New forms of money and new technologies have the potential to improve payment systems, enhance financial inclusion, and facilitate cross-border payments. In particular, central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) have gained significant attention, with approximately 60 percent of countries exploring their potential. The IMF has a unique view across these efforts and we have done our own exploration of CBDCs’ potential—including the publication of the new CBDC Virtual Handbook that provides guidance to countries exploring the topic.
