BLOCKCHAIN & CRYPTO
CONSUMER SENTIMENTS AND ADOPT CHALLENGE
The path forward for CBDCs faces challenges beyond the US policy reversal.
An ECB survey of 19,000 respondents across 11 euro-area countries highlighted substantial reluctance toward adopting a digital euro, with Europeans perceiving limited value in the proposed CBDC.
This aligns with observations from the Bank of England’ s CBDC Academic Advisory Group, which noted that many central banks have been waiting for a“ second mover advantage”, acknowledging that being first to implement could pose higher risks.
The Group also emphasised that in the UK, the primary motivation for a digital pound focuses more on safe innovation in payments rather than financial inclusion. The recent OMFIF survey revealed that fewer than one in five central banks are presently inclined to issue a CBDC, down from 38 % in 2022.
This hesitation stems from regulatory concerns, competing economic priorities, and dependence on political will rather than technical capacity— factors likely intensified by the US decision.
102 May 2025