The President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, today announced the start of collecting public comments on the issue of the digital Euro.
"At a time when Europeans are increasingly turning to digital methods of spending, saving and investing, we need to be prepared to issue a digital Euro if the need arises. I would like to hear your opinion, " Lagarde wrote.
She also noted that the ECB is only considering the possibility of launching a digital Euro and has not yet made a final decision on this issue. "We have opened a public consultation so that consumers and Europeans can tell us about their preferences and whether they would like to use the digital Euro in the same way as they use Euro coins and banknotes, knowing that it is Central Bank money that is available to them, that they can rely on," she added.
In particular, survey participants were asked to respond, "what services, functions and applications seem to them appropriate for digital euros and must be considered in the process of its development".
Earlier, the ECB presented its own report on the topic digital Euro, which stated that the Central Bank must maintain control over the currency, but some of its characteristics can be decentralized.