Australia’s central bank is taking steps towards a more digitized economy by partnering with industry representatives to test the use cases for a digital dollar, the eAUD. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is currently conducting a pilot project which will explore various areas of use for a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The projects range from bond settlement and securities trading to offline payments.
The RBA’s Assistant Governor, Mr. Brad Jones, stated that the people who participated in the pilot projects involve a diverse range of field representatives, including small fintech and large financial institutions. Several entities, including the Commonwealth Bank, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ), Monoova, the Australian Bond Exchange, Mastercard, DigiCash, and others, are collaborating with the RBA on various pilot projects.
One of the pilot projects aims to test whether smart cards preloaded with money could activate offline payments. This project will aim to work on a consumer-to-merchant system, enabling users to conduct transactions even without an internet connection. A separate initiative explores the potential of utilizing the USDC coin to simplify all foreign exchange trades and cross-border money transfers.The objective is to experiment with carrying out global remittances around the clock, every day of the year, with an emphasis on minimizing counterparty risks.
Central banks worldwide are pursuing digital currency experiments, and the RBA’s initiative is among them. The RBA expects to complete its CBDC pilot by mid-2023. The pilot, along with the broader research study, will serve two purposes. It will contribute to hands-on learning by the industry and policymakers’ understanding of how a CBDC could benefit the Australian financial system and economy.
The RBA’s CBDC pilot has the potential to revolutionize the Australian financial system and open up new opportunities for businesses and individuals. As the world moves towards a more digitized economy, central bank digital currencies will play an increasingly significant role in financial systems worldwide.
