Recently, Ripple executives met with officials from Georgia’s National Bank (NBG) to explore potential collaborations for digitalizing the Georgian economy using blockchain technology. The meeting included Natia Turnava, acting governor of NBG, Varlam Ebanoidze, head of the financial and supervisory technology development department, James Wallis, vice president of Ripple, and Alistair Brown, vice president of EPAM Systems.
While specific details about the discussion were not disclosed, a representative from the central bank confirmed that the focus was on exploring possible partnerships for digital transformation in Georgia. Both Ripple and NBG have been contacted for additional comments.
In late 2023, NBG announced Ripple as its official technology partner for the development of the digital lari, Georgia’s central bank digital currency (CBDC). The pilot program aimed to test Ripple’s CBDC technology and evaluate its practical applications for public sector use cases, businesses and retail consumers. It is unclear if the recent discussions between Ripple and NBG were connected to this initiative.
