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ARTICLE · 12 MARCH 2026

Progress In Preparations For Digital Euro

Finance Malta
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The past year saw great strides towards the introduction of a digital euro, which would address the evolution of payment trends. The European Central Bank is now aiming for a potential first issuance during 2029...

MaltaFinance and Banking
Vanessa Macdonald
Vanessa Macdonald
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The past year saw great strides towards the introduction of a digital euro, which would address the evolution of payment trends. The European Central Bank is now aiming for a potential first issuance during 2029, with a pilot exercise and initial transactions potentially starting as soon as mid-2027.

The use of cash is declining across the Eurosystem, with digitisation making online payments the most sought-after solution. In 2024, cash accounted for only 24% of day-to-day payments, and the share of companies not accepting cash tripled to 12% over the past three years.

The intention was never to replace physical cash, but to offer a complementary system which ensures public trust and also preserves Europe's monetary sovereignty across the euro area.

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