Japan Digital Yen
Bank of Japan
Status
Architecture
Cross-Border Projects
No cross-border projects reported.
Capabilities
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Japan have a CBDC?
Yes, Japan is developing Japan Digital Yen, currently in pilot phase.
What is the status of Japan's CBDC?
Japan Digital Yen is in pilot phase as of 2026-02-18. The pilot program is actively testing with real users.
When did Japan launch its CBDC pilot?
No pilot launch date has been announced yet. The project is currently in pilot phase.
How many people use Japan's CBDC?
User and wallet metrics are not publicly available at this time.
Is Japan's CBDC retail or wholesale?
Japan Digital Yen is a retail CBDC designed for public use in everyday transactions.
Which central bank manages Japan Digital Yen?
Japan Digital Yen is managed by Bank of Japan.
Recent Developments
According to the Bank of Japan, the Digital Yen program progressed through PoC Phase 1 (April 2021–March 2022) and PoC Phase 2 (April 2022–March 2023), followed by the current pilot program launched in April 2023. The pilot comprises two pillars: (1) development and testing of a central system covering end-to-end transactions including deposits, withdrawals, and atomic settlements; and (2) the CBDC Forum engaging approximately 60 private institutions including commercial banks for discussions on retail payments, technology, cybersecurity, and integration. Testing has included offline payment capabilities, scheduled remittances, and stress testing at 500 transactions per second. The BOJ published progress reports in May 2024 and July 2025, with the latest covering work through March 2025. In June 2025, BOJ Executive Director Kazushige Kamiyama reaffirmed that the Bank has no plans to issue a CBDC at this time, though acknowledging it may become critical infrastructure. Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida stated that any issuance decision would require public discussion. No issuance decision or launch timeline has been set; the central bank emphasizes preparation for future demand while maintaining cash as a parallel option. Cashless payments in Japan reached 42.8% of transactions by 2024 (up from 13.2% in 2010).
Updated: 2/18/2026