ECB executive board member Piero Cipollone said negotiations on digital euro legislation were advancing. He estimated that the currency could be issued in 2029 if the negotiations conclude successfully by year-end; issuance has not been approved.
Cipollone said a 12-month pilot would begin in the second half of 2027, with 36 service providers selected to take part. He presented the digital euro as a way to address fragmented European payment systems, noting that 13 countries rely on non-European companies for in-store card payments.
