ISTANBUL- Turkey's central bank said on Wednesday that it has formed the Digital Turkish Lira Collaboration Platform to expand its research into the potential benefits of a digital currency.

The bank said it signed separate memorandums of understanding with Turkey's HAVELSAN, ASELSAN and TUBITAK-BILGEM for the platform, which will carry out the research, development and testing processes.

It said no final decision has been made about a digital Turkish lira currency and that the results of the first phase of the pilot study will be announced in 2022.

(Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen and Ezgi Erkoyun Editing by Daren Butler) ((ali.kucukgocmen@thomsonreuters.com , @alikucukgocmen; +905319306206; Reuters Messaging: Reuters Messaging: ali.kucukgocmen.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))