e-Dirham Trial Begins: Morocco Tests Digital Currency Rollout imagine image

Rabat, July 2025 – Abdellatif Jouahri, Governor of Bank Al-Maghrib, announced on Monday the launch of a pilot phase for the e-Dirham, Morocco’s future central bank digital currency (CBDC). This marks a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing digital monetary transformation.

Speaking at a press conference following the Central Bank’s quarterly board meeting, Jouahri emphasized that the initiative is not yet a public launch but rather a controlled testing phase aimed at assessing the technical, legal, and economic implications of introducing a digital dirham.

“This is not the official rollout, but an experimental phase involving strict oversight and selected stakeholders,” Jouahri noted.

A Strategic National Initiative

The e-Dirham is expected to modernize the payment ecosystem, enhance financial inclusion, and reduce reliance on cash, particularly in underserved rural areas. It may also offer greater monetary policy effectiveness through improved traceability of financial flows.

According to the governor, the initial pilot will focus on low-value transactions within a controlled environment, and feedback from this phase is expected by the end of 2025.

Regulatory and Sovereignty Considerations

Bank Al-Maghrib is working closely with the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT), and other key stakeholders to ensure that the e-Dirham adheres to the highest standards of security, privacy, and resilience against cyber threats.

“We are moving forward with caution. A CBDC is not a technological gadget—it is a pillar of national monetary sovereignty,” Jouahri asserted.

A Regional First

If the trial phase proves successful, Morocco could become the first North African country to implement a functioning CBDC. The project aligns with a growing global trend, as major central banks—including the European Central Bank, the Bank of England, and the People’s Bank of China—are also conducting similar pilot programs.