Digital euro

The European Central Bank (ECB) and the euro-aera national central banks have been conduction a series of activities since January 2020, including analysis and experimentation, towards the possible introduction of a digital euro.

This would be a digital version of cash, public money in digital form issued by the ECB. It would not replace cash, it would simply complement it. It would be an additional payment option in the form of central bank money, the most secure means of payment.

A digital euro would not be a crypto-currency, as it would be backed by a central bank, with a stable face value and legal tender status. Therefore it would be accepted anywhere in the eurozone. Crypto-assets, instead, in most cases are not baked and are not issued by a clearly identifiable person. Their value can be very volatile and, except for rare cases, they are not accepted as means of payment.

To learn more, visit the Banca d'Italia and European central bank dedicated web pages.

Read also the ECB FAQ.

Watch the video.