TMTPOST -- The European Central Bank (ECB) announced on Friday that it plans to conduct a new series of experiments in 2026 to explore the potential of a digital euro, marking a significant step in the euro zone’s efforts to maintain financial autonomy from the United States. The ECB said that tests conducted this year with private-sector partners demonstrated that the digital euro—a central bank-backed electronic currency—could enable practical use cases such as automated payments on public transport and streamlined reimbursement processes. “These experiments are crucial for understanding how a digital euro could function in everyday life and for ensuring it meets the needs of citizens and businesses,” the ECB stated.