The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has been readying a central bank digital currency (CBDC) to be launched at some point during the current fiscal quarter.
The central bank aims to develop a national payment gateway for Cambodia, blockchain-based, that would enable peer-to-peer payments with its own specially designed cryptocurrency. Known as ‘Project Bakong’ and first trialled by NBC in July 2019, the CBDC will work on a closed system supported by its banking members, one of them, Phnom Penh Commercial Bank (PPCBank).
Users will be able to set up a Bakong wallet that will be automatically linked to their bank accounts. NBC says it will store all transaction data from the platform, suggesting payments may be fully traceable. Locals will be able to use the ‘quasi-form’ CBDC for everyday payments from their mobile devices. The initiative is expected to support the government's push to introduce QR-based transactions throughout the country.
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