How about a standardized payment API instead?

I think governments should just release a privacy respecting token that can be transferred physically between parties without the need for facilitation or interference by any third party. Preferably, the tokens should be tied to a shared unit of account, backed by the government(s), so that a user could easily exchange tokens for digitally managed receivables with a trusted independent service provider that is responsible for security. This way, the user does not have to carry all their holdings in physical tokens but can still readily use it for ad hoc payments to other users in proximity.

A release ready MVP should include functionality such as different denominations of tokens and established ways of printing and distributing the tokens with strong safefuards against known threat actors. The tokens should have an intuitive UX so that it is easy to tell the value represented by each version of the physical token on offer. Token management in user space could be simplified by “wallets” (provided by third parties). Developers should consider a “make it rain” mode for initial beta, to attract interest to the project.

I propose this new innovation be called monke, or the return to money.

GNU Taler is basically that. it is however exclusively for customer to merchant transactions, not user to user, to prevent money laundering.