Coindesk Logo

Turkey to Pilot Digital Currency in 2021, Says Central Bank Governor

Turkey to Pilot Digital Currency in 2021, Says Central Bank Governor

Turkey to Pilot Digital Currency in 2021, Says Central Bank Governor

Naci Ağbal's comments would place Turkey on the fast track to central bank digital currency.

Naci Ağbal's comments would place Turkey on the fast track to central bank digital currency.

Naci Ağbal's comments would place Turkey on the fast track to central bank digital currency.

AccessTimeIconDec 26, 2020, 1:38 AM
Updated Aug 19, 2021, 6:20 AM

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

Turkey will begin piloting a previously undisclosed digital currency in the second half of 2021, the country's chief central banker, Naci Ağbal, told members of parliament Friday.

Turkish-language media widely quoted him as follows:

“There is an R&D project initiated on digital money. Currently the conceptual phase of this project has been completed. We aim to start pilot tests in the second half of 2021."

Ağbal's surprise comments place Turkey on the fast track to a central bank digital currency (CBDC). Turkey seldom discloses any digital currency ambitions; the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), known in monetary circles as the "bank for central banks," does not even record Turkey as having an active CBDC project in its running database.

Yet, Turkey is now angling to overtake many better-known CBDC projects. Although 80% of central banks are considering CBDC according to the BIS, only a handful – Sweden, China, the Bahamas – have progressed to pilot phase/soft launch.

The details of Turkey's own CBDC project are murky at best. Local crypto outlet Koin Bülteni reported in September the central bank was hiring experts for its digital currency research and development team.

Among the topics of apparent interest: blockchain, cryptography and big data.

Disclosure

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information have been updated.

CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.


Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.