TOKYO (Reuters) – Japan will look closer into whether to issue central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), the government said in its annual policy roadmap, a sign that Tokyo may be warming to the idea as the coronavirus heightens demand for cashless payments.
In its first-ever reference to digital currency in the annual plan, the government urged the Bank of Japan (BOJ) to liaise with other countries to jointly examine its feasibility.
“The BOJ will coordinate with other countries to consider CBDCs by examining and verifying technological tests,” according to the document, which serves as guidance for the government’s long-term economic and fiscal policies.
