
Ghana to start CBDC pilot in September as it seeks to reduce cash reliance
The Ghanaian central bank is in advanced stages in its development of a central bank digital currency, with a pilot set to start in September.
The Ghanaian central bank is in advanced stages in its development of a central bank digital currency, with a pilot set to start in September.
The central bank of Jamaica is to begin rolling out its central bank digital currency from August, becoming one of the first countries in the world to push a CBDC formally through its central bank.
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand will be consulting the public on how a CBDC can work alongside cash, as well as issues arising from digital currencies like Bitcoin (BSV) and stablecoins.
The prime minister has been pushing for e-governance as he seeks to make Vietnam’s government an efficient digital one, putting emphasis on big data, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and virtual reality.
Spain’s ruling Spanish Socialist Party (PSOE) has proposed the creation of a research group to examine how a digital euro might work in the Southern European nation.
The Global CBDC Challenge focuses on enhancing the effectiveness of payment and stimulating financial inclusion through the discovery of innovative retail ideas driven by the CBDC solution.
The municipal government of Beijing announced that users of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China digital app would be able to pay for subway fares in e-CNY across all local routes.
The West African country has been cracking down on digital currencies for months, but according to one report, it has been working on the digital naira all this while.
Andrew Abir said the bank had begun piloting the digital currency, though was keen to downplay suggestions that a wider launch was imminent.
The trial involved using the CBDC to simulate the settlement of listed securities in a test environment. Banque de France partnered with Swiss bank SEBA as well as two Luxembourg institutions.
Central bank governor Dr. Ernest Addison confirmed that the digital cedi project is now “in the advanced stages,” noting there is a need to approach the project in phases.
While announcing a roadmap that seeks to strengthen the region’s fintech sector, the HKMA revealed it has been collaborating with local and global bodies in its CBDC research.