Slovenia Launches First Digital Bond in EU Sovereign History

On July 25, 2024, Slovenia issued its first digital bond, marking a significant milestone as the first EU sovereign and one of the earliest worldwide to do so. The bond issuance occurred under the European Central Bank’s (ECB) wholesale central bank money settlement experimentation program. The settlement was executed on-chain in wholesale central bank digital … Read more

ECB Maintains Interest Rates Amid Persistent Inflation Concerns

The European Central Bank (ECB) maintained its interest rates on Thursday, indicating that domestic price pressures and elevated inflation levels will persist into next year. After a recent rate cut, the ECB adopted a cautious stance, suggesting more evidence is needed before making another move. The ECB highlighted that while corporate profits are mitigating some … Read more

ECB Publishes Digital Euro’s First Progress Report

The European Central Bank (ECB) has published its first progress report on the digital euro preparation phase, highlighting key design features and ongoing developments. The report emphasizes high privacy standards for both online and offline payments, aiming to provide users with a cash-like level of privacy. First Progress Report on the Digital Euro Preparation Phase … Read more

Digital Euro Holding Limit: Debate Continues

The president of Germany’s central bank has highlighted the ongoing debate about the holding limit for the digital euro, Europe’s central bank digital currency (CBDC). He noted that recent Bundesbank research indicates that the optimal amount could be in the range of 1,500 to 2,500 digital euros per person. ‘The Jury Is Still Out Here’ … Read more

Study: Half of Surveyed Germans ‘Imagine Using a Digital Euro as an Additional Payment Option’

A new report has found that half of Germans who participated in a survey study can “imagine using a digital euro as an additional payment option.” However, the study also revealed that some three-quarters of the respondents view the “aspect of privacy in connection with the use of the digital euro as very important or … Read more

ECB’s Joachim Nagel Urges Central Banks to Evolve: ‘We Need to Work on Our Business Model’

Joachim Nagel, President of the Deutsche Bundesbank and Member of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB), has raised concerns about central banks’ business model. “If part of your core product is loosening attractiveness then you have to think about another new core product,” he stressed. ‘We Need to Speed up on All … Read more