As global economies face unprecedented geopolitical shifts and rapid technological evolution, central banks are fundamentally redefining their mandates. This session reveals the critical findings from a groundbreaking survey of over 40 central banks, providing a rare look into the strategic roadmaps of the world’s most influential financial regulators. Hosted by Selvakumaran S, Business Head of eMACH.ai Core for Central Banking at Intellect Design Arena Ltd., the discussion bridges the gap between traditional monetary policy and the digital-first future.

In this session, he provides expert commentary on how unified ledgers, hybrid infrastructures, and AI are no longer just “innovation projects” but essential tools for maintaining policy agility and real-time oversight.

Comprehensive Insights from the Global Survey

From a viewer’s perspective, the session provides a data-rich analysis of the pressures and opportunities currently facing central bank governors and IT leaders. Key takeaways include:

• The Strategic Priority Shift: * Financial Stability: Over 45% of central banks identify resilience against global trade tensions and external shocks as their primary concern.
  • Inflation Management: 43% remain focused on the potential for inflationary spikes in advanced economies, requiring constant policy vigilance.
  • Cybersecurity & AI: Emerging as a top-tier risk, 49% of banks cite cybersecurity and AI application as the most critical focus areas for the next decade.
• Accelerating Digital Transformation:
  • While 84% of central banks are currently transforming their core backbones, 40% are specifically experimenting with cloud infrastructure to drive operational efficiency.
  • AI & Data: 55% are actively developing AI strategies to enhance decision-making, though success remains tied to the quality of data governance.
  • CBDC Progress: 95% of banks are exploring Central Bank Digital Currencies, navigating the complex intersection of public acceptance and monetary transmission.
• Overcoming Transformation Hurdles:
  • Legacy Systems: A significant 67% of central banks operate on technology that is 10 to 30 years old, creating delays in policy implementation that can exceed six months.
  • Fintech Disruption: 63% report significant disruption from fintech innovation, prompting a shift toward collaborative ecosystems and regulatory sandboxes.
• Global Mandates & Inclusion:
  • 88% of central banks are prioritizing Financial Inclusion, aligning their technological roadmaps with IMF and World Bank initiatives to serve unbanked populations.
  • Agility: There is a growing consensus that real-time oversight through unified ledgers is the only way to ensure faster response times to economic disruptions.

Discover the data-driven future of central banking and how institutions are modernizing for a fintech-driven world.