At a regional meeting of central bank governors in Pula, Central Bank of Montenegro Governor Irena Radović said digital assets are increasingly being integrated into the traditional financial system and argued that innovation should develop within clear rules, responsible oversight and robust safeguards. In the same discussion, she highlighted Montenegro’s payment modernisation work through SEPA and the TIPS Clone project, including plans for a full market launch of an instant payment system on 20 July 2026. The roundtable focused on stablecoins, central bank digital currencies and how these tools could support more efficient and accessible payments while protecting financial stability, consumer protection and monetary sovereignty. Referring to Montenegro’s experience, Radović said operational accession to the SEPA area helped move the country from the highest cross-border payment costs in the region to the lowest costs for transactions to the European Union, according to a World Bank report. She also said the TIPS Clone platform is being developed with Banca d’Italia and with support from the European Central Bank and the World Bank, and is intended to provide instant euro payments based on interoperability, security and compliance with European standards.
Central Bank of Montenegro 2026-05-15
Central Bank of Montenegro governor highlights digital asset safeguards and 20 July 2026 instant payments launch at regional meeting
At a regional meeting of central bank governors in Pula, Central Bank of Montenegro Governor Irena Radović said digital assets are increasingly integrating into the traditional financial system and stressed that innovation must develop within clear rules, responsible oversight and robust safeguards. She highlighted Montenegro’s payment modernisation via SEPA and the TIPS Clone project, including a planned July 2026 launch of an instant euro payment system developed with Banca d’Italia and supported by the European Central Bank and the World Bank.