The ECB Confirms The Launch Of The Digital Euro For October 2025

Christine Lagarde confirmed the planned launch of the digital euro for October 2025, pending approval from European authorities. This initiative takes place against a backdrop where a recent survey reveals a marked disinterest among Europeans for this central bank digital currency.

An accelerated initiative despite citizens’ disinterest

The ECB officially announced its intention to launch the digital euro in October 2025. This project is conditional on the approval of the main European stakeholders (the European Commission, Parliament, and Council), but does not foresee direct consultation of European citizens, even though they are the primary stakeholders in this monetary revolution.

This acceleration occurs in a particular context. A recent survey conducted by the ECB among 19,000 Europeans in 11 countries reveals a glaring lack of interest in this digital currency. The majority of respondents believe that current payment methods already perfectly meet their daily needs and see no utility in a new monetary tool.

In the face of this reluctance, the ECB is developing targeted communication strategies. According to the conclusions of the study, “consumers who are shown a short video clearly explaining the characteristics of the digital euro are significantly more likely to change their beliefs“, which explains the significant increase in video content produced by the institution since the end of 2024.

The real stakes behind the digital euro

The official motivations of the ECB for this project are multiple. The main argument of Christine Lagarde is the need to reduce European dependence on foreign payment solutions like Google Pay or Apple Pay. However, an analysis of the geopolitical context suggests other concerns.

One of the major stakes would be the European response to the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins in the United States, particularly since President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning U.S. CBDCs in January 2025 aimed at making the United States “the global capital of crypto.” Piero Cipollone, a board member of the ECB, explicitly stated: “That is why we need a digital euro.”

Moreover, this project is set against a particular economic context where the European Union seeks to mobilize significant financial resources. Ursula von der Leyen recently launched the “Rearm Europe” initiative, requiring funding estimated at 800 billion euros, as well as the “Union of Savings and Investment,” aimed at redirecting 10 trillion euros of “unused savings” from European citizens.

Unlike decentralized cryptos, the digital euro would allow for centralized control with potential features for programmability, geolocation, or even expiration of funds. However, Christine Lagarde insists that it would simply be a “form of fiat currency,” a presentation that could facilitate its acceptance by the public.

Towards a discreet but inevitable integration

Despite the current disinterest of European citizens, everything indicates that the ECB will continue to develop the digital euro. The Chinese experience with the e-CNY could serve as a model: after a difficult start, this CBDC now has 180 million users and a cumulative transaction volume reaching 1 trillion dollars.

The likely strategy will involve progressively integrating the digital euro into existing applications and payment methods. This approach would allow for widespread adoption without requiring the direct enthusiasm of users.

Alongside the development of this retail CBDC aimed at individuals, the EU is also experimenting with a “wholesale” version based on distributed ledger technology (DLT) to interconnect financial institutions. These trials have already involved 64 participants and over 50 experiments between May and November 2024.

In the face of this monetary revolution, the digital euro becomes inevitable despite citizen opposition. In this duel between centralization and decentralization of the monetary system, European institutions seem determined to move forward, with or without popular support.