Could the digital euro be a reality within four years? There is certainly momentum building, even if consumers remain sceptical. The motivation reflects the growing digitalisation of payments, but also a deeper concern about European dependence on US giants Visa and Mastercard given the unpredictability - not to say economic hostility - of the Trump administration. "The digital euro, to keep it as simple as possible, is digital cash," ECB president Christine Lagarde told a European Parliament committee on 7 October, "and cash is the remit of the [European] central bank. The anchor of our currency is central bank ... (full story)