Free, easy, and secure - what consumers expect from the digital euro

The digital euro, if issued by the European Central Bank (ECB), would offer a public digital payment method for the euro area, alongside physical cash. As EU policymakers and the ECB continue developing its design, this survey aims to inform about consumer preferences related to digital payments across Europe.

To ensure the digital euro is successful, it has to be an attractive new payment option, that addresses consumers’ preferences and concerns when paying digitally. Existing studies, such as the ECB’s Study on the Payment Attitudes of Consumers in the Euro area, already identify key factors that would persuade consumers to try new payment solutions: higher security standards, ease of use, lower cost, more privacy, and speed.

This new survey (of 10,000 consumers in 10 eurozone countries) directly asks consumers what they expect from the digital euro and how they see the future of digital payments.