The Bank of Korea (BOK), South Korea’s central bank, is set to launch a pilot program in December that will allow participants to use digital tokens for payments at supermarkets and stores. This Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) trial will involve 100,000 participants and highlights the broader global impact of digital transformation through retail partnerships and initiatives like Project Agora.
Bank of Korea’s CBDC Token Trial to Start in December
The Bank of Korea (BOK) will begin its CBDC trial in December, allowing selected participants to use digitally converted tokens for payments in local supermarkets and retail outlets, according to sources from Korea Times. This initiative is part of a larger CBDC test, conducted in collaboration with six major commercial banks.
Under the pilot program, 100,000 participants will use deposit tokens, which will function like coupons for purchasing items at various retail locations. The BOK will issue wholesale CBDCs to banks, which will then convert them into deposit tokens for consumers to use. The goal is to assess whether CBDCs can enhance the current payment system or potentially replace the existing process where banks use their central bank deposits for transactions and settlements. This project builds on a plan first announced in October, marking a significant step toward the digital economy.
Retail Partnerships and Global Initiatives
Participating banks are forming partnerships with retailers and developing digital platforms to ensure the smooth implementation of the program. NH Nonghyup Bank, for instance, has partnered with its subsidiary Hanaro Mart, while other banks are negotiating deals with major supermarkets and retailers. BOK is also a part of Project Agora, a global initiative exploring the tokenization of cross-border payments, involving six major South Korean banks. A banking sector official noted:
“Although the timeline seems slightly delayed from our initial expectations, we are working to launch the CBDC trial with 100,000 participants using deposit tokens by the end of the year, which will mark a significant global milestone.”
This test will be a major milestone in the global shift toward digital currencies, offering crucial insights into how CBDCs could reshape payment systems.
