The European Central Bank (ECB) aims to ensure that European consumers can use the new digital Euro currency as soon as it is issued.
The central bank says that its goal is to enable people to spend digital Euros at online marketplaces, physical stores, and to make payments to each other.
The digital Euro is on track to be widely available in the second half of 2029, making transactions in the currency possible both online and offline.
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In-store payments weren’t previously considered as part of the digital Euro’s initial rollout. But the central bank said it is responding to feedback it received from consumers.
The institution is waiting for legislation in the European Parliament to advance work on a digital version of its currency.
The digital Euro is part of a push to reduce Europe’s reliance on American payment providers.
ECB President Christine Lagarde said recently that the digital Euro legislation should pass in parliament by the end of 2026.
In a report, the European Central Bank said that the digital Euro should be introduced and rolled out in a “swift and structured manner” to ensure quick uptake and use among consumers.
Central banks around the world are studying and considering the merits of launching digital versions of their currencies, including the U.S. Federal Reserve.
