The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) reported that testing of the e-hryvnia will begin in the second half of this year. According to the head of the bank’s payment systems and innovative development department, Andrey Poddergin, testing should last about six months.

Banking and non-banking structures can take part in testing the digital hryvnia. They will become agents of the NBU and will distribute and exchange e-hryvnia among users.

The NBU has already sent an invitation to banks to become participants in the pilot project. The volume of e-hryvnia emission will be indicated after the number of banks and their clients ready to test the new form of the national currency is determined.

During the pilot, participants will have the right to exchange cash and non-cash funds for e-hryvnia. Additionally, the NBU will test settlements with digital currency offline.

According to Andrey Poddergin, the purpose of testing is to determine whether there is demand for a state digital currency in Ukraine and whether it should be introduced into the country’s payment infrastructure at all.

Earlier, the NBU announced that the use of state digital currency by individuals and legal entities should be convenient and accessible.