Do Not Believe Everything You Read And Take It As Gospel
Earlier in the week I was surprised to see my Twitter (X) feed reporting that the Digital Euro was being launched next month in October 2025. This is not the case as the European Central Bank and Digital Euro are not ready yet. The Pioneer Group which was formed in February this year and concluded in May which my crypto investment COTI was involved with by providing the privacy technology. When you are invested in a crypto you kind of follow what is going on and why I knew the October launch was incorrect.
COTI was invited to the ECB’s Future of Payments Conference held at Bocconi University, Milan between 25th and 26th September so this conference only concluded today. What was important about this conference is it discussed how the Digital Euro will work and I will leave the link for the ECB Digital Euro for those that would like to read up on what is coming.
Firstly this has to be approved and legislated by the European Council & Parliament some time in 2026. There will be a preparation test period between banks and merchants which will happen in 2027 and 2028 and then the launch expected in 2029.
After reading through the entire report what was important for my investment was that there will be encrypted privacy embedded in the Digital Euro. This encrypted privacy is Garbled Circuits which is COTI's privacy tech and was good to see they are involved.
Another few important privacy points not mentioned are how the ECB avoids using surveillance and still keeps the privacy aspect. Bank to bank payments will have identifying particulars removed in the form of anonymity done by cryptography which is another way of saying Garbled Circuits encryption. This meets regulation laws as information is shared during encryption, but this information is not shared to each bank and why we know this is Garbled Circuits being used as this is how this tech works. These payments are then transferred by the central bank for settlement.
Adding funds to a wallet will be treated in the same was as when you withdraw cash from an ATM. Local devices will record where that Digital Euro is spent and the ECB or Bank will not know. I guess that is why you need a wallet not linked to a bank other wise they would see where you are spending your digital currency.
This week we saw the UK announce they are planning a Digital ID and the reasoning behind it made very little sense so I am not surprised everyone is wary about any changes. The Digital Euro will happen and as long as our privacy is respected and protected and not used for any other means it should be fine. i still prefer cash however and I am glad that I have crypto currency offering myself other options if and when required. I think having monetary value outside the current monetary system is going to be important and will set us apart from the masses.