An ECB adviser has challenged the feasibility of a retail digital euro limited to offline use only, marking a fresh divergence with some European Parliament members who favour such a design.

The ECB has completed the preparation phase of the digital euro, selecting private-sector partners and finalising its rulebook. Lawmakers are expected to decide on legislation in 2026, paving the way for pilot testing.

Italian banks back the ECB’s digital euro project but seek a slower rollout to manage costs and limit risks to traditional deposits.

Leading fintech associations are urging the European Central Bank to open its digital euro sandbox to non-bank providers to foster innovation and competition.

The European Payments Council’s latest study finds that fintechs will be key enablers of the digital euro, powering real-time transactions and cross-border interoperability.

As the ECB advances its digital euro project, European fintechs are racing to ensure technical readiness for the upcoming wholesale and retail integration phases.

With legislation advancing and technical tests underway, the digital euro is moving closer to reality — but questions remain about timing, trust, and the future of European money.

Between 2024 and 2025, Europe’s banking industry intensified its lobbying around the digital euro, seeking safeguards to prevent disruption to the financial system.

As the ECB advanced technical work on the digital euro, EU policymakers debated privacy rules, access rights, and limits to ensure public trust and financial stability.

After two years of investigation, the ECB entered the next stage of the digital euro project, focusing on technical design, rulebook drafting, and cooperation with the European Commission.