Banking

‘Not as far along as digital euro’: Bank of England mulls digital pound

Top lender director said the bank wants to be ready to ‘move quickly’ if the UK Treasury approves a digital currency

Victoria Cleland, the executive director of payments at the Bank of England, said that the Bank wanted to be "ready to move quickly" if the UK Treasury does decide to fully endorse a digital pound. Picture: Getty

The Bank of England remains in "listening mode" on a digital pound, a top director has said, as she struck a note of caution over any adoption.

The EU has gone significantly further than Threadneedle Street in exploring central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), with the European Central Bank earlier this year confirming plans to spend €1.3 billion on contracts relating to the possible introduction of a digital euro.

Victoria Cleland, the executive director of payments at the Bank of England, acknowledged the difference of pace between London and Brussels during an appearance at a payments conference on Wednesday.