Eurosystem sets out comprehensive strategy for future of European payments

https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.pr260331~04561d8476.en.html
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2026-03-31 11:59:21 · adavies@vixio.com
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The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank of the European Union countries which have adopted the euro. Our main task is to maintain price stability in the euro area and so preserve the purchasing power of the single currency.

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TITLE: European Central Bank Publishes Comprehensive Strategy for Future of European Payments BODY: On March 31, 2026, the Eurosystem published a comprehensive payments strategy outlining its vision for the evolution of Europe's payments infrastructure amid rapid technological change. The strategy complements the Eurosystem's existing cash strategy and extends its retail payments strategy to encompass wholesale, business-to-business and cross-border payments. The strategy establishes four main strategic aims: maintaining the key role of central bank money in retail and wholesale markets to ensure monetary policy effectiveness and financial stability; making Europe's payment system more robust and autonomous; encouraging more integrated, innovative and competitive payments for people and businesses; and supporting the international role of the euro. The Eurosystem acknowledges the gradual adoption of new technologies including tokenisation and distributed ledger technology (DLT), while ensuring central bank money remains the anchor of trust and stability. The strategy outlines the Eurosystem's position on tokenised settlement assets. For wholesale transaction settlement, central bank money should remain at the core, complemented by private settlement assets such as tokenised deposits and stablecoins that are European Union-governed, euro-denominated and properly designed and regulated. The strategy calls for standardisation, automation and process integration in business-to-business payments to enable companies to benefit from efficient and innovative solutions. Regarding retail payments, the strategy highlights how the digital euro can foster pan-European private retail payment solutions, underscoring complementarity between the two. The strategy consolidates major Eurosystem initiatives including the digital euro, work on Pontes and Appia infrastructure projects, and enhancements to cross-border payments in a comprehensive framework. The Eurosystem will continue monitoring market and technological developments to adjust its strategy where needed. REFERENCES: European Central Bank. "Eurosystem sets out comprehensive strategy for future of European payments." Press Release, March 31, 2026. https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2026/html/ecb.pr260331~3d4f9d3e6b.en.html
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