KIGALI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The National Bank of Rwanda has announced that it will launch a 12-month central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot program.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the central bank said the program, involving a limited and diverse group of users across the capital Kigali, a secondary city and selected rural locations, will prioritize financial inclusion by testing simple channels such as USSD and low-cost devices.
The central bank will expand real-life use cases with merchants and other stakeholders in a controlled environment, while deepening collaboration with domestic and international partners, including work on interoperability and potential cross-border use cases, according to the statement.
The bank said the program builds on the successful completion of a five-month proof of concept (PoC) for a potential CBDC conducted between May and Oct. 2025, an important milestone in Rwanda's journey toward a more digital, resilient and inclusive financial system.
According to the central bank, completion of the PoC confirmed that a Rwanda-specific CBDC could support secure, instant payments, foster innovation in the financial sector and contribute to the country's broader cashless and digital economy objectives.
It noted that the pilot program will be conducted with strong safeguards, including privacy-by-design, cybersecurity, and close coordination with financial institutions and relevant authorities. ■