German economist Richard Werner warned in an interview with Tucker Carlson about the inevitability of a new global financial crisis and the authorities' plans to use central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) as a tool for total control.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58mMsnoR27E

Asset Bubble and the End of the Dollar Era

Werner believes a massive bubble has formed in the U.S., encompassing the real estate market, stock exchanges, and cryptocurrencies. He noted that current valuations are "somewhat overvalued," and the system is heading toward a shift in the currency order.

The economist drew parallels with historical milestones: the collapse of the gold standard and the "Nixon shock" of 1971. He suggested that the current stage is a preparation for dismantling the "petrodollar" system.

"Whenever major wars occur, they lead to a change in the global financial system. [...] We are in the acceleration phase before the next restructuring of the monetary system," Werner emphasized.

He also anticipated a "second wave" of inflation, describing it as a "good disguise" for changing the monetary model. He accused central banks of unjustified issuance in 2020, which he claimed was purely a monetary decision without economic justification.

CBDC as "Digital Control"

Werner sees the main threat in digital identification and the programmability of money. He suggested interpreting the acronym CBDC as Central Bank Digital Control.

According to him, the new system would allow authorities to micromanage citizens' lives:

  • restrict spending based on time and location;
  • block transactions for purchasing "wrong" goods;
  • control population movement.

"This is the embodied dream of a totalitarian dictator. It involves highly centralized structures whose goal is not productivity, but control over us," he stated.

Werner reminded that humanity has been using digital money from commercial banks for decades. He believes the problem with CBDCs lies in the centralization of the tool in the hands of the authorities.

Similar concerns have been voiced by other market participants. In 2024, U.S. President Donald Trump promised to "never allow" the creation of CBDCs, calling them "a dangerous threat to freedom."

Regulators like the ECB and the Fed deny plans for total surveillance. In Brussels, they insist that the digital euro will only complement cash, while the Fed emphasizes the need for congressional approval to issue a digital dollar.

It is worth noting that in April 2026, the European Central Bank selected payment standards for the digital euro.