With approximately 1.7 billion people without access to banking services or a dedicated banking facility, CBDCs have become essential tools for financial inclusion. The technology can create a financial ecosystem in underbanked or unbanked areas that lacks infrastructure and the financial knowledge required to participate in traditional banking services. As a result, CBDCs could prove pivotal in unlocking economic opportunities for the financially excluded.
In many developing countries, traditional payment systems have either been absent or unreliable, resulting in limited financial inclusion for people. However, CBDCs could potentially bridge this gap, as they are designed to provide a cheap and simple alternative for payments, savings and financial transactions.
CBDCs also improve financial security, transparency, and efficiency, decreasing the costs of cross-border remittances and the distance between loved ones in different parts of the world. Instead of relying on traditional money transfer services that may charge exorbitant fees, CBDCs provide a cheaper option that can further increase the amounts sent home by migrants to their countries of origin.
Another significant benefit of CBDCs is that they can reduce the reliance on banking systems as they bypass traditional lenders with notably high fees and offer users a more direct role in their finances. They also protect users from the instability and uncertainty of private cryptocurrencies, as they are backed by central banks.
Despite the many benefits, there are concerns that CBDCs may lead to centralization and commercial interference with monetary policy. There are similarly valid questions regarding data privacy, as these currencies are recorded on central digital ledgers, potentially allowing authorities to access payment data.
In conclusion, the potential for CBDCs in creating financial inclusion cannot be overemphasized. These digital currencies provide underbanked and unbanked individuals with a simpler, safer, and more controlled way to access financial services. They also have the potential to lower remittance fees and remove intermediaries, thereby increasing efficiency and promoting economic inclusion. As a result, more countries are exploring ways to develop and implement CBDC systems, making them the key to financial inclusion.