According to Odaily, Antoine Martin, a member of the Swiss National Bank's board of directors, has expressed the bank's willingness to expand its central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot program. Speaking at the Point Zero Forum in Zurich, Martin stated, 'We hope to see the pilot program continue to develop, with more banks joining and transaction volumes increasing.'
Last month, the Swiss National Bank announced that it would continue to offer CBDC for at least two more years, extending the pilot project, Project Helvetia III, which began last year. Six banks, including UBS and Deutsche Bank, have already participated in the project. The project has issued digital currency bonds six times, with a total value of 7.5 billion Swiss francs (approximately 830.38 million US dollars).
The Swiss National Bank's move to expand its digital currency pilot program is a significant step in the global adoption of digital currencies. The continuation of Project Helvetia III and the involvement of major banks such as UBS and Deutsche Bank further solidify the growing acceptance of digital currencies in the financial sector. The Swiss National Bank's commitment to the project for at least two more years indicates a long-term investment in the potential of digital currencies.