European Central Bank official: Digital euro will enhance European payments sovereignty; pilot program to begin next year.

European Central Bank (ECB) Executive Board member Piero Cipollone stated that a digital euro is expected to help the EU establish a self-sufficient and controllable payment infrastructure, reducing reliance on non-European third-party payment service providers. The ECB plans to launch a digital euro pilot program next year, testing it with real transactions. It is currently working with 36 market operators to prepare, and has also invited e-commerce and mobile commerce operators to participate. (Source: European Central Bank)