Nigeria follows China's lead in experimenting with digital currency

Despite the fact that central banks are in charge of overseeing the global circulation and supply of money, the stratospheric rise of cryptocurrencies puts their authority, control, and power at risk.

Therefore, central banks around the world have begun to create their own digital currencies as a result of this development. A historic movement has taken place on Africa's continent this week with the inclusion of Nigeria, which has benefited from local activity and interest in cryptocurrencies. Nigeria is currently the world's second-largest market for cryptocurrency trading after the United States.

The country's central bank is launching the first digital currency in Africa today, following three years of preparation. With the addition of China, Sweden, and South Korea to the list of countries now experimenting with central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), a total of 81 countries are currently involved in CBDC research at various stages.

Except for the Bahamas, Grenada, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, and Saint Lucia, no other country has fully implemented them. Naira, or eNaira, is a virtual currency backed and issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, which serves as Nigeria's central bank. Because virtual currencies are more cost-effective than actual cash, they make money more available to the unbanked and, in some cases, they can help limit criminal activity, Nigeria is constructing its own virtual currency, as do most nations.

Despite the advantages of digital currencies issued by central banks, there are questions about how they might be used by governments that have a history of spying on or attempting to spy on their citizens.

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