ECB Holds Rates, Lagarde Prioritizes Digital Euro Rollout: Next Steps for CBDC

The European Central Bank (ECB) has decided to maintain its key interest rates, pausing its tightening cycle. Following this decision, ECB President Christine Lagarde redirected the market's attention to the institution's next major project: the digital euro. Lagarde emphasized that the preparatory phase for the central bank digital currency (CBDC) is advancing, with a focus now shifting to the practical aspects of its rollout and integration into the European financial ecosystem. This move underscores the ECB's commitment to modernizing the monetary system and ensuring the euro's competitiveness in an increasingly digital economy. The announcement signals a strategic pivot from monetary policy to digital innovation as a key priority for the Eurozone.