CBDC in the crosshairs: Congress debates the future of the digital dollar

Byte-Sized Insight by Cointelegraph

CBDCs are back in the spotlight as the US Congress returns from recess. Lawmakers have tucked a ban on the digital dollar into the must-pass defense bill, framing it as a fight over privacy and surveillance. But is a CBDC really an imminent threat or just a political talking point?
In this episode of Byte-Sized Insight, host Savannah Fortis sits down with Sheila Warren, CEO of the Project Liberty Institute, to cut through the noise. From wholesale vs retail CBDCs to how other governments are moving ahead, Sheila explains where the US stands and whether stablecoins may already be filling the gap.

[0:00] Intro: Congress back, CBDC debate heats up
[3:07] Anti-CBDC bill and NDAA provision explained
[5:20] Sheila on US vs global CBDC progress
[8:08] Privacy concerns are design choices
[10:33] Wholesale vs retail CBDCs
[12:32] Why retail CBDCs aren’t realistic in the US
[14:31] Stablecoins as “jet fuel” of the digital economy
[15:45] Political fight: Banks vs crypto over rails
[16:41] Real privacy risks beyond CBDCs
[27:50] A future “Fed-adjacent” product?

This episode was hosted and produced by Savannah Fortis, @savannah_fortis.

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