The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is in talks with other major global central banks to promote digital rupee for cross-border payments, Governor Shaktikanta Das said, while the central bank allowed trade payments in rupees last year to enhance the local unit’s acceptability globally.
“CBDC (central bank digital currency) is going to be the future of money. We are preparing ourselves for that. By the end of this month, we hope to reach about one million users of retail CBDC. That is for domestic payments. But cross-border payments will also become much quicker, more seamless and very cost-effective. That is another area where a lot of attention needs to be given. We are constantly in dialogue with other central banks that have introduced or are introducing CBDCs,” he said.
Barely months before unveiling the CBDC pilot in both retail and wholesale segments, the central bank allowed rupee settlement for international trade as a step towards internationalisation of the rupee. Banks from 18 countries have opened rupee vostro accounts since July last year, helping their importers settle payments in the rupee.
