Ahead of the approved and now distributed stimulus package that provided individual US taxpayers with up to $1,200 in relief, the proposal included the introduction of a cryptocurrency like the digital version of the dollar. However, if failed to gain traction and was pulled.
Because the US Treasury failed to launch a cryptocurrency to distribute stimulus checks, they have now turned to issue debit cards adorned with US President Donald Trump’s name on it.
Stimulus Checks Aren’t Improving Consumer Spending, US Treasury Seeks Alternatives To Boost Spending
To save the already on thin ice economy from sudden failure, the US government and Federal Reserve have been printing money at their whim and issuing stimulus checks to encouraging spending.
The checks are also designed to provide some economic relief to those whose jobs were impacted by the pandemic in some way.
Related Reading | House Democrats Propose ‘Digital Dollar’ in Move Big For Bitcoin: Here’s Why
However, consumer spending remains down and the economy hasn’t seen the boost that the stimulus was intended to create.
Billionaire tech investor Mark Cuban who is on Trump’s task force focused on reopening the economy has proposed alternatives to the stimulus issuance to further encourage spending over savings.
Initially, the stimulus bill had proposed an account denominated in a cryptocurrency like digital version of the dollar to boost spending, but rolling such a platform out on such short notice would have delayed much needed, urgent stimulus relief from reaching consumers.
Failure To Introduce Cryptocurrency Version of Dollar Has Led to Stimulus Debit Cards
The failure to introduce a cryptocurrency version of the dollar has led to the US Treasury creating a debit card designed to deliver any remaining stimulus to individuals.
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin revealed the alongside President Donald Trump, citing its creation as a means to more quickly and safely deliver money to individuals in need. But the real goal behind moving from direct deposits to debit cards is to encourage spending over stockpiling of cash reserves.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin launches stimulus debit card
— Reuters (@Reuters)
While adding to savings is helpful for consumers fearing the worst, forcing spending is what is truly needed to save the economy from further downturn. If consumers aren’t spending, businesses will feel the crunch, and already out of control unemployment rates will skyrocket further.
Eventually, the United States will someday release a digital version of the dollar, that acts like other cryptocurrency assets such as Bitcoin but without the notorious volatility.
Related Reading | Stimulus Checked: Here’s The ROI on a $1,200 Investment in Top Crypto Assets
The digital dollar will essentially be a stablecoin like Tether, USDC, and countless others that have been growing at a rapid pace. Other countries are also developing their own cryptocurrency, clearly showing a defined trend toward change in the future.
But until then, debit cards will be sent to encourage consumer spending – spending that could very well make its way into cryptocurrency assets, as past stimulus money has.