France & Luxembourg Pioneer CBDC Bond Settlement: A €100M Breakthrough
France and Luxembourg have successfully used an experimental Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) to settle a significant bond issue, marking a major step forward in the exploration of digital finance. This groundbreaking initiative, known as "Venus," demonstrates the potential of digital assets in modern financial systems.
The "Venus" Initiative: A CBDC Success Story
The so-called Venus initiative saw the central banks of France and Luxembourg utilize an experimental CBDC to settle a EUR100 million digital native bond. This highlights how digital assets can streamline and potentially improve efficiency in bond settlements.
Experimental CBDC Tokens Power the Transaction
BlockBeats reported on November 30th that France and Luxembourg settled 100 million euros ($104 million) worth of bonds using an experimental central bank digital currency (CBDC), according to CoinDesk. Subscriptions to the bond were settled using experimental CBDC tokens on a separate controlled DLT jointly operated by the Banque de France and the Banque centrale du Luxembourg. The subscriptions were cash settled using experimental CBDC tokens issued on a permissioned DLT operated together by the Banque de France and the Banque centrale. This innovative approach utilizes distributed ledger technology (DLT) for secure and transparent transactions.
Banque de France & Banque centrale du Luxembourg: Key Players
The Banque de France and the Banque centrale du Luxembourg played a crucial role in this project. The Banque de France and the Banque centrale du Luxembourg assisted the European Investment Bank (EIB) in the Venus initiative, by providing a safe settlement environment and technical expertise.
Looking Ahead: CBDC Exploration Continues
The central banks of France and Luxembourg have used an experimental CBDC to settle a EUR100 million digital native bond. France and Luxembourg have used an experimental central bank digital currency (CBDC) to settle a bond worth 100 million euros (US$104 million), the latest in a series of tests. At the end of 2025, the Banque de France joined a group of 14 banks in a program to experiment with CBDC use for interbank settlement in cross-border payments. The program was launched 9 de sept. de 2025. This success further fuels the ongoing exploration of CBDCs and their potential to revolutionize global finance.