Browsing: Important Posts

Isabel Schnabel told Bloomberg that euro-backed stablecoins will grow but will not replace the digital euro for everyday payments in Europe, underscoring the ECB’s focus on monetary sovereignty.

At FDF2025, Prof. Dr. Joachim Wuermeling described how a wholesale digital euro and smart contracts could transform B2B, public sector and machine to machine payments across Europe.

The ECB has published detailed plans for a 12-month digital euro pilot starting in 2027, defining technical requirements, payment use cases, and eligibility rules for participating payment providers.

Drawing on experience in software engineering, blockchain and government transparency, the author explains how aggregated digital euro data could support better policymaking.

As Europe prepares for a digital euro, emerging evidence suggests that AI will play a central role in safeguarding payments, shaping governance and strengthening monetary resilience.

The European Commission’s 2026 European Semester Autumn Package places renewed emphasis on advancing the digital euro as part of a broader strategy to strengthen Europe’s financial resilience.

A growing number of economists, banks and consumer groups argue that the digital euro lacks a defined purpose and could introduce new risks to Europe’s financial system.

Europe’s shift to digital payments, dependence on foreign card networks and the rise of stablecoins have strengthened the ECB’s case for launching a secure, public digital euro.

Focus groups across 20 euro area countries suggest strong potential demand for a digital euro as secure, low cost digital cash, provided design choices match everyday payment realities.

In a recent ECB podcast interview, Piero Cipollone detailed how the digital euro will work, why it will not replace cash, and when pilots and legislation are expected to move forward.