Registration for “Hakka Currency” Starts on July 1! Lottery, Collection, Process, and Eligibility at a Glance
Recently, the Hakka Affairs Council of Taiwan will issue “Hakka Currency,” totaling 280,000 units, each valued at NT$1,000. Starting today (July 2), eligible individuals can begin registration, and those selected in the lottery can use this digital voucher in the application starting August 1.
It is important to note that this Hakka Currency program is not only a measure to promote Hakka culture, but it also plays a significant role in the development of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in Taiwan. The central bank will initiate the real-world application of CBDC through the issuance and use of Hakka Currency, marking a key step in Taiwan’s digital financial infrastructure.
Eligibility for Collection
Certified Hakka Language Proficiency: There is no age limit; anyone who passes the Hakka language proficiency certification at various levels for 2025 can collect it. Those who pass certifications in different dialects may also collect separately. Eligible individuals have received a physical QR Code letter for the Hakka Currency from the Hakka Affairs Council starting July 1.
Recognized Hakka Language Family Members: Individuals who pass certification will be directly included as recipients. Those who were originally recognized by submitting videos can update their “Living Hakka” videos, and upon verification, will be added to the distribution list.
Members in the above two categories do not need to register and will gradually receive their paper Hakka Currency QR Codes via registered mail starting from July 1.
General Public (ages 18 to 49): Must complete registration through the app during the designated registration period and can use it only after being selected in the lottery.
Registration and Lottery Schedule
Registration Time
Registration will be open from 9 AM on July 1 to 12 PM on July 30. The public can register through the digital wallet apps of 17 cooperating banks or electronic payment institutions.
The cooperating financial and electronic payment institutions include Taiwan Bank, Taiwan Cooperative Bank, First Commercial Bank, Hua Nan Bank, Chang Hwa Bank, Shanghai Commercial & Savings Bank, Mega International Commercial Bank, Taishin International Bank, and others.
If you do not have the above bank accounts, you can register for a One Card account through Taipei Fubon, Cathay United Bank, Kaohsiung Bank, O-Bank, Taichung Commercial Bank, Ruisheng Bank, Shin Kong Bank, Federal Bank, Far Eastern Bank, KGI Bank, Link Bank, and the Agricultural Bank of Taiwan.
Registration by ID Number (July 1 to July 5)
To disperse registration traffic, registration will be conducted by the last digit of the ID number:
- July 1 (Tue): Last digit 0, 1
- July 2 (Wed): Last digit 2, 3 (Applicable today)
- July 3 (Thu): Last digit 4, 5
- July 4 (Fri): Last digit 6, 7
- July 5 (Sat): Last digit 8, 9
General Registration (July 6 to July 30)
From July 6 to 12 PM on July 30, all eligible individuals can register.
Lottery Time:
On July 30, 2025, at 2 PM, the Hakka Affairs Council will conduct the lottery based on the last digit of the ID number and publish the results on the event website.
Ways to Use the Currency
Issuance Date
The “Hakka Currency Digital Voucher” for those selected will be successfully transferred to the app on August 1.
Usage Scope
The public can spend at Hakka Currency partner stores marked with the “(I) Speak Hakka” logo in 11 counties and cities (Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, Miaoli County, Taichung City, Nantou County, Yunlin County, Kaohsiung City, Pingtung County, Hualien County, Taitung County) and 70 key Hakka cultural development areas.
Checkout Method
At the counter, simply present the Hakka Currency QR code for the store to scan, or scan the store’s TWQR and enter the spending amount to complete the redemption. The Hakka Currency can be used multiple times until the amount is exhausted.
Usage Period
From August 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
Bonus Offers
To encourage individuals aged 18 to 49 to actively register, the Hakka Affairs Council has partnered with 15 financial institutions to offer an additional NT$100 bonus to those who register early. A total of 45,000 units are available on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies last. (Actual bonus offers are subject to each institution’s announcements.)
The Significant Meaning Behind Hakka Currency: A Real-World Test of CBDC
The issuance of Hakka Currency is not only a cultural promotion and consumption stimulus measure, but it also plays a key role in the development of Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in Taiwan.
The “Hakka Currency,” as the first real-world application case of retail CBDC, has the primary mission of accumulating practical experience and verifying the feasibility of the platform. In other words, the central bank’s research on CBDC has officially entered the practical stage.
What is Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)?
Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) is a digital form of legal tender issued by the central bank for use by the general public and businesses. It is a liability of the central bank, just like current circulating banknotes and coins, and has the status of legal tender, providing a stable and central bank-supported digital payment tool.
From September 2020 to June 2022, the Central Bank of Taiwan collaborated with external technology teams and banks to complete the “Retail CBDC Pilot Project” and successfully developed a “Dual-Layer CBDC Prototype Platform.”
The first layer in the dual-layer structure is the central bank. The central bank is the issuer of CBDC, responsible for minting (issuing) the digital form of CBDC, just as it prints new NT dollar banknotes, and distributes these digital currencies to the next layer of financial institutions.
The second layer consists of intermediary institutions such as commercial banks. These institutions include the commercial banks and electronic payment providers we interact with daily, which will provide services to the general public and businesses after receiving CBDC from the central bank.
For example:
- Wallet Opening: Just like opening an account in a bank, the public can create digital wallets through these institutions to store and manage CBDC.
- Payment Services: The public can use these digital wallets for daily consumption, transfers, and other payment activities.
Based on the development of CBDC, the Central Bank of Taiwan has established a “Digital Public Infrastructure Financial Flow Platform” specifically for enhancing the efficiency and integration of government-issued digital vouchers. At the same time, this platform will cooperate with the “Distribution Platform” managed by the Ministry of Digital Development, forming a complete system that allows for smoother and more efficient digital processes when the government issues various digital subsidies or refunds in the future. The “Hakka Currency” program is the first practical application case of this integrated system.
The central bank stated that it will collect user feedback during the trial period of Hakka Currency to continuously optimize platform functionality and enhance its security, efficiency, and usability, laying the technical and institutional foundation for the future comprehensive implementation of retail CBDC.