Executive Summary

Despite a calamitous year in the cryptocurrency industry, governments worldwide are still pouring resources into central bank digital currency (CBDC) exploration. CBDCs offer a more sustainable—and far less volatile—alternative to traditional cryptos. Yet CBDCs must overcome significant implementation hurdles, leaving US adoption still many years away.

Key Question: What should payment incumbents expect in terms of CBDC exploration over the next few years?

KEY STAT: Countries don’t want to be left out of the CBDC rat race: Of the 81 central banks surveyed by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in fall 2021, 90% said they were exploring CBDCs.