70 Economists Urge EU to Launch Public Digital Euro Over Private Stablecoins

Core Viewpoint - Seventy European economists urge EU lawmakers to prioritize public interest in the design of the digital euro to avoid dependence on foreign payment systems and dollar-backed stablecoins [1][2]. Group 1: Concerns Over Payment Infrastructure - The open letter highlights that Europe's payment infrastructure is overly reliant on non-European entities, with thirteen euro area countries depending entirely on international card schemes for retail transactions [2][3]. - This reliance on foreign payment providers poses risks related to geopolitical leverage and systemic vulnerabilities that are beyond Europe's control [3]. Group 2: Essential Features for Digital Euro - The economists advocate for three critical features of the digital euro: it should serve as a backbone for a sovereign European payment infrastructure, be accessible to all Europeans to promote financial inclusion, and provide a credible store of value with a rising holding limit [4][5]. - They emphasize that without these features, the digital euro risks failing to meet its potential and may not be adopted widely by European companies or citizens [5]. Group 3: Strategic Positioning by ECB - ECB Executive Board member Philip Lane has positioned the digital euro as part of broader efforts to enhance Europe's financial architecture, reinforcing its strategic importance [5].