According to a recent document released by the Bank of Israel, it is currently considering the issuance of a digital shekel. The move toward a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is intended to provide a faster, less expensive, and more secure alternative to traditional payment methods and address the declining use of physical cash in the country.

A CBDC is a digital currency issued and backed by a central bank, representing the digital equivalent of a nation’s fiat currency. CBDCs, in contrast to cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, are centralized and controlled by a central bank. This allows CBDCs to be more easily regulated and monitored, resulting in greater financial stability.

CBDCs have multiple advantages over conventional payment methods. They can provide faster and cheaper transactions, especially for international transactions, as well as a more secure and transparent payment system. CBDCs can also offer a digital alternative to physical cash, which is becoming less common in many countries.

The decision of the Bank of Israel to issue a digital shekel looks to be influenced by the popularity of CBDCs issued by other nations, such as the United States and the European Union. Numerous nations, such as Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, and Japan, are currently developing CBDC projects.

However, the introduction of a digital shekel raises concerns regarding privacy and cybersecurity threats that must be carefully considered and addressed. The Bank of Israel must ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect the privacy of users and thwart cyber attacks.

Furthermore, some experts have serious reservations about digital currencies. When it comes to issuance of CBDC by a central bank, the main concern is that it could give the government unprecedented control over how people spend their money.

For instance, if the government has access to information about every transaction made with a CBDC, it could potentially monitor and control what citizens spend their money on. It makes it easy for the government to restrict the purchase of certain goods or services or use the information to target individuals for political or social reasons.

This level of control over people’s financial transactions could be used to suppress dissent or punish individuals who oppose the government. It could also lead to a loss of financial privacy and individual autonomy.

Moreover, a government could use CBDCs to implement negative interest rates, which would require individuals to pay to hold money in their accounts. While this could be used as a tool to stimulate spending, it could also lead to financial instability and cause individuals to hoard physical cash.

So, there are plenty of factors to consider before making a decision about rolling out a centralised digital currency such as the shekel. This is probably why the central bank of Israel is taking proactive steps to be ready for the issuance of a digital shekel when the time is right.

One thing is sure, it will be critical to carefully consider the potential risks associated with government control over citizens’ financial transactions. Measures will have to be put in place to protect financial privacy and ensure that CBDCs are not used as a tool for government overreach or suppression.