2 PAYMENT METHOD PROFILES: STABLECOIN
What About Central Bank Digital Currencies? So, what exactly are Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs)? CBDCs are digital representations of the fiat currency the government or central bank issues. They can be seen as the overlap between “central bank money” and digital currencies – meaning, it is a digital currency that is a liability of a central bank. 774 The most notable difference between CBDCs and digital currencies is that not all CBDCs operate on public blockchains, opting for private blockchain networks or potentially not using blockchain technology at all. 775 776 777 CBDCs are being researched for either retail or wholesale uses. Retail CBDCs are for public use, while wholesale CBDCs are exclusively for banks and other financial institutions. 778 The number of countries researching Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) has grown from around 20 in 2019 to almost 100 as of 2025. Given the growth in research, one would assume more would have been launched by now; however, as of July 2025 only four countries have introduced this new form of currency to their economies.
CBDC Growth by Status Over Time
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Research Proof of Concept
Pilot
Launched Cancelled
Graph 2.46 779
154
Powered by FlippingBook