WILLEMSTAD - Cedric Pietersz is the Treasurer for the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Pietersz shared with website Bitsonline the central bank’s views on how blockchain and cryptocurrency are being explored at the highest levels on the island.

 

In his remarks, Pietersz took the opportunity to share the bank’s views on innovation, including on blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, and the national government’s plans to spur development as a “smart nation” with bleeding-edge tech.

 

‘We Want to Be Informed About Innovation’

Having just completed an intensive two-day training seminar on blockchain and cryptocurrency, Pietersz described how new policymaking on the island has been geared toward “putting us on the map as an innovative, smart nation.”

 

He added: “It is important to us to understand the technology so that we can engage in the best discussions, or participate appropriately when we are discussing about those new innovations on the island, such as a central bank digital currency, Initial Coin Offerings, and so forth.”

 

‘A Policy Taken on by the Local Government’

Pietersz went on to describe multiple steps the central bank has taken alongside the government to drive further innovation on the island. These measures include developing a pilot for a central bank digital currency, reviewing numerous administrative applications of blockchain technology beyond cryptocurrency, and how the central bank may become more involved in areas such as ICOs.

 

From the interview, it was clear the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten is actively pivoting toward the blockchain ecosystem. It may be among the first central banks to do so, but if hyper-digitalization continues on, they likely won’t be the last.