EU Parliament Approves Online and Offline Digital
$EUR 🚀💶
The European Parliament has approved issuing a digital
$EUR for both online and offline, aligning with the European Central Bank’s approach and strengthening the model ahead of key meeting of ECON committee. Lawmakers said the digital euro is “essential to reinforce the EU’s financial sovereignty, reduce fragmentation in retail payments and support the single market’s integrity and stability.” ⚠️
This decision overturns Fernando Navarret’s October 2025 proposal for an offline-only
$EUR option. ECB officials, led by Piero Cipollone, emphasized that offline and online forms are complementary and together could bring digital currency use closer to cash. If national governments and the Parliament agree on required laws by 2027, the ECB may start a pilot program, with full implementation planned by 2029. 📅
This move comes amid rising concern over Europe’s dependence on U.S. payment systems. Martina Weimert of the European Payments Initiative urged reducing reliance on Visa and Mastercard, which control about two-thirds of eurozone transactions. The EPI consortium (including BNP Paribas and Deutsche Bank) has launched the Weero payment service, already drawing millions of users and planning online expansion by 2027. 🌍
Banks are on cautious stance about this decision, fearing a state-backed digital euro may mirror private solutions like Weero and reduce incentives for payment innovation. Still, ECB considering the project as a strategic response to geopolitical risks and the dominance of American payment operators, and as a buffer against external pressure. 🔒
Legislators’ progress on the 2027 laws, ECBs pilot program timeline, and how Weero and other private solutions evolve—these will shape Europe’s payment future. 👀
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