On September 4, 2025, ECB Executive Board Member Piero Cipollone addressed the European Parliament, advocating for a digital euro to strengthen Europe’s payment system resilience and strategic autonomy.
ECB Pushes Digital Euro to Enhance Strategic Autonomy, Counter Foreign Stablecoins
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Speaking in Brussels, Cipollone highlighted the digital euro’s role in reducing reliance on non-European payment providers, which dominate 66% of euro area card transactions, citing high fees and risks to monetary sovereignty. He emphasized its potential to counter foreign stablecoins, referencing the U.S. Genius Act promoting dollar-backed stablecoins. The digital euro, currently in preparation until late 2025, will complement cash, ensuring inclusivity with features like offline payments and accessibility for vulnerable groups. A standardized rulebook will foster a pan-European payment market, enhancing competition and resilience against disruptions like cyberattacks.
