The European Central Bank confirmed on 2 November 2026 that the digital euro pilot project is underway, with a planned launch in 2029 as a complement to cash rather than a replacement. The announcement marks the most concrete timeline yet for the central bank digital currency, which has moved through years of investigation and preparation phases into an active pilot stage. The ECB's framing positions the digital euro as an additional payment option for euro-area citizens, designed to work alongside physical banknotes and coins. The central bank has consistently emphasized that the digital euro will not eliminate cash, addressing a persistent public concern across the eurozone about the potential disappearance of physical money.
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