A central bank digital currency (CBDC) like the digital euro can offer faster, safer, and cheaper payments. It enhances financial inclusion and could reduce the dominance of private platforms like PayPal and Visa. Trust in the ECB could grow through more secure transactions.
CBDCs may allow central banks to track every transaction, posing serious risks to individual freedom and privacy. The ability to freeze or program money gives authorities unprecedented power over how citizens spend, potentially turning money into a tool of control.