This marks a significant step in Rwanda’s broader effort to build a more digital, resilient and inclusive financial system.
The test was conducted in collaboration with commercial banks, payment service providers, financial technology innovators, and various public institutions. According to BNR, the ‘proof of concept’ ran for five months, from May to October 2025.
In a statement, the central bank said the proof of concept phase demonstrated meaningful progress toward a technology-driven financial ecosystem that is accessible to all.
The phase showed that Rwanda’s e-FRW could support fast and secure payments, promote financial innovation, and strengthen the country’s transition toward a cashless and digitally driven economy.
BNR noted that the exercise generated practical insights into the technological infrastructure required to operate the digital currency, user experience considerations, risk management approaches, and key legal and regulatory priorities. A detailed report on the findings is available on the central bank’s website.
Next phase
A broader 12-month pilot phase is planned next. This stage will involve selected groups of diverse users across Kigali, a secondary city, and selected rural areas.
The expansion will prioritize financial inclusion by testing simple channels such as USSD and low-cost devices.
Real-life transactions will be tested in controlled environments in partnership with merchants and other stakeholders.
The program will also involve collaboration with domestic and international institutions to examine interoperability between different payment systems and explore potential cross-border use cases.
BNR stressed that the pilot will be conducted under strict data protection standards and strong cybersecurity safeguards, in close coordination with financial institutions and public authorities. The central bank emphasized that no final decision has yet been made regarding the official issuance of the e-FRW.
“Any decision to introduce CBDC in Rwanda will be informed by evidence gathered from the pilot phase on the outcomes of the expanded pilot, stakeholders feedback, and broader policy and regulatory considerations,” BNR stated.
CBDC as a complementary option to Mobile Money
Ingrid Cyuzuzo, the Manager in charge of Financial Sector Development and Innovation at the National Bank of Rwanda, recently explained that if introduced domestically, the CBDC would hold the same monetary value as existing national currency while expanding digital payment options.
As Rwanda continues to lead in Mobile Money adoption, she said the CBDC could enhance digital payment efficiency and expand use cases, including transactions that currently exceed Mobile Money capabilities.
What a CBDC means
A CBDC is a digital form of currency issued by a country’s central bank. Like physical cash—banknotes and coins—it represents sovereign money, but in digital form. Some models are designed to function even in low-connectivity environments.
BNR believes the introduction of a digital currency could attract new payment innovations to Rwanda’s financial market and simplify money transfers across different regions of the world.
Globally, countries such as Bahamas, Jamaica, and Nigeria have already adopted CBDCs, while more than 130 others are developing or piloting similar systems as part of broader efforts to modernize domestic and international payment ecosystems.
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