Montenegro is the latest nation to announce its plans to create and launch a central bank digital currency (CBDC) with the help of US-based blockchain solutions provider Ripple. The Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG) has signed an agreement with Ripple to produce a strategy and pilot programme to realise the country’s CBDC. This latest move is part of Montenegro’s efforts to digitalise financial services in the small Balkan country and increase financial accessibility for its citizens.
Montenegro is one of over 100 nations worldwide that are either exploring or developing CBDCs. The benefits of CBDCs are vast and range from improving payment security and cross-border settlements to widening financial inclusion and even modernising monetary policy. China is one of the significant economies in the world that has advanced more than others with its digital yuan project. Trials are already underway in over two dozen regions of the People’s Republic, and more than 5.5 million merchants and businesses are participating.
Montenegro’s digital currency project is expected to go through several stages, during which the participants will simulate the coin’s circulation and use under controlled conditions. The CBCG will work with the Montenegrin government and academia to create a practical and secure digital currency, assured Governor Radoje Žugić. The central bank will also analyse the associated advantages and risks, including those concerning the protection of end-users’ rights and privacy.
Montenegro’s adoption of its digital currency is despite the state’s unilateral adoption of the euro in 2002. The ECBC is currently investigating the possible launch of a digital euro. Despite not being in any official agreements with ECB concerning the euro, Montenegro has decided to go ahead with developing its CBDC, also known as a “national stablecoin.”
The CBCG’s announcement indicates that the central bank of Montenegro is bringing the next level of digital transformation to its financial infrastructure and addressing some of the world’s biggest financial challenges, including financial inclusion.
In conclusion, Montenegro’s decision to develop its CBDC is a step towards digitalisation and further decentralisation of the nation’s financial services. As more economies explore and develop CBDCs, we may witness a paradigm shift in the control of money. This shift moves from the traditional financial institutions to everyday people, providing individuals with more control of their money and wealth.