Will ECB's plans for a digital euro strengthen Europe?

The Eurosystem’s digital euro is designed to serve as a mainstream, risk-free “electronic form of cash” for an increasingly digital world. It remains unclear as to whether it will be based on blockchain technology, but offline usability is essential. The digital euro would be issued by the European Central Bank, with the hope it helps maintain the value of the euro, strengthening the continent’s resilience and independence. Contrastingly, US President Trump has banned federal agencies from working on a central bank digital currency. A framework for a US dollar-backed stablecoin has been unveiled,...