The funds large has a CBDC Companion Program that features contributors comparable to Ripple, Fireblocks and Consensys. The transfer was designed to encourage conversations amongst key gamers within the trade, however was seen as a means for Mastercard (MA) to deepen its involvement with CBDC developments because the variety of nations exploring the know-how grows. As many as 130 international locations, representing 98% of worldwide gross home product, are exploring a CBDC, in keeping with the Atlantic Council. In Might 2020, solely 35 international locations have been contemplating one. Nonetheless, solely 11 international locations have to this point launched a digital foreign money.