Key Takeaways

• ECB’s Piero Cipollone says a digital euro could ensure universal access, convenience, and cross-border usability.
• The decline of cash and growing reliance on non-European platforms are increasing external dependencies.
• The ECB tests DLT-based settlement in central bank money and prepares for broader integration via TARGET Services.

As digital innovation reshapes the global financial environment, central banks are no longer passive observers. They are becoming active architects of the future of money.

The European Central Bank is confronting mounting pressure to modernize its monetary infrastructure.

Piero Cipollone, Member of the ECB’s Executive Board, outlined how the Eurosystem is positioning itself to lead amid rising geopolitical tensions, technological disruption, and the race for financial sovereignty.

Digital Euro Necessary to Tackle Fragmentation and Digital Disruption

Cipollone emphasized that the Eurosystem is modernizing central bank money to address growing fragmentation and digitalization.

Today, no single European solution allows for seamless digital payments across the entire euro area.

Meanwhile, the declining use of cash and rising dependence on external payment providers erode Europe’s financial sovereignty.

According to Cipollone, a digital euro, accepted everywhere and available to all, could unify the region’s payment landscape, enhance strategic autonomy, and foster innovation by enabling private sector initiatives to scale across borders.

Harnessing DLT and Tokenization

With the rise of tokenization and distributed ledger technology (DLT), the ECB sees a clear opportunity to streamline financial transactions.

Cipollone noted the potential of DLT to offer 24/7 settlement, integrated custody and trading, and intelligent contract automation—all on a single platform.

These capabilities could lower barriers for smaller firms and democratize access to capital markets.

As the ECB member said, the Eurosystem is currently exploring how to settle DLT-based wholesale transactions in central bank money.

It will start with interoperable links to TARGET Services and moving toward a fully integrated, pan-European digital asset infrastructure.

ECB Intensifies Cross-Border Innovation

To meet global standards and G20 objectives, the ECB is intensifying efforts to improve cross-border payments.

Cipollone announced initiatives to leverage the TIPS platform’s multi-currency capabilities, enabling real-time settlement in central bank money across currencies.

“Implementing the cross-currency settlement service for cross-border payments between TIPS and other international fast payment systems,” he said.

Beyond Europe, the ECB is working on interlinking with international fast payment systems. It’s creating the foundation for a truly global network of efficient and secure cross-border transactions.

“Interlinking with fast payment systems outside Europe through multilateral networks and bilateral links,” Cipollone added.

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