Share this article
Central Bank Digital Currencies Not a 'Fad,' MetLife Investment Says
The investment giant predicts CBDCs will continue gaining steam, although a "launch among Western countries seems unlikely to occur anytime soon."
Updated Sep 14, 2021, 10:57 a.m. Published Jan 16, 2021, 8:59 p.m.

Institutional investor MetLife Investment Management (MIM) has released a new macro strategy primer outlining the forthcoming role of blockchain-based assets, particularly central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
- MIM, founded in 1868, states that CBDCs are a logical progression of money and technology that are "unlikely [to] be a passing fad," according to the primer released Jan. 8.
- The investments giant also notes that a "true CBDC launch among Western countries seems unlikely to occur anytime soon" as key technical questions have yet to be addressed.
- "However, just as the dreams of cryptocurrency developers tend to be rather lofty, so are those of various CBDC initiatives," the document states.
- MIM had some $651 billion in assets under management (AUM), as of September 2020.
Read more: MetLife Asia Affiliate Trials Blockchain Insurance Product
More For You
Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

What to know:
- As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
- GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
- Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.
More For You
Bitcoin Faces Japan Rate Hike: Debunking The Yen Carry Trade Unwind Alarms, Real Risk Elsewhere

Speculators maintain net bullish positions in the yen, limiting scope for sudden JPY strength and mass carry unwind.
What to know:
- Impending BOJ rate hike largely priced in; Japanese bond yields near multi-decade highs.
- Speculators maintain net bullish positions in the yen, limiting scope for sudden yen strength.
- BOJ tightening may contribute to sustained upward pressure on global yields, impacting risk sentiment.
Top Stories











