One-fifth of EMDE central banks actively discourage cash use
Digital payments are reducing cash demand, especially in advanced economies
Data from the Currency Benchmarks 2026 shows that just over a fifth (21%) of emerging market and developing economy (EMDE) central banks are actively seeking to discourage cash use, for instance by promoting electronic payments instead.
None of the surveyed advanced economy (AE) central banks actively discourage cash use, perhaps because many are already undergoing an organic move from cash to digital payments. Asked to what extent digital payments are reducing demand for banknotes, 83% of AE
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