Digital Euro Launch Likely by Mid-2029, Says ECB Official

The European Central Bank (ECB) is targeting mid-2029 for the launch of the digital euro, its proposed central bank digital currency (CBDC).

At the Bloomberg Future of Finance event in Frankfurt on Tuesday, ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone highlighted recent progress, including a key agreement among EU finance ministers on customer holding limits for the digital currency. He described the development as a major step forward and said, “the middle of 2029 could be a fair assessment.”

The ECB has been planning a digital euro for years to provide European citizens and businesses with a payment option that does not rely on private firms like Visa or PayPal.

Previously, Cipollone emphasized that physical cash will remain an important part of Europe’s financial system, even as it develops the digital euro. He also said that cash is vital in emergencies, and the digital euro will complement, not replace, physical money.

Challenges and next steps

While progress continues, the European Parliament remains the main obstacle. Legislation must be passed before the digital euro can move forward. 

A progress report is scheduled for October 24, after which lawmakers will have six weeks to suggest amendments and an additional five months for discussion. Cipollone expects the Parliament to adopt a formal position by May 2026, paving the way for the next stages of the project.

Moreover, EU ministers recently reached a compromise on the digital euro roadmap, agreeing on limits for how much currency a customer could hold. Irish Finance Minister and Eurogroup President Paschal Donohoe noted that the ECB would make a final decision on issuance only after further discussions in the Council of Ministers.

Cipollone emphasized that, while preparations continue, the earliest the digital euro could realistically launch is mid-2029. The ECB plans to decide by October whether to move to the next phase of the project.

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