Overview

• The digital euro will hold equal legal standing to cash, obliging chains such as Edeka and Rewe to install compliant payment terminals
• Small shops and market stalls may qualify for limited exemptions under the forthcoming regulation
• The European Central Bank under President Christine Lagarde has made the digital euro a strategic priority to reduce reliance on US payment networks like Visa and Mastercard
• Industry advisors recommend that major retailers plan to complete technical upgrades by 2030 to meet ECB requirements for cash registers and payment terminals
• EU institutions are expected to finalize the regulation this autumn, defining technical standards, merchant obligations and potential fee caps