{
  "id": 12381742,
  "title": "Piero Cipollone: Money in the digital age: digital euro, tokenisation and the role of central banks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/piero-cipollone-money-in-the-digital-age-digital-euro-tokenisation",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-06T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ECB Press",
    "slug": "ecb-press",
    "url": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu//press/key/date/2026/html/ecb.sp261006~0da978f159.en.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For centuries, central banks have been responsible for issuing money and maintaining its value. However, the digital age is transforming the financial landscape. People are increasingly using digital payments, financial institutions are exploring distributed ledger technology, and assets are being represented as digital tokens. This shift presents new opportunities, such as more convenient payments, more efficient finance, and the potential for innovative products and business models. Without a digital form of cash, the role of public money may diminish, and Europe could face a fragmented payment system relying on technologies and infrastructures controlled by external parties. To address these challenges, central banks must extend their role into the digital realm while preserving the balance between public and private money. The digital euro is a key initiative to ensure seamless, secure, and inclusive payments throughout the euro area, complementing both cash and private solutions. The ECB would collaborate with banks and regulated payment service providers to develop and distribute the digital euro, enhancing their competitiveness in the digital age.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Central banks have issued money and maintained its value for centuries.",
    "Digital age transforms financial landscape with digital payments and tokenization.",
    "Digital euro initiative ensures secure, inclusive payments in the euro area."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}