New data shows that 134 countries, representing 98% of global GDP, are currently exploring central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), with 66 in the pilot or development stages. Every G20 country is involved in CBDC efforts, with notable leaders like China and European nations pushing ahead. The United States still lags behind Europe and Japan but is exploring cross-border initiatives like Project Agorá.

Global Expansion of CBDCs: 134 Countries Are Exploring Digital Currencies

The Atlantic Council announced on Tuesday that it has released an update to its central bank digital currency (CBDC) tracker. The announcement detailed:

Our new research shows that there are now 134 countries exploring CBDCs, representing 98% of global GDP.

Additionally, the council noted that “66 countries are currently in advanced stages of exploration — including launch, testing or development.”

“As of September 2024, every G20 country is exploring CBDC, with 19 of them at an advanced stage of CBDC development,” the council said. Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Turkey are among the 13 G20 countries testing CBDCs, while new projects have been introduced in France, Italy, and Indonesia.

The tracker notes that there are currently 44 CBDC pilot projects in operation, with European countries leading the testing effort. China’s e-CNY remains the world’s largest CBDC pilot, with transactions exceeding 7 trillion yuan across sectors such as education and tourism.

The announcement also highlighted that three countries, namely the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Nigeria, have fully implemented digital currencies, with increased issuance in Nigeria and the Bahamas. Regarding the Federal Reserve’s efforts on a digital dollar, the board described:

The United States is currently involved in a cross-border wholesale CBDC project, Project Agorá, with six other major central banks. CBDCs continue to be an issue in the ongoing US presidential campaign. The United States lags far behind its advanced economic peers in Europe and Japan.

What do you think about the global race to develop CBDCs? Let us know in the comments below.
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