ECB Aims for Fair Digital Euro Launch by October 2025

Generated by AI AgentCoin World
Monday, Jul 7, 2025 3:23 am ET1min read
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Christine Lagarde, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB), has emphasized that the digital euro will be designed to benefit all users equally, ensuring that no particular group gains an undue advantage. Lagarde highlighted that the ECB is committed to making the digital euro accessible to all citizens of European nations, regardless of age or economic status. This inclusivity is a core principle of the initiative, aimed at modernizing the monetary system while maintaining social fairness and economic stability.

Lagarde also noted that the digital euro's implementation will be inspired by the success of China’s Digital Yuan. The People’s Bank of China has made significant strides in deploying the Digital Yuan to retail users and merchants, providing a practical reference point for the European project. The ECB is likely to prioritize mass testing and integration with merchants in their pilot stages, with the digital euro expected to launch in October 2025. The ECB aims to ensure that the digital euro is ready for use both locally and internationally in trade.

More than 130 countries, representing 98% of global GDP, are currently exploring the development of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Among them, several countries have fully launched their national digital currencies, while others are in the pilot testing phase. The ECB is preparing the digital euro to be a competitive currency both locally and internationally, aiming to make its contributions to international trade more viable and reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar as the primary reserve currency.

However, the issue of governmental control over digital money remains a concern in various parts of the world. Critics argue that CBDCs could enable surveillance or limit personal expenditure, making decentralized cryptocurrencies like

Bitcoin
more attractive to those seeking financial independence. As the global race for CBDC dominance intensifies, the demand for privacy and financial autonomy continues to be a significant factor in the adoption and development of digital currencies.