Catenaa, Monday, November 10, 2025- Italy’s leading banks have voiced support for the European Central Bank’s proposed digital euro but want implementation costs spread out over time, according to the Italian Banking Association (ABI).
ABI General Manager Marco Elio Rottigni said banks endorsed the digital euro initiative as a step toward “digital sovereignty” but warned that high upfront capital costs could burden the sector. The banks prefer phased expenditures aligned with technological and legislative progress across Europe.
The announcement follows a recent compromise among EU finance ministers, ECB President Christine Lagarde, and European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.
The agreement gives ministers authority to decide whether to issue a digital euro and to cap the amount individuals can hold, easing fears of large-scale bank withdrawals.
The digital euro, a central bank digital currency (CBDC), is scheduled for legislative approval in 2026, a pilot phase in 2027, and a full rollout in 2029. Rottigni said the ABI supports a “twin-track” model combining a central bank-backed euro with commercial bank-issued digital currencies to prevent Europe from lagging behind jurisdictions such as the United States, which adopted the GENIUS Act regulating stablecoins.
However, resistance remains. The German Banking Industry Committee and conservative EU lawmaker Fernando Navarrete have warned that the current plan is too expansive, urging a scaled-down version focused only on basic offline payments.
