Bitcoin Forum

Last time I've checked, the EU is working on a new digital cash system for the Euro. It's called the "Digital Euro". You can find more info about it on the ECB's official website. With the US abandoning plans for a CBDC (Digital Dollar) under Donald Trump's leadership, many are wondering if the nation will be left behind in the dust as others stay ahead in the game. China launched the e-CNY, while Nigeria launched the eNaira. But a Digital Euro? It might replace the USD if it doesn't become a CBDC in the future.

What do you think about the EU's plan to launch a "Digital Euro"? Will it be successful? Do you think it will co-exist with cash (paper money)? Or will it completely replace it?

Your input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. :)

The digital euro is far from being expected to completely replace with paper money. My reason for this is that to have this type of money, you always have an electronic devices with you, so i think its not good idea to completely replace with paper money

The ideal of introducing the digital currency is a welcomed development because it would contribute to the fights against robbery attacks of people with the hold of physical cashes but the adoption of the technology will be limited to users who are not conversant with digital technologies and as noted a centralized commodity, the cash will stay and same time will the digital euro exist so, it should be decisions of individuals to operate with any of the concept that is comfortable for them to use.
And if the digital currency replaces the cash, then it would other hand lead to economy crisis with it effects of unemployment where banks workers will be affected.

But you will agree the world is going digital and people are  more comfortable making payments through digital means than with paper money. This will help reduce cash dependencies, it will promote low cost transactions, it will limit the risk of bank failures and improve privacy.

It is hard to see an adult who doesn't have access to a digital device no matter how outdated the device might be. Paper money is gradually fading away. Ushering in an enhanced payment option with better efficiency and a more reliable alternative to our regular banking system.

I'm agree with that, people prefer to with credit cards or use digital payments like NFC, but as I said people like me are there that don't prefer to use phone or digital gadgets outside of home, And think about it, what should be done if one day the electricity or internet is cut off for a long time due to natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods?  Or what should be done if there is an urgent matter and the charge of your phone or gadget is over?

It can be. I do not see any reason why not if I am being honest. Digital money has been proven to be vital in these times and it is just as important that they try to not get left behind by other countries.
I doubt that. Paper money is always needed. Not everyone will have digital euros on hand ready to use it to buy something or to accept it from a buyer. So I think the best that could happen is if just enough people using the digital money.

hopefully you never have a situation without power or internet or both of the same time.
Just look at Heathrow, splendid example for a failure in thinking.

Speaking of the UK: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/03/20/the-bbc-gave-thames-water-bosses-a-free-hit-they-punched/


Those people are managing your/our utilities. Someone else is to blame, always.

The plan of introducing the digital Euro will be successful, based on what have been said, the reason of introducing the digital Euro is because of the evolution of new technologies and there is a large demand by consumers on how urgent they want their payment to be processed, while they have not yet introduced the digital euro is because Euro cash is still dominating and so the introduction of the digital euro is still under consideration only to be launched when their is a very great important to do so. They have not stated in their new release the date which it will be Launched but they said it's unders consideration until it becomes necessary to do so, which means it might not be this year, not anytime soon.

Based on what they said, they sound it clear that the digital euro will not replace cash.

Bro, it's not possible dealing without paper money, it's the bedrock of any monetary policy in any nation that's why some sectors doesn't accept digital means of payment in their business, there's a reason why. Everything must not go digital even if people is saying digitalization is civilisation bla bla.

I bet you, there are business associates that wouldn't support the Digital Euro for their daily transactions which are the drugs dealers or other illegal business dealers. And I'm pretty much sure that any payment app designed for payment will have a certain restrictions on the amount of transaction to be done daily.

The problem is not only the digital euro, it is that it will be linked to digital identity, meaning that the public authorities will have all the information about you in one place and in real time. Not just when you were born, what you studied, what you do for a living, what illnesses you have or have had, but what you spend every penny you spend.

If you had asked me not long ago, I would have told you that it will be successfully implemented because the majority of the population are like sheep that go to the slaughterhouse and don't know it, or like the frog that is cooked and the same thing.

But it seems that there has been a lot of opposition to the issue and although the ECB initially wanted to launch it this October, they have now backtracked and said that October will be the next step and the launch will be later.

Europe and other part of the world is not Africa where the world seems to be darker in terms of technology. Businesses has advanced and technology is the order of the day. Come to think of it which big business tycoon moves about with paper money this days when they go for their business trips? Even a petty business trader takes caution by not going on a business trip with paper money to avoid been robbed on the road

That is the response I got from chatgpt. Digital payment will become the order of the day because of its convince and accessibility. It will have wider adoption and depending on the model chosen by the central bank they might choose to eliminate third party intermediates which gives their citizens direct power to ECB.

Your assumption that some countries are becoming totally cashless is true. In Sweden only one out of ten transactions is done with cash. But Sweden and Norway are now encouraging people to use cash in case of emergencies like war or crisis. There might be an attack on key infrastructure, which might cause online payment channels to suffer network issues. Physical currency in these Nordic nations is now been seen as a tool for national security and civil defense. Infact sanctions could be placed on any business that refuse to accept cash payments.

And if this person gets a flat tyre, or miscalculates the location of refueling or gets lost/on the wrong road and has to get help somewhere at the country side... what you think he's going to pay with? A credit card.. nobody can read for miles?

Imho your assumption is wrong. The world is bigger than cities and planes and motorways and in way too many locations cashless payments are not even a dream.
So it depends on more factors than you took into account and having some cash - not a lifechanging amount, obviously - is a smart caution.


And yeah, going completely cashless is impossible in the current generation. We need 100% (not even 99.9%) internet coverage as a bare minimum first step.

That is an insult to Africans but I like it because that is what African leaders want. But what Josefjix said is very much correct. Business tycoons are not carrying physical Cash around again because the world is digitalizing it currencies yet the fiat currency is still used in the digital arena therefore, we can't do without the fiat currency be a cash or online (digital), and bitcoin was designed to help the fiat digitally by using it to buy things online and paying services but the store of value has taking over the coin so nobody is care about the use of the real p2p of the coins which is buying and selling of goods and services online. Even now, we sell our coins to fiat currency digitally before using to buy things and paying for services either in Cash or Transfer. So Josefjix is 100% correct.

US is supporting the stablecoins like USDT which its been speculated to be the real CBDC already. They won't be left behind if its what you mean. USDT been use in international trade already and Tether is one of the top buyer of US treasuries.  So if Trump says he doesn't like CBDC, its because he wasn't aware, USDT is actually a CBDC stablecoin.

Its Europe that I think is left behind if its only now they are considering the digital Euro.

I live in a country, that is a member of the European Union and what I mostly hear is a bunch of right-wing commentators screaming and whining about the "digital euro". They say, that a digital euro would cause fin-tech totalitarianism and the people will lose control over their savings and wealth. Maybe they are right. I'm not an expert the field of CBDCs. What I do know is the fact that no digital currency can ever completely replace paper money. The digital euro's goal isn't to replace the paper euro. The main goal is the European Central Bank gaining more control over the money supply and limiting the control of the commercial banks over the economy.
The digital euro cannot replace the US dollar as a global currency. Don't make me laugh.

I hope you're right. There are many critical voices now saying that it will replace paper money and that all our transactions will be traceable, which will lead to the end of our privacy.

In many other aspects Europe is well known for ensuring a framework of guarantees around the rights of its citizens, so these dystopian claims seem to me to be far from reality. But we will have to be attentive to see what it finally means.

I believe that CBDCs might coexist with cash for some time, but I hope that they will not become a mainstream way of digital payments. Aren't there even bigger privacy concerns that with debit card payments? Higher traceability, bigger data exposure. The EU doesn't do things hastily, especially when they aren't sure.
And while I believe that the USD can lose some of its dominance as #1 foreign reserve currency, its current dominance share of around 58% vs around 20% share for EUR is too high to be seriously challenged.

It really depends on how is it implemented. After all, they don't even need blockchain for CBDC. So it can easily be done that *they* can trace everything, while the payment processors can see only that they need to, like for credit/debit cards.

If done, CBDC can coexist with cash for long time, actually. It will be a cheap alternative to banks, alternative that works also in the non banking days... with a catch: all your payment details will be registered everywhere, even more eagerly than if you use now banks/cards for everything. Some will care. Some won't. It's just a new leap in surveillance. And how else can it be achieved better than by convenience?

nowadays the trend is that countries globally are starting to develop their digital currencies to catch up with the massive development of cryptocurrency today. the purpose of this digital currency is the same as fiat, but it can be used by everyone in their transactions, and it is different compared to e-wallets, because it was launched directly by the government.

and i think that this digital currency will not replace fiat completely, instead it will coexist and complement each other. because no matter what, fiat is still needed by people, but those who want to be practical can choose digital currency.

On the one hand CBDC is a solution to many of the problems inherent in a fiat/cashless system. Such technologies will simplify cross-border payments, reduce transfer costs, and increase the efficiency of the banking and monetary system.  It also makes payments faster and more secure. “The second side of the coin” will of course be the control of funds and accounts, as well as, with a high probability, the realization of mechanisms that will allow the state or states to completely control the accounts of citizens, and without the knowledge of the owner of the money to take certain actions on his money.
Total: it is useful and convenient, but everything will depend on how many control mechanisms will be included in this system.

Digital Euro will just be an online representation of the paper money. ECB has no plans to stop printing money. So if you are worried about a cashless economy, that is not going to happen.

Digital money provides many benefits. It is cheaper to maintain an infrastructure then to print money. Also paper money can be anonymous to some certain extent. Where as digital money cannot remain anonymous which gives the power of surveillance to the government.

Digital Euro can be very successful but at the same time paper money will co exist in the economy.

That's the plan. To have full control over people's financial life. They will begin by gradually introducing the digital Euro alongside the paper Euro, until the latter is phased out completely. And believe me, the EUR replacing the USD in the future is a possibility. Especially as the US distances itself from the world. The Chinese Yuan (CNY) is another strong competitor. But I'm "betting" on the Euro as the EU strengthens itself militarily and economically.

I believe the Russia-Ukraine crisis will make Europe stronger than ever. Even more so if they make Ukraine a member of the Union. Of course, I'm speculating here. It's an unpredictable world we're living into. So anything's possible. :D

I don’t understand wtf these people want. The Euro, the Dollar, the Pound, The whatever… They are already digital. Yes they also have a physical form but  not many people use physical cash lately.

They want to come up with a new name for their currency because they want to ban physical cash. I can’t find any other explanation to it. Why even call it CBDC? It is not decentralized, it is not running on a blockchain, no miners mine it… Then it is the same old dollar without any physical banknotes. That’s what CBDC’s are.

I hate FIAT as much as the next guy but CBDC’s are far, far worse than the physical FIAT.

Digital Euro is inevitability. But how deep they’re going to plug it into people’s lives. This isn’t about convenience. This is about control architecture being redesigned in real-time. Programmable currency. Transaction traceability. Real-time taxation, smart compliance, automatic restrictions based on behavior. That’s where this goes.

Cash has anonymity. Digital Euro won’t. That’s not a conspiracy. It’s functionally correct. Cash gives you freedom. CBDCs give you “conditional spending power”. Will you be able to donate anonymously? Save privately? Travel without surveillance? The question isn’t whether it replaces cash. The question is whether it replaces choice.

And while the US pulls back, don't think it's out of the game. The private sector is the real experiment lab over there. Circle, USDC, crypto infra, AI-powered fintechs. This isn’t a race for who builds the first digital coin, it’s a race for who builds the standard. Digital Euro is clean, neat, predictable. But predictable doesn’t always scale.

Digital currencies exist, and banks offer them as a service to reduce the use of cash. Funds can also be transferred via digital transfers between different banks and financial institutions, making them the most widely used method for commercial transactions. The launch of a digital euro would be nothing more than a new digital version of the euro, with the advantages of encryption and blockchain. Therefore, the digital euro would naturally coexist with the fiat euro, since it derives its value from it, and could help completely eliminate the use of paper cash.

What do they want? Power, obviously. You see, with a CBDC, central banks and governments can manipulate the economy with "just a click of a button". They'll be able to freeze accounts at will, and even have a full scope of all your financial activity. The elimination of cash (coins and paper money) will force everyone to use CBDCs to participate in the economy.

Some people are saying governments won't use a Blockchain for CBDCs. But if that's the case, why are governments and banks so interested in crypto? They might as well copy Bitcoin's core Blockchain tech to try to compete with it. Miners/validators will be none other than banks themselves (the money printers), while governments will operate the nodes themselves. The system will be centralized, but it will rely on Blockchain tech for security. I don't know what will the ECB's digital Euro will be based on, but I know it will challenge the USD's position in the future. Assuming the US never adopts a CBDC of its own. Only time will tell. I wouldn't worry about CBDCs. As long as we have Bitcoin, nothing else matters.

Digital dollar is basically a digital form of EURO, and how can you think it can't co-exist with EURO fiat itself? It's a part of CBDC project initiated by the government, and can't be avoided.

These days converting FIAT to the digital money such as crypto is a common thing. It's also most logical idea to be initiated in the future as crypto is just getting even more massive.

There will always be people who pros and cons to digital euro, but myself sees it as positive move. I kindly wait for the digital pound to come soon after digital euro.  :D

I think that it is too early to say that it is going replace USD as the future CBDC.

The world economy is uncertain now and who knows while US is giving a lot of pressure to its closest allies and economy opponents.

There is a likelihood that even with this move from the ECB. The chances of USD to stay strong is high because Trump is on hands of MAGA.

Of course. CBDCs are unavoidable. After all, they give more power/control for both the government and central bank. In case of the US, President Trump signed an executive order to help prevent the creation of a "Digital Dollar". While this is beneficial for Americans, it could leave the country behind in the dust. Especially when other countries are moving quickly in adopting digital currencies of their own.

If the EU has its own CBDC before the US, it might lead ahead in the global economy. It's all about innovation. Countries that adopt the latest technologies will be able to stay ahead in the game. Either way, paper money's days (cash) are numbered. That means the end of financial privacy will soon come to an end. Who cares? As long as we have Bitcoin, nothing else matters.

Some people wants something similar to cryptocurrency but without the part where it’s volatile and decentralized.
Well, like I said this is for the people and banks who wants to get into cryptocurrency but do not like the overall concept of crypto. Or does not like every part of crypto so they try to make their own but with something that’s already established which is fiat.

Exactly... It all comes from the same people, but these digital versions will be much more monitored and controlled, and that's why they are far worse. Even now, privacy is at some low levels, but after this, we can say goodbye to it forever.


I don't care! And we have some other cryptocurrencies, too.

The ECB's plan to launch a digital euro is a good thing because with the increasing demand for digital payments, it could be the right step for the ECB to provide cash in digital form that can be used for many things like regular cash. The digital euro is the same as cash, as explained by the ECB, the only difference is the form - and the goal is not to replace cash, but complement banknotes and coins, so that people can be given the choice whether they want to use cash or use this digital euro.

But my personal opinion about digital cash like this is that even though it is quite good, cash is still important, because with cash your transactions cannot be tracked by the bank, and you can freely pay anywhere without having to carry your cellphone.

One thing I know about the EU is that they're more organised than every other body. The digital fiats may not have worked in other currencies, but I think it has a bigger chance of working in the EU. To this day, they're the only body where the member countries use a particular currency and the currency is a very strong one. The BRICKs countries won't reach that height. I'm afraid.

I don't know if it will be successful, but I know the EU can make it work, and I don't think it will replace paper money. Cash will always be, at least for now, relevant, but it will co-exist

What do you mean by saying that EU is more informed than others? You expression catch my attention but i didn't find a valid point in all what you wrote in the quote above.
The European Union can be considered a successful example of regional unions, particularly after its success in unifying the currency and establishing regulatory bodies such as the European Parliament, a central bank, and several other structures. However, at the same time, there are those who consider it the worst example of all, as some EU countries' economies have entered into various crises due to the euro, a unified currency for unequal economies. We saw what happened with Greece following the 2008 crisis, whose repercussions it continues to suffer today, despite its status as a member of the EU and its currency being the euro.

That was a mistake. I meant "Organised".
They're the most successful body in this context, don't you think?


Everybody can bring up his or her argument as to why the EU is a failure or a success but the fact is what matter. A member country going into depression does not mean the organisation has failed. Look at the trades and relationships of the countries.
The fact that a country belongs to a body doesn't solve all its problems, they're a soverign country after all and still have the responsibility of governing its country.

Excessive government spending, high public debt, and poor economic structure, heightened by the global financial crisis, are part of what led to the Greek decline; the fact that they're members of the EU cant stop that.
I never said the EU was perfect, but compared to other bodies, it's clear.

It's a regional bloc to create a common economic alliance that unifies the continent's economies. The idea of ​​a single currency may seem revolutionary and effective, but it doesn't take into account the disparities between countries' economies. Examine the income levels in Austria, Italy, or Germany and compare them to those of Greece or Portugal, for example. There are EU member states that have refused to switch to the euro and continue to use their local currencies (Switzerland and Britain).

Now, can you name another regional union that can be compared to the EU to note the differences? Is there a way to verify whether the project is truly successful or whether it has become a dilemma that everyone is embroiled in?

If this is your main worry about CBDC, then i am not sure how is that a new problem?

Fiat money is already connected to our identity digitally. Cash money probably stay in some level, but need for it is mainly for small purchases in case of temporary network / electric grid problems.

Some shops have set limits on how much you can buy with cash money, and they are explaining that to confused shoppers with new AML laws.

Also, your id in EU is more or less digital already, so if you are worried about tracking, maybe look at big social media companies and their apps and web sites META / Twitter, who track everything they can from you in change for you using them for free. And i am guessing most of them track everything even if you buy the premium.

Cash does bring privacy to people. But do you think governments are going to keep producing coins and paper bills forever? Of course not! The idea is to reduce costs and protect the environment. That's where CBDCs come in. Besides these benefits, governments and central banks will be able to have a full scope over your financial life. So one way or another, cash will cease to exist in the future.

Nonetheless, the Digital Euro will be gradually introduced until people uses it long enough for cash to be phased out from existence. If Trump's tariffs end up a failure in the long run, we should expect the USD to lose its position as the world's reserve currency. The EUR might be become the USD's successor. Who knows? These are uncertain times, so anything's possible.