The European Central Bank announced progress on its digital-currency blueprint, aiming for official rollout by 2029 pending EU regulatory approvals. The design phase will focus on privacy, interoperability, and financial-system safeguards. Officials said the initiative seeks to modernize cross-border payments and preserve monetary sovereignty in an increasingly digital economy. Pilot programs across select member states are expected in 2026. Analysts described the timeline as pragmatic, balancing innovation with compliance standards while offering Europe an alternative to private stablecoin systems.