European Central Bank President: Has decided to advance to the final stage of preparations for the digital euro

The official account of the European Central Bank posted a video on X, in which ECB President Christine Lagarde announced that the Governing Council has decided to advance to the final phase of preparations for the digital euro, marking a key milestone for the project.

She stated that the European Council has requested to expedite the process in order to launch the digital euro as soon as possible. Lagarde emphasized that while cash will continue to circulate, the ECB aims to extend cash in the form of a "digital euro," allowing the public to use both banknotes and "click-to-use" digital cash like payment applications.

According to the plan: if approved by the European Parliament in 2026, a pilot for the digital euro will be launched in 2027; if the testing goes smoothly, it is planned to be officially issued across Europe in 2029. Lagarde stated that the digital euro is not only a technological project but also a "symbol of trust in the shared destiny of Europe," representing the unity of currency and sovereignty.