CBDC LLC · independent information resource

Your plain guide to digital central bank money.

A central bank digital currency is a digital form of a country's official money, issued directly by its central bank. CBDC LLC explains what they are, where each country stands, and what the shift could mean for you, your savings, and your business.

Explore the World Tracker What is a CBDC?

The world is moving

Research, pilots, launches, and legislation

146

external global benchmark

146 countries and currency unions, representing over 98% of global GDP, are exploring central bank digital currencies (May 2026).

Source: Atlantic Council CBDC Tracker

Tracker last updated May 2026

countries with fully launched CBDCs

The Bahamas, Jamaica, and Nigeria · Atlantic Council, May 2026.

Source: Atlantic Council CBDC Tracker

Tracker last updated May 2026

3.4bn+

retail e-CNY transactions

Cumulative through December 2025: more than 3.4 billion retail transactions worth about ¥16.7 trillion.

Source: Atlantic Council CBDC Tracker

Data through December 2025 · tracker updated May 2026

2029

potential first issuance of the digital euro

Could occur if EU lawmakers adopt the regulation in 2026; the ECB has not decided whether to issue it.

Source: European Central Bank

Progress page checked 28 October 2026

The Atlantic Council figure is an external country-and-currency-union benchmark, not CBDC LLC's count of individually tracked project records. “Exploring” includes different stages and does not mean every jurisdiction is running a live pilot or has launched a CBDC.

The live project feed contains 180 unique records, including 4 currently marked “Launched.” Project-level status totals and the Atlantic Council's country-and-currency-union count use different scopes.

Source: CBDC Tracker API

External figures show their reporting dates above; live tracker data is revalidated every five minutes.

What exactly is a digital euro?

What exactly is a digital euro?Council of the EU · 1:17

Understand the basics

Learn how CBDCs differ from bank deposits, stablecoins, and cryptocurrencies.

Read the guide

Track every programme

Search 180 unique project records across 115 mapped country and territory names. Joint projects and currency-union records may cover additional jurisdictions.

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Stay informed, not alarmed

Clear context on privacy, holding limits, programmability, and what changes for businesses.

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