South Korea is progressing with its CBDC trial. Major firms like 7-Eleven are set to join the trial, and retail participation is the focus.
South Korea has launched a nationwide test for its Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). This will allow selected businesses and consumers to participate. 7-Eleven, Inc., a leading convenience store chain, is one of the businesses taking part in the experiment.
The trial, which started on April 1 and will run until June 30, will test digital currency use in stores, checking transaction speed, security, and how customers respond before a full rollout.
7-Eleven Introduces CBDC Payments with Discounts
Customers using CBDC to pay at 7-Eleven during the pilot phase will receive a 10% discount on every item they purchase. This reward is designed to encourage participation and gather feedback on the new payment system per the update.
Moon Dae-woo, in charge of 7-Eleven’s digital innovation division, sees digital payment solutions as the future of retail transactions. While stressing that the retail giant wants to be at the frontline of technological advancements, they plan to make shopping more convenient for customers.
Meanwhile, introducing CBDC payments at 7-Eleven is part of a wider effort to test how digital currency can function in real-world settings. Many other businesses, including coffee shops, supermarkets, K-pop merchandise stores, and online delivery platforms, are also participating. Their involvement will provide valuable data on how CBDC is used across different industries.
The South Korean government hopes this experiment will reveal technical or operational challenges that could arise when using digital currencies.
7-Eleven will closely monitor transaction speeds, consumer behavior, and potential security issues during the test period. This will give them insights into how they can improve the main project before it’s fully implemented.
Push for Nationwide Trail Gains Backing
The CBDC test is backed by major financial institutions, including the Bank of Korea, the Financial Services Commission (FSC), and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS). These agencies are working together to ensure the smooth execution of the program.
Meanwhile, in January, the Bank of England (BoE) announced plans to launch the Digital Pound Lab later this year as part of the design phase for a potential CBDC.
Interestingly, this has been the case across different nations embracing digital currency. Still, many experts argue this is because central bank digital currencies are issued and monitored by the government, unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which operate independently and can be highly volatile.
Proponents claim CBDCs will provide better transparency and security than fiat as they are stored in a distributed ledger.
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