BIS Innovation Hub Publishes Project Aurum Digital Cash Results

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub has published results from Project Aurum’s second phase, outlining a privacy-focused digital cash prototype that retains compliance controls.

Developed with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and other institutions, the project combines zero-knowledge proofs, BBS+ signatures and encryption. The design aims to reduce exposure of personal and transaction data while preserving compliance mechanisms.

The prototype uses privacy by default. Its controls can be adjusted based on policy requirements for privacy, transaction transparency and compliance, providing a reference for central banks exploring digital cash systems.

Project Aurum remains at the proof-of-concept stage and has not entered formal issuance or commercial deployment.