The ECB has published a report examining the issuance of a digital currency, the digital euro, from the perspective of the Eurosystem.

This innovative “virtual currency” can be understood as central bank money offered in digital form for citizens and businesses to use in their retail payments. It would complement the current supply of cash and wholesale deposits from the European Central Bank.

The potential benefits of a currency like this and the rapid changes in the retail payments landscape (amplified by the COVID19 crisis) mean that the Eurosystem must be equipped to issue it in the near future and evolve towards a digital economic ecosystem.

The report can be consulted at:
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/html/digitaleuro-report.en.html