Japan Is Seriously Considering a Digital Yen: Report
As allies and rivals move in on their central bank digital currency (CBDC) plans, Japan is now said to be seriously considering a digital yen.
The government is set to examine the possible launch of digital yen as part of this year’s policy agenda, the Nikkei reported Wednesday.
Senior lawmakers for the erstwhile cash-addicted country have been calling on the government to collaborate with its allies on a CBDC since early February.
The Bank of Japan already said this month it was experimenting with a CBDC but said there were no immediate plans to launch one.
Geopolitical rival China is close to launching its own CBDC; major companies are already in advanced discussions to test it as a new payment option.
The Bank of England’s governor said this week that the U.K. central bank was also seriously considering a CBDC.
See also: Japan’s Biggest Banks Are Talking About Building a Digital Payments System