<span style="font-weight: 400">The parliament of Ukraine has passed a <a href="https://iportal.rada.gov.ua/en/news/News/211327.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">new payments law</a> that would put its central bank digital currency(CBDC) on par with cash and other payment instruments in the country. The electronic currency Hryvnia is still in the research and development phase, but lawmakers in Ukraine appear eager to digitize their economy. </span>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Ukraine Enacts Law Listing CBDC on Par With Other Payment Instruments</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400">Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, enacted the “On Payment Services” law on Wednesday, with a brief mention of the country’s yet-to-be-launched CBDC. The new law lists payments services and methods and puts the electronic Hryvnia at the same level as cash, electronic payments, and bank accounts.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400">Notably, Ukraine has been working on a digital currency since 2018, with a prototype built on the Stellar Lumens blockchain. Following the conclusion of a pilot program in December 2018, the National Bank of Ukraine(NBU) released a 40-page report detailing the implementation of an electronic currency. The country has also invited experts to contribute their opinions on the subject. In 2019, the NBU organized a conference focused on CBDCs with representatives from other central banks to explore the outcomes associated with e-currencies.</span>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400">Ukrainian Govt Joins Growing List of European Countries Working on Digital Currencies</span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400">Ukraine isn’t the only European country working on a <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/hungary-all-set-to-slash-its-crypto-tax-by-50-aims-to-attract-billions-to-its-budget/">CBDC.</a> In fact, it’s part of a growing list of countries on the continent that are actively experimenting with decentralized technology. France, Sweden, and even the European Union are researching the benefits and drawbacks of a CBDC. Many of them want to capitalize on the potential advantages of a digital currency -- for instance, reduction of fees associated with cross-border payments.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400">The race for a working CBDC is also being heated up by progress made in <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/beijing-subway-now-accepting-digital-yuan-payments/">China</a>, where a digital Yua is already being used in some banks and ATMs. Europe is well aware of the fact that it needs to ramp up its efforts in the CBDC space to remain technologically relevant in the digital age. While some institutions are still hesitant about its implications, the larger consensus seems to be favoring CBDC adoption.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400">Recently, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) published a paper on digital currencies which found that hybrid or intermediated CBDCs showed promise. The organization believes that there are challenges as well as benefits to CBDC implementation.</span>

Ukraine Passes Law to Treat CBDC on Par With Cash

The Ukrainian parliament has passed a new payments law that would put its central bank digital currency(CBDC) on par with cash in Ukraine.

Divya is a postgraduate from Jawaharlal Nehru University specializing in International Relations and a professional writer with more than 5 years of experience writing for the web. She is an avid reader interested in the global financial system and the effects of decentralization. At Cryptoknowmics, she hopes to deliver clear and understandable content to inform readers about the latest events in the crypto sector.

Ukraine Passes Law to Treat CBDC on Par With Cash

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