from
Jannis Brühl and Markus Zydra, Frankfurt
Series: 20 years of the euro
Twenty years ago, the euro replaced national currencies such as the German mark, the lira and the franc as cash. In a series, the SZ explains why the euro was controversial among economists and which crises the common currency had to survive. You can find all articles on this overview page.
“Even in the digital age, citizens and companies should have access to the safest money.” This promise was made by ECB President Christine Lagarde immediately after the central bank decided to develop the “digital euro”. 20 years after the introduction of euro cash, the monetary authorities are now laying the foundation for a new form of cash that will challenge the consumer’s imagination: digital cash. What is that supposed to be? What’s the point? The ECB would like to have its work completed by summer 2023; She expects the introduction of the digital euro two years later. It is the most ambitious project in the history of the ECB. The SZ answers the most important questions.