ECB’s Christine Lagarde shifts focus to digital euro rollout after holding rates

With technical and preparatory work complete, the ECB pressed lawmakers to move quickly on Europe’s public digital currency amid global stablecoin concerns. What to know : The European Central Bank has completed its preparatory work on the digital euro, awaiting action from political institutions. ECB President Christine Lagarde emphasized a data-driven approach to interest rate decisions, with inflation projected to meet the 2% target by 2028. The digital euro is prioritized as a strategic financial tool, expected to launch in the second half of 2026.