Italy Banks Back Digital Euro CBDC, Seek Staggered Implementation Costs

Italian banks, led by the Italian Banking Association (ABI), say they support the European Central Bank’s (ECB) digital euro project, ABI General Manager Marco Elio Rottigni told a Florence press seminar on Nov. 8, 2025; he said costs to implement the system are high and “could be spread over time.” The ECB advanced the project to its next phase after an Oct. 29–30 Governing Council meeting and plans a 2027 pilot and a 2029 launch, pending EU legislation in 2026.

The initiative aims to preserve euro-area monetary sovereignty and reduce reliance on non‑European payment providers while responding to stablecoins; ABI highlights capital expenditure pressures on banks and recommends staggered investment timelines. Availability will follow EU legislative adoption and pilot results, and Spain’s MEP Fernando Navarrete is assessing a scaled-down parliamentary approach for member-state commercial bank participation.

🧭 FAQs

• What did ABI announce in Florence, Italy? ABI backed the digital euro and asked for implementation costs to be staggered.
• When is the digital euro pilot and expected launch in the EU? A pilot is planned for 2027 with expected launch in 2029, subject to EU law in 2026.
• Why do Italian banks want costs spread over time in Italy? Banks cite high capital expenditure pressures and seek phased investments.
• Will all EU banks be required to implement the digital euro? Implementation details depend on EU legislation and may be subject to jurisdictional approval.