Menno Broos is the project lead for retail CBDC (also called the digital euro) at the Nederlandsche Bank, the Dutch central bank. In this capacity, he participates in the project steering group (PSG) of the digital euro project together with other counterparts from the Eurosystem. Before this role, he has worked in various positions at DNB and the ECB.

De Nederlandsche Bank is a central bank, supervisor and resolution authority of The Netherlands. One of its major tasks is to promote the smooth functioning of the payment system.

The implementation of offline payments in retail CBDCs presents both significant challenges and essential benefits.

Challenges include ensuring robust security and privacy in transactions without online verification, which is critical to prevent fraud and unauthorized access. Developing reliable, secure hardware or software solutions that can function without an internet connection is technologically demanding. Additionally, creating a universally accepted offline payment system requires infrastructure upgrades and compatibility across diverse devices and platforms. There's also the issue of maintaining transaction limits and monitoring for compliance with financial regulations, all while offline.

Despite these challenges, the importance of offline payment capabilities in CBDCs cannot be overstated. They enhance financial inclusion by providing access to digital payments in areas with limited internet connectivity, thus reaching underserved populations. Offline functionality also ensures transaction continuity during network outages or in emergencies, supporting resilience in payment systems. Moreover, it offers a level of convenience and privacy for users, promoting broader adoption of CBDCs. Ultimately, developing robust offline payment solutions is vital for a resilient, inclusive, and widely usable CBDC ecosystem.