Central Banks Shift Focus From CBDCs To Instant Payment Systems, Survey Reveals

According to Odaily, a recent annual survey by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) reveals a significant decline in the popularity of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) as a tool for enhancing cross-border payments. The 2024 survey indicates that only 13% of respondents support CBDCs as a solution, a sharp decrease from 31% in 2023. In contrast, nearly half (47%) of the surveyed central bank governors favor interconnected instant payment systems, such as the United States' FedNow service, as the preferred future pathway. The survey also highlights that stablecoins have received zero support for the second consecutive year, reflecting central bank governors' lack of confidence in their ability to enhance global financial infrastructure. The waning interest in CBDCs coincides with the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) withdrawing from the mBridge project. Although BIS denies any political motivations, this move underscores the global tensions surrounding CBDC adoption. Additionally, the survey emphasizes the enduring dominance of the US dollar, with only 11% of central banks reporting a reduction in its usage. This trend is primarily driven by geopolitical uncertainties that have increased demand for the dollar as a safe haven. The survey also points out the challenges faced by the correspondent banking system, which has long facilitated international settlements but is increasingly viewed as outdated and costly due to complex Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements. The delayed adoption of the ISO 20022 messaging standard may exacerbate this decline, prompting central banks to explore alternative solutions such as tokenization. Over 40% of central banks in developed markets consider tokenization a promising innovation and plan to begin research in this area within the next three to five years.