An overview of CBDCs and their potential role in the green economy

List of Authors

  1. Christos Kontzinos ,  
  2. Maria Flouri ,  
  3. Paanagiotis Kokkinakos
    ,  
  4. Konstantinos Alexakis
    ,  
  5. Fotis Siouzos
    ,  
  6. Vangelis Marinakis
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Abstract

In recent years, there has been an ever-intensifying discussion around the use and establishment of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) in the global economy. This paper examines the reasons why central banks are aiming to introduce CBDCs into the economy, as well as the ways in which the use of CBDCs could contribute to the transition to the Green Economy, focused mainly around the area of providing financial means and incentives towards green investments, green renovations, and more sustainable energy consumption practices. Aiming to provide an all-around and concise overview of CBDCs, this paper explores their technological background, as well as the areas in which they will mainly contribute, as a means of transaction or value storage. Special mention is also made of the initiatives undertaken by the European Central Bank for the issuance of the digital euro as well as the legal and technological framework within which it could operate, to serve the objectives of the EU. Finally, the potential role of CBDCs in the green economy is examined, and ways in which they could be used as a means of supporting individuals and businesses investing in this direction are presented. This publication is written in the context of the Horizon Europe funded project FORTESIE.

Plain Language Summary

This paper presents an overview of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which are digital versions of national currencies issued and regulated by central banks. Their potential to improve payment systems—by making transactions faster, cheaper, and more secure—has been widely discussed in recent years. In this study, particular attention was given to how CBDCs could contribute to the green economy, which focuses on environmentally friendly investments and practices. The paper examines how such digital currencies could be used to support projects related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable business models. Possibilities such as facilitating green investments and offering financial inclusion to individuals without access to traditional banking systems were explored. The technological foundations of CBDCs, including blockchain and smart contracts, were also discussed. In addition, initiatives related to the potential issuance of a digital euro within the European Union were reviewed, along with legal and privacy considerations that would need to be addressed for such systems to function effectively. Although the use of CBDCs in environmental policy remains at an early stage, it was concluded that they hold significant value for enhancing financial systems and supporting sustainability goals. By enabling more direct and transparent financial flows, CBDCs could serve as a valuable tool in the global transition to a greener and more inclusive economy.

Corresponding author
Christos Kontzinos
0000-0002-0108-1717
Grant information

This work has been funded by the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No [101080029]( CBDC powered Smart PerFORrmance contracTs for Efficiency, Sustainable, Inclusive, Energy use [FORTESIE]).

The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Copyright
© 2025 Christos Kontzinos (Corresponding Author, Co-Author); Maria Flouri (Co-Author); Paanagiotis Kokkinakos (Co-Author); Konstantinos Alexakis (Co-Author); Fotis Siouzos (Co-Author); Vangelis Marinakis (Co-Author) Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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Authors & roles

Christos Kontzinos

Decision Support Systems Laboratory, School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou, 15780, Greece

Roles
Corresponding Author, Co-Author, Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0002-0108-1717

Maria Flouri

Decision Support Systems Laboratory, School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou, 15780, Greece

Roles
Co-Author, Conceptualization, Investigation, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing
0000-0002-9295-3460

Paanagiotis Kokkinakos

Decision Support Systems Laboratory, School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou, 15780, Greece

Roles
Co-Author, Project Administration, Writing – Review & Editing

Konstantinos Alexakis

Decision Support Systems Laboratory, School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou, 15780, Greece

Roles
Co-Author, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

Fotis Siouzos

Decision Support Systems Laboratory, School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou, 15780, Greece

Roles
Co-Author, Writing – Original Draft Preparation, Writing – Review & Editing

Vangelis Marinakis

Decision Support Systems Laboratory, School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Iroon Polytechniou 9, Zografou, 15780, Greece

Roles
Co-Author, Project Administration, Supervision

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