Future of Money 2026

Opportunities and Challenges in CBDC Adoption in India

Mumbai, March 2026

Future of Money 2026

Opportunities and Challenges in CBDC Adoption in India

Mumbai, March 2026

About the Conference

This is a joint initiative of IIT Madras, the National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM) Pune, the India Blockchain Forum, and Founders Sphere Venture (FSV) Capital to conduct a study on central bank digital currency (CBDC) adoption opportunities and provide recommendations to overcome challenges.

We are in the process of exploring and understanding CBDC adoption in India from a research and pursuit of knowledge perspective. This research aims to investigate the current state of CBDC development globally, assess the strategic objectives of early adopters, analyze implementation models, and identify the operational, policy, and systemic challenges faced by central banks. The study will also evaluate the broader implications of CBDCs for financial markets, global payment systems, and economic governance. We are pursuing this exploration – from NIBM along with IIT Chennai, FSV Capital and India Blockchain Forum.

Become a Speaker

Partner With Us/Sponsorship

To support and scale the impact of the research on CBDC Adoption, we invite strategic sponsorship and ecosystem partnerships across key categories—technology, fintech, blockchain, and banks.

Organizing Team

Prof. John Augustine

Professor, CSE, IIT Madras

Professor John Augustine, Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IIT Madras, specializes in distributed computing, trust, and randomized algorithms, with applications in blockchain and distributed ledger technologies. A founding member of CyStar and the Blockchain Innovation Centre, he also contributes to the Theoretical Computer Science group.

Dr. Smita Roy Trivedi

Assistant Professor, NIBM

Dr. Smita Roy Trivedi, Assistant Professor at NIBM Pune, specializes in economics, financial markets, and central bank policy. A PhD in Economics, she has authored books and ABDC-ranked journal papers, and trains banking professionals worldwide in areas like algorithmic trading, technical analysis, and financial planning.

Dr. Deepankar Roy

Associate Professor, NIBM

Dr. Deepankar Roy, Associate Professor at NIBM, specializes in blockchain, AI, CBDCs, and financial inclusion, with 20+ years’ experience and global speaking engagements including the University of Florence and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Kamlesh Nagware

Consultant, CyStar, IIT Madras

Kamlesh Nagware, TEDx speaker and Co-Founder of FSV Labs and the Global Tokenization Forum, is among India’s top 30 blockchain influencers with over 42,000 LinkedIn followers. With 15 years of experience in software, IT consulting, and blockchain solutions, he has led global initiatives through roles such as LFDT India Co-Chair, Hyperledger TSC member, and IEEE Blockchain Co-Chair, advising governments, enterprises, and startups worldwide on Web3, tokenization, CBDCs, AI, and cybersecurity.

Prasanna Lohar

Founder, India Blockchain Forum

Prasanna Lohar, award-winning CXO banker, digital architect, and fintech influencer, has 24+ years of global experience in banking, fintech, and technology. As President of the India Blockchain Forum and CEO of Block Stack, he advises banks, governments, and startups on blockchain, AI, cloud, and Web3, driving innovation and next-gen banking platforms.

Deepak Norman

Consultant, CyStar, IIT Madras

Deepak Norman, Project Consultant at IIT Madras, is driving the national blockchain initiative by designing a permissioned ledger system integrating digital identity, programmable governance, and secure data flows. With 20+ years’ experience across banking, telecom, and digital platforms, he is a certified GAICD and CISA, known for leading large-scale transformations and fostering digital trust.

Rammohan Srinivasan

CEO, CyStar, IIT Madras

Rammohan Srinivasan, CEO of CyStar at IIT Madras, brings over 30 years of global experience in leading digital transformation across financial services, banking, and insurance. He now spearheads initiatives in cybersecurity, digital trust, and resilience, with a focus on blockchain security, AI model security, and quantum-safe cryptography.

Prof. M. Thenmozhi

Professor, DoMS, IIT Madras

Prof. M. Thenmozhi, Professor and former Head of Management Studies at IIT Madras, has 30+ years of experience in finance and governance. Former Director of NISM Mumbai, she leads fintech research and innovation and serves on multiple advisory boards.

Contact Us

For any questions or clarifications, feel free to reach out to us at info@10.24.9.130

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