Taiwan Advances with CBDC Prototype Platform, Public Sessions Planned for 2025

• Taiwan has announced the development of a prototype platform for a potential central bank digital currency (CBDC).
• The initiative aims to explore and enhance the platform with multiple public sessions and forums planned for the upcoming year.
• This announcement was made by Central Bank Governor Chin-Long Yang, highlighting the careful, non-competitive approach toward CBDC issuance.

Taiwan advances in CBDC development with a prototype platform and plans for public engagement, setting the stage for future digital currency endeavors.

Taiwan’s CBDC Prototype Development

In a significant step towards financial innovation, Taiwan has developed a prototype platform for a central bank digital currency (CBDC). The Central Bank Governor, Chin-Long Yang, emphasized that this initiative isn’t part of an international race but an effort to systematically explore the potential of digital currency. There is no fixed timeline for the official issuance of CBDC, reflecting the central bank’s cautious approach. The Legislative Yuan, Taiwan’s parliament, is expected to receive a detailed report on CBDC progress soon.

Structural Design and Performance

According to the central bank’s report, the prototype platform employs a two-tier issuance structure. This includes an interest-free CBDC setup where wallets can exist in both anonymous and registered formats. Remarkably, the platform supports high-performance retail transactions, processing up to 20,000 transactions per second. Plans are also underway to expand the CBDC’s application for wholesale use and as a settlement asset for potential asset tokenization.

Cautious and Systematic Approach

Taiwan’s journey towards CBDC began back in 2019, and since then, it has completed two extensive testing phases. Governor Yang reiterated the cautious and thorough approach the central bank is taking towards the possible issuance of a CBDC. This ensures that every aspect is meticulously evaluated before any formal rollout.

Exclusion of Cryptocurrencies and Stablecoins

In their CBDC research, the central bank has specifically excluded cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. This is because these assets operate independently from the digital currency system that the central bank is developing. Taiwan’s crypto industry remains substantially regulated, especially with the enforcement of anti-money laundering (AML) laws for crypto service providers.

Future Prospects and Public Engagement

Looking ahead, Taiwan plans to hold multiple public sessions and forums over the next year to further scrutinize and refine its CBDC platform. These engagements aim to gather insights and feedback, ensuring that the digital currency system is robust and meets both public and financial institution standards.

Conclusion

Taiwan’s development of a CBDC prototype platform marks a notable milestone in the financial sector. With a structured, cautious approach and plans for extensive public engagement, Taiwan is poised to shape the future of digital currency. This initiative highlights the importance of methodical review and public involvement in the evolution of financial technology.