SET Training - Banking and Fintech

By Stanley Epstein – For years, the promise of stablecoins was straightforward: the digital equivalent of a bank deposit that moves at the speed of the internet. They were marketed as the frictionless future of payments—faster, cheaper, and always on. To the retail user, they appear to be a more efficient way to hold and move value. But beneath the surface of these "digital dollars" lies a profound shift in the hidden plumbing of the global financial system. What happens to a modern economy when money starts migrating from traditional bank accounts to the blockchain? For a long time, central banks viewed these assets as niche "crypto-toys," confined to the speculative fringes. However, a recent working paper from the European Central Bank (ECB) signals a definitive awakening. Stablecoins are no longer mere experiments; they are "money-like instruments" that have begun to disrupt the traditional banking transmission belt. As adoption scales, we are moving...

Introduction: The Hidden Cost of a Cashless Future The advance of digital currencies is often presented as the next logical step in financial convenience—a seamless, efficient future. But what if this digital evolution comes with a hidden, non-negotiable price—our personal freedom? This article exposes four truths about Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), using the words of their own proponents to reveal an agenda not of convenience, but of absolute, programmable control. 1. Your Money Will No Longer Be Yours—It Will Be "Programmable" The core innovation of a CBDC is the concept of "programmable money." This means a central authority, such as a government or central bank, would have the ability to place rules, restrictions, and conditions directly onto your funds. Your money would no longer be a neutral tool for exchange but a permission-based token controlled by the state. This technology transforms personal assets into a state-managed voucher system. It could...

Most central banks are working on developing some form of sovereign digital currency. But are they paying attention to the right things? Political opposition from the likes of Donald Trump have not stemmed the flow of global projects aimed at developing CBDCs. 130 countries are exploring a CBDC, 19 of the G20 countries are now in advanced stages, and 11 countries have fully launched a digital currency. There are those who question whether we need a fiat digital currency at all and whether projects address more pressing monetary concerns. Read MORE

Under an Executive Order with the innocuous number 14067 and its title, "Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets" , any transfer of funds to family, friends, charities, or clients using digital currency would be able to be tracked by the nation's central bank that issued this virtual money.  Big Brother will be in your wallet every hour or every day. You will not be able to buy a stick of gum without a Federal Reserve computer knowing where, when, and to whom you just put down a buck. Read the full article on the Gatestone Institute website HERE .