Central Bank Digital Currencies and U.S. Strategic Competition with China

Abstract

This report describes the potential role of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in strategic competition. Understanding the national security implications of both international CBDC developments and a potential U.S. CBDC is a central component of President Bidens March 2022 Executive Order 14067 on Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets. This executive order mandated an assessment of the potential for foreign CBDCs to undermine the United States financial centrality and possible implications for national security and financial crime, concerns that are overshadowed by the relatively advanced stage of China's CBDC. This report contributes to the discourse that has emerged from that executive order by describing whether and how the more advanced stage of Chinas CBDC project might advantage China, how decisions regarding the international governance of CBDCs might affect U.S. national power, and how the design choices of a U.S. CBDC might affect its capabilities as an instrument of national power.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 19, 2024
Accession Number
AD1219195

Entities

People

  • Charles P. Ries
  • Daniel Egel
  • Dulani Woods
  • James V. Marrone
  • Jessie Wang
  • Jim Mignano
  • Max Rangeley
  • Sale Lilly

Organizations

  • RAND Corporation

Tags

Readers

  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Strategic Security Studies