Study shows that Europeans do not see any added value in digital euros - education as a key to acceptance?

Study shows that Europeans do not see any added value in digital euros - education as a key to acceptance?

digital currency in focus: the discussion about the digital euro

The European Central Bank (ECB) has been dealing with the possibility of introducing a digital euro for some time. However, a current study shows that the European population is skeptical about the concept of a digital currency. In a survey of 19,000 participants from eleven euro countries, including the Netherlands, it turned out that the majority of the respondents find a digital euro more valuable.

Why a digital euro?

The digital euro is considered a tool that could help ensure more security in payment transactions. In addition, he should make digital payments more accessible to everyone and reduce the costs for cross -border transactions. In addition, he could serve to reduce the dependence of Europe on commercial banks and large tech companies.

little enthusiasm and a lot of confusion

The study has shown that the general interest in a digital euro is low. An important reason for this is the strong preference for traditional payment methods, such as cash and classic bank accounts. In an experiment in which the participants should distribute 10,000 euros to different assets, the digital euro received only a marginal part, which indicates that consumers do not consider it essential.

In addition, there is great ambiguity about the concept of digital euro. Many people are not aware of what a digital central bank currency (CBDC) is exactly and why it could be relevant to them. This uncertainty is a significant challenge for the decision -makers. In order to promote the acceptance of the digital euro, it is necessary to clearly communicate the advantages and potential application in everyday life.

Education as a key to acceptance?

Despite the prevailing skepticism, the study by the ECB shows that targeted reconnaissance measures can have a significant influence on people's attitude. Participants who saw a short video about the advantages of the digital euro were much more positive about the concept afterwards. This illustrates the importance of clear, understandable communication. The better the people are informed about the functionality and the advantages of the digital euro, the greater the likelihood that they will appear open to him.