The digital euro project has reached technical completion, but political disagreements across Europe continue to delay its official launch.
The European Central Bank has confirmed that the underlying infrastructure required to support a digital euro is operational and prepared for deployment.
According to the ECB, settlements using distributed ledger technology could begin as early as 2026 if lawmakers approve the final framework.
The system is designed to enable faster, cheaper, and more efficient payments across the eurozone while integrating with existing financial institutions.
An offline version of the digital euro is also under development, allowing users to make payments without an internet connection.
This offline functionality is intended to offer privacy protections close to those of physical cash through secure hardware embedded in smartphones and smart cards.
ECB President Christine Lagarde made clear that technical preparations are complete and responsibility has shifted to political decision-makers.