The United States has operated with a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) since at least the late 1990s, though some argue it could date back to the 1970s, depending on how we define the term. Definitions are crucial. Much like the bestselling novel “50 Shades of Gray” delves into the complexities of control and submission within a relationship, our financial system has transformed into a labyrinth of “50 Shades of Central Bank Tyranny.”

Each layer of our digital currency system strips away the facade of freedom, revealing deeper and more insidious levels of control. What appears as autonomy at first is merely an illusion, hiding intricate and pervasive forms of dominance that tighten their grip with every layer we uncover.

Our politicians are adept at manipulating language to create misleading impressions, masking ulterior motives or claiming victories that lack substantive achievement. Consider the “Patriot Act,” which was anything but patriotic. The CARES Act, with its empathetic name, prioritized large multinational corporations over small businesses, Big Pharma over American health, and expanded the surveillance state while protecting the censorship industrial complex at the expense of liberty and free speech.

Much like “50 Shades of Gray” uncovers the power dynamics in seemingly consensual relationships, our financial system exposes itself as a digital dominatrix — one that has been incrementally adding links to the chain of financial enslavement for decades.

In this article, I will delve into what a Central Bank Digital Currency truly entails by exploring its major categories. I’ll illustrate that the US already operates with a form of CBDC, albeit without the flashy labels. Furthermore, I’ll demonstrate how the Federal Reserve can introduce more dystopian elements into this system — such as programming restrictions on when, how, and where you can spend your money without needing Congressional approval.

However, central bank control over transactions is a red herring. The real threat lies with our government, which has perfected the art of surveillance. Adding programmability is just a logical progression. Ultimately, both Republicans and Democrats are steering us towards the same destination: total digital control. Though they use different words and propaganda, their goals converge. While we can’t vote our way out of this predicament, we can choose to opt out entirely.

For two years, I have been laser-focused on warning people about the threats of CBDCs. This dedication led me to write a book, “The Final Countdown,” and even run for President to raise awareness about the issue. I handed a copy of my book to Vivek Ramaswamy, whose subsequent discussions brought the CBDC issue to Donald Trump’s attention. Since exiting the race last October and becoming a Brownstone Fellow, I’ve traveled to 22 states discussing the dangers of CBDCs.

Currently, I am hosting over 15 four-hour workshops nationwide — and soon internationally — educating people on using alternative currencies to avoid CBDCs and evade “The Great Taking,” a carefully engineered process that could strip us of our stocks, bonds, and 401(k)s to benefit the largest banks through legal maneuvers across all 50 states.

I entered the crypto space in 2012 but became truly passionate about this issue after witnessing friends and admired individuals being arrested, imprisoned, or having their businesses destroyed by the federal government. Since exiting my personal bank account in 2019, this issue has impacted me personally. My research revealed that the crackdown on crypto was directly related to CBDCs. Put simply, the government needed to suppress crypto to usher in a CBDC.

For two years, I have traveled around the country (and soon the world) to warn people about the imminent perils of CBDCs. But as I’ve dug deeper into the technical and legal aspects, I’ve concluded that we already have a CBDC. Our transactions are already surveilled. Banks and the government can censor our accounts. At least 92% of money in our bank accounts is already digital. There is no need to worry about a future threat; we are already living with CBDCs. Now, we are merely fighting over degrees of slavery.

It becomes evident that we already have CBDCs when examining how money is created.

As discussed in my previous article, “You Might Own Nothing Sooner Than You Think,” modern commerce now flows through vast centralized databases housing everything from our bank account balances to our stock holdings. Money is no different.

Let’s start with the basics of money creation: government borrowing. The government sells IOUs in Treasury securities (bills, notes, and bonds) to the Federal Reserve. Where does the Federal Reserve get the money to buy these securities? They create it out of thin air by adding ones and zeros in a database — specifically an Oracle database (thanks, Larry Ellison!).

The Federal government then pays its bills through its account at the Federal Reserve. When checks are written for projects like a $3.4 million turtle tunnel in Florida or a $600,000 study on why chimpanzees throw feces, funds are transferred from the Fed’s Oracle database to accounts at commercial banks, each maintaining separate databases using Oracle or Microsoft systems.

For every dollar deposited by its customers, a commercial bank can create nine new dollars in its database to loan out to other customers under our fractional reserve system. Since 1992, banks were required to send 10% of deposits back to the Federal Reserve as reserves. However, Covid-19 legislation removed this requirement.

The government issues an IOU to the Federal Reserve, which creates digital money in a database. The government pays its bills; checks are deposited in commercial banks that create additional money; a portion is sent back to the Fed — all as digital entries in databases. If you tally up Central Bank and Commercial Bank databases globally, there are more than 60,000 databases sending entries back and forth.

When someone asks me, “What is a CBDC?” I start by examining the grammar of the question. A CBDC is a Central Bank Digital Currency. The Federal Reserve is our central bank, and our currency is already digital — created out of thin air in an Oracle database. By this definition, we’ve had a CBDC for decades.

As of 2024, only 8% of US currency exists physically; the other 92% is digital. Thus, we are effectively operating with a CBDC.

Politicians and central bankers claim we don’t currently have a CBDC and wouldn’t likely agree with my definition. Generally speaking, when central banks, the World Economic Forum (WEF), United Nations (UN), World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Bank for International Settlements (BIS) talk about CBDCs, they define them as digital liabilities of the central bank (as opposed to commercial banks).

This distinction seems negligible because commercial banks effectively own the Federal Reserve — or so it is commonly believed. As a private entity, true ownership of the Federal Reserve remains shrouded in secrecy but appears controlled by a cartel of private banks. G. Edward Griffin’s “The Creature from Jekyll Island” offers more insight into this.

Money is initially created in the Federal Reserve’s database before being deposited into commercial banks’ separate databases — banks that own the Federal Reserve. These banks then create even more money based on those deposits.

Addressing some misconceptions:

Myth: If I have a CBDC, I will have an account directly with the Federal Reserve and my bank will disappear.
Most people fear that a Central Bank Digital Currency means they would have an account directly with the Federal Reserve and commercial banks would vanish. Yet none of the launched CBDCs (including China’s) have this structure. In China, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) creates the CBDC and issues it to commercial banks without direct consumer interaction with the central bank.

No current CBDC initiatives globally contemplate cutting out commercial banks. Therefore, consumers having an account directly with a central bank is not a critical requirement for being a CBDC.

When organizations like the UN, WEF, World Bank, IMF discuss CBDCs, they often highlight programmability, surveillance and control, financial inclusion as essential elements.

Programmability:
The most dystopian fears about CBDCs revolve around their ability to be programmed — embedding rules dictating how you can spend your digital money. People often associate this with blockchain technologies like Bitcoin and Ethereum using smart contracts and tokens.

However, you don’t need new blockchain technology for programmability. The Federal Reserve’s Oracle database and systems used by commercial banks are programmable right now using Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). Rules flagging transactions based on specific criteria already exist. Thus, while having a single centralized digital currency might make it easier for Big Brother to enforce spending rules, today’s tech already supports this level of control.

The existing financial system relies heavily on complex algorithms influencing everything from payment processing to credit scoring:

– Credit cards can shut off access based on carbon emissions.
– Health savings accounts only allow pre-approved medical purchases.
– Anti-money laundering systems flag suspicious activity in real-time.
– Payment processors adjust interest rates and fees dynamically based on credit scores.

Consider: you head to buy a new gas stove (while it’s still legal). When you swipe your credit card:

– The payment processor checks your credit score for purchase eligibility.
– The bank reviews your account balance.
– An anti-money laundering system flags any suspicious activity.
– Algorithms check merchant category codes against approved spending limits.
– Transaction processing routes payment to store’s bank; funds transfer instantly.

The Doconomy Mastercard ties financial transactions to carbon emissions:
– Tracks carbon footprint of every purchase.
– Declines card if user’s carbon spending exceeds limits.
– Algorithm assigns carbon scores considering goods/services type and transportation mode.
– Compares total carbon footprint against predetermined limit; restricts/shuts off card if exceeded.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs):
– Tax-advantaged savings for medical expenses.
– Linked debit card/checkbook only usable at pre-approved merchants.
– System checks merchant category codes ensuring transaction eligibility.
– Non-approved transactions declined; limits access to funds for non-medical expenses.

No major technical upgrade or significant law changes have added more programmability; new rules/algorithms develop daily without public hearings or Congressional approval.

Surveillance:
Americans increasingly worry about governmental surveillance over every transaction:
Ted Cruz: “The Biden Administration is creating a new digital currency allowing government spying/control over financial freedom.”
Ron DeSantis: “Biden’s push for CBDC means surveillance/control; Florida will protect privacy/security.”
Senator Cynthia Lummis: “Deeply concerned about CBDCs potentially used for gathering information/control over spending.”

Even Elizabeth Warren: “Creating digital dollar must protect consumer privacy.”

Despite public outcry over privacy:
Ted Cruz supported US FREEDOM Act reauthorizing parts of Patriot Act including NSLs.
Warren backed it while pushing stronger Bank Secrecy Act.
DeSantis supported US FREEDOM Act/BSA tightening efforts.

Financial Inclusion:
Globalist organizations claim CBDCs promote financial inclusion by banning physical cash:
4.5% of Americans are unbanked relying on physical cash for survival.
CBDC system requires permission for transactions; permission can be denied.
Excluding unbanked individuals from economy isn’t inclusion; it’s explicit exclusion.

Tokenization:
IMF/BIS argue true “digital” currency requires tokenization – assigning unique tokens:
Majority of money already exists digitally in Federal Reserve/Commercial Bank databases.
Debate centers on control over digital ledger:
Democrats advocate central bank-issued tokenized currency;
Republicans led by Cynthia Lummis push commercial bank-issued stablecoins.
Both options equally programmable/surveillable/controllable by government.
Commercial banks owning central banks renders distinction moot.
Tokenization doesn’t make something “digital”; it’s different digital representation.
Result: programmable/trackable/oppressive digital currency threatening freedom/autonomy.

We already have a central bank digital currency. Politicians/globalist organizations shift goalposts adding narrow definitions increasingly tyrannical with each redefinition.

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) aren’t future concepts; they’re present realities measuring degrees of tyranny:
CBDC Tyranny Index assesses control/surveillance level:
Categories: surveillance/monitoring; control mechanisms; cashless society; tokenization; issuer; globalization; crypto regulation.
Higher score indicates more oppressive CBDC.

We’re at Bondage Level indicating significant freedom/autonomy loss.
Cut-off for Servitude Level: 120 points achievable through increased AI-powered monitoring combined with cashless society/tokenization or other paths leading to global digital currency tied to social credit system tracking/controlling every transaction – dystopian future discussed in “The Final Countdown.”

I wrote this article emphasizing we already have CBDCs – not future threats but present realities:
Existing system already digital/programmable/trackable.
Politicians/central bankers/globalist organizations keep shifting CBDC definition deflecting from reality grooming us for deeper tyranny shades.

We must redefine CBDCs making intentions clear – moving towards absolute digital enslavement/global technocracy:
Hammer/meme bondage/servitude/enslavement tiers explaining different elements of CBDC tyranny index.
Raise awareness Republicans/Democrats complicit bringing tyranny via semantic manipulation/legislation elevating bondage-to-servitude level:

Dems through Central Bank-issued tokenized dollar under guise financial inclusion per Biden’s Executive Order 14067;
Republicans through enhanced surveillance giving monopoly control tokenized commercial bank digital currency under guise stopping illegal immigration/terrorism/money laundering.

Highlight politicians’ behavior not for writing/calling Congressmen – voting won’t resolve issue:
Legislation adding programmability/surveillance bipartisan;
Every fiat currency failed historically; last five global reserve currencies lasted only 84 years;
Controlled demolition this time intentionally bringing wholly digital control system.

Way forward: radical non-compliance/adopting monetary alternatives outside state control:
In 2019 stopped using personal bank account using self-custody crypto/gold/silver;
Recent Bitcoin hijacking revelations moved to privacy coins like Zano/Monero using physical gold/goldbacks/silver;
Hosting 4-hour workshops nationwide/internationally showing alternative currencies as dollar substitutes.

Exiting dollar now ends bondage/staves off complete digital enslavement building future based on free will/decentralization:
Cry not over current system loss – set fire to tears beginning freer/decentralized future.