My dears, the European Union has decided to join the digital party, and itâs about time! On the utterly thrilling date of Oct. 30, the European Central Bank (ECB) announced-with all the drama of a West End premiere-that itâs advancing to the next stage of the digital euro project. đ The preparation phase, which began in November 2023 (yes, theyâve been sipping their tea and pondering), has finally concluded, laying the groundwork for a potential digital currency launch. The ECB, ever the perfectionist, insists this ânew phase will ensure technical readiness for first issuance,â because heaven forbid they rush into anything!