Under no circumstances will a digital equivalent replace—nor can it replace—the physical Lari. This is guaranteed by an organic law, which secures the status of banknotes—the material form of cash -  Natia Turnava

At this stage, and in the coming years, the National Bank of Georgia has no plans for the general issuance or introduction of a digital Lari. In particular, there are no plans for the widespread introduction of a so-called "retail" digital Lari—that is, a digital Lari held by the general public. This was announced by Natia Turnava, Governor of the National Bank, during a meeting of the Finance and Budget Committee, where she presented the draft "Main Directions of Monetary and Exchange Rate Policy for 2027–2029."

In response to a question regarding whether the digital Lari would replace cash, she emphasized that a digital equivalent will not—and cannot—replace the physical Lari. She noted that this is guaranteed by an organic law, which ensures the existence of banknotes—the material manifestation of cash. "Our primary objective is to ensure we do not fall behind leading nations in terms of technology. I can point to examples of countries where similar technologies are currently being tested. With the support of the legislature, we have secured the authorization to conduct 'piloting'—or testing—of various technologies within specific, limited areas. This will allow us to better understand the potential benefits of a 'digital Lari,' as well as the challenges it may entail and how to address them. In short, this initiative is intended solely for the purpose of limited-scale piloting at this stage—an approach also adopted by other nations; some are further along in the process, while others are just beginning. The initial phase involves testing technologies, identifying challenges, refining legislation, and exploring capabilities—and we aim to be among these countries. Digital currency technology itself is attractive to both businesses and the general public worldwide; it is already seeing widespread use because it offers faster and, in many cases, more cost-effective transactions—it is truly the technology of the future. Given this, it is no surprise that the central banks of leading nations are striving to maintain their leadership, and..." "...the advantages of an official central bank currency, and to test such technologies themselves, before a decision is reached regarding the scope and extent to which this currency will be introduced. I would also like to address some common questions: what is the plan, and will it replace cash? Under no circumstances will a digital equivalent replace—nor can it replace—the physical Lari. This is guaranteed by an organic law, which ensures the status of the banknote—that is, the material form of cash," stated Natia Turnava.