Economy & Business

The Money Revolution

From Bitcoin to Central Bank Digital Currencies — How Digital Money Is Reshaping Finance

Eswar Prasad

Economist at Cornell University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, specializing in international economics and digital currencies. He is the author of "The Future of Money."

February 5, 2026·8 min read

The Money Revolution

The invention of Bitcoin in 2009 launched a revolution in money and finance. Cryptocurrencies, DeFi, NFTs, and central bank digital currencies are challenging the foundations of the financial system. But the promise of democratizing finance has been complicated by speculation, fraud, and the concentration of wealth in new forms.

TOPICS

cryptocurrencyBitcoindigital moneyfinanceblockchain

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