director

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

Fellow

Carole House

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Cybersecurity Digital Currencies

Fellow

JP Schnapper-Casteras

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

Fellow

Nikhil Raghuveera

Nonresident Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Fellow

Giulia Fanti

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies

Staff

Kimberly Donovan

Director, Economic Statecraft Initiative

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Economic Sanctions

Fellow

Daniel McDowell

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

China Economic Sanctions

Fellow

Barbara C. Matthews

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Americas China

At the intersection of economics, finance, and foreign policy, the GeoEconomics Center is a translation hub with the goal of helping shape a better global economic future.

Learn more

Experts

Staff

Alisha Chhangani

Assistant Director

GeoEconomics Center

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

Content

United States Capitol on a cloudy day

Testimony

Feb 16, 2024

Carole House testifies to the House Financial Service Committee on approaches to combat crypto crime and illicit activity

By Carole House

Non Resident Senior Fellow Carole House provided testimony to the House Financial Services Committee on crypto crime on February 15, 2024.

Digital Currencies Digital Policy
World with currencies

Econographics

Nov 6, 2023

Central bank digital currency evolution in 2023: From investigation to preparation

By Alisha Chhangani

Explore CBDC evolution in 2023, including key developments from central banks and what is next for the digital euro.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Econographics

Apr 24, 2023

Practice makes perfect: What China wants from its digital currency in 2023

By Ananya Kumar

The e-CNY network has expanded over the last year, and China's goals have only become clearer. Domestically, the People’s Bank of China is still in test-and-learn mode, globally, China is more focused on setting defining international standards.

China Cybersecurity

Econographics

Mar 21, 2023

Snapshot: Which countries have made the most progress on CBDCs so far in 2023

By Alisha Chhangani

Despite only being three months into 2023, these 18 countries have made significant progress on central bank digital currencies.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business