Bank of Japan publishes update on retail CBDC experiments
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) published a progress report on its central bank digital currency (CBDC) proof of concept (POC) work. It’s available only in Japanese, so I’m leaning on Norbert Gehrke’s excellent summary. The BOJ is building an account-type CBDC ledger that covers everything from user wallets/apps to the intermediary and central systems. In parallel, the BOJ has established a CBDC Forum with 64 private companies organized into five working group themes, with more planned. The BOJ aims to steadily advance CBDC discussions through POCs and the CBDC Forum, although no decision has been made yet on actual CBDC issuance. [Read the report here and Norbert’s summary here]
The Central Bank of Mauritania commissions G+D to design a digital currency
The Banque Centrale de Mauritanie is partnering with Giesecke+Devriant (G+D) to design and introduce a potential CBDC complementing the Ouguiya national currency. The aim of the joint project is to gain a clear understanding of how a digital Mauritanian Ouguiya could benefit society and the country’s economy. G+D will support the central bank in defining the requirements for a national CBDC and deliver the technical solution for initial testing of defined uses cases. [Read more at G+D]
FYI I’ll be speaking at the Digital Currency Conference in London on September 23-24. The conference will bring together policymakers, regulators, and technology and innovation experts to network and discuss all aspects of digital currencies. [Find out more and register here]
Kiffmeister’s central bank digital currency monthly monitor
Just a reminder that I produce a monthly digest of central bank digital currency (CBDC) developments exclusively for the official sector. So (only) if you work at a central bank, ministry of finance or international financial institution (e.g., the BIS, IMF, OECD, World Bank) and who would like to receive it by email on the first business day of every month, please DM me on LinkedIn or email me at john@kiffmeister.com.
