组建数字欧元创新中心测试支付功能与应用场景 欧盟加速推进数字欧元计划

Core Viewpoint - The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced the establishment of a digital euro innovation center to test the payment functionalities and application scenarios of digital currency, with results expected to inform the EU's digital euro initiative [1][2]. Group 1: Digital Euro Development - The ECB's digital euro project has progressed from technical exploration to substantive development, with a decision on whether to proceed to the next phase expected after the preparatory phase ends in October 2023 [1]. - The digital euro is intended to complement existing cash and bank deposits, enhancing the EU's payment system's competitiveness and resilience [1][2]. Group 2: Strategic Considerations - The EU aims to enhance its guidance in the digital payment sector as cash usage declines, while also recognizing the urgency of strengthening digital sovereignty and building a secure payment system [2]. - The ECB plans for the digital euro to serve as a "daily payment tool" for individuals and businesses, designed with principles of convenience, inclusivity, privacy protection, and regulatory compliance [2]. Group 3: Implementation and Testing - The ECB is collaborating with 19 eurozone member states to establish unified standards and conduct small-scale tests, focusing on cross-border payment interoperability and the feasibility of small anonymous transactions [3]. - Belgium, as the EU headquarters, is actively promoting fintech innovation, with electronic payments accounting for nearly 80% of retail transactions in 2023, indicating a shift towards non-cash payment methods [3]. Group 4: Global Financial Influence - Successful implementation of the digital euro could enhance the internationalization of the euro and serve as a bridge tool connecting non-euro countries, thereby expanding the EU's financial influence [3]. - The EU is encouraged to strengthen multilateralism and engage in dialogue with major economies, including China, on digital currency, cross-border payments, and data governance to promote a stable global financial system [3].