Central bankers are cooling on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), according to the OMFIF's annual survey. Interest in CBDCs dropped from 31% in 2023 to 13% in 2024. Instead, central banks favor interlinking instant payment systems like the US FedNow for cross-border transactions. Stablecoins remain unpopular, receiving 0% support.

Meanwhile, tokenization is gaining traction, with over 40% of central banks in developed markets planning to explore it within five years. Projects like the BIS's Project Agora are paving the way for tokenized transfers, though traditional instant payment systems still dominate.