Italian Banks Support Digital Euro, Urge Gradual Cost Spread

Italian banks are supporting the plan for a digital euro, but they want one key thing: time. The Italian Banking Association says banks should not be forced to pay all costs at once because the project will be expensive.

Marco Elio Rottigni, head of the Italian Banking Association, spoke about this at a press event in Florence. He said Italian banks believe the digital euro will help Europe stay strong in the digital world. But building the systems for it will need major investment, so banks want the costs to be rolled out slowly.

🚨HUGE!!!

Italian banks now backing digital euro but want implementation costs spread across the system. pic.twitter.com/kykYwyp5jP

— Kyle Chassé / DD🐸 (@Kylechasse) November 10, 2025

“We support the digital euro. It protects Europe’s digital future,” Rottigni said. “But the cost is high, so we think it should be spread over time.”

Is There a Need For a Digital Euro?

The European Central Bank, or ECB, is working on the digital euro to keep up with a fast-changing payment world. Today, many digital payments depend on companies outside Europe. A digital euro could help Europe stay independent and give people another secure way to pay.

The ECB also wants to respond to the growth of stablecoins and private digital currencies. A digital euro would work alongside cash, not replace it.

After two years of planning, the ECB has now moved to the next stage of the project. A pilot test is expected in 2027. If everything goes well, and if the European Union approves the final rules in 2026, the digital euro could launch in 2029.

🇪🇺 UPDATE: ECB President Christine Lagarde has said that the EU is planning to launch a digital Euro CBDC by October this year.

Would you ever use it?pic.twitter.com/MQnWw11tJ9

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) March 9, 2025

Europe Debates How to Build It

Not everyone in Europe agrees on how big the digital euro should be. Some banks in other countries worry it could pull money away from bank accounts if people move funds into a digital euro wallet.

A European lawmaker from Spain, Fernando Navarrete, recently suggested a smaller first version to protect private payment systems. Some banks also believe both a digital euro and private bank-issued digital money should develop together, so Europe stays competitive in payments.

In conclusion, the digital euro project is moving forward, but cost and design debates continue. Italian banks say they support the idea. However, they just want a fair pace. How Europe balances innovation and cost will shape the future of digital payments in the region.

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