ECB Signals Digital Euro Readiness Amid Pending EU Legislative Approval
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde confirmed technical completion of the digital euro project at Thursday's press conference, shifting focus to EU legislative bodies for ratification. The ECB has met its development benchmarks, with Lagarde emphasizing Parliament's pivotal role in evaluating the Commission's proposal. Executive Board member Piero Cipollone previously projected a mid-2029 rollout timeline, citing constructive discussions among member-states.
The announcement coincides with growing regulatory scrutiny of stablecoins, which Lagarde dismissed as non-threatening to European monetary sovereignty during Q&A. This positions the digital euro as a strategic counterweight to private stablecoins like DAI and USDT, though no specific cryptocurrency linkages were cited in the proposal.
