This is reported by RBK-Ukraine citing the Deputy Head of the NBU Oleksiy Shaban. According to Kontrakty.UA, this information has been confirmed.
Shaban noted that the e-hryvnia is intended to complement cash and funds held in accounts. It will not replace them but rather provide an additional option for users to utilize as they wish.
"However, as of now, a decision on the large-scale issuance of the e-hryvnia has not yet been made," the Deputy Head of the NBU stated.
He mentioned that a pilot project could assist in making such a decision, with preparations already underway. It is planned to be conducted based on DLT (Distributed Ledger Technology) in an open environment, meaning with real users and payment service providers. This will allow verification of whether the e-hryvnia can perform the functions of money, meet user needs, and how effective its programmability is.
What is e-hryvnia
Shaban reported that the e-hryvnia is the NBU's digital currency, an electronic form of Ukraine's monetary unit, issued by the National Bank. This definition is included in the Ukrainian law "On Payment Services."
"In other words, it is the same hryvnia, just in digital form. Like physical (cash) money, it represents a liability of the central bank," the Deputy Head of the NBU explained.
If a decision is made to implement it, the e-hryvnia will be a legal means of payment in Ukraine and will exist only in cashless form - as a complement to both cash and non-cash forms of money. It is expected to perform all functions of money and be accessible for use by all categories of users without exception.
Users are expected to have the ability to carry out all possible types of payment transactions in Ukraine using the e-hryvnia, including:
- transfers between individuals (transfers between user wallets);
- payment for goods and services;
- payments to the state;
- charitable payments;
- receiving salaries and other incomes, social benefits.
As a reminder, as of January 1, 2025, there are 2.6 billion banknotes in circulation totaling 814.3 billion hryvnias, as well as 14.8 billion coins (excluding commemorative and investment ones) worth 7.96 billion hryvnias.
At the beginning of this year, there were: 63 banknotes and 186 payment change and circulating coins per resident of Ukraine.