停电状态下，数字货币能否使用？

Core Viewpoint - The practicality and trust in digital currencies are questioned in the context of power outages, highlighting the differences between centralized and decentralized digital currencies [1]. Group 1: Centralized Digital Currencies - Centralized digital currencies, such as Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), are issued and managed by governments or financial institutions and rely on centralized servers and payment systems [3]. - In localized power outages, if the server area maintains power and payment terminals have backup power or offline payment capabilities, centralized digital currencies can still function [3]. - However, in widespread power outages affecting servers, transactions and usage of centralized digital currencies may face significant disruptions due to the inability to verify and record transactions [5]. Group 2: Decentralized Digital Currencies - Decentralized digital currencies, exemplified by Bitcoin, operate on blockchain technology, which is a distributed ledger maintained by numerous nodes [7]. - Theoretically, as long as some nodes remain operational, transactions can continue even in localized power outages, due to the decentralized nature of the blockchain [7]. - Practically, most users' devices may be inoperable due to power loss, and network connectivity could be compromised, hindering access to the blockchain for transactions [7]. - A large-scale power outage could incapacitate many nodes, leading to network congestion or reduced computational power, which would affect transaction confirmation speed and success rates [7]. Group 3: Merchant Acceptance and Practical Challenges - The acceptance of digital currencies by merchants is crucial; even if digital currencies can theoretically be used during power outages, transactions may fail if merchants' payment devices are non-functional or if they lack knowledge of offline usage [9]. - The ability to use digital currencies during power outages is contingent on various factors, including the type of digital currency, the extent of the power outage, backup power availability, and merchant acceptance [9]. Group 4: Future Considerations - Despite existing technical mechanisms, power outages can still pose challenges to the use of digital currencies [11]. - To enhance the practicality and stability of digital currencies, ongoing efforts in technology development, infrastructure improvement, and user education are necessary to ensure secure and convenient payment experiences in extreme conditions [11].