Digital euro preparations advance while issuance remains conditional

Digital Identity & Economic Control · Central-bank project report · Background context

Source / event date: ECB preparation phase ended October 2025; ongoing progress page reviewed October 21, 2026. Added October 21, 2026.

What happened: The ECB describes further technical preparation and states that any issuance decision follows the EU legislative process.

Why we track it: Track design, legal authority, privacy protections, inclusion and actual deployment as separate milestones.

Assessment: Preparation is not issuance. A digital currency proposal does not by itself establish compulsory use or religious exclusion.