BRUSSELS — December 2025:
European lawmakers have signaled that the first real-world pilot of the Digital Euro may be approved earlier than expected, marking a major step in the global CBDC race. The proposed rollout involves select banks, retail partners, and cross-border settlement channels.
The move comes as China expands its digital yuan internationally, and Middle Eastern states experiment with CBDC-based energy and trade settlement. Analysts say the global CBDC landscape is becoming less theoretical and more geopolitical.
“The digital currency race is directly tied to global influence,” said one policy expert. “Europe doesn’t want to fall b
ehind.”
