(Feb 10): The European Parliament supported issuing an online and offline digital euro — breaking with a proposal by the leading lawmaker on the topic to only create the latter. Legislators on Tuesday approved an amendment arguing for both versions of the digital money — as championed by the European Central Bank (ECB). The parliament said in a statement that the digital euro is “essential to strengthening EU monetary sovereignty, reducing fragmentation in retail payments, and supporting the integrity and resilience of the single market”. The ECB wants a digital euro to lessen European reliance on US payment firms like Visa and Mastercard as transatlantic ties sour. But it’s still awaiting the necessary legal framework needed to underpin the project, with the European Parliament still finalising its stance after member states did so in December.

Source: The Edge Markets February 10, 2026 14:55 UTC