The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub has outlined its 2024 agenda, focusing on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and tokenization projects. BIS plans to launch a blockchain-based tokenization initiative and advance to the second phase of a CBDC privacy test.
Project Aurum, a collaboration between BIS and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), was announced on January 23. It aims to explore the privacy aspects of individual payments using CBDCs, integrating a wholesale interbank system, e-wallet, and retail CBDC prototype. Building on its 2022 foundation, Project Aurum is entering a new phase of research and development.
Another significant development on BIS’s agenda is the Promissa Project, a collaboration with the Swiss National Bank and the World Bank. This ambitious project seeks to create a proof of concept (PoC) platform for digital tokenized securities, aiming to digitize traditional paper-based securities and complete the project by 2025.
In addition to digital assets, BIS’s 2024 agenda includes four projects not directly related to the digital assets sector. The Leap, Symbiosis, Hertha, and NGFS Data Directory 2.0 projects cover various topics such as cybersecurity, prevention of financial crimes, and green finance, offering a broad perspective.
BIS continues to advocate for CBDCs, solidifying its position as a leading proponent in 2023. BIS General Manager Agustín Carstens has highlighted the role of central banks in leading digital innovation, positioning CBDCs as central to this transformative journey. The intersection of traditional finance and cutting-edge technologies is expected to shape the future of global monetary systems in 2024.