3 - 5 minute read
Lyn Alden is a well-known macro expert who has shared her views on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) in a recent interview with the David Lin report. Alden has concerns about digital currencies and says that she generally isn’t positive about them because they give authorities extraordinary control over the end-users of the currency.
Alden notes that the downside of a CBDC is that it centralizes everyone’s usage of the public ledger. It gives governments the power to surveil everything, freeze funds, and make the currency more programmable, enabling them to vary interest rates based on age or other factors. Alden believes that China’s scenarios regarding linking a social credit score to people’s money is an alarming indicator of how the government could control society to a much finer degree than we’ve normally been accustomed to.
“I can see why in some cases they’re interested in using them. And what I’d rather focus on is building some of these open-source alternatives right.
The counter to CBDCs in many cases is things like Bitcoin that say, ‘Okay, it doesn’t matter what the borders of a country are, it doesn’t matter no one can just like confiscate your Bitcoin if you hold the keys’.”
Cultural Differences
Alden recognizes that there are cases in which governments would be interested in using CBDCs. However, her focus is on building open-source alternatives to tackle CBDCs. The counterweight to CBDCs is the likes of Bitcoin that states that it does not value a person’s nationality, and no one can confiscate anyone’s Bitcoin as long as they hold the keys. Alden emphasizes that cultural differences, legal systems, and government policies across the world are vastly different, and it’s unlikely that CBDCs will be embraced globally.
The Choice for the Future: Centralized or Decentralized?
According to Alden, in the future, the choice will be between centralized and decentralized forms of money. She believes that people are either going to get more into centrally administered ledgers or more into distributed systems. The current trend is shifting away from traditional banking systems towards distributed systems. Alden emphasizes that this shift will continue to accelerate, and as this occurs, people will need to decide between which currency to use for transactions, a centralized one or a decentralized one.
What Does This Mean for Traders and Investors?
Alden’s concerns about CBDCs highlight the importance of understanding the inherent risks of digital currencies. She also emphasizes that Bitcoin has emerged as the counterweight to CBDCs, which provide cash-like anonymity while offering fast, secure payments globally. Alden’s view raises important questions for traders and investors in the crypto industry, helping them weigh the risks and opportunities of digital currencies like Bitcoin.
Bottom Line
Lyn Alden is a macro guru who is known for her insight into the economy and currency markets. Her views on CBDCs provide an essential advisory for traders and investors who are trying to navigate the crypto landscape. Alden’s emphasis on open-source alternatives to tackle CBDCs highlights that Bitcoin is a counterweight to centralized forms of money. Therefore, it is essential for traders and investors to pay close attention to the shifting trends towards decentralized forms of money.
