Albania CBDC Tracker

Albania is in the research phase of its central bank digital currency (CBDC) development. The Bank of Albania has published papers and talked about CBDCs at events, but it has not moved beyond theoretical research.

Current human rights and civil liberties concerns include cash restrictions and corruption. Prime Minister Edi Rama declared “that by the end of this decade, Albania becomes a cashless society, meaning that all interactions and financial transactions are fully digital.” Government officials have openly and repeatedly said their interest in CBDCs stems from a desire to eliminate cash and tighten control.

CBDC History and Development

In 2020, CBDCs were mentioned briefly noted in the Bank of Albania’s Economic Review that distributed ledger technology could be used for either a retail or wholesale CBDC.

In 2021, the Bank of Albania published a paper that looked at CBDCs more in depth. The authors wrote, “Central bank digital currencies (CBDC) have the greatest potential to succeed as a mainstream means of payment or store of value, compared to stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies.” However, they expressed a significant concern that a CBDC would undermine the traditional financial system. The authors wrote, “The main concerns that hold back the official commitment to issue CBDCs are their implications on financial stability, while benefits for the economy are less ambiguous. The question most CBs are facing now is how to optimally design a CBDC, without jeopardizing the stability of the financial system.”

In 2024, Bank of Albania second deputy governor Natasha Ahmetaj spoke to students during “Global Money Week 2024.” Among the topics discussed, Ahmetaj answered questions about cryptocurrencies and CBDCs.

Human Rights and Civil Liberties Concerns

Albania earned a 68 out of 100 in Freedom House’s 2025 Freedom in the World report. Cash restrictions and corruption are significant problems for the people of Algeria. The issuance or adoption of a CBDC in Algeria could worsen these issues.

“In a country where cash is king, Prime Minister Edi Rama’s ambition to make Albania go without by 2030 would turn society on its head,” according to reporting in Politico. Rama made the declaration on July 18, 2025 saying, “What remained unsaid, from what I observed, is that we also have another ambition: that by the end of this decade, Albania becomes a cashless society, meaning that all interactions and financial transactions are fully digital.” Government officials have openly and repeatedly said their interest in CBDCs stems from a desire to eliminate cash and tighten control.

“Corruption is pervasive, and the European Union (EU) has repeatedly called for rigorous implementation of antigraft measures, particularly for corruption within the judiciary,” according to Freedom House. “The Special Anticorruption Structure is tasked with investigating and prosecuting high-level corruption and has levied serious charges against political leaders.”

For additional information on concerns regarding violations of human rights and civil liberties, see the following reports by Amnesty International, Financial Tyranny Index, Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Privacy International, and the U.S. Department of State. For additional information on concerns regarding the risks of CBDCs, see the following webpage and report by the Cato Institute: The Risks of CBDCs and Central Bank Digital Currency: Assessing the Risks and Dispelling the Myths.

For additional information regarding metrics, the methodology page explains each of the data points and provides their respective sources.