tl;dr: The European Parliament's economic committee approved draft rules for a digital euro, a central-bank-backed electronic wallet aimed at reducing the eurozone's reliance on U.S. payment networks like Visa and Mastercard amid strained transatlantic ties. The ECB plans a 12-month pilot starting in late 2026 ahead of a full launch in 2029, with final legislative approval potentially coming by year-end. The project, six years in development, has gained urgency under Trump's second term, though it still faces opposition from some lawmakers and concerns from banks over deposit outflows.