{
  "id": 7322145,
  "title": "Piero Cipollone: The future of euro cash: trusted today, designed for tomorrow",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/piero-cipollone-the-future-of-euro-cash-trusted-today-designed-for",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-14T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ECB Press",
    "slug": "ecb-press",
    "url": "https://www.ecb.europa.eu//press/key/date/2026/html/ecb.sp260914_1~91d3436449.en.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The future of euro cash remains a vital aspect of Europe's monetary landscape, despite the shift towards digital payments. Euro banknotes, ingrained in the daily lives of Europeans, are more than just a means of payment; they symbolize a shared European identity. In 2002, when the euro was introduced, 308 million citizens embraced it, replacing 12 national currencies with euro cash. With Bulgaria's recent accession, the euro now unites 21 countries and over 358 million citizens. Despite the digital age, the demand for cash remains strong, with over 31 billion euro banknotes worth more than €1.6 trillion in circulation and more than 150 billion euro coins. Cash provides stability, fosters financial inclusion, and safeguards freedom of choice. Public authorities recognize cash's resilience, as it remains available during power outages, cyberattacks, and other disruptions. To safeguard cash's role and prepare it for the future, the European Parliament and the Council have adopted a negotiating position on the Single Currency Package. The proposed Regulation on the legal tender status of euro banknotes and coins will ensure people in the euro area can pay with cash whenever they choose, reinforcing trust in the currency. The European Central Bank (ECB) is committed to ensuring banknotes and coins are accessible and usable, holding strategic contingency stocks to meet unexpected demand or supply disruptions. While digital payments complement cash, the ECB is investing in both euro cash and the digital euro to ensure Europeans have access to central bank money in both forms for day-to-day transactions. The modernization of euro banknotes will incorporate advanced security features, sustainable materials, and further protect the connection between euro banknotes and citizens.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "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."
}