#欧洲议会为数字欧元开绿灯 On June 23, 2026, the European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs officially approved the digital euro plan. This vote of 43 in favor, 14 against, and 1 abstention was called "a historic day for Europe" by committee chair Oroel Raluk.

🎯 Core motivation: De-Americanization of the payment system

The primary mission of the digital euro is to break the US monopoly over Europe's payment infrastructure. Data shows that Visa and Mastercard together account for 61% of card payment transactions in the Eurozone, nearly monopolizing all cross-border card payment activities. Against the backdrop of geopolitical tensions, this dependence has become a "strategic vulnerability" for the EU. The digital euro is precisely the key weapon the EU is deploying to enhance financial sovereignty.

🛡️ Core design: Balancing privacy and stability

The draft includes several key mechanisms:

· Privacy protection: Uses zero-knowledge proof technology to verify transactions without revealing personal data, preventing the European Central Bank from directly identifying users.
· Holding limit: Prevents large-scale outflows of funds from commercial banks that could impact financial stability. The limit is set and regularly reviewed by the EU Commission based on recommendations from the European Central Bank.
· Basic services free of charge: Basic services such as account opening and fund management are provided free to users.
· Offline payments: Supports direct device-to-device transactions without an internet connection. Offline mode is similar to cash—if the device is lost, funds are lost as well.

📅 Future process: Full rollout by 2029

Next, the digital euro still needs to go through the confirmation of the plenary session in July, formal negotiations with the 27 member states, and other steps. Legislators hope to reach a final agreement by the end of the year. The European Central Bank plans to launch a 12-month pilot in the second half of 2027, with full issuance in 2029.

In the global race for central bank digital currencies, China has already launched the digital yuan, Russia's digital ruble will be operational by September 2026; meanwhile, the US has abandoned the digital dollar and shifted focus to supporting stablecoins. Whether the digital euro can be launched on schedule will not only affect the payment methods of 350 million Europeans but also profoundly influence the future structure of the global monetary system.