Mastercard has successfully completed a pilot project with the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre to test the use of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) by authorized parties who have undergone know-your-customer protocols. The project also tested the ability of a holder to purchase an Ethereum-based NFT by locking the pilot CBDC and minting an equivalent amount of Ethereum-based wrapped coins. Mastercard's Australasia division president, Richard Wormald, said that the technology has the potential to drive more consumer choice and unlock new opportunities for collaboration between public and private networks in the digital currency space. The pilot was conducted in partnership with Australian financial services firm Cuscal and blockchain tech firm Mintable, and is part of Mastercard's ongoing CBDC ambitions, which include operating as a private-sector partner for CBDCs and forming a CBDC program with Ripple and Consensys.