European Central Bank advances CBDC to preparation stage, but still not committed to implementation

1 year ago

The European Central Bank (ECB) announced connected Oct. 18 that its task to make a integer signifier of the euro is progressing to the mentation phase.

Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, said connected Twitter/X:

“We request to hole our currency for the future. While we haven’t yet decided whether to contented a integer euro, we’re getting ready. We envisage a integer euro… that tin beryllium utilized for each integer payments, coexisting with carnal cash, leaving nary 1 behind.”

The slope said that the mentation signifier volition finalize the integer euro rulebook and take providers that could make a level and infrastructure. The signifier volition besides impact testing, experimentation, and engagement with the nationalist and stakeholders.

The slope noted that the mentation signifier volition statesman successful November and volition past 2 years. This follows a two-year probe signifier that began successful October 2021.

The ECB emphasized that a integer euro could beryllium utilized crossed the euro area. It would connection debased costs, precocious privacy, and instant settlement, and could beryllium utilized successful peer, government, and retail transactions. The slope noted that “no integer outgo instrumentality offers each these features” presently and said that a integer euro would bash so.

The latest announcement besides addresses concerns astir privacy. The ECB stated that immoderate integer euro would supply “cash-like privacy” and would marque information extortion a priority. It said that the Eurosystem would not beryllium capable to spot users’ idiosyncratic details. However, a FAQ page indicates that amerciable activities would beryllium traced.

As noted, the latest improvement does not mean that the slope volition needfully contented a integer euro. The ECB explained that its Governing Council volition request to marque a determination connected the substance aft the European Union completes a legislative process.

Digital euro could beryllium blockchain-based, but not a crypto

It is inactive unclear to what grade the integer euro volition trust connected blockchain and related technology. However, the ECB’s FAQ pages authorities that it is exploring distributed ledger technologies (DLT) and decentralized systems arsenic good arsenic centralized systems.

The slope further clarified that careless of the exertion used, a integer euro would not beryllium considered a cryptocurrency. This is due to the fact that cryptocurrencies, dissimilar the projected integer euro, are not backed by immoderate cardinal entity.

The ECB besides refers to the plus arsenic a cardinal slope integer currency (CDBC) astatine times successful those FAQ pages, contempt different simply calling it the “digital euro.”

The station European Central Bank advances CBDC to mentation stage, but inactive not committed to implementation appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.

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