While several central banks across the globe are actively exploring the feasibility of launching a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), a recent survey has revealed that cash will not be going away anytime soon as a majority of consumers are not enthusiastic about using those products.
Cash Reigns Supreme
The survey, conducted by Deutsche Bank, Germany’s leading investment bank, polled 4,850 respondents from Europe, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A majority of the respondents stated that they prefer conventional payment methods like cash and debit or credit cards. According to the study, 59% of the respondents believe cash will always be useful, with 44% stating that they would prefer using cash for payments rather than CBDCs. Only a small percentage of respondents, 16%, expect CBDCs to become mainstream payment options.
Privacy Concerns
The survey further revealed that privacy concerns significantly affect the adoption of CBDCs. Most of the participants, especially in the U.S., believe that general cryptocurrencies offer better privacy than government-backed digital currencies. About 21% of the respondents said they preferred a private cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. On the other hand, most European respondents showed stronger preference for cash, due to the anonymity it offers, than those in the U.S. and the U.K.
Skepticism Towards CBDCs
Per the survey, central banks are increasingly exploring wholesale CBDC use cases, however, user skepticism remains a major issue affecting mainstream adoption. A report by the Bank of Canada revealed that 86% of Canadians are opposed to CBDCs, with a whopping 92% preferring cash over a digital Canadian dollar (CAD).
The Deutsche Bank survey highlights that despite the growing interest of central banks in developing and implementing CBDCs, the majority of consumers still prefer cash and traditional payment methods, pointing to privacy concerns and skepticism towards digital currencies.
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