ECB Eyes 2029 Launch for Digital Euro as Lawmaking Advances
The European Central Bank is aiming for a 2029 rollout of a digital euro as legislative work progresses across the EU. ECB official Cipollone has been focused on assuaging banking sector worries and crafting privacy protections, signaling that lawmakers are actively shaping the legal and operational guardrails for a pan‑European central bank digital currency.
This matters because a digital euro could reshape payments infrastructure, impact deposit flows to commercial banks, and set new standards for data privacy and anti‑money‑laundering rules. By addressing bank disintermediation risks and embedding privacy safeguards early, policymakers hope to smooth adoption and preserve monetary stability. Remaining steps include legislative approvals, technical pilots and regulatory detail—meaning 2029 is an achievable target but still contingent on EU negotiation and implementation timelines.