The Bank for International Settlements has offered guidance on offline payments for institutions developing central bank digital currency.

A new handbook, issued as part of the BIS Innovation Hub’s Project Polaris, says 49% of central banks consider offline payments to be “vital” in any CBDC design. A further 49% say they would be advantageous.

However, executing offline payments comes with challenges. The handbook notes how each country will have to consider its local circumstances and plan