The European Central Bank confirmed this week that it will allow settlements of blockchain-based transactions using central bank money by mid-2026, marking a significant push to modernize Europe's wholesale payment infrastructure and compete with private digital assets. ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone presented the initiative during a speech in Rome on December 19, outlining a dual-track strategy to integrate distributed ledger technology into the eurozone's financial system. The announcement comes as ECB President Christine Lagarde stated that the related digital euro is technically ready, and its fate now rests in the hands of EU lawmakers.