A US congressional committee has approved a bill to block the launch of a government-backed digital currency.
The central bank digital currency (CBDC) Anti-Surveillance State Act passed the House Financial Services Committee with a close vote of 27–22.
Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota said the measure is meant to stop the Federal Reserve from creating a digital version of the dollar.
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The bill does not just block the Fed from issuing a CBDC directly. It also prevents the central bank from working with private companies to do so on its behalf. Additionally, it would stop the Fed from using digital currency to shape economic policy.
During the committee hearing, Emmer said the government should not be in the business of tracking how people spend their money. In his view, a government-backed digital dollar, unlike decentralized options like Bitcoin
He warned that if privacy protections are not included, it could lead to restrictions on what people are allowed to buy.
Emmer also pointed to China’s digital yuan and suggested it might be used to monitor spending. He also referenced Canada’s freezing of protester accounts in 2022 as another example of how financial systems can be used to limit freedoms.
During an April 2 hearing in Washington, Representative Maxine Waters raised concerns about a stablecoin linked to President Trump’s family. What did she say? Read the full story.
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