Thailand's central bank to test retail digital currency next year

Quick Take

  • The Bank of Thailand will begin testing retail CBDC in the second quarter of next year.
  • The central bank is currently seeking public feedback on the matter by June 15.

The Bank of Thailand will begin testing retail digital currency in the second quarter of next year, assistant governor Vachira Arromdee has said. 

Arromdee further said that the retail digital currency could be fully implemented over the next 3-5 years, Reuters reported Friday. "It will not affect the Thai financial system," said Arromdee.

The Bank of Thailand is seeking public feedback on the development and issuance of retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) by June 15. To that end, the central bank has published a 59-page paper laying out its approach in considering issuing a retail CBDC.

"We believe that a retail CBDC would provide a valuable option for citizens to benefit from a digital currency that is accessible, reliable and safe," said the central bank. "It would also lay the groundwork for a safe payment infrastructure, building the foundation for interoperability and collaboration with the private sector to drive financial innovation."

But the planned effort won't be without its risks and challenges. Hence, the exploration of retail CBDC "must take into account policy implications, design decisions and risk mitigation measures," said the central bank.

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The Bank of Thailand has also been engaged in work on wholesale digital currency through Project Inthanon, which focuses only on interbank payments. The project has been going on since 2018 and is still in a proof-of-concept stage, as The Block's CBDC report noted recently. The technical, regulatory, operational, and legal considerations of wholesale CBDC are yet to be explored by the project.

In the meanwhile, the Bank of Thailand has expanded its attention to a retail CBDC for the general public in anticipation that "digital currencies will play a greater role in Thailand's s future financial landscape."

"A retail CBDC could serve as a trusted and safe means of payment accessible by Thai households and business alike, existing alongside cash and other payment instruments," said the central bank. "As a reliable payment infrastructure, it could help safeguard the stability of the Thai financial and monetary system in the new financial landscape."


© 2023 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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Yogita Khatri is a senior reporter at The Block, covering all things crypto. As one of the earliest team members, Yogita has played a pivotal role in breaking numerous stories, exclusives and scoops. With nearly 3,000 articles under her belt, Yogita holds the records as The Block's most-published and most-read author of all time. Prior to joining The Block, Yogita worked at crypto publication CoinDesk and The Economic Times, where she wrote on personal finance. To contact her, email: [email protected]. For her latest work, follow her on X @Yogita_Khatri5.