This paper examines key considerations around central bank digital currency (CBDC) for
use by the general public, based on a comprehensive review of recent research, central
bank experiments, and ongoing discussions among stakeholders. It looks at the reasons
why central banks are exploring retail CBDC issuance, policy and design considerations;
legal, governance and regulatory perspectives; plus cybersecurity and other risk
considerations. This paper makes a contribution to the CBDC literature by suggesting a
structured framework to organize discussions on whether or not to issue CBDC, with an
operational focus and a project management perspective.