The European Central Bank states that the digital euro is ready, and its final launch depends on EU legislative decisions. Recently, the ECB clarified that the technical and institutional preparations for the digital euro have been essentially completed. Whether to officially launch it is no longer a technical issue but now enters the political and legislative decision-making stage. Currently, the project is under review by the European Council and the European Parliament, with the final decision-making authority transferred to the EU legislative bodies. ECB President Christine Lagarde stated in a recent announcement that the central bank has completed all preliminary design and system construction work, including the operational framework and risk control mechanisms. "The next step will be for the European Council and the European Parliament to decide whether to adopt the European Commission's proposal and whether modifications are needed to turn it into formal legislation." She emphasized that the digital euro is technically "ready to launch at any time." According to the proposal, the digital euro will serve as a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) with legal tender status, issued by the European Central Bank and backed by national credit. Its goal is to continue ensuring public access to central bank money in the digital age while enhancing the efficiency and resilience of Europe's payment system. The ECB stated that the digital euro will focus on financial stability, monetary sovereignty, user privacy, and financial inclusion. Unlike private digital assets such as stablecoins, the digital euro is a direct claim on the central bank, with a legal status equivalent to cash. The ECB emphasized that the system will provide "high privacy protection" while meeting anti-money laundering and compliance requirements to address concerns about government overreach in monitoring fund flows. The urgency to promote the digital euro partly stems from changes in the global cryptocurrency policy environment. This year, the US has adopted a more open regulatory stance toward stablecoins and strengthened the US dollar's position in digital finance through the GENIUS Act. This has led European policymakers to re-examine issues of monetary sovereignty. ECB officials pointed out that without the launch of a public digital currency, the payment system and monetary control could gradually be dominated by private or foreign systems. Notably, in contrast to Europe, former US President Donald Trump has consistently opposed central bank digital currencies and has issued executive orders banning federal agencies from advancing CBDC projects. The ECB began researching the feasibility of the digital euro as early as 2021 and emphasized that its technical approach remains neutral, with future compatibility with public blockchains such as Ethereum and Solana. Currently, discussions have shifted from conceptual to practical implementation. As legislative review progresses, the digital euro is expected to officially enter the public eye by the end of this decade.