By Matthew Hayward Once upon a time, in a not-too-distant future, a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) was introduced by the government of a powerful country. At first, people were excited about the convenience of making instant and secure transactions from their smartphones. However, as time passed, it became clear that the CBDC had some unexpected consequences. The government began to use the CBDC to monitor people's spending habits and financial activities, creating a social credit score system that rewarded or punished citizens based on their behavior. People who spent money on government-approved items, such as healthy food and exercise equipment, received higher scores and access to better services, while those who spent money on "frivolous" items like video games or alcohol were penalized with lower scores and limited access to essential services. As the government's control over the CBDC grew, people who spoke out against the regime found their funds frozen ...