The Central Bank of Ireland has recently published the final list of participants for its CBDC pilot. The pilot program had received a total of 36 bids from both single companies and consortia, which amounted to more than 100 institutions. Eventually, 14 participants were selected to take part in the pilot, with some representing groups of companies. One such group is composed of Microsoft, Banco Inter, and 7COMm, all of which are expected to make significant contributions to the pilot program.
The selection of these participants is a significant step forward for the Central Bank of Ireland, which has been exploring the potential of CBDCs for some time. The bank has been working with a range of stakeholders, including other central banks and financial institutions, to better understand the implications of CBDCs and how they could be implemented in Ireland. The pilot program is a crucial part of this effort, as it will enable the bank to test the feasibility of a CBDC in a real-world setting.
The pilot program will focus on several key areas, including the technical feasibility of a CBDC, its potential impact on monetary policy, and its implications for financial stability. Participants will work closely with the Central Bank of Ireland to develop and test a range of use cases for a CBDC, including retail payments, cross-border payments, and wholesale payments.
The involvement of Microsoft in the pilot program is particularly noteworthy, given the company’s significant experience in the tech industry. Microsoft has been exploring the potential of blockchain technology for some time, and has developed a range of blockchain-based solutions for various industries. The company’s expertise in this area is likely to be invaluable in helping to develop and test a CBDC in Ireland.
Banco Inter, meanwhile, is one of Brazil’s leading digital banks, and has been at the forefront of digital banking innovation in the country. The bank’s experience in developing and implementing digital payment solutions is likely to be highly relevant to the pilot program, particularly in the area of retail payments.
Finally, 7COMm is a digital technology company that specializes in developing solutions for the financial services industry. The company has a range of products and services that are designed to improve the efficiency and security of financial transactions, and is likely to play a key role in the development and testing of a CBDC in Ireland.
Overall, the selection of these participants is a significant milestone for the Central Bank of Ireland, and is likely to accelerate the development of a CBDC in the country. The pilot program will provide valuable insights into the feasibility of a CBDC, and will help to inform the bank’s decision-making process as it considers whether to move forward with a full-scale rollout of a CBDC in the future.
