Can the digital Chinese Yuan destabilize the U.S. Dollar? [Video]
|
China’s rollout of the digital yuan has set the global finance community abuzz. Even with a mobile screenshot leak purporting to show the digital currency, much about its introduction has been shrouded in secrecy and left to speculation— all due to Chinese government’s notorious media control. One aspect of the digital yuan that we do know — straight from a top Chinese official — is that it’s not designed to rival bitcoin.
Mu Changchun, who heads up the People’s Bank of China’s digital currency research institute, told the state-run Shanghai Security News, via the South China Morning Post, that “the currency is not for speculation (and) is different to bitcoin or stable tokens, which can be used for speculation or require the support of a basket of currencies.”
Chinese banks and companies haven’t gone on record to confirm they’ll be accepting the digital yuan. In the Morning Post’s report, citing a Chinese magazine called Caijing, it was reported that the big four state banks and three state-run telecommunication firms were part of the process.
Is the digital yuan a serious threat to the U.S. digital dollar?
The emerging narrative that the digital yuan is a full-out assault on the dollar as the premier reserve asset of the world is not quite accurate. The timing, however, is interesting and is warranting a response from U.S. banks and federal officials.
For its part, the Federal Reserve appears to have woke up from its slumber and done a complete reversal about introducing a digital dollar. Chairman Jerome Powell only last year indicated the U.S. central bank didn’t see any possible “material benefits” in a digital currency. Then, in June he informed Congress that his agency has in fact started working towards just that.
What the Fed is or isn’t doing is arbitrary. What isn’t arbitrary? U.S. printing more money – $3 trillion, to be exact, this year alone – to offset the U.S. economy’s sagging performance brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since another round of stimulus is on the horizon, another round of dollar printing is all but a certainty.
Is that going to debase the dollar, thereby making it worth less? Or will be it worthless?
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers.