Trento, Oct. 3 (LaPresse) – "Digital payments are increasingly widespread. Over the past five years, e-commerce transactions have risen from 6% to 24%, and in 2024 digital payments have overtaken cash transactions. The benefits of the digital euro include the stability of the currency issued by the ECB, which retains all the characteristics of cash, unlike cryptocurrencies that are always subject to large value fluctuations, as well as the absence of risk and respect for privacy, and the possibility of offline use," said Alessia Vita, Deputy Head of the Regulatory, Research and Technical Support Division of the Digital Euro Unit at the Bank of Italy, speaking at the Wired Next Fest in Rovereto, Trentino.
"In Europe, two-thirds of digital payments are processed by foreign systems, while the digital euro will ensure greater European autonomy in the payments sector, reducing dependence on foreign providers," Vita added. "This advantage will also benefit merchants, who currently face high fees from payment service providers; with the new digital currency, they will have greater bargaining power and thus be more competitive in the market."