Iran’s Chamber of Commerce has reported that the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) plans to launch a pilot program for its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the crypto-rial, beginning on Thursday. The crypto-rial is designed to leverage blockchain technology in order to transform Iranian Rial banknotes into a “programmable entity” that can more easily be transacted across borders and around the world. According to CBI Governor Ali Salehabadi, “The bank has in place the infrastructure and rules for the crypto-rial. The cryptocurrency is planned as a new type of national currency, like banknotes and coins, but fully ... (full story)