Bank of Israel Has Already Tested a Digital Shekel

The Bank of Israel has already carried out a pilot test on a central bank digital currency (CBDC), Deputy Governor Andrew Abir revealed.

Abir revealed the news at a conference of the Fair Value Forum of IDC Herzliya, The Jerusalem Post reported Monday.
After being asked if the Bank of Israel had already run a pilot on a digital shekel, Abir answered that it had.
Abir noted he is not particularly optimistic about an Israeli CBDC actually being launched, however.
He had previously said the chance of one being launched within five years was 20%. "My estimate has increased a bit in the last year, mainly because other countries are advancing with it, too, but still there is less than [a] 50% chance."
No formal announcement has been made by the Bank of Israel on the subject since early May, when it said it was preparing an action plan for the issuance of a digital shekel as part of an overall acceleration of its research into the subject.

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Bank of Israel Has Already Tested a Digital Shekel

The official said he is not optimistic about an Israeli CBDC being launched.

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